Today we’d like to introduce you to Nayli Russo

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

My story starts in Los Teques, Venezuela, where I grew up in a close-knit family. From a young age, I was taught the value of hard work and resilience. A pivotal moment for me came at six years old when I was labeled as “too shy” to audition for a role. That moment sparked a fire in me, driving a commitment to never let anyone else define my potential. It was the first step in a lifelong journey of self-discovery and pushing beyond limits.

Music became an early love of mine. I mastered the oboe, learning discipline, focus, and perseverance—qualities that later shaped my approach to leadership and life. After moving to the U.S. in 2007 as an immigrant, I found myself starting from scratch, navigating a new culture, language, and way of life. It wasn’t easy, but those challenges taught me grit, adaptability, and the power of reinvention.

My career has been a tapestry of diverse experiences, from starting two franchise businesses to leading People & Strategy for the Pittsburgh Pirates. While at the Pirates, I had the privilege of driving cultural transformation, creating their first Leadership Academy, and building a strategic KPI framework to align vision and accountability. Each role deepened my understanding of what it takes to build great organizations and lead people effectively.

Yet, the most significant lesson I learned was the importance of clarity, trust, and the human element in driving high performance. It’s what led me to launch Russo Leadership, where I now dedicate my work to helping growth-oriented leaders build cultures of excellence, align strategies, and empower their teams.

At my core, I’m passionate about helping people and organizations perform at their highest potential. My journey, from shy beginnings in Venezuela to becoming a trusted advisor to leaders, is a testament to what’s possible when you pair resilience with an unwavering belief in your ability to grow. My personal mission now is to inspire others—especially women and immigrants—to own their stories, design their lives, and achieve extraordinary results. If I could start from zero and make it here, I know they can too.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

Not at all—it’s been far from smooth. The road has been full of twists, challenges, and lessons, but each struggle shaped who I am today.

One of the biggest hurdles was starting over as an immigrant. When I moved to the U.S. in 2007, I left behind family, friends, and the familiarity of my home country. I had to adapt to a new culture, learn a new language, and prove myself in a world that often didn’t see me as qualified because of where I came from or how I spoke. There were countless moments of self-doubt and times when I felt like I didn’t belong.

As a woman and a Latina, I’ve faced stereotypes and biases that made it even harder to be heard and taken seriously, especially in leadership roles. I struggled with imposter syndrome, questioning whether I was good enough, despite working hard and delivering results. That mental battle often felt heavier than any external challenge.

There were also tough moments in my career, like navigating toxic work environments where negativity and resistance to change threatened to drag me down. Those experiences taught me to protect my energy, set boundaries, and focus on leading with integrity—even when it felt like swimming upstream.

And on a personal level, balancing my career with motherhood has been one of the hardest yet most rewarding challenges. After having my daughter, my ADHD symptoms became more pronounced, and it felt overwhelming at times to juggle being a present mom, a supportive partner, and a driven entrepreneur.

Each of these struggles forced me to grow, adapt, and find my voice. They taught me resilience, courage, and the importance of surrounding myself with people who lift me up. They also deepened my empathy and commitment to helping others face their own barriers.

The road hasn’t been smooth, but I’ve come to see the bumps as necessary. They’ve made me stronger, sharper, and more intentional about the life and work I’m building. The lessons I’ve learned on this journey are the foundation of how I now help others design their lives and lead with clarity and confidence.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

Russo Leadership is all about high performance. We specialize in helping growth-oriented leaders align their vision, strategy, and culture to achieve extraordinary results. Whether you’re building a team, leading an organization, or scaling a business, we focus on optimizing leadership, strategy, culture, and teams to deliver exceptional performance.

What sets us apart is our ability to balance the human element with a results-driven approach. Many organizations struggle to execute strategy because they overlook the cultural or leadership gaps that hold them back. At Russo Leadership, we believe people are at the heart of success, and we’re experts at helping leaders unlock their potential and inspire the same in their teams.

We’re known for our ability to bring clarity to complex challenges, build trust, and create actionable frameworks that drive measurable results. From developing leadership models and conducting executive coaching to implementing tools like Everything DiSC® and The Six Types of Working Genius, we provide tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of every organization we partner with.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the way our brand reflects our values: clarity, trust, and performance by design. We work with leaders who are committed to growth and ready to take their organizations to the next level. Our mission is to empower these leaders to build great cultures where people thrive, strategies are executed, and results are extraordinary.

At Russo Leadership, it’s not just about fixing problems—it’s about designing success. We partner with leaders who want to build something exceptional and are willing to invest in themselves, their people, and their vision. I want your readers to know that whether they’re looking to develop their leadership capacity, align their culture with their strategy, or drive higher performance across their teams, Russo Leadership is here to help them lead with confidence and create lasting impact.

The heart of our brand is transformation. We don’t just offer services—we help leaders and organizations realize their full potential and achieve results they never thought possible.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?

The most important lesson I’ve learned is the power of clarity—in leadership, in vision, and in life. Clarity is the foundation of high performance, and without it, even the best strategies or intentions can fail.

I’ve seen firsthand how a lack of clarity creates confusion, erodes trust, and stalls progress. Whether it’s in setting goals, communicating expectations, or aligning people with a shared purpose, clarity has the ability to cut through the noise and focus everyone on what truly matters. It’s not about having all the answers right away, but about asking the right questions, being honest about where you are, and taking intentional steps forward.

This lesson has shaped everything I do, both personally and professionally. In my own life, I’ve learned that clarity often comes from taking imperfect action, trusting the process, and having the courage to refine as you go. As a leader, I’ve seen how providing clarity empowers teams, builds trust, and creates the momentum needed for extraordinary results.

Ultimately, clarity is what allows people to rise above challenges, make bold decisions, and move toward their vision with confidence. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. This lesson is at the heart of my work at Russo Leadership, where I help leaders and organizations find clarity so they can perform at their highest potential. When you’re clear on who you are, what you stand for, and where you’re going, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://russoleadership.com/

Image Credits

https://www.leeannkphotography.com/
Leeann K Photography