When Sukhinder Singh Cassidy hiked a section of the Great Wall of China while nearly six months pregnant, she didn’t think twice about it. She just kept climbing. She wasn’t trying to make a statement or build a legend. She was simply doing what she always does — pushing forward, one step at a time, without making a fuss about it.
But her team noticed. And 25 years later, they’re still telling the story.
Sukhinder, now the CEO of Xero, the global accounting software platform, has built one of the most decorated careers in tech — from Google to StubHub to founding her own ventures. Along the way, she’s learned that the qualities that drive real leadership aren’t always the ones that show up in a job description. They live in the small moments. And in the willingness to get things wrong before you get them right.
In this episode, you will learn:
Whether you’re navigating a career crossroads or leading through a hard season, Sukhinder’s straight-talking, hard-won wisdom will leave you ready to move.
RESOURCES
Connect with Sukhinder on LinkedIn
Learn more about Xero
Order her book Choose Possibility: Take Risks and Thrive (Even When You Fail)
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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