317: Lead with Trust, Not Control with Rebecca Blume

What if becoming a better leader starts with letting go of who you think you should be?

Meet Rebecca Blume, the Vice Chancellor for Advancement at the University of Washington Bothell. She has 22 years of fundraising experience and has worked with organizations including Fair Start and the YWCA in downtown Seattle. 

To start the conversation, Rebecca shares how her experiences helped her become more confident and comfortable with her leadership style. She discusses viewing life as seasons rather than chasing perfect balance, using a pendulum to shift attention toward what matters most. 

Moreover, Rebecca shares a powerful exercise for challenging limiting beliefs and explains how letting go of the need for total control can strengthen trust within a team. The discussion also touches on people-pleasing, healthy boundaries, holding space for difficult emotions, and responding rather than reacting. Finally, Rebecca encourages leaders to intentionally shape workplace culture and make small, daily shifts toward authenticity, connection, and trust.

In this episode, you will be able to: 

Lead more authentically by being comfortable with who you are.

Manage different life priorities by thinking in seasons.

Identify limiting beliefs that may affect your leadership.

Let go of unnecessary control and build trust within your team.

Set healthy boundaries without feeling guilty.

Handle difficult emotions without reacting defensively.

Communicate clearly during challenging situations.