Leadership, Power, and Real Growth at Work I Charley Wedeen-Zittle

Leadership, Power, and Real Growth at Work I Charley Wedeen-Zittle

From 40% Better - Engineering Leadership by Bill

May 8, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

Bill Lennan and Charley Wedeen-Zittle discuss leadership, power dynamics, and fostering a thriving workplace culture.

In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Charley Wedeen-Zittle, Sr. Value Engineer at Box, for a raw and thoughtful conversation about leadership, power dynamics, and what actually makes people thrive at work. Charley shares how her leadership journey began early in life, shaped by a strong sense of responsibility and a belief that if you care, you step up. From student leadership to navigating complex workplace environments, she reflects on lessons learned the hard way, including balancing efficiency with empathy and learning how to lead with people, not over them. This conversation goes deep into what separates good leaders from ineffective ones. You will hear honest perspectives on intrinsic motivation, why co-creating environments leads to better outcomes, and how leadership is less about control and more about enabling others to succeed. Bill and Charley also unpack the idea that leadership is a system that can be learned, practiced, and improved over time. A major theme throughout the episode is the gap between what companies say and what they actually do. Charley challenges performative approaches to leadership, diversity, and workplace culture…

People in this episode

Host: Bill Lennan

Guest: Charley Wedeen-Zittle

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • power dynamics
  • workplace culture
  • intrinsic motivation
  • empathy in leadership
  • toxic environments

Keywords

  • leadership
  • workplace
  • empathy
  • motivation
  • toxic environments
  • feedback
  • management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Box

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