Leading with Curiosity, Confidence, and Intentional Growth

Sean Mahoney’s insights highlight the importance of curiosity, thoughtful risk-taking, and building strong relationships as foundations for career growth. He describes how intellectual curiosity early in his career helped him understand the broader business, opening doors far beyond his technical role.

He reflects on embracing uncomfortable opportunities, from moving overseas to joining a startup, each of which strengthened his confidence and accelerated his learning. Sean also emphasizes reflection, collaboration, and bringing others along in decision-making, sharing lessons on setbacks, imposter syndrome, and developing authentic networks.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• “Just being curious . . . to have a deeper understanding of the business.”
• “Risk taking is . . . uncomfortable for everybody. But the risk-reward, if taken appropriately, is massive.”
• “If you don’t bring your peers along . . . there’s a chance that they will try to undermine your process.”
• “Your audience is rooting for you to be successful.”
• “You belong… if you get the job, and you’re working for somebody, you’ve got the technical skills.”

Closing Reflection

Sean’s reflections remind us that growth comes from curiosity, courage, and connection. His experiences encourage us to take thoughtful risks, advocate for ourselves, and approach decisions with humility and confidence. By building strong relationships and embracing continual learning, we can advance our careers with purpose and resilience.