Showing Up As Human Part 2 with Angelee Fortuna

Written By Rocky Garza

In today’s episode, we dive into part two of the human side of leadership with Angelee, who shares her journey of balancing her leadership role with vulnerability, self-doubt, and authenticity. As a leader in her business, she explores the challenges of showing up fully human, accepting both the strengths and weaknesses that come with it, and how emotional transparency can lead to greater connection and candor with others.

This conversation is packed with deep insights on leadership, personal growth, and understanding how to truly show up as yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable. We also get real about the struggles of people-pleasing and the desire to be seen as strong, and how those desires can sometimes conflict with being authentic.

About Angelee

Angelee is a Dallas local with a deep passion for intentional living, storytelling, and cultivating genuine connections. With a background spanning retail visual merchandising, marketing, and photo production, her career has always been rooted in creativity and collaboration. These days, she works closely with Le Social, a boutique creative and marketing agency, helping brands bring their vision to life through thoughtful strategy, impactful content, and client engagement. A lifelong hustler with a heart for creative communities, Angelee thrives at the intersection of artistry and entrepreneurship. Always energized by the opportunity to build something meaningful alongside fellow dreamers and doers.

Angelee's Leadership Journey: Showing Up as Yourself

I start the conversation by asking Angelee about a recent business venture she’s embarked on with a close friend. She reflects on the challenge of stepping into leadership, managing a team, and accepting the responsibility of guiding others. However, as an emotionally-driven, empathetic person, she finds it difficult to show up as a strong leader without fearing that her emotions might make her appear weak.

Angelee gets candid about her internal battle of wanting to be seen as strong, composed, and in control, but struggling with the reality of her emotions often spilling out in ways that feel beyond her control. She wonders whether showing emotion is a weakness in leadership, but also recognizes that it’s part of her authentic self.

The Battle of Being Strong vs. Being Real

I challenge Angelee with a simple question: What does it mean to be a strong leader? Angelee admits that for her, strength means having the ability to control her emotions, even when she feels overwhelmed or vulnerable. But as she reflects on her own experiences, she realizes that true strength in leadership might not lie in suppressing emotions, but rather in embracing them while staying grounded in the process.

I push her to think about whether this perception of strength is truly what makes a great leader or if it’s merely a self-imposed expectation. Angelee realizes that strength might look different for everyone, and for her, it’s about leading with vulnerability, knowing that it’s okay to not always have everything under control.

People-Pleasing and the Cost of Sacrifice

Angelee opens up about her history of people-pleasing tendencies and how they’ve shaped her as a leader. She talks about how she often finds herself doing things for others out of a desire to be loved and appreciated, which can sometimes lead her to sacrifice her own needs.

I help her distinguish between service and sacrifice, pointing out that sacrifice often comes from a place of needing validation, while service comes from a place of abundance and love. Angelee acknowledges that she often confuses the two and that this confusion impacts her ability to lead from a healthy, grounded place.

Desire for Individuality and the Fear of Losing Control

The conversation then turns to the idea of individuality in leadership. Angelee shares her internal struggle of wanting to stand out and be memorable, while also desiring to blend in with the group. She admits that she wants to be seen and appreciated for her uniqueness, but also wrestles with the fear of being too much or too different.

I encourage her to embrace her individuality without feeling that it takes away from others. I remind her that being memorable and unique doesn’t mean overshadowing others, and that leadership is about finding the balance between standing out and bringing others along.

Creating Safe Spaces and Setting Boundaries

As Angelee reflects on her leadership journey, she talks about the importance of creating safe spaces, both for herself and for her team. She shares how, over the years, she’s become more intentional about the people she surrounds herself with, focusing on relationships that are built on trust, respect, and emotional safety.

She recognizes that setting boundaries is crucial for protecting her own well-being and ensuring that she can show up fully without burning out. I remind her that boundaries aren’t about keeping people out, but rather about preserving what matters most so she can continue to serve others from a place of overflow.

The Power of Being Human and Vulnerable

One of the key themes in this conversation is the power of being human and vulnerable in leadership. We talk about how embracing vulnerability not only helps leaders connect with their teams but also allows for deeper, more authentic relationships. Angelee reflects on how, in the past, she’s avoided vulnerability because it felt like a weakness, but now she sees it as a strength that leads to greater candor and connection.

I emphasize that being human doesn’t mean being perfect. It means showing up with your full self, emotions and all, and allowing others to see you as you are. This kind of transparency creates an environment where others feel safe to do the same, which fosters trust and collaboration.

Resources Mentioned

Rocky Garza
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Showing Up As Human Part 1 with Angelee Fortuna