No matter how great the leader, failure is inevitable. Projects will go awry, deals may fall through, or products may flop. True leadership is not just about succeeding, but also how you take ownership when things don't go according to plan. A leader who acknowledges their failures and uses them as stepping stones to success creates an environment where team members feel safe taking risks and trying new things.

In this interview with Elizabeth Fisher of Lavva, we explore the power of taking ownership as a leader who embraces failure and how this trait can lead to better decision making, increased trust from team members, and ultimately, long-term success.

What do you think is your greatest strength as a leader & why?

Light hearted in the face of calamity. No matter how much I care I can see the philosophical nature of the work and doing the best you can even if it falls short on paper.

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should embody & why?

Take the hit fully and take it first.

What are the most important decisions you make as a leader of your organization?

To fight to stay in the game, do better and be there for our customers as part of a better food system. Always stretching to be part of the solution. Failure and success are closer than I used to think.

Meet Liz: Liz Fisher is the Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Lavva, a company that makes delicious dairy-free, plant-based yogurt with pili nuts. After being diagnosed with advanced-stage ovarian cancer, Liz rebuilt her diet around nourishing, high-fat foods and, in the process, discovered the pili nut—a little-known nut with a rich, buttery taste that is the lowest carbohydrate nut in Nature. She was blown away by the flavor, and soon began blending pili nuts with coconut milk. The result was unlike anything she’d ever tasted before—spoonably thick, creamy and decadent.

With more than 25 years of experience in the natural food industry, Liz has helped shape and scale some of today’s most iconic food brands, including Kevita, Pirate’s Booty, Alvarado Street, LaraBar and Horizon Organic. Prior to becoming a food entrepreneur, Liz produced a popular health and nutrition show on WOR radio in New York and also co-authored “The Chromium Program,” a how-to book on health and nutrition (Harper Collins).

Connect with Liz at:

• Website

• Instagram