Don’t Confuse Speed with Progress: Wisdom from Coach Katia Triggiani

What does it take to move from simply climbing the career ladder to truly leading with influence and resilience? For Katia Triggiani, the answer lies in reinvention, self-awareness, and integrity. After more than two decades in global corporations, Katia pivoted into coaching to help leaders not just deliver results, but create environments where people can thrive. In this conversation, she shares the lessons from her journey, the transformations she’s witnessed in clients, and the advice she has for the next generation of leaders.

“What got you here won’t get you there.”

“What first drew you into coaching, and how has your own journey shaped the way you work with clients?”

After 26 years in global corporations, I realised that technical skills and hard work alone don’t define success. I saw talented people being overlooked, teams burning out, and leaders under immense pressure to deliver numbers without the time to reflect on how they empowered others. My own pivot came after facing both career stagnation and a health challenge. Coaching gave me clarity, courage, and purpose — and that’s what drew me in.

Today, I help clients shift from simply climbing ladders to building bridges of influence and resilience. As Marshall Goldsmith says, “What got you here won’t get you there.” My journey taught me that reinvention and self-awareness are at the heart of sustainable success.

“Can you recall a moment when a client surprised themselves with what they achieved, and how that transformation felt for you as their coach?”

One client believed she was invisible at work, assuming her results would speak for themselves. In reality, she was being passed over for promotions. Through coaching, she learned to communicate her impact clearly and confidently. The breakthrough came when she secured a leadership role she had once thought was out of reach. For me, it was a reminder that transformation is often less about adding new skills and more about uncovering the confidence to use the strengths we already have.

“In your experience, what is one leadership skill people tend to underestimate, and why does it matter more than they realize?”

Leaders often underestimate the power of listening — truly listening without rushing to solve or defend. In high-pressure environments, the instinct is to talk more, push more, prove more. Yet listening creates trust and space for innovation. Small behavioural shifts like this, as Goldsmith teaches, are what differentiate good managers from leaders people genuinely want to follow.

“What personal value or principle guides you the most when working with leaders?”

My north star is empowerment with integrity. I believe leaders have a responsibility to create environments where people can thrive without burning out. I challenge my clients with compassion: I hold up the mirror honestly, but always with respect. Integrity means saying what I believe even when it’s uncomfortable, and empowerment means ensuring clients take ownership of their own path forward.

“How has being connected through TopLeader influenced your ability to share your expertise and reach more people?”

TopLeader has given me a platform to connect with leaders who are serious about investing in their growth. It allows me to share insights more widely, exchange ideas with peers, and multiply my impact through a community that values leadership as both performance and humanity.

“If you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of leaders, what would it be?”

My advice to the next generation of leaders is: don’t confuse speed with progress. The world they’ll navigate — shaped by AI, globalisation, and cultural complexity — will demand resilience, curiosity, and humanity. Leadership isn’t about climbing the ladder the fastest, but about building bridges that others can walk across with you.

Katia Triggiani’s perspective underscores why expertise matters in leadership development: it’s not about quick fixes, but about cultivating resilience, clarity, and integrity that last. Through TopLeader, she brings this depth of knowledge to leaders who want to go beyond surface-level coaching and achieve real, sustainable impact.