This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Executive coach and former Microsoft leader Sabina Nawaz talks about her book, You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need) — and why she believes pressure, not power, is what truly corrupts leaders.

We discuss the thinning layer of middle management, how AI tools are changing the landscape, and why many younger workers no longer aspire to lead. Sabina shares actionable strategies from the book, including Micro Habits, the power of Blank Space, and how managers can stop micromanaging and start serving as the “container, not the content.”

She also reflects on her time advising Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer — including a memorable moment involving an umlaut — and explains why getting promoted might be the riskiest moment in your career.

Topics Covered:

• Why pressure is more dangerous than power
• Managing when the middle layer disappears
• The double-edged sword of AI-powered management
• Tools: Micro Habits, the Yes List, Blank Space
• Communication fault lines and “sage speak”
• Leadership lessons from Gates and Ballmer
• How to lead without burning out

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.

 

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