#53 What is an Indie Leader? The Future of Work Nobody's Talking About

What is an Indie Leader? Why is this way of working and leading on the rise? And why might it be exactly what you need to shape your career, business, and impact in 2025?

In this episode of the Leading Beings Podcast, Kate McCready introduces the concept of Indie Leadership—a mindset, a movement, and a way of showing up in work and life with independence, innovation, and intrinsic motivation.

Kate unpacks:

✅ What defines an Indie Leader (and why you might be one!)

✅ The rise of indie leadership and why it’s reshaping work and success

✅ The challenges indie leaders face and how to navigate them

✅ Why building a community of indie leaders is crucial for impact

If you’ve ever felt like traditional career paths don’t fit, or you’re carving out your own unique way of working and leading, this episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in, and if this resonates—let’s make it a movement!

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@katemccready

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Transcript

​What is an indie leader? Why are they on the rise? And why is it something you might want to know about in 2025 to really think about shaping your career and your business and how you show up in the world of life and work? Well, tune into this episode of the Learning Beings podcast, and I'm going to share with you exactly that.

Hello there folks. I am Kate McCready. I'm your host of the leading beings podcast. Welcome. If you are new to the podcast, welcome back. If you haven't listened in for a while, little note, I am recording for the first time on video and going to be releasing these episodes via YouTube. So if you would like to watch along, not just listen along, then head over to the YouTube channel.

I will leave the link in the show notes. Uh, but if you are looking for me, just search. For me, I'm under Kate McCready, not leading beings on YouTube. So 2025 here we are, uh, very exciting to be recording the first episode of the podcast for the year. I'm feeling pretty chuffed because I'm getting in on the 29th of January as, uh, as it is today might not be up and, uh, available for you by then, but, you know, I feel vindicated in the fact that I have released an episode before February, which I'm excited about.

So any leadership, it's what we're going to be chatting about today. And it's not a concept you will find out on the internet if you go searching for it, because it's something that I created. Off the back of, it was like late 2022 and I'd returned to work after my eternity leave, and I'd found myself in this period of kind of rediscovery, really reconnecting with my business, my purpose, my message, and frankly, trying to figure out what it is I'm here to do.

And, you know, like many times before I'd sat down and tried to do this ideal client avatar exercise, which I really hate, but it is a good exercise to do. Um, once again, I hit a wall and I struggled through and eventually as I was kind of. Working through some stuff, I was looking at all the people I'd worked with over my coaching career, and it started to kind of come together that there was this, there was this thread between all these clients and like, I work with a real variety.

I work with solopreneurs. I work with small businesses. I work with organizational leaders, change makers. It's all sorts really. And there was this thread that was beginning to connect them all. And when I really dug deeper, what became really crystal clear is that these people, regardless of whether they're working inside an organization or outside of one for themselves, whatever, they're independent leaders in every sense of the word.

So some ran game changing businesses of one, others were breaking boundaries within massive organizations, but what united them all. Was they thought independent, they worked independently, they created these work life structures that didn't rely on traditional molds, their meaning, their purpose, like they weren't tied to a single job or a career path, they were really uniquely theirs.

And that's when the concept of the indie leader came into focus. So I had come across the idea of the indie thinker before, which is, I've got to give credit to Justin Murphy of the other life podcast. So he has this spin on the tired old thought leader concept. That's a little bit more modern and rebellious.

And the idea of the indie thinker, um, that Justin coined is that they're creators and writers that are building independent projects on the internet. And I came across Justin's work, quite a while ago, check him out. He does some really cool stuff. And yeah, this, this idea of the indie thinker really stuck with me, but what was different about the people that I worked with?

It's not just about the thought. It's not just about this intellectual ideas and creativity, which is more the indie thinkers were about. It was this way of being that goes beyond what people are producing. It's really like a mindset, a way of working, of living and of leading. Um, so yeah, I, I gave these people a name and they shared identity, which was indie leaders.

And the more I explored it, the more I realized that it's not just a concept for my clients. It's really a call to action for really anyone interested in redefining their leadership in their own way. Indie leaders are really changing the game. And I believe it's time that we created a world that supports their flourishing.

Because really at the moment, we're still tied into these old notions of career and life and business and leadership. And, um, yes, it's changing, but I think we need to do far more to change it. So let's dive a little bit deeper. What is an indie leader? So at its core or at their core, indie leaders are people who lead themselves, their work and their life with independence, innovation, intrinsic motivation, and a sense of self determination.

