The Leadership Trap: Why Staying in the Middle Never Works | #1 The Room by VDS

Leadership doesn’t fail because leaders don’t grow enough. It fails when growth becomes the wrong answer at the wrong time.
In this first episode of The Room by VDS, we challenge one of the most ingrained ideas in leadership and startups: that growth always leads to better decisions. Recorded at VDS, this conversation brings together three experienced voices in leadership, culture, and talent to explore why staying in the middle is often the biggest leadership trap.
Joining this episode:
Ingrid Tappin, Author of Exceptionals and Founder & CEO of Diverse Leaders in Tech


Gwen Kolader, Former VP of DE&I at Hexaware and Global People & Culture Leader


Wouter Van Den Berg, Founder and Chief Talent Activation at BrainCompass
Together, they unpack what leadership really looks like when theory meets reality: the tension between growth and performance, the difference between inner game and outer game, and why balance is often the wrong goal.
In this episode, we explore:
Why growth is not always the solution in leadership


How leaders get stuck trying to stay “in the middle”


Identity shifts, failure, and letting go of old ambitions


Trust, values, and decision-making under pressure


What founders and executives must unlearn as they scale
This episode is for founders, CEOs, people leaders, and anyone navigating leadership in complex, fast-changing environments.

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