I had the title. I had the salary. I had a seemingly endless capacity to "armor up" and be the resilient, high-achieving leader the world expected.

For twenty years, I was on a non-stop sprint toward a traditional definition of success. My journey took me from dropping out of an educational system that didn't fit, to rising as a Business Unit Leader in Digital Transformation and Innovation. I was good at the game. I was a top performer.

But here is the brutal truth: I was exhausted.

My life had become an exercise in compartmentalization. I was living one task at a time, trading my well-being for a career that, deep down, felt empty. The companies I served promoted beautiful values on paper, but in the trenches, the culture prized perfection over wholeheartedness.

Even while holding onto my values of humility and empathy, I felt the constant pressure to wear a "mask" of relentless resilience, the persona of a leader who is always "on," always certain, and always invulnerable. It was draining my energy, stifling my creativity, and slowly disconnecting me from my true self and the very people I wanted to inspire.

The Turning Point: When the Armor Fails

I didn't wait to hit the wall; I found myself standing on the brink of it.

I recognized the signs of burnout before the crash happened. It was a moment of profound clarity where I realized that my success hadn't come from the "armor" I wore, but from the moments I dared to lead without it. In that state of near-exhaustion, I finally had the space to notice what actually fueled me.

It wasn't the project milestones or the bottom-line wins that gave my life meaning. It was the human connection.

I found that I felt most alive when mentoring and coaching team members from my natural place of empathy and humility. When I prioritized the heart over the "high-achiever" metrics, I didn't feel like I was working; I felt like I was coming home. I realized that to stay true to these values, I couldn't keep sprinting on the same track.

Why Inari Consulting Exists

This realization was the spark. I learned the hard way that leading with courage is unsustainable when your heart and your environment are no longer aligned. Living with a mask drains your vitality, forcing you to trade your soul for a brittle sense of perfection.

I started Inari Consulting because I believe there is a better way.

Inari is a direct response to my own journey. My mission is not just to teach leadership, but to guide people back to their truth before they reach the point of no return. Inspired by the work of Daring Leadership and the principles of Ikigai (your reason for being), I realized that the greatest leadership transformation happens when we turn our curiosity inward and honor who we truly are.

An Invitation to Lead from Within

Inari Consulting is my invitation for you to stop "armoring up." You don't have to trade your soul for your title.

Our goal is to help you unlock your full potential by protecting and cultivating what matters most: a humble heart, an empathetic mind, and an authentic soul. This is how you reclaim the balance and courage needed to truly thrive, not just as a leader, but as a human being.

Whether you are leading a global team or leading your own life, remember the core truth I discovered in my darkest time:

Who we are is how we lead.

Inari isn't just a business for me; it is my own alignment. It is my first step toward a life lived from the heart. I invite you to join me on this journey.

Stay Humble. Stay Kind. Stay Authentic.

Greg