We Are Human Leaders

Alexis Zahner & Sally Clarke

Welcome to We Are Human Leaders - big conversations around human-centred leadership at work and beyond.


This is a story about you, as a Human, and a Leader. It doesn’t matter your industry, your geography, the products you sell or the services that you offer. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a corporation, or a small business, it doesn’t matter your profit margins or your official job title. Our common denominator is the same, we are humans first and leaders second.


This is a call to everyone who prioritizes learning and growth to truly put Humans first in business. Human Leaders is changing how we work to ensure business and humans can thrive through work.


Human Leaders create workplaces where every single person feels seen, their contributions valued and their voice heard. We’re mobilizing the global leadership community to reimagine what work looks like and we’re glad you’re on this journey with us.


Find out more at www.wearehumanleaders.com


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Episodes

Dissent and Defy: Insubordination Done Effectively with Dr Todd Kashdan
11-06-2024
Dissent and Defy: Insubordination Done Effectively with Dr Todd Kashdan
Who do you think of when I say the words rebel or insubordination? Perhaps someone who’s disagreeable, maybe even aggressive, someone who sits outside society or the popular norm? What if I told you that insubordination, when done well, isn’t just useful – but should be encouraged?In this episode we’re learning how to dissent and defy effectively with Dr. Todd B. Kashdan, Professor of Psychology at George Mason University and author of The Art of Insubordination: How to dissent and defy effectively.This conversation is one we wish we’d had at the beginning of our careers. Todd's wisdom has given us the language and the tools to not only understand how to challenge norms in our workplaces, societies and even political structures ourselves, but support and amplify the voices of others doing the same.Todd is a leading authority on well-being, curiosity, psychological flexibility, and resilience. He has published over 225 peer-reviewed articles and is in the top 1% of cited scientists in the world (over 48,000 times). Todd has received the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology. He is the author of several books including Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life, The Upside of Your Dark Side, and his latest The Art of Insubordination: How to Dissent and Defy Effectively which we unpack today. To us Todd is a shining example of divergent thinking, both through his research and the incredible way he articles these important concepts. This conversation is an absolute must listen for anyone who is ready and feeling the urge to drive change in the world around them.Find out more about Dr Todd Kashdan including here to get his books here https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/dissent-and-defy-todd-kashdan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Healing Your Trauma to Lead Authentically with Kelly Campbell
28-05-2024
Healing Your Trauma to Lead Authentically with Kelly Campbell
How does healing your trauma help you to connect with your most authentic self?Learn how to moving through your trauma can help you live a fuller life, and be a more authentic, human-centered leader.No one is a stranger to trauma. We have a tendency to think of trauma as separate from our professional lives. And yet, unhealed trauma impacts our leadership, our teams, and our workplaces. It can harm relationships and inhibit our ability to have the impact we desire.As leaders, it’s up to us to take responsibility to integrate and heal our trauma. To, Heal so we can really Lead. So how can we start and navigate this healing process? What are the four fundamental aspects of moving through and integrating trauma so we can lead with vision and authenticity and match our intention with our impact?Today we are speaking with Kelly L Campbell who writes about trauma, leadership, and consciousness. They are the author of Heal to Lead: Revolutionizing Leadership through Trauma Healing. Kelly is a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach to emerging and established leaders who know they are meant for more. Their vision is to empower more than half of humanity to heal its childhood trauma so that we may reimagine and rebuild the world together.This conversation is personal, deep and steeped in truth – and full of practical advice and clear guidance for your own journey to healing your trauma as a human and as a leader.Find more about Kelly in our show notes: www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/healing-trauma-leading-authentically-kelly-campbell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to Use Emotional Intelligence for an Optimal Day, Every Day with Daniel Goleman
14-05-2024
How to Use Emotional Intelligence for an Optimal Day, Every Day with Daniel Goleman
We’ve been sold the candy that flow is the ideal state of being. But how often is it even possible to find flow, is this a realistic goal? Chasing flow is like trying to hold water in our bare hands – it’s possible, for a short while, but elusive and ephemeral in nature, and if we bank on it occurring regularly we’ll wind up disappointed. Instead our guest today argues we should concentrate on finding our optimal state instead. Today we’re dive deeping into the world of emotional intelligence and how we can use our EQ to perform at our best with none other than Daniel Goleman himself.His latest book ‘Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day’ Co-Authored with Cary Cherniss unpacks the optimal state: characterized by focus, cognitive control and purpose - three things we have direct agency over.In this conversation we uncover the vital role emotional intelligence plays in fostering a productive and harmonious work environment. From understanding the intricacies of our own emotions to navigating complex interpersonal dynamics, Daniel shares invaluable insights and practical strategies for leaders looking to cultivate a culture of empathy, belonging and personal resilience. Whether you're a seasoned Leader or just starting your leadership journey, this episode unpacks the tools need to optimize both your personal and professional growth. So, tune in and get ready to elevate your leadership game with none other than Daniel Goleman on the We Are Human Leaders podcast.Find out more about Daniel Goleman, including where you get his new book in our show notes at www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/emotional-intelligence-optimal-daniel-goleman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Layoffs, Redundancies and Career Shifts: Navigating Challenging Changes with Leanne Elliott
