How gratitude and authenticity shape stronger leaders, teams, and company cultures.
Authentic Leadership isn’t just a leadership style — it’s a commitment to living and leading in alignment with who you truly are. At the recent Kajae Summit in Cancún, Jacob Baadsgaard reminded us that authenticity means embracing both the rewards and the consequences of being true to yourself. It’s about leading with honesty, vulnerability, and purpose — and recognizing that the adventure of your life is one-of-a-kind.
Starting With Gratitude
“Hey, one of my favorite things on a daily basis is to just express gratitude. I don’t know about you guys, but it is easy to get feeling anxious and stressed, and life can feel hard, and there’s nothing like a quick moment of sharing gratitude.”
With these words, Jacob Baadsgaard, founder of Disruptive Advertising, opened his keynote at the Kajae Summit 2025 in Cancún. His message was simple yet powerful: gratitude is the foundation of authentic leadership.
He continued, “That helps us remember some of the great things that are going on. So thank you for sharing that moment with me.”
In a world that moves fast, leaders often forget to pause. Yet, a few seconds of gratitude can shift our perspective from pressure to presence. As a result, it becomes easier to lead with clarity, empathy, and intention.
The Adventure of Authenticity
After grounding the audience in gratitude, Jacob posed a thought-provoking idea:
“Did you know that you’re on an adventure that no one ever has and no one ever will experience? It’s a true one-of-one experience that you are having.”
In other words, no one else lives your exact story. Each challenge, therefore, becomes an opportunity for growth. According to Jacob, authentic leadership begins the moment we see discomfort not as a barrier, but as an invitation to learn and evolve.
Moreover, he reminded us that growth often hides behind the very things that make us uncomfortable. When leaders embrace that truth, they become more self-aware — and more human.
What It Means to Be an Authentic Leader
Jacob defined authenticity in a way that truly resonated:
“If you just look in the dictionary, authenticity means to live in alignment with your nature.”
However, he went even further:
“When you are being authentic, it means you are being true to yourself — but it also means you are willing to accept the consequences that come with living authentically.”
In short, being real means being responsible. Authentic leadership isn’t about convenience; it’s about courage. When leaders choose truth over comfort, they build trust. And when trust grows, so does impact.
In fact, Jacob warned that if we try to control outcomes instead of accepting them, we stop being authentic altogether.
Why Leaders Hold Back from Authenticity
Of course, living authentically isn’t easy. Jacob identified three common fears that often hold people back:
- Fear of rejection — “What if I’m not accepted for who I am?”
- Fear of poor results — “What if authenticity doesn’t drive success?”
- Comfort — “I’m fine where I am, so why change?”
Each of these fears keeps leaders from becoming who they’re meant to be. Nevertheless, Jacob emphasized that courage is the key. When we take small, consistent steps toward authenticity, transformation naturally follows.
Jacob’s Framework for Authentic Leadership: AHR
To help others practice authenticity, Jacob introduced a simple but powerful framework called AHR:
- Awareness
First, become aware of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Without awareness, change is impossible. - Honesty
Then, be honest — both with yourself and with others. Honesty, although uncomfortable at times, strengthens integrity and alignment. - Reflection & Humility
Finally, Jacob shared a lighthearted story: “Now that I’m aware of the right way to wash my kid’s hair…” — proving that humility allows continuous learning. After all, leadership is a lifelong process, not a fixed destination.
A Culture Where Authentic Leadership Thrives
At Kajae, Jacob’s message resonated deeply. Gratitude and authenticity are not buzzwords; rather, they’re daily practices that define who we are.
When leaders choose awareness over ego and honesty over control, they create space for trust and collaboration. Consequently, teams feel seen, valued, and empowered to bring their full selves to work.
In addition, authentic leaders encourage curiosity, not perfection. They listen before they act and value connection more than titles. That’s what makes culture thrive.
Final Thought
Gratitude grounds us.
Authenticity frees us.
Together, they shape authentic leadership — the kind that transforms not only organizations, but lives.
At Kajae, We Celebrate Authentic Leadership
At Kajae, we’re inspired by leaders like Jacob Baadsgaard, who remind us that real leadership begins with gratitude, humility, and self-awareness.
Ultimately, when people grow, companies grow too.
👉 Read our blog article with Bobby Macey’s speech at Kajae Cancun Summit.
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