By: Unstoppable Branding Agency
Facing adversity strips away the surface, revealing who we are at our core. Yet, we’re biologically programmed to avoid conflict and hardship, which can prevent us from embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.
For Reena Merchant—a leader in the tech industry with over 20 years of experience and founder of OurVoice, a community organization aimed at empowering individuals to connect with their authentic selves—adversity has been key to unlocking her authenticity. With leadership roles at Google, YouTube, Sony PlayStation, Citrix, and BlackBerry, Reena has faced her share of setbacks. But instead of avoiding them, she leaned in, using those moments for self-discovery.
Reena offers a refreshing perspective, viewing adversity as a chance for deeper self-inquiry. “When you lose what you thought defined you, you’re left with the essential question: Who am I at my core?” Reena explains. For her, resilience is the gateway to self-discovery, and building a solid sense of identity is the foundation of growth and authentic leadership.
Forging Authenticity Through Adversity
Reena says transparency is a key component of developing resilience. As leaders, we’re often taught to compartmentalize our personal and professional lives, maintaining the image of ‘having it all together.’ Reena offers a different approach: by being open about the struggles we face, we allow others to do the same, creating space for deeper connection and authenticity. Using your voice in leadership means sharing your truth, embracing vulnerability, and speaking about the realities of your journey.
That’s why she speaks openly about some of her life’s most challenging and pivotal moments. One of these moments occurred when, in high school, she moved to India from Canada and was thrust into a completely different culture. This shift raised difficult questions about her identity beneath the veil of cultural norms. Yet this experience helped her build a concept of identity that didn’t fit neatly into traditional molds.
Being laid off early in her tech career became another defining moment. “I questioned whether I belonged in tech at all,” Reena recalls. She grappled with self-doubt, feeling pressure to change herself to fit others’ expectations—to be louder, more aggressive, and adopt a masculine leadership approach. Instead of letting the setback break her, she used it as an opportunity to deepen her understanding of who she was beyond any job title. This self-awareness eventually paid off, as she rose to prestigious leadership roles at major companies, recognized for empowering her team through a compassionate yet powerful approach. Staying true to herself was the key to her success.
Her divorce was another pivotal chapter. Reena admits she ignored red flags leading up to the marriage, focusing on appeasing society’s concerns and maintaining the appearance that everything was fine. When her marriage broke down, “It felt like my world was crumbling,” she recalls.
She doesn’t sugarcoat the experience: adversity forces us through the uncomfortable process of shedding old versions of ourselves to make room for who we are becoming. It’s not easy, but it teaches invaluable lessons as we heal from anger and grief. Reena learned that resilience and self-discovery go hand in hand, and the painful process of letting go leads to a more authentic, aligned life.
During this time, she also recognized how recurring patterns—like people-pleasing—can block the clarity needed for growth. Reena explains that these patterns, often inherited from our upbringing or shaped by others’ expectations, can cloud our sense of self. However, adversity forces us to confront these beliefs and reconnect with our personal truth, whether we feel ready or not. Letting go of these limiting patterns is essential to growth, allowing us to come into deeper alignment with who we truly are.
Ultimately, these experiences solidified her belief that authenticity isn’t formed in a vacuum; it’s forged through life’s challenges.
Self-Exploration as the Foundation of Leadership From Within
This philosophy forms the cornerstone of Reena’s Leadership From Within framework, which begins with exploring identity and engaging in self-reflection. She believes that authentic leadership is impossible without first understanding the qualities and values that define you.
The framework breaks down into three essential steps:
- Discovering Your Identity – This involves deep reflection on your values, strengths, and passions. Knowing who you are at your core is the first step to authentic leadership.
- Courageous Self-Expression – Once you have clarity on your identity, the next step is having the courage to express it, even when it challenges external expectations.
- Leading with Authenticity – Finally, leadership flows from a strong sense of self. Grounded in your values, you can make decisions that align with your core beliefs and inspire others.
Reena emphasizes that this framework helps leaders connect deeply to their “why.” Without self-investigation, the mission lacks depth. Without that connection to a larger purpose, creating an impact or inspiring others is impossible. True leadership requires resilience, grounded in clearly understanding who you are and why you’re here to lead.
Amplifying Impact Through Authentic Leadership
At its core, Reena’s approach is rooted in empathy, transparency, and authenticity. She believes that you create deeper connections with those you lead by sharing all parts of yourself—especially the difficult ones—without fear or shame. This openness builds trust and fosters authentic relationships that spark lasting change.
As Reena puts it, “True leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up as your full self, embracing your journey, and using it to inspire others.” This is the path to creating real, lasting impact—one that transcends industries, roles, and traditional measures of success.
Published by: Annie P.