256: Why Waiting to Feel “Ready” Is Killing Your Potential | Valerie Bowden

Valerie Bowden, founder and CEO of Cradle and a former social worker turned multi-startup entrepreneur, helps leaders build resilience, confidence, and impact by doing hard things before they feel ready. In this episode, host Damon Lembi and Valerie Bowden explore courage, leadership growth through adversity, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to scale a purpose-driven business.

Read the full breakdown of Valerie Bowden’s episode on Learnit.

Key Leadership Lessons from Valerie Bowden’s Journey:

• Growth starts before confidence—taking daily risks builds resilience faster than waiting for certainty

• Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s the fastest path to learning, grit, and long-term leadership strength

• Sustainable impact comes from building jobs and systems, not quick fixes or charity alone

Connect with Valerie Bowden:

• Website: Cradle

• LinkedIn: Valerie Bowden

Valerie’s leadership insights are shaped by years of living and building businesses across Africa while scaling teams to over 100 employees.

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