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What if the biggest risk in your next leadership decision isn't making the wrong choice—but waiting too long to make one? Leaders rarely have all the information they'd like before making an important decision. But waiting for certainty can keep teams stuck and organizations from moving forward. Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten has navigated these challenges while helping build Netflix's streaming and international businesses, leading at YouTube, and co-founding Wonder Project. In this conversation with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft, she shares why making an imperfect decision is often better than making no decision at all. You'll hear how Netflix's philosophy of "context, not control" empowered people to make decisions, why successful organizations must remain willing to change, and how Kelly's faith and personal convictions shaped her professional direction. It's a practical invitation to make thoughtful decisions, equip others to lead, and keep moving even when the path isn't entirely clear.
IN THIS EPISODE:
04:40 Why Success Can Make Change Difficult
06:00 Staying Close to Your Customers
07:01 Context, Not Control: Empowering People to Decide
08:08 Taking a Risk on Netflix's International Expansion
09:37 Making Decisions Without All the Answers
10:28 Adjusting When the Path Forward Disappears
12:32 Knowing When It's Time for Something New
24:12 Bringing Faith, Family, and Work Together
28:05 Challenging Assumptions About Your Audience
32:12 Why You Can't Please Everyone
34:49 Knowing Which Critics to Listen To
35:56 Outro + Takeaways
WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERS:
Leadership requires making decisions when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. But there’s a difference between being thoughtful and becoming stuck. Kelly’s experience offers a helpful perspective on taking responsible risks, creating environments where others can make decisions, and remaining adaptable when circumstances change. Her approach challenges leaders to consider where they may be waiting for unnecessary certainty—or unintentionally keeping their teams dependent on them.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Don't let perfect become the enemy of progress. Many decisions can be adjusted as new information becomes available.
• Give people context, not control. Share the information your team needs to make thoughtful decisions independently.
• Recognize the risks of standing still. Indecision can create its own consequences.
• Keep questioning what's working. Today's success doesn't guarantee tomorrow's relevance.
• Stay close to the people you serve. Regular conversations with customers or constituents can challenge assumptions and reveal opportunities.
• Know when it's time to change direction. Pay attention when your current work no longer aligns with your strengths or convictions.
• Don't try to satisfy everyone. Be clear about your mission and the people you're called to serve.
• Look for patterns in criticism. Learn to distinguish meaningful feedback from isolated opinions.
WHO THIS EPISODE WILL HELP:
• Leaders facing important decisions without complete information.
• Managers who want to empower their teams without micromanaging.
• Executives and entrepreneurs navigating organizational growth and change.
• Pastors and nonprofit leaders balancing mission clarity with competing expectations.
• Leaders considering whether their current work aligns with their deeper purpose and convictions.
STANDOUT IDEAS:
"I'm not worried whether you make the best decision. I'm worried that you make a decision and you keep moving." — Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten
"Context not control." — Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten
"When you're really good at something, it's really hard to change, right?" — Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten
"I don't want to be an entertainer that writes something that's so safe that it doesn't say anything." — Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten
LINKS MENTIONED:
Wonder Project
House of David
LISTEN:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
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Leadership That Lasts
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