I never expected a man who once described folding a fitted sheet as "impossible, like folding a — no, it's just impossible" to teach me anything about leadership. And yet, here we are. In this latest episode of the Like A Boss Podcast, I discuss critical leadership strategy derived from an unlikely source.

David Rose from Schitt's Creek may not have an MBA 🎓, but over 6️⃣ seasons he demonstrated 3️⃣ leadership qualities that most management books 📚 only dream of explaining this well.

1. Radical Authenticity

David Rose never pretended to be someone he wasn't — even when it would have been easier. He wore his emotions (and his sweaters) loudly 🔊. In a corporate world full of people performing confidence they don't feel, David reminds us that people don't follow polished facades. They follow leaders who are real, even when "real" means admitting you're overwhelmed and you don't know what you're doing. Vulnerability isn't weakness. It's strength; trust-building. 💪

2. An Insistence on Clear Communication

When David's mother, Moira, famously and repeatedly insisted that he "fold in the cheese🧀" David almost lost it. The instruction was unclear and he refused to let ambiguity slide. Whether it was defining the terms of a business relationship or establishing expectations in a partnership, David demanded clarity — sometimes dramatically, always effectively. Great leaders know that most workplace dysfunction isn't caused by bad intentions. It's caused by unclear ones.

3. Finding Passion in What You Do

David went from someone who couldn't name a single marketable skill to building Rose Apothecary — a brand he believed in down to every hand-poured candle 🕯️. He didn't stumble into passion; he built it, 1️⃣ curated product at a time. The lesson? Passion doesn't always strike like lightning⚡. Sometimes you cultivate it by caring deeply about the details and committing to a standard of excellence, even when the stakes seem small.

So the next time you're looking for a leadership role model, skip the TED Talk. Rewatch Schitt's Creek. Just remember: you have to fold in the cheese.

As always, thank you so much for watching, commenting and sharing! ❤️🫶🙏

Duane Morris LLP #leadership #schittscreek