Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged - “Breaking Barriers with Nada Lena Nasserdeen”

Podcast: Mick Unplugged
Host: Mick Huntoff
Guest: Nada Lena Nasserdeen
Release Date: October 25, 2025

Overview

This episode dives deep into the power of self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and modern leadership with Nada Lena Nasserdeen, CEO of Rise Up For You and an acclaimed leadership coach. Mick and Nada explore why moving beyond surface-level “why’s” to a core “because” drives sustainable success and fulfillment. The conversation delivers actionable strategies for building unshakeable self-confidence, identifying toxic cultures, and leading with transformation. Both speakers share personal stories, practical tools, and memorable quotes, making this a go-to episode for any leader, doer, or individual ready to transform their life and career.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Power of “Because” and Nada’s Driving Force

• Nada’s “Because”: Elevating the human condition by helping people build essential “soft skills” that account for 80% of one’s success.
  • “I'm obsessed with helping people reach their potential and this is how we do it.” – Nada [01:37]

2. Self-Confidence: Macro vs. Micro

• Key Statistic: 83% of professionals say self-confidence is their number one challenge. [00:31]
• Micro-Confidence: Confidence in specific skills (e.g., Excel, public speaking).
• Macro-Confidence (True Self-Confidence): An unwavering inner belief in one’s ability, regardless of external circumstances.
  • During crises (e.g. COVID layoffs), those relying on micro-confidence felt lost when their context changed.
  • “We've been taught to build micro level confidence... But we're never really taught to build the macro level confidence, AKA self confidence... that's not sustainable.” – Nada [04:56]

3. Building Self-Confidence: Practical Steps

• Nine Elements of Self-Confidence: Nada’s framework (free quiz at riseupforyou.com).
• Not everyone lacks confidence in all areas; identify weakest elements first.
  • “The first step of building self confidence is identifying which element you need support with.” – Nada [06:37]
• Common Confidence Crusher: Difficulty setting healthy boundaries, being a people pleaser.
  • “No is a complete sentence. No can help you sleep better at night.” – Mick [09:01]

4. The Four B’s to Reverse Engineer Healthy Boundaries [09:20]

• Belief: Identify your limiting belief (e.g., “If I say no, I won’t be liked.”).
• Backstory: Locate the origin of that belief.
• Behavior: Recognize resulting habits/actions (“I overcommit and burn out.”).
• Break It: Design personal strategies to shift this belief and corresponding behaviors.
  • “Our beliefs dictate our behaviors... And that last B—the breaking—is not cookie cutter.” – Nada [10:20]

5. Ongoing Growth: “Your career will only grow to the extent that you do.” [13:39]

• Industry competition and volatility mean continual self-development is essential.
• 80% of success is due to social and emotional intelligence, not technical skills.
  • “The difference between those that are in the top 10%... is their ability to continue to pivot and exercise emotional intelligence.” – Nada [14:21]
• Emotional intelligence correlates with adaptability, relationship building, and influence—what separates job applicants and advancing leaders.

6. Emotional & Social Intelligence: Critical for Modern Leadership

• Key Stat: 92% of people have goals, but 92% do not accomplish them. [17:21]
• Poor communication costs American businesses $1.2 trillion/year.
• Disengagement and lack of self-awareness are rampant among leaders.
  • “All of those things are equated to a lack of soft skills, a lack of ability to communicate, to build relationships, to influence, to empower and to create change.” – Nada [17:35]

7. Diagnosing and Shifting Toxic Work Culture

• Spotting Toxicity: Not just about gossip—can be lack of accountability, unclear values, or disengagement.
  • “A toxic culture can be that nobody has accountability… That’s also toxicity.” – Nada [19:36]
• Action Steps:
  • Assess Values: Ask your team what your company stands for—do they know the values?
  • Climate Check: Anonymous surveys for honest feedback from team members.
  • Nada shares a personal story of discovering she was seen as intimidating and how feedback allowed her to grow as a leader. [22:40]
    • “I was mortified… but it was the best thing I did because you can’t change what you don’t know needs changing.” – Nada [25:22]

8. The Feedback Loop: Critical for Effective Leadership

• Leaders must solicit and utilize internal feedback (360 reviews).
  • “The most critical thing you can do as a leader. … If you’re not doing it, ask yourself why.” – Nada [27:40]
• Feedback helps identify true areas of need for your team and yourself—for focused, impactful development.
  • “When you hear what they actually need from you, it shrinks where you need to think.” – Mick [29:00]

9. Rise Up For You’s Four Pillars of Leadership & New Book Series

• Four Pillars: Self-confidence, emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, influential communication.
• Nada’s book series covers each pillar. Recently released: Transformational Leadership—moving beyond transactional, resource-focused leadership to facilitating self-actualization on teams.
  • “How can I help you reach your potential? How do I help you become the best that you can be, so that one day you can take my spot?” – Nada [32:20]
• Coming soon: Influential Communication.

10. Investing in Yourself

• Champions and high performers invest in coaching and ongoing development.
  • “If you had what it took to do it by yourself, you would have done it already.” – Nada [33:40]
  • “The greatest tragedy is wasted human potential. Do not let that be your story.” – Nada [34:20]

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On True Self-Confidence:
  “Macro confidence… is an inner belief that you are enough simply because you exist.” – Nada [05:13]
• On the Power of Boundaries:
  “No is a complete sentence.” – Mick [09:01]
• On the Value of Feedback:
  “You can’t change what you don’t know needs changing.” – Nada [25:22]
• On Personal Growth:
  “Your career will only grow to the extent that you do.” – Mick [13:39], often attributed to Nada as a core teaching.
• On Leadership Development:
  “Great leadership, it’s not about you.” – Nada [27:40]
• On Investing in Yourself:
  “The greatest athletes and performers in the world, they invest in their development with coaches and trainers that can see things they can’t see.” – Nada [33:40]
• On Transformational Leadership:
  “How can I help you reach your potential?...Most leaders aren’t exercising that.” – Nada [32:30]

Rapid-Fire “Quick Five” with Nada (Timestamp: [34:39] - [37:00])

• Daily non-negotiable: Prayer [34:47]
• Favorite place to speak: Dubai and Las Vegas [34:56]
• Pre-stage mindset: “It’s not about you.” [35:20]
• Cheat meal: Pizza with mushrooms and onion [35:39]
• Most inspirational leaders: Her parents—“I would say that I’m proud to look at myself in the mirror… because of them.” [35:57]

Where to Find & Follow Nada Lena Nasserdeen

• Organization: Rise Up For You
• LinkedIn & Instagram: @NadaLena
• Books available on the website—links included in show notes.

In Closing

Nada and Mick deliver a passionate, insight-rich episode brimming with practical tools for leaders, professionals, and anyone looking to break through their barriers. The emphasis on actionable assessments, the inside-out work of self-confidence, and embracing feedback make this conversation essential listening.

Key Takeaway:
"Your ‘Because’ is your superpower. Go unleash it!"

For more resources and to connect:

• Rise Up For You - Official Site
• Mick Huntoff: mchuntofficial.com

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