Erin Hatzikostas

Over the last year, you’ve worn countless sweatshirts on Zoom calls, taken meetings while walking, and even brought Fido, your adorable Shih Tzu, into a few calls. Well done. However, and I hate to break it to you, that doesn’t necessarily make you an “authentic leader”. The pandemic clearly was a massive tailwind for authenticity in the workplace. And I think it’s safe to say that this step-back from polished perfection has been a refreshing positive amongst all the tragedy of the past year+.

Erin Hatzikostas is a former corporate CEO turned career coach, speaker and podcast host. She is the founder and CEO of b Authentic inc. The pandemic has put innumerable challenges on the shoulders of working mothers. But as work norms have had to adapt, there may also be some opportunities for working mothers to get ahead. Being able to network virtually, and incorporate your authentic self and life into work, can be new advantages from this time. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Erin Hatzikostas is a former corporate CEO turned career coach, speaker, and podcast host; she is the founder and CEO of b Authentic inc. Hatzikostas says that authentic leadership is a hot topic, and one that can help combat things like employee disengagement. But it's difficult to define authenticity; instead, looking at signs of inauthentic leadership may be more helpful.