Leadership lessons from Connie Liu: Embracing the messy middle as a founder
In a recent episode of In Her Words, I sat down with Connie Liu — two-time founder, executive coach, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree — to explore the winding, often messy path of entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Connie’s story, from engineering at MIT to founding Tandem (a coaching and mentorship platform for startup teams), is a masterclass in resilience, self-discovery, and the power of human connection.
Whether you’re a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or someone navigating a career transition, Connie’s journey offers a roadmap for thriving amid uncertainty.
In this post, we distill her most valuable insights into two essential themes: mindset and emotional intelligence.
Embracing the Messy Middle
Connie’s entrepreneurial path began with a leap of faith — a $25,000 grant and a dream, but no guarantees. She emphasizes that founders rarely have all the answers at the start. Instead, success comes from a willingness to begin before you’re ready, persist through setbacks, and stay anchored to your vision even when the numbers don’t add up.
She introduced me to the concept of “duck syndrome” — the idea that founders often appear calm and collected on the surface while paddling furiously underneath. It’s a reminder that the challenges and chaos of building something new are normal, not a sign you’re failing.
Breakthroughs often come from sustained effort, not from waiting for the perfect plan.
Connie Liu
Leading with Self-Awareness
For Connie, sustainable leadership is rooted in emotional intelligence — self-awareness, empathy, and the courage to be vulnerable. Through her own coaching journey, she discovered the power of honest self-reflection and the importance of creating spaces where both leaders and teams can be real about their challenges.
Connie recommends embracing vulnerability and investing in human connections. Whether through coaching, mentorship, or intentional community-building, real relationships are the antidote to loneliness and the foundation of innovation.
True leadership is about empowering others, not micromanaging. Cultivate trust, delegate, and focus on the big picture.
Connie Liu
Your Story Matters
Connie’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, authenticity, and emotional intelligence. The founder’s path will always be messy and nonlinear, but by embracing vulnerability and prioritizing real human connection, you can create meaningful impact — for yourself and others.
Connect with Connie
🎧 Want to go deeper?
Listen to the full episode of In Her Words to hear Connie share more about her journey, lessons learned, and practical advice for founders navigating the messy middle.
