# You’re not “just” anything: rethinking leadership, identity and assumptions at work with Jessica Lee

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/people-soup-971297/you-re-not-just-anything-rethinking-leadership-identity-and-assumptions-at-work-with-jessica-lee.md
Podcast: [People Soup](https://stenobird.com/podcast/people-soup-971297)
Published: 2026-04-13T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://peoplesoup.captivate.fm/episode/youre-not-just-anything-rethinking-leadership-identity-and-assumptions-at-work-with-jess-lee
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ed823d1c-91ce-4ff3-abd6-1c4e155371d8.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1311

## Resource

The limiting stories we tell ourselves—like 'I'm just HR' or 'I'm not creative'—subtly dictate our professional impact and potential. Organizational psychologist Jess Lee explains how to dismantle these self-imposed labels to unlock authentic leadership and innovation.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Labels like 'I'm just IT' or 'I'm not creative' act as psychological barriers that minimize individual contributions
- Failure mode: Relying on title-based definitions of leadership prevents people from exercising influence outside of formal hierarchies
- Practical takeaway: Use 'kind questions' and intentional pauses before meetings to evaluate your intended impact and presence
- Main idea: True leadership is not a job title but a disciplined practice of self-awareness and managing one's internal narrative
- Practical takeaway: Reclaim 'creativity' by applying it to problem-solving and advisory roles rather than just artistic expression

## Topics

Organizational Psychology, Leadership Development, Self-Awareness, Workplace Culture, Professional Identity, Behavioral Science, Personal Growth, Emotional Intelligence

## Chapters
- 1:00 — Career Foundations: Jess Lee discusses her background in organizational psychology and how her international experience shaped her view of workplace culture.
- 2:40 — The Impact of Cultural Assumptions: Exploring how different global environments influence our professional assumptions and the ease with which we misjudge others.
- 9:00 — The Danger of Minimizing Roles: An analysis of the 'I am just...' phenomenon in service functions like HR and IT and how it devalues essential business contributors.
- 10:20 — Redefining Creativity in Tech: Challenging the adult misconception that creativity is limited to the arts, and how it applies to technical and advisory roles.
- 12:10 — Leadership Beyond Titles: Moving away from hierarchy-based identity toward a model where every individual can exercise leadership through influence.
- 16:50 — Human-Centered Leadership: Discussing the discipline of self-reflection and using mindfulness to prevent internal narratives from limiting professional behavior.
- 18:30 — The Paradox of Modern Leadership: Addressing the overwhelming expectations on modern leaders and the necessity of authentic self-knowledge.

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## Transcript

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