HEART Leadership

Send us Fan Mail What if the secret to great leadership isn't having all the answers—but building meaningful connections? In this episode of the HEART Leadership Podcast, Sara Valentine sits down with marketing leader and relationship advocate Sheryl Brown to discuss leadership, collaboration, influence, and the power of putting people first. Together, they explore: 💗 Why listening is a lead...

Send us Fan Mail What does it truly mean to lead with confidence, authenticity, and purpose? In this empowering episode of the HEART Leadership Podcast, Sara Valentine sits down with leadership expert, executive coach, and author Dr. Karen Hills Pruden for a conversation about growth, courage, and stepping fully into your leadership voice. Together, they explore: 💗 The power of authentic leadersh...

Send us Fan Mail What does leadership look like when the stakes are life and death? In this powerful episode of the HEART Leadership Podcast , Sara Valentine speaks with Dr. Mark Hertling , retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, professor of leadership, and author of If I Don’t Return. Dr. Hertling shares the deeply personal story behind his book—letters he wrote to his sons while deployed in war....

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to lead people well? In this episode of the HEART Leadership Podcast , Sara Valentine sits down with Katie Pfingsten , Vice President of People & Culture and Executive Director of the IAAPA Foundation, to talk about the kind of leadership that truly builds strong teams and cultures. As two HR leaders, Sara and Katie explore the human side of leadership...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HEART Leadership Podcast, Sara explores the final letter in the HEART framework — “T” for Thank — and why gratitude is the thread that holds leadership, culture, and connection together. Gratitude isn’t a feeling; it’s a leadership practice. In this episode, Sara reflects on the people who helped shape her journey — mentors, colleagues, HR professionals, lea...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HEART Leadership Podcast, Sara unpacks the “R” in HEART — Respond — and why action is the true test of leadership. When someone comes forward with a concern, request, or disclosure, silence is still a response — and often the most damaging one. Sara explores why timely, sincere responses build trust, while inaction erodes credibility, engagement, and culture...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HEART Leadership Podcast, Sara unpacks the “A” in HEART — Appreciate, Acknowledge, and Apologize — and why these three leadership behaviors are essential to building trust, credibility, and healthy workplace cultures. Sara explores why great leaders never take credit for their team’s work, why appreciation and recognition must be personal (not one-size-fits-...

Send us Fan Mail Empathy is the leadership trait that separates managers from true leaders. In this episode, Sara explores why empathy matters, how it strengthens accountability, and why it is essential for giving feedback, navigating conflict, and building trust. She also honors the memory of Chris Andrews — a former leader who mentored her during one of the most defining seasons of her career. H...

Send us Fan Mail In this special bonus episode of Leading with HEART , Sara Valentine shares her keynote address from the 2025 Sister Leaders Conference in Portsmouth, VA. This raw, powerful message weaves together her personal story of resilience with the HEART Leadership framework—inviting listeners to reclaim their voice, step boldly into their vision, and redefine victory through faith, compas...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, Sara Valentine explores the first pillar of the HEART Leadership framework: Hear . True leadership starts with listening—not just to what's said, but to what’s unsaid, uncomfortable, and sometimes hard to hear. Sara shares personal stories, including a pivotal conflict with a union rep, and reflects on moments in her HR career when she failed to trul...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Sara sits down with purpose-driven HR leader Cynthia A. Howell to explore what it truly means to lead with faith, integrity, and compassion. From her early days in retail management to senior roles in human resources, Cynthia shares how empathy, listening, and a heart for others have shaped her leadership journey. Together, they discuss the power of authenticity,...

Send us Fan Mail In the very first episode of Leading with HEART , Sara Valentine shares her story of being brand new to HR — green, eager, and learning through mistakes. With the guidance of her first boss and mentor, she discovered the power of trust, grace, and leadership that builds people up instead of tearing them down. Through personal stories (including one unforgettable “lesson in humilit...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Leading with HEART , a podcast about bringing humanity back into leadership. I’m Sara Valentine, and I believe leadership isn’t just about strategies or titles—it’s about people. HEART is a framework to Hear, Empathize, Acknowledge, Respond, and Thank. These simple yet powerful steps can transform the way we lead, build trust, and create meaningful connections. In this...