Their leadership, it's not really tied to a title or an organization or a role. It transcends traditional constructs and evolves with them over time. It's kind of agnostic to any particular place or role or anything like that. Indie leaders, they prioritize alignment, authenticity, creativity, purpose, and they're not here to play by the rules.

They're here to essentially kind of write their own, to carve out their own path, and that's really central to who they are. So some key characteristics of an indie leader is there's self determination, agency, and autonomy. So indie leaders really value freedom and agency above all else. They want to make their own choices.

Own their success, own their failures, and really set a course for their work and life that is driven, uh, by themselves, not some, by someone else. And they're not waiting for permission, they're moving these things forward themselves, they're taking charge and, um, and really carving it out for themselves.

Um, they're incredibly purpose, impact, meaning driven and intrinsically motivated. So the fuel for indie leadership comes from within. It's not about chasing approval. It's not about chasing titles or climbing ladders or external markers of success. Instead, indie leaders are really guided by what Um, what deeply matters to them, creating meaningful work, living in alignment with their values and making a contribution that feels impactful in, uh, in their way.

And they're also really innovative boundary pushes. So. They are seeing opportunities where others see limits, um, they challenge the status quo, finding new ways to solve problems, leading change and inspiring others. And whether it's shaking up, you know, outdated processes or dreaming up new ways of working, they thrive at the edge of convention.

There's also a really important point about being inclusivity and diversity focused. So Indie leaders actively seek out and celebrate different perspectives. They understand that real innovation and impact comes from embracing diverse ideas, backgrounds, and lived experiences.

And they are non conformist, non traditional, non mainstream. So these leaders reject cookie cutter approaches. They embrace paths less traveled, working in ways that feel authentic.

Even if it looks completely different from the norm. And many indie leaders actively resist the pressure of traditional capitalist systems that kind of equate worth with productivity or profit. Instead, they value work that prioritizes people, purpose, and sustainable impact. So as I'm starting to say this, you might be thinking, Oh my God, I know these people.

I recognize them in my organization. You might be thinking, hang on a second here. I am an indie leader. This resonates really strongly. And when I've shared this with people and I've shared it with a few friendlies so far, it does resonate when you recognize yourself as an indie leader. It all of a sudden makes sense.

You know, I'm really excited about bringing this concept more, um, to the forefront so people can, yeah, can find themselves in it and we can begin to, um, create more constructs and more spaces for us as indie leaders. And I say us because I put myself in this category, like partially the reason why this all came about is because for a long time I have been an indie leader and, you know, I've been working in this way that doesn't fit into norms and constructs and I continue to evolve.

How I work and how I live, um, to, to align to these types of concepts. And, you know, more recently I've been doing some more work in an organization and, uh, actually going back into that environment, it's helped me see even more of that indie leadership quality that I have, um, because I can see so often the way that I'm thinking differently to the way that organizations usually do.

Um, but something that's really important with this whole concept is you might be thinking indie leadership independence, like. Is it people just, you know, doing their solo thing, doing whatever they want? Absolutely not. Indie leadership really isn't just a solo journey. And while independence is at the heart of this way of leading, it doesn't mean working in isolation.

In fact, it's even more critical for India leaders to come together in community. And why is that? It's because it's really hard doing it solo, right? And India leaders face unique challenges juggling autonomy with overwhelm, fighting isolation, navigating paths that others might not fully understand.

Unity offers, um, a space to connect and share ideas, find solidarity with others, uh, and, you know, others who are walking a similar journey. It's where indie leaders can lean on each other for support, inspiration, collaboration, et cetera. Um, it's really together, you know, that indie leaders can amplify their impact, learning from one another and, you know, creating movement that's not possible alone.

I know for one that, um, while I love working independently and I love the freedom and the, uh, autonomy that comes from working independently, if I don't have people around me, I am so likely to just spin my wheels, um, because if you're anything like me, you know, your creative brain, maybe you're a bit of a neurodivergent thinker, um, I don't know.

