Most new managers walk into the role trying to prove they belong. They study the room, match the tone, and work hard to be liked. Ashwini Balasubramanian did the same thing, and it nearly cost her.

In this episode of The Leader I Needed, James Rosseau Sr. talks with Ashwini, an author and executive who spent years climbing in the male-dominated automotive industry. She spent almost a year blending in so well that her colleagues called her one of the bros. It felt like winning. It was actually holding her back.

The shift came when she stopped trying to impress people and started focusing on impact. She learned the difference between being a culture fit and a culture add, chased skills instead of titles, and turned a painful promotion rejection into a mentoring relationship. She is honest, too, about learning that a leader does not have to have every answer. Her take on influence is just as sharp: it starts with generosity, not transactional networking.

If you have the title but still feel like you are faking the rest, Ashwini hands you the map.

Listen to the full episode on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.