The Smart Communications Podcast

Episode 217: What do leaders need to make difficult decisions?

August 5, 2026·19 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

When tasked with charting a course forward, Dr. Traci Lester, the final president of The Opportunity Agenda (TOA), chose to lead the organization through a deliberate dissolution rather than let it persist in a weakened state. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Dr. Lester about what leaders need to make difficult decisions, from embracing ambiguity to building collaborative decision-making processes. They explore how Traci communicated internally and externally through the crisis, the importance of vulnerability and support systems, and why emerging leaders should still lean into this work. Get honest insight into leadership, change management, and what it really takes to thrive.

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