347: Why Failure Looks Different as You Grow with Kelly Burlage

About this episode

Erin Diehl interviews Kelly Burlage about how our relationship with failure evolves throughout our careers and the lessons learned from setbacks.

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Kelly Burlage, Chief Human Resources Officer at Lineage, to explore how our relationship with failure changes as we grow in our careers. From early-career mistakes that feel world-ending to high-stakes leadership decisions that impact entire organizations, Kelly shares why failure is something to learn from. If you've ever found yourself replaying a professional setback or questioning whether you're ready for the next level, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on resilience and leading through uncertainty. Inside This Episode: Why Failure Evolves as Your Career Grows: Kelly shares how her definition of failure has shifted throughout her career and why the challenges that once felt devastating often become the foundation for future success. The Leadership Lessons Hidden Inside Setbacks: Not every failure feels productive in the moment. Kelly reflects on how some of her most difficult professional experiences ultimately accelerated her growth and strengthened her leadership. How to Lead Through High-Stakes Misses: As leaders advance, mistakes become more visible and carry greater consequences. Kelly discusses…

People in this episode

Host: Erin Diehl

Guest: Kelly Burlage

Topics covered

• failure
• career growth
• leadership
• resilience
• professional setbacks
• innovation
• risk-taking

Keywords

• failure
• career
• leadership
• resilience
• setbacks
• innovation
• risk

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lineage

More episodes of Workday Playdate

• 348: AI Anxiety at Work? Let’s Figure It Out Together · June 10, 2026 · 18 min
• 346: Why Your Body Freaks First (and What Leaders Do Next) with Inna Segal · June 3, 2026 · 55 min
• 345: New Mom Confidence During Uncertain Seasons with Rosie Moan · June 2, 2026 · 27 min
• 344: Lead by Lifting Others (Not Your Title) · May 27, 2026 · 17 min
• 343: Why One-Off DEI Training Backfires with Lily Zheng · May 20, 2026 · 50 min
• 342: Human-First Leadership That Actually Works · May 13, 2026 · 19 min