Creating leadership impact isn’t about one defining moment—it’s about the ripple effects your leadership generates over time. In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe sits down with Shannon Knott and Erin Marie Collins to unpack what meaningful impact looks like today, and how leaders can sustain it.
They explore:
Why impact extends beyond results to the experience others have of your leadership.
The key skills—curiosity, adaptability, and an understanding of your purpose—that enable long-term influence.
How to evaluate whether your leadership is truly landing across stakeholder groups.
Why reflection and feedback loops are essential to maintaining credibility and trust.
Shannon Knott
Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates
(01:35) How you define leadership impact and why it extends beyond results to lasting influence
(04:10) The skills that sustain long-term impact
(07:25) Why leadership must shift from mastery and control to influence and judgment as careers progress
(09:42) Practical ways to assess whether your impact is landing across teams and stakeholders
(12:10) How reflection, feedback, and purpose create a rhythm for sustained leadership effectiveness
(14:38) What inspirational leaders do differently to remain authentic and effective over time
Russell Reynolds Associates Global Leadership Monitor, H2 2025