Inspirational Leadership for People Managers, Executives & HR Leaders

What role has mentorship played in your leadership journey? In this episode of Inspirational Leadership, Kristen sits down with workplace culture expert, speaker, and author Helen Patterson to explore the incredible impact of mentorship—on our careers, our confidence, and the cultures we create. Together, they discuss the differences between mentoring, coaching, and sponsorship, why mentorship is...

What makes people trust a leader? Many leaders believe trust is built through expertise, intelligence, or having all the answers. But in reality, trust is often built through something far more powerful: emotional safety. In this episode of Inspirational Leadership, Kristen Harcourt explores why the most trusted leaders create environments where people feel safe to speak up, make mistakes, share i...

In this powerful episode of Inspirational Leadership, Kristen sits down with speaker, coach, and mindfulness expert Jay Abassi for a deeply honest conversation about resilience, burnout, emotional intelligence, and what it truly means to lead with humanity. After the sudden loss of his father in 2014, Jay experienced a profound wake-up call that transformed every area of his life. From burnout, st...

In this episode, Kristen Harcourt sits down with Amanda Small , VP of People & Culture, to explore how organizations can scale without losing what makes them human. Amanda shares her unique journey from artist to executive, and how creativity, curiosity, and operational discipline shape strong leadership. They discuss what truly drives a thriving culture—highlighting the power of transparency,...

In this episode of Inspirational Leadership, Kristen sits down with Dr. Ludmila Praslova to explore how neurodiversity can reshape the way we lead, hire, and build workplace cultures. They unpack the concept behind The Canary Code , why traditional hiring practices often miss great talent, and how designing for neurodivergent individuals creates better environments for everyone. This conversation...

In this episode of Inspirational Leadership, host Kristen Harcourt sits down with leadership coach and author Sage Hobbs to explore how leaders can build stronger relationships and healthier team cultures through more intentional communication. Sage shares insights from her book Naked Communication and introduces her framework Communication for Connection—a leadership approach centered on compassi...

Have you ever felt like nothing is technically wrong in your leadership role… and yet it feels heavier than it used to? You’re performing. You’re respected. The results are there. But the complexity is harder to hold. The meetings drain you more. Your reactions surprise you. In this solo episode of Inspirational Leadership, Kristen explores The Leadership Capacity Gap — the space between what your...

Too many meetings. Too little impact. In this episode of Inspirational Leadership, Kristen Harcourt is joined by Rebecca Hinds , organizational behavior expert and author of Your Best Meeting Ever , to unpack why meetings feel broken — and how leaders can fix them. Rebecca shares a practical framework for deciding which meetings should exist, how to design meetings that actually drive decisions an...

In this episode of Inspirational Leadership, host Kristen Harcourt is joined by transformational travel coach Jill Valentine to explore how travel, service, and self-discovery can become powerful catalysts for purpose-driven leadership. Jill shares how stepping outside routine and into meaningful travel experiences creates perspective, expands awareness, and helps leaders reconnect with what truly...

Many leaders think they’re coaching their people — but more often than not, they’re giving advice, solving problems, or jumping in to fix things. While those intentions come from a good place, they can actually limit your team’s growth, creativity, and accountability. In this solo episode of Inspirational Leadership, I’m diving into the coaching skills every leader needs, but most don’t use — and...

Have you ever wondered if you became a leader intentionally or if you stumbled into it one day and never looked back? What if leadership wasn’t about having all the answers, but about learning how to play again? In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Joel Hilchey about what it really means to lead like a human. In addition to leading the Beanstalk Creative team, Joel...

What if the biggest gap in leadership isn’t about strategy, but about how leaders see themselves versus how their teams experience them? Even well-intentioned leaders can miss the mark when it comes to empathy, trust, and connection. In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Tanveer Naseer about his unconventional journey, reflections on leadership, empathy, and purpose...

Are you hiding behind perfectionism, afraid to show your true self? What would happen if you gave yourself permission to slow down, unplug, and embrace your authentic story? There’s a transformative power in vulnerability and self-compassion – slowing down and creating stillness in life allows us to hear our own truth. In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Martina K...

In this solo episode of Inspirational Leadership, I’m diving into one of the most powerful—and often most challenging—aspects of personal and professional growth: self-acceptance. We hear so much about building confidence, resilience, and leadership presence. But underneath all of that is a deeper question I want to explore with you: Can you accept yourself fully, just as you are, even when you fa...

What does it really mean to lead with heart? What does it take to lead with empathy, intention, and impact? Can HR drive business results and create deeply human workplaces? Modern HR is not about people programs; it's about strategic business acceleration rooted in empathy and values. In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Joey Walters about how human-centric leader...

In today’s solo episode, I’m diving into a foundational yet often overlooked concept: self-leadership - and more specifically, the quiet discipline it requires. This isn’t the leadership that shows up in boardrooms or performance reviews. This is the kind of leadership that happens behind the scenes, when no one’s watching and no one is handing out gold stars. It’s the invisible work that builds t...

Did you attend Workhuman Live 2025 ? The conference’s theme this year put the spotlight on the fusion of AI and human intelligence. At its core, the event highlighted how artificial intelligence can be a partner in enhancing human decision-making, not a substitute for it. In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership Podcast, I invite Jackye Clayton to discuss each of our individual experiences...

Did you know that great leadership isn't about putting on a professional mask or striving for constant seriousness? Great leadership is about fostering a culture of psychological safety and belonging, not by being perfect, but by being human. In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Michael Kerr about the urgent need for more humane, happy, and humor-driven workplace c...

As a leader, how intentional are you about the people you surround yourself with? What would it look like if networking felt less transactional - and more transformational? In this solo episode of The Inspirational Leadership Podcast, we’re unpacking what it truly means to network as a leader. Forget the business card swaps and elevator pitches - this is about building genuine, strategic, and last...

What if the most powerful leadership tool wasn’t a strategy or skill—but the courage to show up as your true self, even when it scares you? Showing up as your true self in leadership is important while bravery and self-awareness enable leaders to inspire and engage with others. In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Kimberly Davis about practical strategies for measu...

Do you know what triggers you and how your body responds when dysregulated? How do you master the self-regulation skill? While you can’t control everything that happens to you, you can control how you respond—and that’s where growth and freedom lie. In this solo episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, Kristen discusses the power of self-regulation and how taking responsibility for how you...

What makes emotional intelligence in leaders so powerful? What would leadership look like if we all embraced emotional intelligence and authenticity as our guiding principles? Emotional intelligence is paramount in not only building authentic connections but also in navigating the complexities of leadership in high-stress environments. In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I spe...

What does it mean to truly see people—not just acknowledge them, but deeply understand and value their perspectives? How can leaders create environments where diverse voices are not only heard but embraced? In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Justin Jones-Fosu about how to build inclusive workplaces and meaningful connections with curiosity and intentionality. Jus...

What steps can you take to create an environment where your team feels empowered and valued every day? Although today’s managers face a lot of frustrations in the workplace, there are actionable strategies you can take to strike the right balance and foster trust and growth within teams. In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Corina Walsh as she shares a guide for le...

Happy New Year! What are your fresh beginnings? How are you setting the pace for the year ahead? If you desire to transform your 2025 to be a great year, you must start it with intentionality and the right mindset. In this solo episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, Kristen discusses the value of celebrating wins and setting the right pace for the year ahead. She explains the power of ch...