In this episode of The Daily Helping, we welcome back elite executive coach Sabina Nawaz, nearly five years to the day since her last appearance. Sabina is a trusted advisor to C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions worldwide. A former Microsoft leader who managed executive development for over 11,000 managers—including Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer—Sabina has since dedicated her career to helping leaders navigate high-pressure environments while fostering growth and resilience. She’s been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and many more. Today, she joins us to discuss her new book, You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need.

Sabina shares her deeply personal leadership journey, revealing how she went from being a celebrated manager to an overwhelmed leader who lost touch with her team—only to turn things around through self-awareness and intentional change. She breaks down key insights from her book, including the concept of "communication fault lines," the dangers of the "sole provider" mindset, and the critical importance of developing what she calls the "shut-up muscle." With over 12,000 pages of leadership feedback gathered from her coaching career, she provides data-backed strategies for creating a thriving workplace culture.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

Sabina urges us to stop believing our own limiting narratives and challenge the “yeah, but” excuses we tell ourselves. Instead, she encourages adopting an improv-inspired yes, and mindset—expanding our perspectives and opening ourselves up to new possibilities. Whether you’re a manager, a parent, or just someone navigating life’s pressures, this episode is packed with invaluable leadership lessons.

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