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Career and leadership growth were never meant to be a straight line, and Akua Nyame-Mensah has lived that truth beautifully.

From urban planning to AmeriCorps to leading a startup, Akua’s career has moved in seasons, each one building on the last in unexpected ways. Now a leadership advisor, she helps others navigate their own cycles with more clarity and less pressure.

Key Takeaways

In this conversation, Akua shares her Leadership Cycle framework, a grounded approach to awareness, intentional action, and calibrating expectations, and why the messy seasons are just as valuable as the thriving ones.

+ Leadership is a cycle, not a destination. The goal isn’t to arrive somewhere; it’s to keep checking in.

+ Your “condition” is data. Whether you’re Thriving, Reluctant, Overwhelmed, or Firefighting, each state points to what needs attention — not a reflection of your worth as a leader.

+ Success is yours to define.  The traditional career ladder is obsolete. Knowing what you value, and being honest about the season you’re in, is the real work.

A conversation that reminds you: wherever you are in the cycle, you’re exactly where you need to be.

Connect with Akua:
🤝 Akua on the web: Website | LinkedIn

Resources mentioned in this episode
Leadership Cycle: Unlock your leadership
The Open Door Conversations Podcast: Discover your perfect podcast playlist for where you are in your leadership journey.

Akua’s Flourishing Fave:
Podcast: Duped – The Dark Side of Online Business by Michelle Mazur and Maggie Patterson

🌟 The Flourish Careers Podcast is proudly highlighted in the Top Career Podcast Guide

Ways to work with me:
+ Join Fried to Flourishing, the self-paced career change course or virtual coaching experience.
+ You’re invited to the Gathering Ground, an insider circle where careers take root, grow, and flourish.
+ Browse around the shop and check out the playbooks: Make The Leap, Ultimate Playbook for Heart-Based Career Change | The Complete Interview Prep Playbook | Jumpstart Your Job Search, Gift for Grads

Guidelines for Giving & Receiving Feedback

Strategies to Help You Amplify your Career with this Powerful Tool

ACCESS THE DOWNLOAD HERE

Want more career wisdom? Check out these podcast episodes/blog posts!

+ Subtract to Succeed: How Doing Less Can Transform Your Life with Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey
+ How to Build a Network When You Hate Networking (No Small Talk Required) with Yolanda M. Owens
+ Career Courage: Why It’s Finally Time To Do What’s Right For You—And How To Begin

For more insider stories, quick tips, and #CareerTalk, I invite you to connect with me on Instagram @flourish.careers.

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