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Uma Subramanian, Founder of Limitless Leaders, on Elevating Tech Professionals

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Uma Subramanian, Founder of Limitless Leaders, on Elevating Tech Professionals
  • Early inspiration from Think and Grow Rich 
  • Leadership begins with leading oneself
    • Podcast
    Overview

    In this insightful episode, Uma Subramanian, founder of Limitless Leaders and former Microsoft leader, joins Ashutosh Garg to unpack the nuanced challenges and opportunities facing mid-career tech professionals.

    The conversation is filled with practical wisdom on leadership, self-awareness, overcoming invisible barriers, and avoiding burnout.

    Below are key moments from the episode, formatted as questions with bullet points summarizing the highlights.

    01:00 – What defining moments shaped Uma’s understanding of leadership?
    • Early inspiration from Think and Grow Rich 
    • Leadership begins with leading oneself 
    • Realization at Microsoft: being a high performer doesn’t automatically mean being a leader 
    • Leadership is intentionally built, not inherited 
    • Importance of visibility, trust, and impact beyond results
      • 04:35 – What prompted Uma to leave corporate life and start Limitless Leaders?
      • Experiences with negative leadership at a tech startup 
      • Realization that great leaders elevate people, while poor leaders diminish them 
      • A personal “limitless” mindset and belief that everyone can unlock their potential 
      • Passion for helping others overcome limitations caused by confidence gaps and conditioning
        • 07:56 – Why is the mid-career stage critical in leadership development (yet often overlooked)?
        • A shift from execution to influencing and cross-functional alignment 
        • The need for new skills that were not previously rewarded 
        • Importance of intentional awareness and upskilling
          • 09:36 – What invisible barriers hold back high-performing tech professionals from leadership?
          • The belief that “work speaks for itself” 
          • Leadership must be visible and experienced by others 
          • The need to transition from heads-down execution to impactful presence
            • 11:18 – How can leaders reframe imposter syndrome as growth rather than fear?
            • Imposter syndrome signals stepping into bigger roles 
            • Reframing discomfort as a natural part of growth 
            • Leveraging mentorship, coaching, and resources to ease transitions
              • 13:25 – How do leaders consciously build trust when managing former peers?
              • Slowing down and re-establishing relationships 
              • Letting go of past dynamics and the need for likability 
              • Focusing on fairness, stability, and clear boundaries
                • 15:14 – How does emotional intelligence help leaders handle conflict and tough conversations?
                • Shifting focus from oneself to others 
                • Using curiosity and empathy to understand motivations 
                • Finding win-win outcomes through open communication
                  • 16:25 – Why is communication a blind spot for technically brilliant leaders?
                  • Technical professionals are rewarded for accuracy and precision 
                  • Leadership requires vision, influence, and alignment 
                  • Communication skills help leaders inspire and mobilize teams

                    • RESOURCES:

                    Learn more about Uma Subramanian: LinkedIn 

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                    Reframing imposter syndrome:

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                    • Early inspiration from Think and Grow Rich 
                    • Leadership begins with leading oneself 
                    • Realization at Microsoft: being a high performer doesn’t automatically mean being a leader 
                    • Leadership is intentionally built, not inherited 
                    • Importance of visibility, trust, and impact beyond results

                      • The post Uma Subramanian, Founder of Limitless Leaders, on Elevating Tech Professionals first appeared on TBCY.

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