Aligned Leadership: The Work Behind the Role with Astrid Sundberg

In this heartfelt and unfiltered conversation, Chisom Udeze sits down with Astrid Sundberg, Executive Director of Operation Smile Norway to explore the evolution of leadership, from corporate ambition to mission-driven impact.

Astrid brings over 30 years of experience across scale-ups, start-ups, and global organizations. Together, they unpack what it means to lead with clarity, humility, and emotional honesty, especially in a world where leadership is often caught between performance and purpose.

They cover:

— The difference between people leadership and functional leadership

— Why autocratic systems still linger beneath modern leadership culture

— How grief, burnout, and boundaries can sharpen the way we lead

— Building financially sustainable organizations with soul

— Hiring beyond credentials — the case for intuition and wild cards

— The cost of people-pleasing in leadership — and how to let go

— How to create impact without losing yourself in the processAstrid shares candid stories about leading teams of 200+, navigating career shifts, and leading a nonprofit that honors her late father.At its core, this episode is about the inner work of leadership.

Because sustainable leadership requires self-awareness, boundary-setting, and the courage to evolve.

Astrid’s reflections reveal the often invisible shifts that matter most:

— Moving from people-pleasing to principled leadership

— Letting go of inherited leadership patterns that no longer serve

— Learning to lead from alignment instead of obligation

— Choosing legacy and values over speed or ego

— Creating culture that holds both compassion and accountability