A great candidate may radiate executive presence. They’ve rehearsed every answer, mastered the content, and projected the perfect image. But something still feels… off. Why? Because they’re playing a role — not showing up as themselves.
Authenticity is the foundation of trust. Candidates who focus too much on “looking” the part often miss the essence of leadership: “connection and credibility”. Faking it in the C-suite is a recipe for failure — teams quickly sense when authenticity is missing.
This leads us to ask: what fosters real connection?
Stories
Vulnerability
Personal insight
The most compelling leaders are those who align their values with their actions — and have the courage to be themselves.