In the Living Reflections podcast, Joanna Zhang joins Dr. Mel Baker to explore a powerful question: How do you actually become the leader you are meant to be?
Joanna’s answer is both simple and profound. You do not arrive at leadership. You continuously become it.
Her journey reflects what many leaders experience but rarely articulate. Growth is not linear. There is no final version of yourself that you suddenly reach. Instead, leadership evolves through reflection, awareness, and lived experience.
This perspective reframes leadership from a fixed identity into an ongoing process of transformation.
From Control to Growth: The Three Stages of Leadership
Joanna breaks down her evolution into three distinct phases, each representing a deeper level of awareness.
1. The Title Leader
This is where many leaders begin. Leadership is tied to position, authority, and control. Joanna describes this stage as being a “control-driven” leader, holding tightly to certainty and believing that leadership meant managing everything.
While effective in structure, this approach often creates pressure and limits growth for both the leader and the team.
2. The Serving Leader
The next phase shifts toward empathy and support. Joanna began focusing on helping others grow, creating a more collaborative and people-centered environment.
However, this stage introduced new challenges. Without clear boundaries, she found herself leaning into people-pleasing and avoiding difficult conversations. It highlighted that serving others without self-leadership can lead to imbalance.
3. The Spiritual Leader
This is Joanna’s current stage, where leadership becomes more intentional and aligned. It is about balancing compassion with boundaries and leading from awareness rather than ego.
At this level, leadership is no longer about control or approval. It becomes about creating space for growth while staying grounded in one’s own values and identity.
What It Truly Means to Lead with Love
A central theme in Joanna’s conversation is redefining what “leading with love” actually means.
She challenges the common misconception that love in leadership is soft or passive. Instead, she describes it as a combination of:
- Awareness
- Responsibility
- Courage
- Truth
Leading with love requires making difficult decisions, setting boundaries, and holding both yourself and others accountable.
It is not about avoiding discomfort. It is about navigating it with clarity and intention.
Joanna shares a powerful insight from her mentor: leadership is about helping others become the best version of themselves. But that responsibility starts internally.
You cannot guide others where you have not led yourself.
Self-Leadership as the Foundation of Growth
One of the most important takeaways from the podcast is the role of self-leadership.
Joanna emphasizes that external leadership is a reflection of internal alignment. Without self-awareness, even the best strategies fall short.
Her journey highlights the importance of:
- Reflecting on your patterns and behaviors
- Understanding your motivations and triggers
- Continuously evolving your mindset
This is where many entrepreneurs and leaders get stuck. They focus on external growth without addressing internal development.
Building this foundation is essential for sustainable success. In fact, transitioning from a reactive, task-driven role to a strategic leadership position requires intentional systems and mindset shifts. A deeper exploration of this can be found in this related article on moving from a hustling doer to a strategic leader.
Final Thoughts
Joanna Zhang’s journey offers a refreshing and honest perspective on leadership.
It is not about perfection. It is not about having all the answers. It is about the willingness to grow, reflect, and lead with intention.
Her evolution from control to conscious leadership shows that real leadership is built through experience, self-awareness, and alignment with deeper values.
For anyone navigating their own leadership path, the message is clear:
”You are not behind. You are becoming.”
Listen to the full podcast here.
By embracing conscious leadership, you can create not only better results but also a more meaningful and sustainable way to lead.