Earlier this week, I attended a talk by a former CEO of a family-owned company. It was advertised as a lecture, so people likely expected to hear insights about business strategies and management tactics. But instead, I experienced something much richer.
There were no PowerPoint slides. No outline of key business takeaways. Instead, he sat before us in a small group, now in his mid-70s, sharing stories and personal wisdom. He spoke about changing company culture, prioritizing employees who are curious and open, and building trust within teams. But what struck me most was what he shared about his own life and personal growth.
At a critical point earlier in his career, he went to therapy during a difficult period of change. He shared how this experience shaped him, describing how the therapist would ask, “And how did that make you feel?”
“I’d say, ‘Well, I think…’” he explained, then mimicked his therapist’s gentle persistence. “I hear that, but I didn’t ask what you think. I’m curious about how it made you feel.” This experience helped him access his emotions and grow wisdom within them.
“That experience changed my life,” he said. “And this is what I want you to know: anyone can change if they’re motivated to do it. Sadly, it usually takes something very difficult or life-altering to push us in that direction. But anyone can do it.” And he recommended therapy.
I loved that this talk—presumably framed around business acumen—became an opportunity to share how real transformation can take place when we’re willing to ask big questions of ourselves and the cultures we want to create. Here was a man who had held a powerful position, now openly reflecting on how therapy shaped his growth and changed his trajectory.
It was a reminder that real insight doesn’t always come in the form we expect. And maybe the best wisdom is the kind that surprises us.
— Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 