In a time where organisations navigate ongoing uncertainty, Nadia Pace shares four insights gained from working at the intersection of strategy, governance, and leadership, offering a timely perspective on what truly drives sustainable performance.

As the year draws to a close, one question has consistently surfaced in her work with founders, executives, and boards: what does success really look like?

1. Success must be redefined more often than we think

With ongoing shifts in the macro environment, from financial uncertainty and digital acceleration to geopolitical pressures and supply chain disruption, success can no longer be static.

Pace notes that leaders who regularly revisit what success means, often over shorter time horizons, are better able to prioritise, focus and respond to change without becoming overwhelmed by competing demands.

2. Trust remains the quiet driver of progress

Despite technological advancement, business remains deeply human. Trust takes time to build and can be lost quickly. Without strong, intentional relationships with stakeholders, even the most robust strategies struggle to move forward.

For Pace, nurturing trust is not a soft skill, but a critical leadership discipline.

3. Leadership and governance require balance

Drawing on her experience as a non-executive director, Pace highlights how challenge and support must coexist. Boards that challenge without supporting risk slowing decision-making and eroding executive confidence.

When guidance, perspective and constructive support are added, collaboration improves and decisions strengthen. The same balance applies to leadership more broadly, where authenticity and values build credibility more effectively than titles alone.

4. Assumptions weaken leadership

Pace observes that perception is rarely the full picture. In business, assumptions about performance, resilience or capacity often mask reality. Replacing assumptions with both curiosity and data-based facts allows leaders to engage more meaningfully and make better-informed decisions.

Nadia Pace is a seasoned international business mentor and non-executive director on both local and foreign boards, with a mission to propel businesses towards significant growth. Follow her on LinkedIn.