Many of her guests first felt like a leader when they were very young. They noticed that people looked to them for guidance in experiences like sports or school activities. A number of guests also mentioned that they felt like a leader when someone entrusted them with an important task and validated their capabilites.

Rachel wasn't completely surprised that a number of the leaders had faced some form of adversity. Whether it was learning to speak English and being the first to graduate from college like Ana Connolly, being left by a spouse with nothing like Elaine Macy or losing a job like Michael Maxwell, those experiences were overcome and each of the persevered.

While its not often mentioned as a key leadership trait, many of Rachel's guests talked about how they express leadership by caring for the people they work with and demonstrating their care deliberately. Through the conversations, a deeper theme emerged that revealed that caring isn't just about saying what people want to hear, but its also holding people to a high standard, acting with candor and being truthful.

Finally, it was wonderful to hear how many leaders are driven by a deeper purpose and vision to contribute to something beyond themselves.