Nikes scuffing on the carpet. Dread flooding my brain. I’d just left my CEO’s office with his words echoing in my ears, “Congrats, Morelli, you’re our new head of Professional Development.”
I was 20 and scared out of my mind. Wise enough to realize I was in serious trouble.
This was what I wanted, right? My first promotion?
We were a 200-person tech startup and even though I spent the past six months studying my brains out on the topic of leadership, this was my cold splash of reality. I knew nothing about how to actually be a leader!
Right then and there was my moment of part-inspiration, part-desperation, and a twist of oh-s***-don’t-screw-up! I started training as a coach, studying the best leaders, learning from the who’s who of leadership scholars.