The Inner Game of Power

Every major decision I’ve made—whether in a negotiation with a foreign minister or a boardroom filled with investors—has taught me one truth: power begins within. The most effective strategy I’ve ever used wasn’t geopolitical or financial; it was psychological. Success starts by mastering the person you see in the mirror.

Everything I Needed Was Already Within Me 

When I was six, I left Ukraine with my mother. We arrived in the United States with no English, no plan, and a cardboard sign. On the plane, I asked her how I’d make friends or learn the language. She tapped my chest and said, “Everything you need is within yourself.”

Those words became the foundation of my leadership philosophy. They remind me that the strength to build, negotiate, and lead doesn’t come from credentials or titles—it comes from conviction. The leaders I most admire share this trait: they activate their internal resources before they reach for external ones.

You can copy anyone’s strategy, but no one can duplicate your mindset. That’s your competitive advantage.

Redefining the Table 

I learned that lesson early. In third grade, unable to speak English, I was seated apart from my classmates during reading time. The humiliation burned—but instead of waiting for permission, I dragged my desk into the middle of the circle.

That small act of defiance has guided me ever since. When the system doesn’t give you a seat at the table, build your own and decide who sits with you. Whether you’re managing a corporation or drafting policy, influence is not granted—it’s taken, earned, and exercised through courage.

Knowing My Assets 

Every leader has a portfolio of strengths. Some are linear thinkers—structured, procedural, precise. Others are lateral—adaptive, creative, intuitive. I’m a lateral thinker; I thrive in chaos. Once I understood that, I stopped trying to fit into the traditional mold of “orderly” leadership and began leading with my instincts.

Impatience, aggression, and intuition—traits once criticized in me—turned out to be my greatest tools. Impatience fuels urgency. Aggression sharpens negotiation. Intuition guides timing. Leaders waste time sanding down their edges when they should be turning those edges into instruments.

In the political and corporate worlds, there’s no value in trying to be universally liked. There’s power in being self-aware—and even more in being unapologetic.

The Imposter Within 

Still, I’ve faced imposter syndrome in rooms where everyone seemed more connected, wealthy, or credentialed than me. Early in my career, I attended a private fundraiser filled with senators and donors. Standing in that southern country club, I felt like an intruder. The instinct to flee was almost physical.

Instead, I forced myself to move. I introduced myself to every person in the room until I found an ally—a legislator who later became a close partner. That night I developed a method I still use: Affirm, Accept, Act.

• Affirm your right to be in the room.
• Accept the discomfort without indulging it.
• Act before hesitation takes root.

Imposter syndrome loses power the moment you confront it with motion.

Turning Weakness into Power 

Years later, while working in Africa on a government relations project, I learned what real assertiveness looks like. My firm had completed a multimillion-dollar contract, but the payment never arrived. My polite diplomacy accomplished nothing. So I documented every delay, exposed every inconsistency, and confronted the central-bank governor directly.

Many considered it reckless for a young foreign woman to challenge a senior official. But the move worked—the payment was processed, and I earned respect that no amount of charm could have bought.

I learned that in certain environments, strength is the only language power understands. Authentic aggression—anchored in integrity—can be the most effective form of diplomacy.

Believing in My Own Equity 

Confidence is capital. If you undervalue yourself, the world will discount you accordingly. Early on, I realized that believing in my own equity wasn’t arrogance—it was accuracy. I had done the work, built the expertise, and earned the results. The only missing variable was self-belief.

Once I projected conviction, people responded to it. Confidence sets the market price for your value—professionally and personally.

Discovering My “Why” 

After years of political success, I found myself adrift. I had titles, income, access—but no vision. The question that changed everything was simple: What do you actually want?

For me, the answer was rooted in gratitude. My mother and grandparents had survived hardship that most people can’t imagine. My purpose was to turn their sacrifice into legacy—to build something enduring enough to justify the struggle.

Your “why” is the fuel that drives endurance. Without it, even the most accomplished leader eventually runs on empty. Purpose transforms work into mission, and mission into legacy.

Thinking Without Limits 

When I started my first company, I didn’t know the first step. I walked into a bank to open a business account and didn’t even know what a tax ID was. Instead of pretending, I admitted it. The banker helped me apply online. Within minutes, I had what I needed to begin.

That moment taught me something about leadership: ignorance isn’t failure—it’s the beginning of competence. People respect honesty more than performance.

From then on, I began thinking without limits. Instead of asking if I could achieve something, I started asking how fast. The mind is programmable. If you think in scarcity, you make defensive moves. If you think in abundance, you create momentum.

Balancing Vision with Realism 

Vision without realism collapses. I’ve learned to treat flexibility as a strategy, not a compromise. Whether dealing with policy shifts or volatile markets, the key is to adjust tactics without abandoning mission.

Every environment has its own power structure. You can’t bulldoze every wall, but you can find the weak spot and push through it. Realism keeps ambition tethered to execution.

Leadership as a Geopolitical Act 

Over time, I’ve come to see leadership as its own form of geopolitics. Every company, every investment portfolio, every policy arena functions like a miniature state—with alliances, adversaries, and resource constraints. To lead effectively, you must first establish internal sovereignty.

Here’s how I frame it:

• Define yourself before others define you. 
• Negotiate from strength, not need. 
• Transform adversity into advantage. 
• Operate from abundance, not fear. 

Ultimately, power is personal. It doesn’t begin with influence over others—it begins with control over yourself. I’ve sat across from people who command armies and those who manage billions, and the common denominator of their success is mindset.

Everything I needed to lead, to build, and to win was already within me. The same is true for anyone willing to master the inner game of power.

Written by Vlada Galan. Have you read?

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