Beyond Confrontation: How to Lead and Influence Without a Fight w/ Nancy Baldwin

02/12/25 • 55 min

Many leaders believe that making an impact means fighting their way to the top. But what if influence could be built through strategy rather than struggle?

Nancy Chen Baldwin shares her journey as an immigrant, Asian American woman, breaking barriers in the corporate world—facing bias, cultural challenges, and leadership hurdles. Nancy is a retired senior executive from one of the largest aerospace companies in the U.S., where she led multi-level engineering organizations in a male-dominated industry. Learn how she navigated resistance, influenced beyond titles, and turned confrontation into opportunity.

🔹 How to challenge leadership without being aggressive
🔹 The key to gaining credibility when underestimated
🔹 Why middle managers hold the real power in change management
🔹 The mindset shift that will transform your leadership

Whether you're navigating corporate politics, overcoming bias, or stepping into different leadership roles, this episode will give you the tools to influence with confidence.

00:00:00 – Intro: The hidden power of influence—leading without a fight
00:02:17 – Being "The First": Walking into the boardroom as a foreign-born woman
00:04:23 – How your first impression can shape career success
00:06:09 – The myth of confrontation: Why fighting isn't the only way to be heard
00:07:39 – How to challenge management without being aggressive
00:10:03 – Redefining confrontation: The art of influencing through solutions
00:14:33 – Change starts with you: Why mindset shifts are key to leadership
00:16:56 – Top-down vs. bottom-up change: The missing piece in change management
00:20:57 – Criticism & bias: Overcoming personal attacks in leadership
00:24:02 – How to gain credibility when you're underestimated
00:29:07 – Understanding stakeholder motivations to drive collaboration
00:33:57 – How taking small risks can shape your leadership journey
00:36:42 – The secret to promotion: Why employees (not bosses) determine your success
00:39:33 – The collectivism trap: Why team players often get bypassed
00:43:28 – Believing in yourself when others doubt you
00:48:11 – Are you limiting your own growth? The question every leader should ask
00:52:30 – Dealing with resistance: How to turn workplace skeptics into supporters

Many leaders believe that making an impact means fighting their way to the top. But what if influence could be built through strategy rather than struggle?

Whether you're navigating corporate politics, overcoming bias, or stepping into different leadership roles, this episode will give you the tools to influence with confidence.

Previous Episode

undefined - Lead Your Way and Rally the World to Support You: Become the First-Generation College Grad Latina Executive with Self-care w/Yesenia Castro

Lead Your Way and Rally the World to Support You: Become the First-Generation College Grad Latina Executive with Self-care w/Yesenia Castro

Ever felt the weight of being the first? Today's guest, Yesi, chose to not be alone and not be overwhelmed. She goes through challenges with others' help and encouragements. She walks through the lows and remembers to take care of herself. In this podcast episode, we delve into the life of a trailblazing first-generation college Latina and nonprofit executive director. Her narrative is one of determination and hope, as she recounts the trials of navigating systems that were foreign to her. Instead of walking this path alone, she sought out mentors who could light the way, which led her to discover her true calling in the realm that no one around her stepped in before.
Despite facing academic to career hurdles, Yesi never allowed herself to be defeated. She found strength in the sacrifices her origin family had made. Throughout her journey, she learned the critical importance of expressing her emotions, reaching out for assistance when needed, and the profound satisfaction that comes from making a positive impact on the lives of the next generation.
Yesi shows us how she honors herself, how gratitude serves her, and the incredible difference a supportive community can make. She offers heartfelt advice to anyone listening: follow your heart, accept the trials and tribulations of life as essential parts of your story, and never underestimate the power of help and encouragement from those around you. "No one dies," Yesi said. She encourages all to take actions to honor our candid decisions in all situations.
Here us discuss
[01:28] First Generation Identity and Becoming the Young Female Executive Director

[06:26] Finding Passion and Purpose

[12:36] Overcoming Challenges in College

[14:22] Support from Family, Life Partner, and Oneself

[20:36] Understanding limitations and Dealing with Tough Moments

[28:08] Momentum and Influencing the Next Generation

[35:24] "Go for it!" "No one dies..."

[38:23] Let's do it!
To know more about Miranda's work:
https://mirandameng.com/

Next Episode

Assumptions That Make or Break Your Leadership Influence w/Steven Parker

What assumptions have shaped your leadership experience? And have you ever felt like the “outsider” in the team you lead—like a new son-in-law or daughter-in-law in a close-knit family?

Assumptions shape how we lead, but what happens when they don’t match reality? Whether it’s cultural norms, workplace expectations, or team dynamics, leaders often face hidden gaps in alignment that can make or break their success.

Steven Parker, a business advisor, former CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, and now a business owner, talked about the hidden gaps in leadership alignment across cultures and organizations. With decades of experience in global business and cross-cultural leadership, Steven shares how leaders can gain trust, align with team members, and drive results—without losing clarity.

We discuss:

✔ Why leadership that works in one setting might not translate elsewhere
✔ How cultural and company expectations shape leadership effectiveness
✔ Why observing team dynamics reveals hidden challenges and untapped talent
✔ How identity and self-awareness impact leadership and collaboration
✔ How clarity—not assumptions—helps leaders drive real results

You will hear:

(00:00) - (04:30) How assumptions shape first impressions and workplace interactions
(04:31) - (07:45) Why we have different expectations?
(07:46) - (11:20) The danger of making leadership decisions based on assumptions
(11:21) - (15:10) The hidden leadership blind spot create barriers for new leaders
(15:11) - (18:45) Are you being too flexible or too rigid?
(18:46) - (22:30) When leadership expectations collide: Who should adapt?
(22:31) - (26:15) One small shift that makes leadership easier across different teams
(26:16) - (30:45) Observing team dynamics to identify hidden talents and issues
(30:46) - (39:27) Why leaders struggle with their own identity—and how it impacts leadership
(39:28) - (41:40) Self-awareness and perception: Knowing yourself and helping others understand you

Dance in Change - Beyond Confrontation: How to Lead and Influence Without a Fight w/ Nancy Baldwin

Transcript

00:00:00.066

like you say Everything in a first in a bard room; first woman of color Foreign born

00:00:06.299

speak English with very very heavy accent all the stuff that you can see that is kind of like you know against the so called immigrants right in this case I was a foreigner in a foreign country so the cultures and all that stuff but you know it's like just focusing on being an intern intern at the time

00:00:27.966

for me was of cours