Why Good Leaders Go Bad – Steven D’Souza

In this episode of Work’s Not Working… Let’s Fix It!, Siân Harrington sits down with Steven D’Souza – award-winning educator, executive coach and senior partner at Korn Ferry – to explore a question few leaders dare to ask: what if the problem isn’t our systems or strategies… but ourselves?

Because as Steven explains, every leader carries a “shadow” – the unseen habits, fears and defences that quietly shape decisions, relationships and culture. When ignored, these shadows can derail even the smartest leaders. When understood, they can become a source of wisdom, empathy and real change.

Drawing on psychology, biology, culture and meaning, Steven reveals how our past shows up in the present – from childhood messages that still drive our behaviour, to toxic corporate patterns that reward overconfidence and silence feedback.

Together, we unpack:

• Why strength under stress so often becomes a weakness in disguise
• How organisational cultures create their own “blind spots” and ethical drift
• What leaders can do to confront their shadow and build healthier, more human workplaces.

Key Takeaways

• Every leader has a shadow – the part they suppress or deny – and it always shows up at work.
• Most derailment isn’t about incompetence but about unexamined patterns under stress.
• Toxic culture thrives when leaders reward results and ignore behaviour.
• Emotional literacy, self-awareness and courage to receive feedback are core leadership skills.
• The future of leadership isn’t perfection – it’s wholeness: knowing both your shadow and your light.

Whether you’re a CEO, manager or HR leader this episode will change how you think about leadership maturity and what it really means to be whole at work.

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