347: Why Failure Looks Different as You Grow with Kelly Burlage

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Kelly Burlage, Chief Human Resources Officer at Lineage, to explore how our relationship with failure changes as we grow in our careers. From early-career mistakes that feel world-ending to high-stakes leadership decisions that impact entire organizations, Kelly shares why failure is something to learn from.

If you've ever found yourself replaying a professional setback or questioning whether you're ready for the next level, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on resilience and leading through uncertainty.

Inside This Episode:

• Why Failure Evolves as Your Career Grows: Kelly shares how her definition of failure has shifted throughout her career and why the challenges that once felt devastating often become the foundation for future success.
• The Leadership Lessons Hidden Inside Setbacks: Not every failure feels productive in the moment. Kelly reflects on how some of her most difficult professional experiences ultimately accelerated her growth and strengthened her leadership.
• How to Lead Through High-Stakes Misses: As leaders advance, mistakes become more visible and carry greater consequences. Kelly discusses how to navigate setbacks without losing trust, momentum, or confidence.
• Balancing Innovation with Smart Risk-Taking: Growth requires experimentation, and experimentation comes with the possibility of failure. Kelly explains how data, curiosity, and calculated risks help organizations move forward without becoming paralyzed by fear.
• Creating a Culture Where People Can Learn from Failure: In industries where precision matters, psychological safety still matters. Kelly shares how leaders can create environments where people feel empowered to take ownership, learn, and improve.

What to Do Now:

1. Revisit an Old Failure: Think about a professional setback from earlier in your career that still makes you cringe. What lessons did it teach you that success couldn't have?
2. Audit Your Current Response to Failure: Ask yourself whether you're approaching today's challenges with outdated fears or limiting beliefs that no longer serve you.
3. Look for the Lesson, Not the Label: The next time something doesn't go as planned, resist the urge to immediately call it a failure. Instead, ask: "What is this experience teaching me?"

About the Guest

Kelly Burlage is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Lineage, the world's largest and most innovative temperature-controlled logistics provider. She leads enterprise-wide people strategies that align business growth with operational excellence while fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and high performance. With more than two decades of global HR and talent leadership experience, Kelly has built and scaled high-performing teams across complex, high-growth organizations. She is known for delivering innovative, data-driven people strategies that drive meaningful business results. Kelly is a Korn Ferry Certified Coach, a Leading Women Executives alumna, and has been recognized among TAtech's Top 100 Most Influential Talent Acquisition Thought Leaders.

Your Freebie

How do you lead through failure and uncertainty?

Today’s workplace demands adaptability, creative problem-solving, and leaders who can navigate uncertainty without freezing in perfectionism.

This quick quiz will reveal your unique approach to failure and uncertainty, plus give you simple ways to strengthen your adaptability muscles and help your team thrive when things don’t go according to plan.

Connect with Kelly Burlage

• Kelly’s LinkedIn
• Lineage’s website

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

• Leadership Playground online membership community
• Erin’s website
• Erin’s Instagram
• Erin’s TikTok
• Erin’s LinkedIn
• improve it!’s website
• improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.