Thankful Leadership: Scaling With Purpose
- Nov 18
- 2 min read
By Brandi Liberty
When I look back at my journey as a Native woman in business, the word that comes to mind isn’t hustle—it’s gratitude. Gratitude for the hard lessons that shaped me, the mentors who believed in me, and the moments that reminded me why I started.
Building my company wasn’t about chasing numbers or status. It was about creating opportunity—first for myself, and then for my community. As a citizen of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, I carry my ancestors’ resilience in everything I do. I come from people who built from the ground up, often with nothing but determination and faith. That legacy fuels how I lead today.
When I launched The Luak Group, I was navigating spaces that didn’t always understand or include people who looked like me. Early on, I realized that success would require more than ambition—it would demand purpose, vision, and thankfulness. Every partnership, every client, every win has been an act of gratitude in motion.
Leadership, to me, means service. It means making sure that as I rise, others do too. I’ve learned that scaling a business with purpose isn’t about growth for growth’s sake—it’s about building systems that empower others to thrive. Whether it’s mentoring Indigenous entrepreneurs, collaborating with women-owned businesses, or supporting youth leadership initiatives, I lead from the belief that success means nothing if it isn’t shared.
There were moments I questioned if I was ready to lead, if I was strong enough to make an impact. But gratitude became my grounding force. It helped me stop comparing my journey to others and start appreciating how far I’ve come. Gratitude transformed my mindset from scarcity to abundance—from “I have to” to “I get to.”
In a world that often glorifies the hustle, I’ve found peace in slowing down enough to say thank you—to my team, my community, my clients, and even to the obstacles that forced me to evolve. Gratitude gives me clarity. It reminds me that every decision should align with the mission, not the noise.
Thankful leadership isn’t soft—it’s strategic. When you lead from appreciation, you lead with empathy, and empathy builds loyalty, trust, and longevity. My hope is that more leaders, especially women, recognize that gratitude isn’t a weakness. It’s the heartbeat of sustainable success.
As I look toward the next chapter, my vision is simple: to continue scaling with purpose. To keep creating spaces where collaboration replaces competition, where Indigenous voices are amplified, and where gratitude is our greatest return on investment.
Because when you lead with thanks, you lead with heart—and that’s where real impact begins.
Connect With Brandi
@nola_ioway_girl
The Luak Group: @the_luak_group
Brandi Liberty
Author: @brandi_liberty_author"
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