Dr. Esther Longe 
I recently came across a viral interview clip on Instagram. The interviewer posed the usual question we’ve all heard at some point: “How do you manage work-life balance?”
The response was unexpected and refreshingly real. The interviewee paused and said with quiet vulnerability, “I don’t. I’m tired all the time.”
It was a moment of striking honesty that, while humorous on the surface, resonated deeply with millions. Why? Because in that brief answer, the interviewee gave voice to what so many accomplished people feel but rarely admit out loud.
Now, what does this have to do with you and me?
For years, we’ve been sold the myth of balance, especially as women in leadership. We’ve been taught—implicitly and explicitly—that we must neatly compartmentalise our lives. That we should separate our personal selves from our professional selves. That we must pursue success with a smile, carry the burdens with grace, and still show up polished, productive, and poised.
But here’s the truth that we’re finally beginning to embrace: real leadership is not about compartmentalisation—it’s about integration.
I’ve been reflecting on and studying a concept I call whole leadership. It’s a leadership style that allows the leader to bring her full self into every space. It recognises that the wisdom, discernment, faith, emotional intelligence, and even the weariness we carry are not distractions from leadership—they are dimensions of it.
Our lives, in their fullness, are the message. And that message is powerful—not just in boardrooms or strategy sessions, but in mentorship conversations, hallway moments, and the quiet ways we lead through presence and authenticity.
There’s an entire generation rising—watching us closely. And while they appreciate our accolades, what they’re really hungry for is truth. They’re tired of curated highlight reels. They want to see the cost of the calling, the process behind the success, and the faith that sustains us in the moments when everything looks like it’s working but we feel like we’re falling apart.
They want to hear us say:
“I’m successful and sometimes exhausted.”
“I made that decision based on both data and discernment.”
“I felt led to this opportunity—I couldn’t explain it logically, but I knew spiritually.”
“I had a gut feeling about that hire, and I leaned into it.”
Statements like these peels back the curtain and give the next generation something far more valuable than a perfectly curated narrative—they give them permission to lead with their whole selves too.
It’s time we normalise the power of female intuition, spiritual conviction, and emotional honesty in leadership. These are not soft skills or lesser traits. They are strategic assets—especially when anchored in faith and honed through experience.
As executive women, we don’t need to choose between faith and professionalism, or between intuition and intellect. We are not either/or leaders. We are both/and.
Yes, we lead teams. Yes, we manage high-stakes projects. Yes, we operate at senior levels. And yes, we also pray, we pause to seek God’s wisdom, we lean into divine nudges, and we acknowledge the spiritual dimension that undergirds everything we do.
This is what it looks like to walk with both power and presence. To lead with both strategy and spirit. To walk out our calling—not in fragments—but in fullness.
Our intuition and discernment may not always be easily quantifiable, but they are just as powerful as our spreadsheets and KPIs. They are God-given tools, not liabilities. And acknowledging them as part of our leadership journey doesn’t diminish our professionalism—it amplifies our authenticity.
Let’s not shrink the fullness of who we are to fit outdated models of success. Instead, let’s redefine what leadership looks like for the next generation of women: faith-filled, intuitively led, emotionally honest, and wholly present.
In a world that rewards the highlight reel, may we have the courage to lead with our whole hearts—and our whole lives!