Confidence Without the Ego

Confidence is expected in a leadership interview. But there’s a point where confidence can start to raise a different question: what would it actually be like to work with this person? In this episode of Pass the Last Round, Thrively co-founders Jason Medley and Jeremy Schmidt unpack a real interview process involving an exceptionally strong senior-level candidate whose confidence in their own value started to create concerns around fit, collaboration, and how they might operate within the leadership team. Jason and Jeremy explore the difference between confidence and arrogance, why curiosity can be one of the strongest signals of executive maturity, and how the way you talk about your accomplishments can shape how an interviewer sees you. They also break down how senior leaders can tell stories that make their impact clear without turning every answer into the “I” show, and why asking questions before jumping to solutions can demonstrate stronger leadership than immediately having all the answers. The takeaway: You don’t need less confidence. You need confidence paired with curiosity, self-awareness, and respect for the people already in the room. Your experience should show that you know your value, not that you think you’re the only one bringing value to the table.