16-04-2024
Layoffs, Redundancies and Career Shifts: Navigating Challenging Changes with Leanne Elliott
One of the most traumatic experiences we can have in the workplace is being made redundant. From one day to the next, your life drastically changes and you don’t have a say. Being made redundant raises all kinds of questions, as well as feelings like shock, anger and shame. Sometimes leaders handle redundancies well. More often, they don’t, making the process immeasurably harder for those on the receiving end.Redundancies are also complex for those who are left behind: you might feel survivors guilt – or the dread of not knowing if you’ll be next.If you’ve been made redundant you’re not alone. millions of people around the globe experience it every year, and rates have grown over the past 12 months in many countries.So, what can leaders do to minimise pain for those who leave? How can you ensure culture continuity for those who stay? And for the person who’s been made redundant, what steps can you take to heal, recover and get back into the drivers seat of you career?In this conversation we explore this with Leanne Elliott who is a Certified Business Psychologist, Consultant and Coach who builds workplaces that empower teams and enable performance. She is also Co-host of the award-winning psychology podcast, Truth, Lies & Work and Co-Founder of people and culture consultancy, Oblong. Leanne shares practical tips and best practices for all of us to better understand more about the best ways to navigate one of the worst workplace experiences. Find more information about the episode and Leanne Elliott on our show notes: https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/layoff-redundancies-leanne-elliott Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From Ideas to Impact: Create your own blueprint for change with Michael Sheldrick
02-04-2024
From Ideas to Impact: Create your own blueprint for change with Michael Sheldrick
How do you translate your ideas into meaningful, maximum impact?This week on the We Are Human Leaders podcast, we speak with the incredible Michael Sheldrick, cofounder of Global Citizen and author of the upcoming From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing and Implementing Change in a Divided World. With 12 million members around the world, Global Citizen has raised more than USD 40 billion to help improve lives, making Michael a leader in the field. We’re sure this conversation will empower and inspire you to translate YOUR ideas into impact, too.During this inspiring and insight-packed episode of We are Human Leaders, we examine the common pitfalls people make. In particular, Michael shares the importance of being clear your own authentic contribution and capabilities so you can engage the right support for maximum impact. We also explore the importance of being clear both on the exact issue you are looking to solve, and the one solution you are looking to implement.With a career that spans the world of pop and policy, Michael has worked with an impressive roster of international artists such as Beyoncé, Coldplay, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Priyanka Chopra, Rihanna and Usher, as well as prominent political leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and former Australian Prime Ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.Find out more about Michael Sheldrick, including where to find his book in our show notes at https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/idea-to-impact-michael-sheldrick Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Future Fit: Creating Organisations Ready For The Future with Friska Wirya
07-02-2024
Future Fit: Creating Organisations Ready For The Future with Friska Wirya
Is your organisation future fit?How can you navigate the uncharted waves of change and emerge stronger than before?In this conversation we had a conversation with highly acclaimed change management expert Friska Wirya. In her new book ‘The Future Fit Organisation’ she tackles the burning questions that keep forward-looking leaders awake at night, with unique insights that pave the way for change to galvanise. Real-world case studies and thought-provoking analysis equip you to shape a resilient organisation poised for sustained success:Level up your ability to catalyse enterprise-wide change.Harness the right headspace to guide with acuity and nimbleness.Foster creativity in problem solving to stay head and shoulders above the rest.Drive acceptance and adoption to fuel expansion and unlock step-change performance.Forge a vibrant organisational culture that acts as the calm among the chaos.Perfect your transformative leadership savvy to motivate your organisation to embrace change - be it in the boardroom or on the shop floor.The Future Fit Organisation is your compass for steering through change, providing practical strategies to successfully guide and evolve your organisation's transformation.Are you ready to get future fit? Dive into the conversation and find out!Friksa is a Change Management Thought Leader, and author of her bestselling new book the Future Fit Organisation: a leaders guide to transformation.She has led change at global organizations driving hundreds of millions in annual savings and is now Chief Change Officer at Fresh by Friska. Friska is lifelong learner and self-confessed geek, and she’s a born communicator – which we’ll sure you’ll agree with after listening to this warm and wide ranging conversation.Find out more about Friska Wirya and where to find her book at our shownotes on www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fixing Friction: Eliminating The Forces That Make Work Harder with Hayagreeva 'Huggy' Rao
24-01-2024
Fixing Friction: Eliminating The Forces That Make Work Harder with Hayagreeva 'Huggy' Rao
