Real Life Superpowers: Shiri Grosbard’s Blueprint for Bold Leadership

Redefining What It Means to Lead as a Woman in the Modern Workplace

In an era where visibility shapes opportunity, Shiri Grosbard stands as a beacon of fearless leadership and intentional impact. As a culture architect, community builder, and employer branding expert, her career is rooted in a simple but profound truth: you can’t be what you can’t see. Featured in the podcast Real Life Superpowers with Noa Eshed and Ronen Menipaz, Shiri shares the philosophies, failures, and triumphs that have shaped her career across two decades of transforming both companies and the people within them. From co-founding Israel’s premier marketing leadership community (G-CMO) to redefining workplace culture at tech powerhouses like AppsFlyer and Verbit, her journey isn’t just about climbing the ladder — it’s about rebuilding it for others.

Whether it’s empowering women through visibility, embracing rejection as fuel, or viewing failure as an essential ingredient for success, Shiri’s perspective is a masterclass in self-awareness and social impact. This podcast episode isn’t just inspiration — it’s a toolkit for anyone forging their own path in leadership, business, or personal growth.

the Original

Shiri Grosbard’s conversation with Noa Eshed and Ronen Menipaz on Real Life Superpowers centers around her distinctive approach to leadership, empowerment, and authenticity. As a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience, she’s built a reputation as a community architect and a fierce advocate for women’s leadership. Through her roles at G‑CMO, AppsFlyer, and Verbit, Shiri has emphasized storytelling, intentionality, and values-driven culture-building.

A recurring theme in her journey is representation. She believes that visibility is crucial: “You can’t be what you can’t see.” For women navigating male-dominated spaces, her approach is a refreshing blend of confidence and humility. She criticizes downplaying success and encourages women to own their accomplishments, stating, “We create our own opportunities.”

Shiri’s early confidence set her career on a bold trajectory, telling a hiring manager at age 23 that she would be a valuable asset — a move that shaped her mindset permanently. Yet, she also acknowledges the importance of stepping aside when leadership becomes stagnant: building something doesn’t guarantee you’re always the right person to run it.

She thrives on friction and pushback, often interpreting “no” as a sign of untapped potential. Her leadership style is rooted in imagination, experimentation, and resilience. Long before manifestation was mainstream, Shiri practiced annual goal-setting rituals that helped her stay focused and aligned. Surprisingly, her most important career advantage wasn’t a tech background — it was fluency in English.

From embracing the “ask forgiveness, not permission” ethos to reminding others not to tie their identity to a job title, Shiri advocates for balance, resilience, and autonomy. Her mantra, “What’s the worst-case scenario? If we’re healthy, we can handle it,” underscores her grounded optimism. This episode offers a robust guide for anyone who’s designing a career with authenticity and vision.

What Undercode Say:

Shiri Grosbard isn’t merely sharing leadership advice — she’s reframing the very architecture of modern careers. Her narrative offers a compelling antidote to corporate conformity by positioning boldness, creativity, and self-awareness as the cornerstone of success.

Her belief in visible leadership resonates deeply in a world still grappling with systemic gender inequality. The quote, “You can’t be what you can’t see,” echoes across movements in politics, tech, and media — emphasizing how representation isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Shiri understands this not just as a concept, but as a lived truth. Her path proves that breaking ceilings starts by making yourself visible and then pulling others through the breach.

What makes her story especially valuable is its refusal to romanticize success. There are no overnight wins, just years of methodical planning, strategic risks, and relentless self-belief. She normalizes failure and detachment, encouraging professionals to see their roles as part of their identity, not its definition. That’s a radical but necessary shift in a hustle culture that often equates self-worth with productivity.

Her insight about building versus sustaining organizations is another crucial takeaway. Startups often cling to their founders even when they outgrow their early utility. Shiri’s self-awareness — knowing when to step aside — is rare and essential in leadership.

The idea of pre-manifestation rituals, once considered “woo-woo,” now holds strategic relevance in career planning. Annual goal mapping, visualization, and intentional reflection are all forms of cognitive anchoring that increase focus and clarity. Shiri shows how intuitive practices can serve high-level business objectives.

Importantly, her emphasis on language skills over technical training is a powerful reminder that communication remains the core currency of leadership. In tech-heavy environments, human connection, clarity, and cultural fluency are just as critical as code or credentials.

Finally, her philosophy of “don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness” exemplifies a proactive mindset. It’s not about recklessness — it’s about trusting your judgment and being willing to recalibrate after action. That entrepreneurial spirit, combined with her empathetic leadership, makes her approach both practical and aspirational.

Shiri Grosbard’s story is a guidepost for anyone — especially women — navigating modern leadership. It’s not about fitting into the system. It’s about reshaping it from within.

🔍 Fact Checker Results

✅ Shiri Grosbard is a co-founder of G-CMO and has worked at AppsFlyer and Verbit — confirmed via LinkedIn and public interviews.
✅ The quote “You can’t be what you can’t see” is widely attributed to Marian Wright Edelman but used by many advocates including Shiri.
✅ Noa Eshed is indeed the author of The Smart Marketer’s Guide to Google Adwords and runs Bold Digital Architects.

📊 Prediction

Given Shiri’s growing influence, she is likely to play a key role in shaping the next generation of leadership coaching in Israel’s tech and startup ecosystem. Expect to see her launch an independent consultancy or leadership accelerator focused on women in tech, blending her storytelling acumen with practical career design. Her ethos of visibility and empowerment could scale through speaking engagements, workshops, or even a book — and with the increasing appetite for human-centered leadership, the timing couldn’t be better.