As business owners, many of us are stuck in a loop—solving problems, putting out fires, managing day-to-day crises. But what happens when we finally shift out of survival mode and into the visionary role we're meant to play? In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I speak with Atiba De Souza—founder of a successful marketing agency and someone who leads with heart and clarity. Atiba shares how he made the powerful shift from reactive leader to visionary guide, and how being fully present with your team can radically transform your culture, retention, and results. If you're ready to grow your business by growing your leadership, this episode is for you. On This Episode [00:01:42] — Why presence matters more than performance when leading a team [00:04:15] — The trap of being the "chief fire-putter-outer" (and how to escape it) [00:07:50] — Building trust, loyalty, and autonomy in your team through intentional leadership [00:10:03] — The shift from being reactive to being visionary—and why it's critical for growth [00:14:21] — How Atiba balances coaching, delegation, and vision-setting [00:18:00] — Practical steps to empower your team without micromanaging [00:22:12] — The personal values Atiba brings into his agency culture [00:26:30] — How presence as a leader transforms your business and your mindset

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