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

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, explaining why checking boxes never replaces genuine care for people. She also shares real experiences navigating toxic environments and offers clear, practical advice on how to handle difficult managers, when to give feedback, and when it is time to walk away. The discussion also explores managing up, managing across, and understanding power structures inside organizations. Charley breaks down how to communicate effectively with leaders, advocate for yourself, and build influence without formal authority. Bill adds insights on leadership as a learnable system, including how breaking skills into small, repeatable actions can help anyone grow into a stronger leader. You will also hear powerful insights on resilience, personal responsibility, and the courage it takes to operate outside your comfort zone. Whether it is giving feedback, navigating difficult conversations, or building emotional composure, this episode offers practical ways to grow both professionally and personally. Topics covered: leadership development and mindset managing up and influencing without authority workplace culture and employee experience handling toxic managers and difficult situations intrinsic motivation and team performance leadership systems and skill building career growth and feedback strategies personal responsibility and resilience Featuring: Bill Lennan Host of 40 Percent Better Charley Wedeen-Zittle Sr. Value Engineer Box Connect with Charley Wedeen-Zittle on Linkedln - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wedeen/ If you are looking to become a better leader, navigate workplace challenges, or understand how to build real influence at work, this episode delivers clear, honest, and actionable insights. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, growth, and real experiences from the tech world. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast