Stephanie Olson on Letting Go to Grow, Leadership & Building Healthy Culture

In this powerful episode of the Lead With Moxie Podcast, Heather Legge sits down with Stephanie Olson, CEO and Founder of Set Me Free Project, for an honest and deeply impactful conversation about leadership, organizational growth, humility, and the courage it takes to build healthy teams and cultures. Stephanie shares her unexpected journey into anti-human trafficking advocacy and the mission behind Set Me Free Project, an organization dedicated to preventing human trafficking and supporting vulnerable youth through education, awareness, and empowerment. Together, Heather and Stephanie dive into some of the toughest — and most important — leadership lessons leaders face as organizations grow: ● Learning to “let go to grow” ● Why founders must stop trying to control everything ● Hiring slowly and firing quickly ● The danger of toxic culture and passive-aggressive communication ● Leading with humility and accountability ● Supporting employees without enabling unhealthy patterns ● Building trust through integrity and honesty ● Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever in leadership ● Navigating grief, burnout, and humanity in the workplace ● Moving from perfectionism to purposeful action Stephanie shares vulnerable stories about difficult leadership moments, organizational transformation, and how learning to release control allowed Set Me Free Project to grow from a regional nonprofit into a national and increasingly global organization. This episode is packed with practical leadership wisdom for founders, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and anyone building teams, culture, or mission-driven organizations. Featured Guest Stephanie Olson – CEO & Founder of Set Me Free Project Set Me Free Project works to prevent human trafficking and exploitation through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Learn More ● Set Me Free Project: https://setmefreeproject.net ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/set-me-free-project ● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/setmefreeproject ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/setmefreeproject About the Host Heather Legge – Founder of Lead With Moxie & Envision Success, Inc. Heather works with leaders and organizations to build stronger cultures, lead with courage, and create meaningful impact through authentic leadership and intentional growth. Topics Covered ● Leadership Development ● Organizational Culture ● Human Trafficking Prevention ● Nonprofit Leadership ● Founder Mindset ● Team Building ● Emotional Intelligence ● Accountability & Integrity ● Hiring & Leadership Strategy ● Workplace Culture ● Letting Go to Grow ● Personal Development ● Women in Leadership ● Mission-Driven Organizations