Andrea Perez on Building Trust Before Driving Change

What I’ve Learned

Andrea Perez has always been a bold leader, unafraid to push for ambitious ideas. But one early role taught her a lesson that would reshape how she approached leadership.

“You really have to know the leaders you are working for. I didn’t, and it was a mistake.”

She stepped into a new position with a strong vision and moved quickly to recommend change. The strategy was right — but because she hadn’t yet invested in relationships or earned trust, her ideas were met with resistance. It wasn’t a failure of insight, it was a failure of timing.

How I’ve Sharpened

Andrea turned that painful moment into a leadership edge. She built practices that ensure she never skips the critical step of understanding the people first:

• Listen before you lead. She now takes time to absorb the history, culture, and dynamics of a team or company before suggesting change.
• Invest in relationships. Building trust through credibility and consistency has become her first priority in any new role.
• Respect sequencing. Bold moves succeed when they come after alignment, not before it. Andrea learned to pace herself — listening, aligning, then acting.
• Stay empathetic. She looks for what motivates people personally, knowing that trust is earned when others feel seen as individuals, not just colleagues.

Why It Matters

Andrea’s story underscores that even the most brilliant ideas will fail if the environment isn’t ready for them. By prioritizing listening and trust-building, she creates the conditions for bold leadership to thrive.

“The best ideas in the world won’t matter if you don’t create the environment for them to succeed. That starts with listening.”

About Andrea Perez

Andrea Perez has led global marketing at Nike, Jordan Brand, and PlayStation. Today she serves as a board member and advisor, known for her ability to pair bold creativity with cultural fluency. She is celebrated for her capacity to build trust first, then lead transformative change.