Meredith
Jolly
Chair at Vistage Worldwide
"Too Nice to Lead? Why Kindness is a Leadership Weapon"
"Too Nice to Lead? Why Kindness is a Leadership Weapon"
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Session: Too Nice to Lead? Why Kindness is a Leadership Weapon
For most of my career, I was told I was “too nice,” “too soft,” or “too empathetic” to lead at the highest levels. Translation? I didn’t fit the outdated, masculine mold of leadership.Then I became a tech CEO.
Then I sold companies.
Then I got sober.
Then I rebuilt my career from the inside out.
And here’s what I know for sure:
Kindness is not weakness. It is strategic strength.
In this talk, I challenge the myth that women must harden themselves to succeed in tech. I’ll share real leadership stories from the C-suite, moments where empathy outperformed ego, and how emotional intelligence has become a competitive advantage in modern organizations.
Attendees will learn how to:
• Lead with authority and humanity
• Set boundaries without losing warmth
• Stop apologizing for their leadership style
• Use kindness to drive results, retention, and culture
• Reframe “too nice” as a leadership superpower
This session is for women who are tired of shrinking, masking, or “toughening up” to be taken seriously. You don’t need to become someone else to lead. You need to own who you already are.
Key Takeaways
- How to lead with authority and humanity
- How to stop apologizing for your leadership style
- Reframe "niceness" as a superpower
Bio
Meredith Jolly is a former tech CEO, executive coach, and peer advisory chair who helps leaders grow with clarity and confidence. After leading companies through acquisition, Meredith reinvented her career in her 50s and now champions modern leadership rooted in empathy, accountability, and authenticity. She’s passionate about helping women own their leadership style without apology.