Leadership Isn’t a Ladder—It’s a Leap


Leadership Isn’t a Ladder—It’s a Leap

By Hannah Baker


Dear Reader,

Most people think of leadership as a ladder: start as an individual contributor (IC), climb step by step, and eventually land at the top.

My journey was far from that.

I never had a traditional design job or a managerial title handed to me.

Instead, I jumped straight into founding and leading a business—without a roadmap, a role model, or even a clear sense of what leadership was supposed to look like.

It wasn’t always smooth.

There were moments I felt utterly out of my depth, wondering if I was cut out for this.

But over time, I learned that leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers or projecting perfection.

It’s about trusting yourself, listening deeply, and enabling others to grow.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re ready to step into leadership, here’s my take:

You probably already are.

You don’t need a title to lead.

You need curiosity, empathy, and the courage to take the first step.

Key Lessons and Action Steps

Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned about leadership, paired with actionable questions to help you take your next steps:

1. Trust Your Instincts

When I first stepped into leadership, I constantly questioned myself.

Did I know enough? Was I making the right decisions?

Over time, I realized that trusting my instincts—and being okay with getting it wrong sometimes—was the key to growth.

Actionable Question:

What’s one decision you’ve been hesitating on? What would it look like if you trusted your instincts and took action?

2. It’s Okay Not to Know

One of the hardest things about leadership is feeling like you need all the answers.

But some of the best moments in my journey came from admitting I didn’t know something and turning to others for their expertise.

Actionable Question:

What’s one area where you could benefit from someone else’s input? Who could you reach out to this week for guidance?

3. Write It Down

Early on, I learned that decisions can get muddled over time.

Writing things down—whether it’s key takeaways from a meeting or the rationale behind a choice—not only keeps everyone aligned but also helps you reflect on your growth as a leader.

Actionable Step:

Start a leadership journal. Write down one important decision or learning from this week.

4. Lead by Listening

Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room.

It’s about listening—to your team, your clients, and even what’s left unsaid.

Reflecting back on what you hear builds trust and opens the door to collaboration.

Actionable Practice:

In your next conversation, try reflecting back what you hear: “What I’m hearing is... Is that correct?” Notice how this changes the dynamic.

5. Be an Enabler, Not a Boss

For me, leadership is about enabling others.

It’s creating opportunities for people to grow, test new skills, and shine.

But I’ve also learned that sometimes people need direction and clear deadlines to thrive.

Balance is key.

Actionable Reflection:

Who in your team or community could benefit from more ownership or encouragement? What’s one way you can empower them this week?

Leadership isn’t about waiting until you feel ready or being handed a title.

It’s about stepping up, trusting yourself, and learning along the way.

It’s about enabling others and knowing that mistakes are part of the process.

If I can do it, so can you.

Take one of the questions above and act on it this week.

Leadership doesn’t start with a title—it begins with a mindset shift.

Let me know which insight resonates most with you or how you’re taking steps toward leadership.

I’d love to hear your story!

The Core Team's first Guild of Working Designers event is happening later this month!

It’s called Venting Session #1: New Year’s Resolutions, and it’s all about coming together to share, reflect, and set meaningful goals—or maybe just vent a little about the pressure of resolutions.

It’s happening on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 19:00 CET

You can subscribe and secure your spot now: RSVP here

This is a great chance to kick off the year with some shared reflection and connection with fellow designers


ONLINE WORKSHOP: Leading Effective Discussions
Learn how to confidently guide discussions, even without authority.
Date: Sept. 9, 2025
Time: 6:00-8:30 PM CEST
Buy a Seat


UX Strategy Info Session
Move beyond design execution and into strategic influence.
Date: Sept. 17, 2025
Time: 7:00-7:45 PM CEST
Reserve a Seat (free)


COURSE: Facilitating Workshops
Learn to design and lead engaging workshops that lead to real results.
Next Cohort: Sept. 29 – Nov. 6, 2025
Early Bird Ends: Aug. 22 – Save €200
Buy a Seat


COURSE: Defining UX Strategy
Learn to design a winning strategy that aligns design with business.
Next Cohort: Oct. 13 – Nov. 24, 2025
Join the Waitlist


Until next time!

Hannah Baker
Facilitator & Co-Founder
The Fountain Institute

The Fountain Institute

The Fountain Institute is an independent online school that teaches advanced UX & product skills.

Read more from The Fountain Institute
Six-screen signup: SSO/login, email entry, verify email (pre- & post-entry states), OTP with timer, success.

Level-up your critiques in 3 questions By Hannah Baker Dear Reader, You know the critique that starts with “quick feedback” and ends 45 minutes later with five conflicting opinions and no next step? Or the one where a senior voice speaks first and the room quietly aligns, even when the data points elsewhere. Here’s a simple pattern, adapted from Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), that pulls critiques out of taste debates and into clearer decisions. What VTS is (in 60 seconds) VTS is a...

What is design strategy?

The Summer Edition(and a Free Masterclass) by Jeff Humble Dear Reader, I'm taking some time off for summer, and I hope you are, too. When I'm off, I end up watching a lot of YouTube, so... A Free Masterclass on YouTube If you've ever wondered about design strategy, this masterclass has you covered. It's called "What is Design Strategy?" The toolbox of the design strategist is incredibly powerful, but it's not well documented. See what it looks like when the designer's sphere of influence...

A Workshop Agenda No One Wants By Hannah Baker Dear Reader, Last week, I posted a fake workshop agenda on LinkedIn. The kind we’ve all been in that drains your will to collaborate. I shared it as a joke. It reached 100,000+ people • 800+ likes • 100+ comments • 20+ reposts But the comments weren’t just laughs. They were…grief. People didn’t just say “ha ha, I’ve seen this.” They said: “Oh no. I’ve run this.” The real takeaway? We’re not bad at facilitation, we have to break the status quo. We...