Episode 39. The Cost of Avoidance & the Power of Proactive Leadership

In this episode, Emily is joined by Mike Wright, CEO of Orthodent Laboratory (ODL), for an honest and insightful conversation about the challenges of leadership — especially when it comes to the hard stuff most leaders avoid.

Together, they unpack how hesitation to set expectations, give feedback, or drive change can quietly derail teams and erode culture — and how Mike has worked to overcome those tendencies to lead more proactively, effectively, and courageously.

Mike shares real lessons from his leadership journey, including what’s helped him shift from "keeping the peace" to holding people (and himself) more accountable — and how that’s impacted the business for the better.

If you're a leader feeling the tension between care and confrontation, or stuck in analysis paralysis about when and how to act, this episode will hit home