Organizational Change Agent Meg Rivera On Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Uncertain & Turbulent Times
…Be human. Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It breeds connection. I will always share my hopes, my concerns, and — most importantly — my gratitude. Because leadership isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being real…
As part of our series about the “Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Turbulent Times”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Meg Rivera. Meghan Rivera is a transformational leader and organizational change agent known for creating cultures where talent thrives. With over 20 years of experience in digital therapeutics, biopharma, and agencies, she inspires strong followership and drives meaningful impact across every level of an organization. Her leadership is rooted in resilience, reinvention, and a deep commitment to empowering people.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
I’ve spent my entire career working across the life sciences — pharmaceuticals, medtech, digital therapeutics, and creative agencies. But the throughline of my journey isn’t the industries I’ve served. It’s what I’ve been building: organizations, brands, teams, and cultures. I’ve always been drawn to the sometimes messy but always exciting work of turning vision into reality.
After 25 years, what lights me up now is helping others do the same. I work with leaders who want to leave something better than they found it — who want to lead out loud with authenticity, courage, and clarity. Leadership isn’t static, and it’s not a title. It’s how we show up every day — in the big decisions and the small moments.
I didn’t arrive here through a perfectly mapped or well through-through plan. I sought out opportunities where I felt I could make an impact, even if they didn’t quite make sense. And I’ve always been intrigued by people — what motivates them, what connects them, and what helps them thrive. That curiosity led me to healthcare and, ultimately, leadership. But what kept me here is purpose: the belief that when leaders lead with courage, people — and businesses — win.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of my funniest early career mistakes feels like a total throwback now — it involved MapQuest. Yes, this was before smartphones, before GPS was in every car, and most definitely before Google Maps was in our pockets. I was working at my first job in pharmaceuticals and traveling for customer meetings and, like any organized young professional at the time, I had carefully printed out all my MapQuest directions in advance. Except, there was one problem — I left them behind.
There I was, in an unfamiliar city — Greenville South Carolina to be exact — with no idea how to get from point A to point B. I had to get resourceful…get directions from the rental car company, find a computer with internet at the hotel and jot down what I could, even ask a gas station attendant (or two!) for help. Somehow, I still made it to every meeting — maybe a little more stressed than I’d planned, but a lot more resourceful than I realized I could be.
Looking back, it’s funny. But it taught me an important lesson early on: adaptability is everything. Plans will fail. Things will go sideways. But how you respond — with creativity, resilience, and ideally, a sense of humor — is what really matters. That mindset has served me far better than any set of perfectly printed directions ever could.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors, colleagues, and champions along the way. But my daughter has been my greatest teacher. She reminds me daily why this work matters: to create spaces where people — especially women and girls — can lead, thrive, and succeed without shrinking who they are.
She’s taught me that authenticity isn’t just a leadership value — it’s a responsibility. The world doesn’t need more perfect leaders. It needs more human ones.
Extensive research suggests that “purpose-driven businesses” are more successful in many areas. When your organization started, what was its vision, what was its purpose?
I believe that brave, inclusive, accountable cultures are the heartbeat of great organizations. My work is about helping leaders lead out loud — standing in truth, leading from the front and the middle, and creating spaces where people can show up fully.
At its core, my purpose is simple but powerful: to help leaders build environments where people can be human and, in doing so, can perform at their best. Cultures like that don’t happen by accident. They happen through intentional work, every single day.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion. Can you share with our readers a story from your own experience about how you lead your team during uncertain or difficult times?
I’ve led teams through the full gamut of corporate turbulence — layoffs, reorganizations, strategic pivots. And while these things consistently present challenges, they also present leaders with a tremendous privilege and responsibility.
During one particularly uncertain time that coincided with a large in person meeting, I felt strongly that we address the uncertainty and undercurrent of anxiety, even if we didn’t have all the answers. Not everyone was comfortable with this approach but from my perspective, shying away from the reality of how people were feeling was the exact opposite of what we needed to be doing. When we stood on stage we shared that we wouldn’t pretend to have all the answers. But what we could commit to was that we would share what we knew when we knew it and that the one thing we did know was that why we do the work we do had not and would not change.
That honesty eased the distraction and anxiety where certainty couldn’t. My call to action for both myself and my leadership team was to double down on communication, stay fiercely present, and lead with transparency and empathy. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about standing in truth, even when the truth is uncertain.
Did you ever consider giving up? Where did you get the motivation to continue through your challenges? What sustains your drive?
Truthfully? No. I’m inherently stubborn and relentlessly self-competitive. But more than that, I’m grounded in purpose. I believe leadership is a service, not a status. I lead because people are counting on me to do so with clarity and courage — even when the path ahead is unclear.
What sustains me is knowing the ripple effect leadership has. One courageous leader can transform a team. One courageous team can transform an organization. That’s the work I’m here for.
What would you say is the most critical role of a leader during challenging times?
To listen intently, acknowledge honestly, and empathize fiercely. People don’t need leaders who have it all figured out. They need leaders who see them, hear them, and stand beside them through uncertainty.
When the future seems so uncertain, what is the best way to boost morale? What can a leader do to inspire, motivate and engage their team?
Relentlessly commit to the mission. Repeatedly communicate the vision. Focus on what you can control. And celebrate the wins — no matter how small. Momentum matters, especially in hard seasons.
What is the best way to communicate difficult news to one’s team and customers?
With transparency, honesty, and humanity. Deliver the hard truth but do it with care and respect. People deserve nothing less.
How can a leader make plans when the future is so unpredictable?
Anticipate change — it truly is the only constant in life. Build flexibility into your strategy. Scenario-plan not because you can predict the future, but because you’ll need to adapt to it. Leadership is less about having a fixed map and more about having a compass.
Is there a “number one principle” that can help guide a company through the ups and downs of turbulent times?
Truth and authenticity win. Always. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially then.
Can you share 3 or 4 of the most common mistakes you have seen other businesses make during difficult times? What should one keep in mind to avoid that?
Retreating from discomfort. Avoiding the hard conversations only creates more fear.
Becoming invisible. Silence breeds speculation. Presence builds trust.
Getting paralyzed. Waiting for perfect clarity before acting leads to missed opportunities.
The antidote to these missteps? Show up, Speak up. Step forward.
Here is the primary question of our discussion. Based on your experience and success, what are the five most important things a business leader should do to lead effectively during uncertain and turbulent times? Please share a story or an example for each.
1. Be more visible and accessible than ever.
During uncertainty, your presence matters more than your answers. I will always hold more check-ins, more informal conversations, more open-door moments to show up when and where people needed me.
2. Stand in truth — own the uncertainty.
I’ve told my teams: “I don’t know everything, but I will always be truthful.” And while that may feel uncomfortable, that honesty builds the foundation for trust.
3. Focus on what you can control.
In order to avoid distraction and sustain our impact as a team, we double down on our commitments — to our customers, to each other, to doing excellent work. Control the controllables.
4. Lead from the front and the middle.
Leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about proximity. And while I ensure the vision and mission are clear, I also prioritize staying close to the team and the work we do, showing up where it matters most, being present to share in accountability and in celebration of wins.
5. Be human.
Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It breeds connection. I will always share my hopes, my concerns, and — most importantly — my gratitude. Because leadership isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being real.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
For me, leadership is about the experience people have when they work with you, when they trust you, when they follow you. I want people to leave interactions with me feeling seen, valued, and capable of more than they thought possible. That’s the impact I hope to make.
How can our readers further follow your work?
You can follow me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/megrivera and check out my website at megrivera.com
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Organizational Change Agent Meg Rivera On Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.