# Build Better Decisions Using Self-Awareness Others Ignore | Liesl Chang - E48

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/leadership-unlocked-how-leaders-win-in-the-era-of-ai-7324654/build-better-decisions-using-self-awareness-others-ignore-liesl-chang-e48
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/leadership-unlocked-how-leaders-win-in-the-era-of-ai-7324654/build-better-decisions-using-self-awareness-others-ignore-liesl-chang-e48.md
Podcast: [Leadership Unlocked: How Leaders Win in the Era of AI](https://stenobird.com/podcast/leadership-unlocked-how-leaders-win-in-the-era-of-ai-7324654)
Published: 2026-02-18T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/4da0d4f4
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.transistor.fm/4da0d4f4/93eb507d.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/leadership-unlocked-how-leaders-win-in-the-era-of-ai-7324654/episodes/build-better-decisions-using-self-awareness-others-ignore-liesl-chang-e48
Duration seconds: 3272

## Resource

Dusty sits down with Liesl Chang—entrepreneur, systems thinker, and founder of Comeback Goods—for a wide-ranging conversation that explores how self-awareness, curiosity, and disciplined systems thinking shape meaningful leadership. Tracing her path from studying Russian history to building logistics infrastructure at high-growth startups like Zimments and Casper, Liesl reflects on the formative moments that redirected her career, including the loss of her father and a growing refusal to settle for work that lacked purpose. Together, she and Dusty unpack the hidden operational realities of e-commerce—especially the costly, overlooked problem of returns—and how that insight led Liesl to found Comeback Goods, a marketplace built around reclaiming “almost perfect” home goods with minor imperfections. Along the way, Liesl shares why differentiation and financial discipline are non-negotiables, how narrative and systems intersect, and why leadership rooted in presence, follow-through, and genuine human connection ultimately creates the most durable impact. Key Timestamps: (01:31) – The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership (05:59) – Early Influences and Entrepreneurial Spirit (09:03) – Academic Journey: From Russian History to Entrepreneurship (22:13) – Venturing into E-commerce and Logistics (25:14) – The Challenges of E-commerce Returns (30:05) – Embracing Imperfections, Sustainability, and Returns (37:28) – Building a Network (42:27) – Rapid Fire Questions Key Topics Discussed: Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insight…

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