Um, yeah, it it can be hard when you're when you're trying to do it all on your own. So I find having those people that I can connect with that can help me along on that journey is just such an important part of this. And this goes for if you're working in an organization to if you are. In a leadership position where you're kind of out on your own and you're doing things a bit differently, it can be even more lonely and more isolating when you're in an organization, because, you know, you've got all these different forces acting around you and you can't just kind of lead the charge in your own way all the time, because you're dealing with things like politics and personality.

So in an organization, even more, if not more, um, important to, to have community around you, to support you in your leadership. All right. So why is India leadership on the rise? Well, it's not a coincidence. It's a response to the way our world of work and life is evolving. So there's a few things that I see driving the shift.

So. One is that, you know, purpose, meaning, impact matters more than ever. People are no longer content with working just to pay the bills. No, I won't say people aren't, a lot of people aren't, and it's becoming far more common to , expect a sense of meaning and purpose from our work. People want careers that, um, feel meaningful, where their values aren't just personal, but, um, actively reflected in their work.

 Many see the lip service that gets paid to this idea of purpose and meaning in organizations too. So you have to find ways to create alignment for yourself. Uh, people need to create alignment for themselves. And, and India leaders are really good at doing this. And often that's why they try to step out of traditional constructs is because they're not getting what they need in organizational environments.

 Next is this idea that like work life and work life design and how we do that. It's really evolving. We're getting out of these outdated notions of balance. Um, and people are really beginning to take more. Intentional approaches to designing lives where work fits seamlessly into their values, their energy, their priorities, and not the other way around.

And once again, traditional work environments don't always provide this. There's some amazing workplaces that are doing this more and more. But a lot of people aren't finding what they need inside organizations. So that's another reason or within organizations they are really beginning to take charge more of how they work within organizations and doing that to, 

the next point of why this is really kind of something that's. really happening now is portfolio careers are becoming far more common. So the idea of a portfolio career is something where you're not just doing the one job. You might have multiple bits and pieces. You might have some part time work and a side hustle. You might have, you know, a multi pronged consulting business that does a bunch of different things.

You might, um, you moonlight as a market crafter on the weekends and have your corporate job during the week. There's so many different ways that a portfolio career can look.

But climbing the traditional career ladder doesn't hold the same appeal as it once did to a lot of people. More people are freelancing, consulting, blending income streams, which gives them flexibility to follow their passions and lead in unconventional ways. Uh, and also when, you know, we're in a bit of a situation at the moment in the working world where things just aren't as stable as they used to be.

And when you've got multiple strings to your bow, in many ways it provides a little bit more resilience in your career and your work. Because, you know, if something happens to one part of your work, there's often something else going on in the background, which means you're not just left with nothing if something falls away.

Then, of course, we've got the really obvious one of COVID 19 changing basically everything. The pandemic forced us all to rethink work, accelerating shifts towards more remote setups, flexible schedules, greater emphasis on well being. It almost goes without saying, I know we're now seeing things swing back, but I think what it gave a lot of people is this taste of independence within work and what it might look like if you're a little bit more, um, human centred in your working life and what work looks like for you in relation to, to home and life and that kind of thing.

Also one of the big things that I think is driving this is that the internet and personal branding are empowering individuals. So technology has really leveled the playing field in terms of brand and getting yourself out there and marketing, and it's allowing individuals to share their expertise and monetize their skills and really lead authentically all without needing the backing of traditional structures. Once upon a time, if you want to start a business, it was a lot harder. Now it's relatively easy.

Uh, another one that I really love is that neurodiversity is finally being embraced and people, uh, Really beginning to understand neurodiversity, their own neurodiversity, the neurodiversity of others in a deeper way.

So as workplaces evolve, there's growing recognition of the unique strengths and perspectives that neurodivergent individuals bring. And Indie leadership really allows those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent experiences to craft work environments and systems that align with their natural rhythms and strengths, unlocking their innovation, their creativity, and really new ways.

What I love about this too, is that it's, it's helping all of us see, regardless of whether we are neurodivergent or not, that we all work differently, that we all have different brains, that we all have different ways of doing things. And I think that's really helping support this model that, um, we can all craft, you know, our entire working lives in ways that suit our uniqueness.

Another one is that innovation really is a new currency. Startups and creative problem solvers are shaping the future of industries. Indie leaders with their boundary pushing mindsets are perfectly positioned to lead in this culture of innovation. And as we see the rise of AI, I think this is going to become more and more important as if we're going to be finding, um, new models to work within when, um, the robots take over all our jobs. And, you know, I joke there, but there's, there's parts of that that are quite serious. And I don't think in, you know, it's inevitable. Some can, you can debate whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but you know, it's, it's happened in industries and, careers for years, not necessarily because of AI, but for whatever other reason, you know, like horse, And cart drivers lost their jobs when people could drive their own cars.