In this conversation we unpack workplace Friction with Hayagreeva 'Huggy' Rao. Friction can be both good and bad in a workplace, knowing how to use it and how to eliminate it when it's doing harm is critical.The Friction Project is the latest book by Huggy Rao and Bob Sutton and is The definitive guide to eliminating the forces that make it harder, more complicated, or downright impossible to get things done in organizations.THE FRICTION PROJECT: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder is written by bestselling authors and Stanford professors Robert I. Sutton and Hayagreeva “Huggy” Rao. It presents a decade’s worth of research on what ought to be easy and what ought to be hard in organizations, and how to change things for the better. Based on their research, case studies, and hundreds of engagements with top companies, the authors reveal just how widespread this affliction is, and provide a roadmap for readers to take up the mantle and blaze a path out of the muck. Our episode today with Huggy Rao unpacks this book and the incredible research conducted to help you discern between good and bad friction, and what to do about it.Huggy Rao is the Atholl McBean professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Science, the Sociological Research Association, and the Academy of Management. He has written for Harvard Business Review, Business Week, and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of Market Rebels and coauthor of the bestselling Scaling Up Excellence.Praise for The Friction Project:“Sutton and Rao have given us a thousand gems, each an invaluable insight on its own, reinventing management as the art of ensuring that things get done as they should without unnecessary struggle. Marshalling the crucial insights from classic works, as well as from the very latest studies, they make a convincing case for friction as a vital focus and offer countless practical suggestions that you can apply in your work. I guarantee that their profoundly humane arguments will win your hearts, change your behavior, and transform your companies.”—Amy C. Edmondson, Professor, Harvard Business School, Author, Right kind of wrong: The science of failing well (Atria, 2023)“I have found every place I’ve been to be filled with people who REALLY CARE about doing the right thing for the company. Sutton and Rao show how leaders who pay attention to friction - which kinds arehelpful and which are not—can equip these people with the right tools, build their trust, and make incredible progress as a result.”— Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, former President of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, and author of Creativity INC: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mind Body Wisdom and The Illusion of Control with Ellen Langer
13-12-2023
Mind Body Wisdom and The Illusion of Control with Ellen Langer
Life consists only of moments, nothing more than that. So if you make the moment matter, it all mattersWhat does it mean to truly be mindful? In today’s conversation we explore the mind-body connection through decades of powerful, trailblazing research with Harvard University Professor and the ‘Mother of Mindfulness’ Ellen Langer.This conversation will radically shift your perception around what it means to be mindful, and mindless. From reversing the signs of aging, to healing from dire medial prognosis, through to the illusion of control and how Leaders can better engage workplaces to be more present and mindful - this conversation with Professor Langer covers it all.Ellen J Langer was the first tenured female in the Harvard Psychology Department, and has since lead decades of ground-breaking research into mindfulness human behaviour, and it’s opposite, earning her the title of ‘Mother of Mindfulness’.Ellen J. Langer is the author of eleven books, including the international bestseller Mindfulness, which has been translated into fifteen languages, and more than two hundred research articles. She is the recipient of, among other numerous awards and honors, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest from the American Psychological Association, the Award for Distinguished Contributions of Basic Science to the Application of Psychology from the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, and the Adult Development and Aging Distinguished Research Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association. Langer’s trailblazing experiments in social psychology have earned her inclusion in The New York Times Magazine’s “Year in Ideas” issue and will soon be the subject of a major motion picture. A member of the psychology department at Harvard University and a painter, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.This conversation is nothing short of mind-altering, let’s dive in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From National Captain to Activist: Using Influence to Level The Playing Field with Craig Foster
29-11-2023
From National Captain to Activist: Using Influence to Level The Playing Field with Craig Foster
Every now and then, we have one of those special conversations that we can tell at the time will have a profound life-changing impact. They shift how we see that person, how we see ourselves and our perspective on the world at large. This is one of those pivotal conversations for us– today, we are speaking to Craig Foster. Former captain of the Australian Men’s national soccer team, the Socceroos, with an impressive ongoing career in sports broadcast, Craig holds a masters in sports and a law degree, and is now well known for his incredible work as a human rights and social justice advocate and an antiracism activist. He’s won numerous awards and accolades but that’s not really what Craig is about – and its certainly not what motivates him. In this conversation Craig shares about his lessons from professional sports, his journey to becoming a leading human rights activist, where morality fits into the discussion around leadership and humanitarian issues – and the responsibility those of us with privilege have to level the playing field for everyone. Craig Foster was the 419th Australian football international (Socceroo) and 40th Captain, Oceania Player of the Year and Australian Team of the Century nominee with decades of experience