Humility, Hiding & Honesty: Reclaiming What It Means to Lead with Truth

🎙️ Unmuddying the Waters – Episode 7

Title: Humility, Hiding & Honesty: Reclaiming What It Means to Lead with Truth
Guest: Tonye Mack (Director, Producer, Editor)
Host: Joshua Okunlola
Duration: ~24 mins

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🔍 Episode Summary

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Joshua is joined by longtime friend and creative powerhouse Tonye Mak to explore the evolving meaning of humility in leadership and life. Together, they unpack how humility has been misinterpreted as hiding, downplaying, or dimming one's light and reframe it as an act of truth-telling.

From the dual identity of “Tony vs. Sonya” to cultural and faith-based expectations around confidence, they explore how systems of upbringing, race, faith, and professional norms shape how we show up in rooms and what we silence in ourselves to be accepted.

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🧭 Key Themes

• The myth of humility as invisibility

• Confidence vs. arrogance: walking the line

• Faith, culture, and the pressure to shrink

• Reclaiming voice in professional spaces

• Why honesty not hiding is true humility

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💬 Quotes to Remember

“Humility is not about being unseen—it’s about telling the truth.”
— Joshua Okunlola

“In dimming your light, you’re not being humble. You’re actually lying.”
— Tonye Mak

“Jesus was humble—but he was also confident. He knew who he was.”
— Tonye Mak

“There’s a cultural system in me that tells me not to shine… and then pats me on the back for staying small.”
— Joshua Okunlola

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✨ Reflection Prompt

Ask yourself:

• Where have I been hiding under the name of humility?

• What truths about my gifts and limitations am I afraid to name?

• What would it look like to lead with honest presence instead of performative smallness?

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🎬 Guest Links

• IG: @tonyemak

• Latest work: Dating Black Season 3 on BET International

• Upcoming: Debut short film in production (stay tuned!)

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🎧 Listen + Share

If this episode resonated with you, please:

• Share it with a friend who needs this conversation

• Tag @joshua_okunlola_ and @tonyemak on Instagram with your takeaways

• Rate and review the show—it helps amplify these necessary dialogues

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🔁 Closing Words

Lead with clarity.
Lead with courage.
Start telling the truth.