Authentic leadership is about alignment, not performance.

In this episode of Straight Outta Health IT, Dawn Whitney, Founder and CEO of ElevateX Leadership Collective, shares how her 30 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience led her to create a coaching model rooted in intentionality, transformation, and mental health. She explains why many leaders wear masks of relevance and self-worth, and how ElevateX helps them break free from limiting beliefs.

Dawn highlights the difference between authentic leadership and performative success, showing how authenticity is grounded in purpose, presence, and truth. She reframes imposter syndrome as a potential superpower, calling on leaders to reject burnout as a badge of honor and instead lead with clarity, rest, and wholeness.

The conversation also explores the role of storytelling, the impact of cultural conditioning on leadership, and the importance of organizations that allow people to be fully human. Dawn closes with a vision for the next decade: cultivating “deeper leaders” who shed limiting beliefs, lift others up, and lead unapologetically.

Tune in to hear Dawn’s journey and insights on redefining leadership for the future!