Amanda Litman on Redefining Power, Protecting Your Peace, and Leading the Next Generation of Change
About the Episode
In this energizing episode, Amanda Litman - co-founder and president of Run for Something and author of When We’re in Charge - shares what it really means to be in charge without losing yourself in the process. From launching a political movement to advocating for humane, sustainable leadership, this conversation is a masterclass in owning your values, building power with purpose, and designing a future that works for you.
Key Takeways
Run for Something: A Movement Born in Crisis: Amanda co-founded Run for Something after the 2016 election to support young people running for office. Launched on Inauguration Day, the initiative received over 210,000 sign-ups - proof that the desire to lead was there, but the infrastructure wasn’t.
Responsible Authenticity in Leadership: Today’s most effective leaders bring their full selves to their work - but they don’t let work become their whole self. Amanda believes that setting boundaries and honoring your humanity are essential to sustainable leadership.
A Book for the Moment—and the Movement: Preparing for maternity leave exposed a gap in executive leadership culture: no roadmap for stepping back without falling behind. Amanda’s book When We’re in Charge addresses this, showing how leaders like Mallory McMorrow and Zooey Zephyr are reshaping systems from within.
Culture = Strategy: Amanda stresses that healthy, inclusive workplaces lead to better outcomes. Retention, performance, and innovation all improve when employees feel safe, valued, and respected - with clear processes and fair compensation at the core.
Protect Your Peace to Lead Well: Leaders must design their work lives around sustainability. Amanda champions practices like four-day workweeks, offline boundaries, and transparent communication to avoid burnout and foster thriving teams.
Careers Aren’t Ladders - They’re Galaxies: For young professionals, Amanda reframes the career journey as nonlinear. Your first job isn’t everything - it’s a chance to explore what lights you up, and to bounce from star to star as you chart your own path.
Unleashing Her Inner Queen: For Amanda, it’s about choice. Power means deciding what this chapter of life should look like - being present for her children, leading with intention, and rejecting the idea that you must sacrifice joy or identity to lead well.
