The Powerful Introvert Is Now The Introverted Leader

A new title, 245,000 quiet wins, and the momentum we’re taking into year two.

Happy New Year’s! I have an exciting announcement — so if you can’t wait, go ahead and hit play on the video. Otherwise, read on. I’ve got a personal message for you.

Thank you, friends and supporters of quiet leadership.

A sincere thanks to each and every one of you who subscribed to this newsletter. Your support and feedback has meant so much to me over the past year — and helped me take this from a nice idea to a weekly production, with 43 published episodes. Every time you listen, leave feedback, and share an episode, it’s another win for the quiet folks in the room.

And here’s the part that surprised me most: you’re far from alone. Before midnight on New Year’s Eve, I pulled my download stats for the first year… and we crossed 245,000.

Now, as people in podcasting will tell you, downloads are an imperfect metric because not every download gets a full listen. But I still take this as a measure of intent — and an unmistakable sign that this message is landing. There are a lot quiet, thoughtful, capable people doing the work, speaking out, and leading in ways that don’t always get recognized in loud cultures. And it’s also proof that the world is ready to talk about leadership in a broader way than the usual stereotypes.

Over the past year, I’ve come to realize that what this podcast is about more than anything else is helping to create space for quiet leaders and quiet leadership (because not everyone who leads will seek a formal leadership role). Creating space for the person who leads through clarity instead of dominance. Through empathy instead of ego. Through thoughtful decisions, steady presence, and the ability to make other people better — without needing to be the loudest voice in the room.

That’s also why I’m making a change as we begin this new year: the podcast has a new name.

The Powerful Introvert Podcast is now The Introverted Leader.

Same host. Same heart. Same mission. But a clearer promise.

If there’s one pattern I’ve seen again and again — in my own career and in the stories my guests and listeners share with me — it’s this: introverts don’t struggle because they lack leadership ability. They struggle because the modern workplace often rewards visibility over value, speed over wisdom, and volume over clarity. So the more thoughtful you are, the more reflective you are, the more you think before you speak… the easier it is to go overlooked.

And if you’ve ever felt that — if you’ve ever watched someone get credit because they were more assertive in a meeting, even when you did the thinking… if you’ve ever been passed over because you weren’t “out there” enough… if you’ve ever felt the pressure to perform a version of leadership that just doesn’t fit you — this is exactly why I’m doing this.

The Introverted Leader is for quiet professionals who want to rise in leadership without pretending to be someone they’re not. It’s for the person who does want to get promoted — but wants to do it with integrity. It’s for the person who wants more influence and wants to lead — whether that’s leading a team, leading a project, leading a conversation, or leading their own life — but wants to do it in a way that feels like “me.”

Topics we’ll explore in 2026

If you watch the new season trailer, you’ll hear three promises that I’m making to you this year.

First: we’re going to build real confidence

A huge part of this journey is getting out from under imposter syndrome (and yes, impostor syndrome… both spellings count). Not just the “I don’t belong here” feeling, but the deeper habit of constantly auditioning for permission. The habit of waiting to be chosen. This year, we’re going to talk about how to build the internal permission to lead — and how to pursue promotion and growth without becoming someone else.

Second: we’re going to develop quiet authority in the moments that matter.

Meetings. High-stakes conversations. Presentations. Speaking to senior leadership. These are the moments where introverts often feel pressure to “turn it on” and become more extroverted — and then feel exhausted, awkward, or frustrated afterward. The truth is you don’t need to be louder. You need to be clearer. You need framing. Presence. Timing. A few tools that help you show up with calm confidence and make your ideas land. We’ll talk executive presence, storytelling, and how to speak up in meetings in a way that feels grounded — not forced.

Third: we’re going to build authentic influence — sustainably.

Visibility matters. That’s just reality. But visibility doesn’t have to mean self-promotion that makes your skin crawl. It can be strategic. It can be honest and built on facts — through the work you already do. We’re going to pair that with energy management, because a lot of quiet leaders don’t fail due to lack of talent… they burn out from trying to succeed in a culture that wasn’t designed for them. We’re going to talk about thriving in extroverted environments without losing your cool — or your compass.

When I say “shortcuts,” I’m not talking about hacks. I’m talking about the lessons that took me far too long to learn because no one taught them in a way that worked for someone like me. I had to learn them by trial and error — in meeting rooms, in promotion cycles, in moments where I knew I had more to offer… but wasn’t sure how to translate it into influence.

And I’m still learning. That’s part of why I love doing this. The podcast has become a conversation — not a monologue.

So here’s my ask as we kick off the new year:

• If you haven’t yet, check out the Season Trailer for The Introverted Leader.

• If someone comes to mind while you’re reading this — someone quiet, capable, and overlooked — please send them the trailer.

I’ll leave you with this: quiet leadership is real! You don’t need to become louder to become more influential. You need to become more you — with the right tools, the right language, and the right support.

Here’s to a year of quiet confidence… and real momentum.

— Greg