The President of Sotheby’s Motorsport on leading through uncertainty, owning failure as a leader, and learning to balance vulnerability with authority.

A lifelong theater kid turned luxury auction executive, Colleen Cash shares how her background in performance shaped her leadership and how she’s found success as a self-proclaimed spin doctor—reframing and repackaging setbacks not to disguise them, but to maintain momentum, protect morale, and move her team forward.

In this episode:

• How Colleen’s theater roots taught her presence, adaptability, and the power of reading a room

• What it takes to lead people older and more experienced, and earn their trust

• The self-proclaimed spin doctor mindset: reframing failure as forward motion and keeping teams energized through uncertainty

• The risk of the silver lining: when quick reframing becomes avoidance, and why reflection still matters

• Building learning cultures that turn failure into feedback rather than fear

• The realities of leading in prestige industries built on perception, and how to stay grounded

• The moment vulnerability reset trust in her team, and how she balances transparency with authority

An engaging conversation about reframing failure, leading with conviction when you’re the youngest in the room, and finding the power in vulnerability.

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Stay Connected with Alanna (Host) & Colleen (Guest)

• Alanna Lynch Instagram: @meliorfuturi
• Alanna Lynch Linkedin: alannalynch
• (FAIL)UP Instagram : @failupbymeliorfuturi
• Colleen Linkedin: @colleencash

If this conversation left you wanting to think bigger, feel braver, and influence change in your own organization, head to melior-futuri.com to explore our executive and leadership coaching programs, available internationally.

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