Dorinda Walker

Most people think leadership is shaped in boardrooms. For me, it was shaped in a moment I didn’t fully appreciate at the time. Years ago, before I became an executive, I was leading a project and focused on execution. I wanted to prove myself, so I did what I thought great leaders did. I moved fast, focused on being efficient and achieving results. But I remember feeling frustrated in meetings. Because instead of getting straight to the point, the Vice Presidnet I was working with wanted...

There’s a version of success we all recognize. The titles.The promotions.The moments where people look at your life and think, she made it. But there’s another version that doesn’t get talked about enough. The one where you’re showing up, doing everything you’re supposed to do…and quietly carrying things no one can see. That’s what this conversation with Shirell Gross reminded me of. Shirell has had an incredible career. Global chief counsel. Advising leadership. Sitting at tables where real...

One of the most common patterns I see in high achievers is overfunctioning. Overfunctioning looks like: Carrying too much responsibility Solving problems before others can engage Absorbing emotional pressure for the entire team Believing your value comes from how much you can handle From the outside, it looks like competence. From the inside, it can be exhausting. And sometimes it isn’t leadership at all. Sometimes it’s simply a trauma response that was rewarded. The Leadership Shift That...