How to Make a Leader

Ingrid Hu Dahl believes the most effective leaders are those who intentionally break rules, challenging the status quo. 

With diverse experience as a punk-rock musician, executive coach and L&D leader at Gap, Meta and Capital One, Ingrid offers a radically human perspective on leadership - one that is rooted in rebellion and genuine connection. She shares personal stories and learnings about why the best leaders are the rebels who dare to challenge the status quo and lead with authenticity. 

You’ll learn:
  • Why rebellion is a powerful force in leadership
  • Fast reset tools to reduce workplace stress
  • How to break toxic patterns in traditional leadership cultures
  • How to lead with empathy and inclusion in high-stress environments 

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Ingrid Hu Dahl
(02:43) Rebellion as a foundation for authentic leadership
(04:07) The parallels of young musicians and high-performing teams
(05:41) Coaching executives through fear, doubt, and isolation
(10:09) Leading with empathy in high-stress environments
(12:07) Fast reset tools to reduce workplace stress
(16:20) Writing a memoir and not a leadership book
(21:49) Breaking toxic patterns in traditional leadership cultures
(25:12) Bringing experimentation and play into team culture
(28:38) Daily behaviors that define inclusive leadership today
(33:40) Advice for leaders who are ready to rebel

To learn more about Ingrid, check out her website and her book Sun Shining On Morning Snow.

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About Ingrid Hu Dahl:

Ingrid Hu Dahl is an author, speaker, and leadership coach. She is the founder of a coaching and consulting business dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders. With over two decades of experience in learning and development, she brings her expertise to a wide range of industries, from corporate and media to nonprofit and social justice organizations. 

A TEDx speaker and a founding member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp in Brooklyn, Ingrid has a lifelong passion for amplifying underrepresented voices. She has written, filmed, and directed two short films exploring identity, representation, and the mixed-race experience. And, she has toured in multiple rock bands, playing bass, guitar, synth, drums, and singing.

Ingrid is certified by the International Coaching Federation and the Center for Creative Leadership. She is a global lecturer and speaker, and an advisory board member for the Institute for Women’s Leadership at Rutgers University. She lives in Sausalito, California, with her wife, Courtney, and their dog, Palo Santo.

What is How to Make a Leader?

Welcome to "How to Make a Leader," a leadership development podcast from Big Think+ where we take the best ideas from the biggest minds in learning and development and distill them into actionable insights. In each episode, host Hannah Beaver sits down with learning and development leaders to discuss how to create world-class leadership development programs, how to nurture frontline leadership skills, and even how to combat burnout.