So being able to innovate essentially is going to be so important as I think work life business as we know, it is going to be completely transformed by AI.

There's many faces in India leadership. India leaders, they show up in all kinds of spaces. As I said earlier in the podcast, an India leader could be a a small or solo business. A micro business owner. So, um, people building businesses aligned to their values, creativity and purpose. You know, they're thriving on autonomy and independence to design work that really, truly aligns with their lives. So you might look at people like, um, like Brene Brown is a great example who, you know, she started as a small or solo business owner.

She, she wasn't there originally, but she's carved out this whole career for herself based on her unique stuff that she does, right? Then you've got the organizational indie leaders. So these are leaders challenging the status quo inside larger organizations. They bring fresh ideas. They lead authentically and create meaningful impact without compromising their personal values.

 Back in the day, early in my career, I worked for Deloitte and, um, there was this amazing guy called Pete Williams, um, look him up on LinkedIn. He does really cool stuff. And he was the epitome of what I consider an indie leader. He did things so well. So differently within the organization and he created whole new businesses that, Deloitte kind of went and ran with because of how innovative and different he was, but he always did things his way.

He was a totally unique character and he totally embraced that inside that organization. Um, and those kinds of organizations are not always ones that kind of embrace that either. So it was, it was really amazing to see that and see how that kind of really changed parts of the culture of Deloitte when I was working there as well. 

Then you've got the community into your leaders so these are kind of champions of social change and community impact leaders that focus on creating movements, nurturing connections, building better worlds outside traditional work structures, like a great example of this, that she's the first one that came to mind for me was Greta Thunberg, you know, she she's It's not like she was working in this sense, but she was leading independently with so much, you know, innovation and drive and intrinsic motivation. And you know, she's done such amazing things and continues to do amazing things as a, as a community leader. So I hope you're starting to get this picture now of what indie leadership looks like. But I'd love to chat for a minute about why indie leadership matters, particularly at this point in time.

Because it's really reshaping how we live and work. And the ripple effect of this really extends far beyond the individual. So firstly, I think it creates space for authenticity. And I know authenticity can be such an overused word at the moment, but I think it does really capture it well for authenticity, for people's unique expressions of themselves.

So Indie leaders. Show us that leadership isn't about fitting into a mold by leaning into their new unique ways of working. They encourage others to show up as their whole true selves, real, you know? And gosh, I'm passionate about this. It's probably like at the center of the work that I do.

I believe this so much that we need to be showing up as who we are in the work that we do. With the whole self to work thing, you don't have to tell everyone everything, but it's like just, just be you. And I think if we're Going to move forward in the working world. We need more people showing up that way, because when we bring cookie cutter, we're all trying to be the same thing, we don't get innovation. We don't get spaces where people can be themselves. And, you know, diversity is embraced essentially, um, so why else is it about it? It drives innovation. I've said this before, but when indie leaders challenge norms, they open doors to new ideas to fresh perspectives and really game changing approaches.

 Indie Leadership models sustainable success. So Indie leaders prove that you don't have to sacrifice well being for success. They create careers and businesses where meaningful work and personal fulfillment can coexist, um, showing us what's possible in this context. I will say though that You know, there can be a challenge here too, in that when you're doing this all alone, it can be really easy to place everything on yourself and kind of burn out.

But I think for a lot of Indie leaders, they're, they're trying to do this so that they can avoid the the hustle of traditional work cultures. Um, yeah, so it also shifts the balance to bring a more kind of equilibrium between the power of organizations and individuals. So, in a world where organizations often wield disproportionate influence in the leadership empowers individuals to reestablish greater influence over their situations. And this shift is critical for more equilibrium And human centered systems where people not profit or hierarchy are at the heart of decision making. And look, I think this is incredibly relevant to what we're seeing happening right now, um, in our world, in our politics, in capitalism. We need to begin to mobilize as individuals and collectives of individuals and we need India leaders to be supporting that and being at the forefront of that because without any leaders that shift and change doesn't happen.

