Leading with Genuine Care

"If you start with, 'This is the thing we want to change, we're happy to play our role and be part of a broader movement,' I truly believe that you can change the world, while making money." Being kind has never been cooler — or more profitable — for businesses. This week, I learn from Chris Gale why he believes corporations really can be a tool for positive change — if leaders' hearts are truly i...

"The more compassion you give to yourself, the more you have available for others." — Kristin Neff   Many of us prioritize compassion for others, but what about compassion for ourselves? This week, hear from a pioneer on mindful self-compassion, Kristin Neff . As a bestselling author, co-founder of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion , and an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the...

"Once we continue forward, obstacles become optional. Problems become solutions. There are no eternal problems. Don't give up. Be persistent. Be patient."    By combining traditional Buddhist philosophies with modern science and psychology, bestselling author and meditation teacher Mingyur Rinpoche excels at making the practice of meditation accessible to students everywhere. Mingyur Rinpoche teac...

"An organization can only grow its reach and business impact as much as the leadership is willing to grow as humans."    This week, I chat with Tami Simon , the founder of Sounds True —an internationally recognized wisdom-based multimedia company with a mission to wake up the world. Sounds True publishes work from game-changing authors, teachers, and mindful leaders with topics like meditation, mi...

"When you have compassionate leaders, you develop a relationship with the people that is built on kindness and trust." Few foreigners have lived in the tiny country of Bhutan longer than Matt DeSantis, the founder of MyBhutan . Alongside the Bhutanese prince, His Royal Highness Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck , DeSantis built MyBhutan as the nation's elite travel outfit which guides visitors into the deepe...

"Leaders must be clear about having good, benevolent, and altruistic intentions to help others. It's an essential quality of a leader."   Dr. Karma Phuntsho is a leading intellectual from the tiny, fascinating nation of Bhutan. Dr. Phuntsho strives to bring modern education and entrepreneurship into traditional communities, like his own, while carefully preserving their heritage and cultural integ...

"If you understand the person on the other end of the table, you'll be much better off." — Vince Tullo, former VP of Global Sales at GE   Vince Tullo boasts over 47 years working in global high-tech business development and leadership, most of them with General Electric (GE) . Tullo worked his way up the corporate ladder ultimately culminating into top positions including VP and General Manager of...

"For each person whose life you've touched, your legacy won't be about your money but about your kindness." — Jim Loehr, Leadership Performance Psychologist   Dr. Jim Loehr is a globally renowned performance psychologist, co-founder of the Human Performance Institute , and a New York Times bestselling author of 17 books including Leading with Character: 10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant Legacy , The...

"We've got an opportunity coming out of this pandemic to build our society in a more just way." — Sen. Doug Jones Few people attain a front-row seat to history and politics like former U.S. Senator Doug Jones. Before representing Alabama in Congress, Sen. Jones served as the United States Attorney in the Clinton Administration. He also prosecuted the former Klansmen responsible for bombing Birming...

" Teach them how to be—not how to appear to be."   Amazing education shouldn't exist as a one-size-fits-all system according to Pawan Gupta. Pawan has been an advocate for quality education tailor-made for each unique community and every student. As the founder SIDH , an NGO based in the Himalayas of India, Pawan turned away from mainstream educational practices and built alternative schools and s...

ode of the Leading with Genuine Care podcast, you'll also learn:   How to discover your truth Ways to effectively communicate your truth Tips on shifting your mindset Why Jim says that "nothing is serious" What a Loving Kindness practice is  Advice on communicating effectively with Loving Kindness How practicing Loving Kindness is great for leadership If you work Above the Line, or Below the Line?...

Jon Kabat-Zinn has influenced millions worldwide to embrace a life of mindfulness. As creator of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, Jon is largely credited with bringing mindful practices into the mainstream. In our conversation, Jon talks about how mindfulness and meditation can heal issues with stress, anger, and anxiety, why mindfulness and business success go together, and...

Sharon Salzberg is a pioneer in making meditation accessible for those looking to live with peace, stability and kindness. Hear her wisdom in this podcast. In this episode of Leading with Genuine Care, you'll learn: What "Loving-Kindness Meditation" is Why small acts of kindness can make a huge impact Ways to meditate to boost kindness and compassion How anger can be like drinking poison The diffe...

