Kate Waterfall-Hill: The Funny Truth About Serious Leadership

The Power Within

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Kate Waterfall-Hill brings a refreshing perspective to leadership that challenges conventional wisdom; boardrooms don't have to be boring. With her viral character "Linda the Bad Manager" amassing over 150 million views, Kate has found a powerful way to highlight poor leadership practices through humor while offering practical alternatives.
The conversation takes us through Kate's fascinating journey from boutique marketing agency managing director to business consultant to leadership coach. Her creation of Linda - the embodiment of everything a manager shouldn't do serves as both comic relief and serious education for leaders everywhere. "The videos have garnered millions of views because the mistakes are so easy to make," Kate explains, "I've made the mistakes Linda makes."
What truly sets Kate apart is her belief in kindness as a leadership superpower. Whilst many view leadership as requiring toughness and authority, Kate shares compelling examples of how empathy produces superior outcomes. One story involves a managing partner at a law firm who, instead of asserting dominance over a dismissive colleague, approached the situation with curiosity and empathy - resulting in a productive working relationship rather than continued conflict.
The podcast delves into the crucial transition from individual contributor to manager to leader. "What got you here won't get you there," Kate emphasises, explaining that great leaders enable others to shine rather than trying to be the smartest person in the room. This shift requires intentional effort and often external support "Top CEOs have coaches for a reason."
Kate's insights on resilience are equally powerful, describing it not merely as "toughing it out" but knowing when to reset, creating space between meetings for reflection, and recognising when to ask for help. Her pre-crastinator approach - taking immediate action rather than waiting for perfection - offers valuable advice for anyone feeling stuck.
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Chapters

1. Introducing Kate Waterfall-Hill (00:00:00)

2. The Woman Behind Linda the Bad Manager (00:06:18)

3. When Humor Helps or Harms Leadership (00:10:14)

4. Transitioning from Manager to Leader (00:16:19)

5. The Importance of Resilience in Leadership (00:21:34)

6. Technology's Role in Leadership Development (00:26:45)

7. Kate's Career Pivots and Defining Moments (00:36:25)

8. The Power of Taking Action (00:48:06)