Flexibility and Purpose in Remote Work with Sienna J. Brown

In this episode of The Growth Nexus Podcast, host Ryan Shelley sits down with Sienna J. Brown, leadership coach, impact entrepreneur, and VP of Growth at PowerToFly. Together, they explore what it takes to lead intentionally in a world increasingly defined by remote work, digital collaboration, and purpose-driven teams.

Ryan and Sienna talk about what it takes to build a culture where people feel supported and results still matter, plus how the right tools and leadership habits can help you thrive in the middle of constant change.

Leading With Intention in a Remote World

As someone who has worked remotely for over a decade, Sienna brings a seasoned perspective to the ongoing shift in workplace culture. She outlines how the transition to remote and hybrid environments during and after the pandemic revealed gaps in leadership, communication, and team alignment. Today’s challenge isn’t just about offering remote flexibility—it’s about redefining what flexibility means for diverse individuals with different responsibilities, time zones, and work styles.

Ryan shares his experience leading a remote-first SEO agency, emphasizing the value of setting clear boundaries, such as ending his workday at a specific time to prioritize family. Sienna builds on this by encouraging leaders to define their values and structure their ideal workweek in a way that supports both their energy and priorities, inside and outside of work.

One actionable strategy Sienna recommends is conducting a simple team survey to gather preferences around working hours, communication styles, and learning methods. This helps leaders create a framework to optimize performance and foster trust and belonging across remote teams.

Why People Stay—or Leave—Organizations

Sienna highlights three consistent reasons employees choose to leave an organization:

1. Poor leadership or lack of leadership training
2. Lack of flexibility in how, when, and where they work
3. Absence of clear career growth opportunities
   

She points out that many managers are promoted due to strong individual performance, not necessarily because they’re equipped to lead. When leadership lacks investment in team development and communication, top talent will often move on, even for roles with lower pay, if that company aligns with their values.

People stay where they feel valued, where their work ties into a larger purpose, and where they see a clear path for growth. Ryan shares that while his team is small by design, he wants each person to feel connected to the mission and maintain high levels of trust and engagement. Still, he admits that mapping career paths in a small company is challenging.

Rethinking Career Growth in Small Teams

Instead of viewing growth as strictly vertical (like moving from videographer to senior videographer), Sienna encourages leaders to explore lateral or cross-functional growth. Through a skills audit, leaders can uncover hidden talents and give team members projects that expand their “zone of genius.”

“A lot of people work in their zone of excellence, but what is your zone of genius?”
– Sienna J. Brown

That doesn’t mean overloading employees with more tasks. Pruning away unnecessary or low-impact responsibilities is often required to make room for growth. Sienna uses the gardening metaphor: just as trees need pruning to thrive, team members also need space to stretch into new roles by shedding tasks that no longer serve them or the business.

Ryan echoes this by sharing how he uses automation and AI to free up his team’s time. For example, automating reporting and initial analysis allows for more human insight and strategic thinking. He encourages leaders to ask, “Is this task still valuable?” If it’s not, be bold enough to stop doing it.

Slowing Down to Grow with Purpose

Sienna emphasizes that slowing down is not a luxury—it’s a strategy. Especially in cultures that glorify hustle, taking time for intentional reflection helps leaders stay aligned with their goals and values. She carves out two “think weeks” each year with no meetings, just space for strategic planning.

Ryan notes that some of his best ideas come while doing manual tasks like mowing his property. Monthly personal retreats to reassess goals have helped him avoid burnout and stay grounded. Both agree: leaders must prioritize clarity, even if that means stepping away from the day-to-day.

As Sienna reminds us, not everything needs to happen at once. Instead of trying to excel in every area simultaneously, she suggests identifying 2–3 life pillars (such as career, family, and health) and setting one intentional goal for each. From there, leaders can align their daily and weekly actions accordingly, cutting through overwhelm with clarity and purpose.

“Growth isn’t always linear. Trees don’t grow in a straight line—they branch in different directions toward the light.”
– Ryan Shelley

This episode is a reminder that leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most, with clarity and intention. Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or simply striving to align your work with your values, the lessons shared by Sienna J. Brown offer a timely and human approach to thriving in today’s remote-first world.

To learn more from Sienna J. Brown or explore her work on intentional leadership and purpose-driven growth, visit her website at siennajbrown.com or connect with her on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/siennajbrown.

Host and Show Info

Host Name: Ryan Shelley 

About the Host: Ryan Shelley is a business growth strategist and the host of The Growth Nexus Podcast. He specializes in helping businesses navigate the complexities of growth through strategic insights and actionable advice, working with both startups and large corporations. 

Podcast Website: 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/vifx93Na_QE?si=5PJDPKnx-mwLsfpN 

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