"If we're going to bring about this better, healthy economy, it's going to take change from all of us—change from all angles and organizations." —Tom Rippin, CEO of On Purpose   Tom Rippin is the CEO and Founder of On Purpose , a social enterprise that develops business leaders who are focused on building an economy that works for all. Working within the private, public, and non-profit sectors, To...

"Good leadership starts with understanding yourself and what you stand for." —Anne Wicks   Anne Wicks strives to create a better education system for kids, parents, and the leaders that support their bright futures. As the Director of Education Reform at the Bush Institute in Dallas, Anne develops and oversees the policy, research, and engagement work of the Institute's Education Reform team.   In...

"You can make a difference...It's always better to light the candle than curse the darkness." —Nancy Jacobson, Founder and CEO of No Labels   Not left. Not right. Forward! Nancy Jacobson is the founder and CEO of No Labels , an organization that advocates for finding nonpartisan solutions within our toughest political challenges. At a point in history when the divide between parties feels nearly i...

"There is so much more to every person's life besides their homeless experience. Their homeless experience doesn't define them." — Daniel Roby, CEO of the Austin Street Center   Uncover the reality of those facing homelessness with Daniel Roby , the CEO of the Austin Street Center , which is the largest free emergency homeless shelter in Dallas, Texas. It's also the only area emergency shelter tha...

"There is amazing stuff happening everywhere. How do we amplify it and accelerate it?" — Jennifer Erickson   With a career that spans from the Scottish parliament to the White House and beyond, Jennifer Erickson creatively leads change for those who need it most. Today, much of her work focuses on ending the organ transplant waiting list which would save innumerable lives and tens of billions of d...

"Things still aren't perfect but we're moving in the right direction." — Casey Fiesler   The idea of technology and social media influencing a presidential election once would've sounded ridiculous. Today, it's a reality that raises big questions about the tech industry's ethical responsibility regarding everything from flagging misinformation to reflecting our diverse society.    Casey Fiesle r,...

"Stop. Breathe. Smile." — Shantum Seth, Zen Leader Mindfulness is about much more than meditation. It's about living a purpose-filled life focused on the present moment—and few people understand this like Shantum Seth , a world-renowned Zen teacher, and international mindful leader.  In our conversation, Shantum explains how this time of isolation and uncertainty is the perfect moment to practice...

"Compassion is not a luxury, but a necessity, not only for our species to survive, but for all species to survive." — Roshi Joan Halifax   Don't miss this powerful conversation about gratitude, compassion, and respect with Roshi Joan Halifax Ph. D —an author, Zen teacher, longtime social activist, and the Abbot of the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico.    Roshi shares her wisdom with us on...

Listen to a short bonus "nugget of wisdom" from Rob's interview with Kelly Rutherford . In this clip, Kelly offers insights about showing up every day with joy, energy, and gratitude even if it's not always easy to do so.   Kelly is best known as Lily Van der Woodsen, the matriarch on Gossip Girl , Megan Lewis on Melrose Place , and her many other Hollywood roles. She's a mindful advocate for livi...

"Gratitude and appreciation are everything. If all else fails, go into that space. I feel like everything else is a distraction." — Kelly Rutherford You might know Kelly Rutherford as Lily Van der Woodsen, the matriarch on Gossip Girl , Megan Lewis on Melrose Place, or her many other Hollywood roles. But there's a lot more to Kelly than her acting ability. She also has a mind filled with wisdom ab...

Blair Kirchner believes that business leaders have the ability—and the responsibility—to create positive change in the world. Blair is the Managing Director and Co-Head of Impact Activities at the Kirchner Group which has been internationally recognized for centering its business around the value of "earning while returning." Blair and his team use low-cost and high-impact investment models design...

"I'm really interested in figuring out what it's going to take to level the playing field."— Ruthe Farmer Ruthe Farmer strives for the greater inclusion of women, minority, and low-income students in computer science and engineering. Tired of barriers that keep too many promising young people out of STEM-related fields, Ruthe has committed her career to breaking them down for good.  As the Chief E...