in broadcasting, government and diplomacy and social justice. Formerly a Director of COALAR (DFAT) and currently the Australian Multicultural Council (Dept Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) played various sports diplomacy roles including Chef de Mission NSW Govt to Brazil and bilateral meetings, MERCOSUR. Heavily involved in indigenous football and rights, refugee children and refugee rights and homelessness, through sport programs. Ambassador for Amnesty, Australia Committee Human Rights Watch, UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute. Three Logies as part of the SBS FIFA World Cup team, named an Australian Financial Review (AFR) BOSS True Leader 2019 for the #SaveHakeem campaign, ChangeMaker 2019 by Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Medal Finalist, author and columnist, Bachelor of Laws, Masters in International Sport Management. Life Member, former CEO and Chair of Professional Footballers Australia (PFA). Named one of Australia’s Best Dressed Men, though heavily disputes this dubious honourLearn more about Craig at www.wearehumanleaders.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thriving, not just Surviving: The Key to Wellbeing at Work with Ryan Hopkins
01-11-2023
Thriving, not just Surviving: The Key to Wellbeing at Work with Ryan Hopkins
Welcome back to We Are Human Leaders, today we’re hosting a very lively and colorful conversation with Future of Wellbeing Leader Ryan Hopkins.Ryan comes at Well Being from a very unique perspective. Through his own lived experience with mental illness, Ryan supports organizations globally to shift how they work for the betterment of their employees wellbeing. We deep dive into the leading and lagging metrics of wellbeing, and what organizations can be doing better to support their people.Ryan Hopkins is on a mission to engage 1 billion people in the betterment of wellbeing. He is the Future of Wellbeing Leader at one of the Big 4, Linkedin Top Voice for Work Life Balance, TEDx Speaker, Host of the Audacious Goals Club and  Author of - '52 Weeks of Wellbeing: a no nonsense guide to a fulfilling work life' - January 2024.Ryan’s work has positively influenced the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. He shares his personal story of bulimia, depression, anxiety openly and has reached over 8 million on social media, recently being announced Global Emerging Wellbeing Leader of the Year.This episode comes with a trigger warning. We discuss sensitive topics such as mental illness, eating disorders and suicide. If you, or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out, help is always available to you. Additionally, this episode comes with a language warning, coarse language was used during this conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to Detox a Toxic Work Culture with Charlie Sull
04-10-2023
How to Detox a Toxic Work Culture with Charlie Sull
What is the greatest predictor of employees leaving your company?Research tells us, toxic culture is TEN times more important than compensation in predicting turnover.Toxic Culture is something we all know about, perhaps you feel you’ve even worked in one. But how exactly do we diagnose a toxic workplace culture, and what do we do about it?We learn how to detox a toxic culture with Expert and Researcher Charlie Sull of CultureX in this conversation.Charlie Sull is the Co-Founder of Culture X along with his father Donald Sull. The two have been responsible for what is probably the most important research around workplace culture in recent years, analysing over 1.3 million anonymous employee reviews of their companies via glassdoor. Their research has converted big data into a comprehensible picture of the leading causes of toxic culture in the workplace, giving us the five key indicators of toxic culture, and actionable insights into how we can detoxify our workplaces.Charlie Sull and Donald Sull’s research has been published regularly in the MIT Sloan Management Review, Harvard Business Review, New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, just to name a few.Charlie and Donald and the team at Culture X are now pioneering cultural measurement in workplaces using AI and big data to give a more accurate and timely understanding of how employees experience culture at work.This conversation is a must listen for any Leader serious about creating a thriving workplace culture, and ridding toxicity from their workplace. It’s a big one, let’s dive in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Listen Up: How Leaders Can Embrace Active Listening with Heather Younger
20-09-2023
Listen Up: How Leaders Can Embrace Active Listening with Heather Younger
Do you know what it feels like to be unheard? Most of us know the frustration of feeling unheard and unvalued at work. And many of us don’t stick around for long.Active listening is the doorway to increased belonging, loyalty, profitability, innovation, and so much more. In this conversation we explore Active Listening with Heather Younger. She shares with us the five key steps in the Active Listening cycle and how we can create organizational cultures of engagement as a result.Striving to give a voice to the voiceless, Heather is teaching people at work and in life, how to feel heard, valued, and understood while simultaneously decoding the big picture to expose the important signals and insights to communication. It is the difference between thinking we understand what people want and knowing what they want. Heather R. Younger is an international keynote speaker, best-selling author, and the CEO and Founder of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement, leadership development, and DEI consulting firm, where she is on a mission to help leaders understand the power they possess to ensure people feel valued at work. Heather is the author of three books including her newest, The Art of Active Listening: How People at Work Feel Heard, Valued, and Understood, that is fast becoming a go-to source for HR professionals and organizational leaders seeking insight into their organization’s dynamics, to become better communicators, and to ensure everyone feels valued, heard, and understood.This conversation is absolutely jam-packed with wisdom, let’s dive in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.