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What if the biggest obstacle to your business success isn't your strategy, market, or team—but the narrative written decades ago in your childhood?
Dr. Sharon Spano joins Gwendolyn McCreary to reveal how our earliest experiences create patterns that silently shape our leadership decisions. These subconscious scripts influence everything from hiring practices to work-life integration, often creating what Sharon calls "the emptiness of success"—when leaders achieve their business goals but feel profoundly unfulfilled.
This conversation goes beyond surface-level business advice to explore the deeper human systems at work in leadership. Sharon shares powerful insights on recognizing harmful patterns, embracing growth opportunities, and staying present whether at work or with family. She challenges the concept of work-life balance, suggesting instead that we aim for integration through intentional choices and full presence.
For founders struggling with perfectionism, relationship patterns, or simply feeling that something's missing despite outward success, this episode offers both validation and practical steps forward. Sharon's approach combines systems thinking with developmental psychology to help leaders grow alongside their businesses rather than being outpaced by them.
The discussion provides concrete tools for identifying childhood narratives, setting realistic expectations, and creating meaningful success that encompasses both business achievement and personal fulfillment. Sharon emphasizes that growth isn't about self-criticism but opportunity—each challenge offers a chance to evolve into a more effective leader.
Ready to discover what might be holding you back and rewrite your leadership playbook? Take Sharon's Leader's Edge Quiz at sharonspano.com/scalingwithpeople to identify where you are in the 12 stages of human development and unlock your next level of growth.