The Power of Intuition: Why Business Leaders Need to Trust Themselves More

In the world of business, logic reigns supreme. Data, market analysis, and strategic planning are the cornerstones of decision-making. But what if we’ve been missing something—something that can’t be found on a spreadsheet or measured in quarterly earnings?

Serin Silva knows this world well. She spent years navigating the high-stakes corporate landscape, helping companies like Williams-Sonoma scale to half a billion dollars and launching Hearst Corporation’s first digital arm. She was the kind of leader who made things happen, who could see the gaps before anyone else did. But underneath all the strategy and execution, she had another gift—one that didn’t fit neatly into corporate boardrooms.

Serin is an intuitive executive coach, a medium, and a strategist who has mastered the art of blending business expertise with instinct. And if you think intuition has no place in leadership, she’s here to tell you otherwise.

Why Leaders Struggle to Trust Their Instincts

For high-achieving women, success is often defined by tangible results—promotions, revenue growth, industry recognition. Serin understands that drive all too well. She built a career out of setting ambitious goals and crushing them. But no matter how much she achieved, she noticed a pattern in herself and her colleagues: they were always looking for the next thing, the next milestone, the next validation.

“There’s this idea that we haven’t arrived yet, that we’re always reaching for something more,” she says. “But at some point, we have to ask ourselves—when is enough, enough?”

That question is harder to answer than it seems. In a culture that glorifies the hustle, stopping to listen to your own voice can feel like a luxury—or worse, a weakness. But Serin argues that intuition is not just a nice-to-have; it’s a fundamental part of effective leadership.

“If you’re not using your gut, you’re leaving 50% of your wisdom on the table,” she explains.

The Intersection of Strategy and Intuition

Serin’s approach is a blend of business acumen and deep intuition. When working with clients, she doesn’t just look at the numbers—she looks at the energy behind decisions, the emotional weight leaders carry, and the patterns that keep them stuck.

She recalls a high-stakes negotiation where all the traditional strategy pointed in one direction, but her intuition told her something different. “I had a whole game plan mapped out,” she says, “but the second we got on the call, I knew it wasn’t going to work. I had to shift in real time, pivot the conversation, and trust that instinct over the pre-planned approach. And it worked.”

That kind of flexibility—the ability to adapt based on what feels right, not just what looks right on paper—is what separates good leaders from great ones.

Breaking Free from External Expectations

For women in leadership, trusting themselves often requires unlearning years of conditioning. Serin has seen it time and time again: brilliant, capable executives who second-guess their own decisions because they’re afraid of being wrong.

“We’ve trained ourselves outward,” she says. “We look to the external world—bosses, investors, mentors—to validate our choices. But real power comes from turning inward.”

That shift is not just about career success; it’s about self-liberation. It’s about making decisions that align with who you really are, not just what the world expects from you.

Serin knows firsthand how challenging that process can be. She spent years resisting her own gifts, afraid of how she would be perceived. “I didn’t like that I was intuitive. People would laugh, and my ego hated that,” she admits. “But eventually, it just got too exhausting to live two lives. I had to own all of it.”

The Future of Leadership: Thinking Beyond AI and Metrics

As technology rapidly evolves, the future of leadership won’t be defined by who can crunch numbers the fastest or who has the most aggressive growth strategy. Machines can handle that. What they can’t do is think critically, navigate human emotions, or make decisions based on something deeper than data.

“The new economy won’t just be about numbers,” Serin says. “It’s going to be about who can think, who can feel, and who can lead with wisdom. AI can process information, but it can’t replace human insight.”

For leaders willing to embrace that shift, the opportunity is massive.

Embracing Your Own Wisdom

Serin’s message is clear: You already have the answers you’re looking for. The challenge is giving yourself permission to listen.

For anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of their next step, she offers this advice: “Stop looking for permission. You don’t need it. You already know. Trust yourself.”

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the edge we’ve been missing all along.

Connect with Serin Silva:

Website: serinsilva.com
LinkedIn: Serin Silva
Instagram: @serinsilva.intuitive.coach

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