Dr. Laura welcomes executive coach, author, and former Microsoft leader Sabina Nawaz for a discussion on what it really takes to become a manager people want to follow. Drawing from her own experience of shifting from a caring leader to one she no longer recognized under pressure, Sabina shares a deeply human perspective on how pressure, more than power, quietly shapes behavior at work. Dr. Laura and Sabina explore how even the most well-intentioned managers can fall into common traps that limit their teams, including the tendency to take on too much or unknowingly diminish others’ contributions. They invite reflection on how leadership shows up in everyday moments and how small, intentional shifts can transform both personal effectiveness and team culture.
Dr. Laura and Sabina unpack practical strategies to navigate busyness, create space for clearer thinking, and build feedback loops that support growth. Sabina introduces the concept of micro habits as a sustainable path to change, along with the importance of intentionally creating blank space to access deeper insight. The conversation also challenges conventional thinking about “leader” as a title, reframing leadership instead as a shared practice that can be activated by anyone. With warmth and professional curiosity, Dr. Laura guides a discussion that highlights how cultivating awareness and letting go of the need to have all the answers can unlock greater potential in managers and their teams.
“It is not power that corrupts us. It is pressure, and under pressure we have a choice point.” – Sabina Nawaz
About Sabina Nawaz:
Sabina Nawaz is an elite executive coach who advises C-level executives and teams at Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions around the world. Sabina routinely gives speeches each year and teaches faculty at Northeastern and Drexel Universities.
During her fourteen-year tenure at Microsoft, she went from managing software development teams to leading the company’s executive development and succession planning efforts for over 11,000 managers and nearly a thousand executives, advising Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer directly.
She has written for and been featured in Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, NBC, Nasdaq, and MarketWatch.
Resources:
Website: SabinaNawaz.com
Book: “YOU’RE THE BOSS: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)” by Sabina Nawaz
LinkedIn: SabinaNawaz
“The Anomaly: A Novel” by Hervé Le Tellier, translated by Adriana Hunter
“Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence” by Anna Lembke MD
“I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss” by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett
Dr. Laura on LinkedIn
Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube
Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live
