The Voice of Hope with Dr. Ken Huey

Amber Nelms, M.A., BCBA – Run Toward Difficulty

Dr. Ken Huey Season 1 Episode 25

In this episode of The Voice of Hope Podcast, Dr. Ken Huey talks with Amber Nelms, a passionate entrepreneur and leader, about embracing challenges and leaning into discomfort as a pathway to growth. Amber shares her journey of building a business, making bold choices, and cultivating a collaborative team culture. She offers actionable insights for anyone looking to grow as a leader, overcome isolation at the top, and unlock their full potential.

Key Takeaways:

  • How leaning into challenges shapes leadership and personal growth.
  • The concept of “burning the ships” and committing fully to your path.
  • Strategies to combat isolation as a leader and stay connected.
  • The importance of self-leadership as the foundation for leading others.

00:14 – Ken Huey:
Thanks so much for being with us. Every leader has a journey that brings them to where they are. Can you share your journey and what experiences or challenges kind of shaped your path?

00:25 – Amber Nelms:
Wow. Thank you, Dr. Ken, for having me on… I think honestly it comes down to mindset. When I learned to run toward difficulty and discomfort instead of turning away, a lot of things unlocked for me completely.

01:34 – Ken Huey:
Looking back on your career, is there a pivotal moment that kind of defined the leader that you've become?

01:40 – Amber Nelms:
It was about not having a backup plan. When I started Triangle, I made the choice to fully own it… it was either this works or it doesn’t. That commitment changed everything.

02:18 – Ken Huey:
There's the whole idea of burning the ships and there's no going back to America. There's only one way and that's forward.

02:20 – Amber Nelms:
Yeah, 100%. I remind myself of that daily. Once I started on the journey of entrepreneurism, I truly understood who I am and what path fits me.

03:03 – Ken Huey:
Leadership and entrepreneurship can be very isolating. What's your strategy for not being isolated and staying connected?

03:18 – Amber Nelms:
It depends on the type of leader you are. I’ve built a collaborative system and surround myself with people I enjoy and respect. I also make it a point to join entrepreneur groups, like EO, to stay connected.

04:48 – Ken Huey:
Well, fantastic. Very cool. All right. If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their career, what would it be?

04:58 – Amber Nelms:
If you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead others. Entrepreneurism is a journey of self-development. Believe in yourself first, put forth the effort, and your business and leadership will grow alongside you.

06:04 – Ken Huey:
Amber, thank you very much for spending a few minutes talking to us. Pleasure to meet you and hear your thoughts.

06:10 – Amber Nelms:
Thanks for having me on.