We end up with these power structures with organizations and the like, and I'm not saying all organizations are bad. Of course not. There's some amazing organizations doing amazing work there. But yeah, I think that that and I'm not saying we need to go one way or the other, but the shift to empower individuals within systems within organizations is where in India leadership is so important.

 Indie leadership also fosters inclusion by embracing diversity of thought, background, experience. Indie leaders really build environments where everyone is valued and seen. And look, it just redefines leadership. Traditional leadership often focuses on authority and hierarchy. Indie leadership really flips that script, showing that leadership can be about influence, purpose and shared vision, not just titles and power plays.

But you know what? There's a lot of challenges to indie leadership. It's not all roses. I make it sound amazing. It is amazing. But there's some big challenges. While it offers freedom and fulfillment, it's not without hurdles. So some of the challenges, are isolation. So independence. can sometimes mean working solo or feeling like you're on your own.

Um, so yeah, it can feel lonely without a network of like minded people. So indie leaders really need spaces where they can connect and share and find support. It can be quite overwhelming. To be an indie leader, you're responsible for a lot of decisions, for a lot of tasks, for all the outcomes. And particularly when you're really at the crux of driving change, um, it's easy to feel like you are carrying the weight of the world.

So really learning to prioritize and be intentional and delegate and do things mindfully, um, becomes really crucial. Being misunderstood is one of the big challenges. So non traditional paths don't always fit neatly into societal expectations. Leaving indie leaders to explain, justify, prove, and validate their choices to others.

Like, I can just remember the conversations I've even had with my mum where She has just been so worried about me taking a different career path or hasn't even really understood my career path. Like the moment I told her at one point I was taking a traditional job, she looked so relieved. And it was a bit of a kick in the gut, right?

Because, you know, I'd been building something independent for such a long time. And it's like, was that not kind of good enough? But we have to remember that people, particularly the older generations, they just don't understand these different working models. But it can feel weird when you're not understood and the way that you're working and showing up every day isn't understood.

So sustainability can also be a real challenge. Leading independently requires managing energy, resources, boundaries to avoid burnout. Um, and it's a delicate balance that demands constant attention and really understanding how we work best as individuals. 

Then there's the unique challenges for those working inside organizations. So integrating and supporting indie leaders can be a real challenge for organizations too, but the rewards are so worth it. Um, so. Inside organizations, like, it's so important that they provide flexibility and, the ability for people to have agency.

So creating environments where non linear paths, unconventional ideas, and diverse leadership styles are really celebrated, not stifled. Trust can be another really important one. So empowering Indy leaders to innovate and lead in their own way while maintaining a broader organizational goals. I think there's this sometimes misconception that Indy leaders are kind of like going off and doing their own thing.

If they're tied into really strong organizational, um, objectives, then indie leaders can be amazing. You've just got to kind of let them do their thing though. And I think that's really hard for, um, leaders or traditional leadership inside organizations to do. And look, the other thing that indie leaders really need inside organizations is support.

Resources, tools, structures that cater for different leadership styles, whether it's offering coaching or creating open collaboration spaces or encouraging professional growth support is really key to helping indie leaders thrive and just, you know, belief in them and sticking with them because, you know, they're not always going to fit into the boxes and do the things the way that you want them to do.

So that's Indian leadership. It's not just a trend. I really don't think so. It's kind of a transformation in how we approach work and success and impact. Indie leaders are really pioneers and they're showing us what's possible when independence, authenticity, and innovation converge. They're creating a future where leadership transcends traditional boundaries with purpose and profit coexisting. Where individual authenticity can drive collective progress. So are you an indie leader? Please reach out to me if this resonates with you. I would so love to hear from you. Your path matters. Your approach inspires and your contribution is helping shape a more authentic and innovative future of work. So, um, yeah, good on you.

Well done. And like I said, reach out. Love to hear from you. And if this is something that has resonated with you that you think needs more of a platform, please share it. Share it with an Indie leader, you know, share it on your platforms. Let's, let's start talking about this and, um, make it a thing.

Uh, if you enjoyed this and you are watching on YouTube, please subscribe and, like the episode. Also, if you're listening on one of your favorite podcasting platforms, a review is also always very much appreciated. 

And just before I sum up today, I'd also love to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which I record this podcast, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and I pay my respects to their elders past, present, and emerging, and acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded.

 And yeah, I will see you in the next episode.