Show Up as a Leader with Dr. Rosie Ward

What if the first step to better leadership isn't strategy, but respect? Rosie officially welcomes Gregg Ward to the Show Up As a Leader family with a bold new series: The Better Boss. In this intro episode, they explore the urgent need for human-centric leadership in today's VUCA world. Gregg shares how his unconventional path, from theater to training NYPD officers in de-escalation, shaped his l...

What if the secret to transforming workplace culture is simply refusing to tolerate bad leadership? Rosie sits down with Eric Harkins, leadership consultant, keynote speaker, and author of "Great Leaders Make Sure Monday Mornings Don't Suck." With over 25 years of experience reshaping how leaders lead, Eric shares the two critical things that keep organizations from being great, and what to do abo...

What if your "best" looked completely different today than it did yesterday, and that was still enough? Rosie shares a vulnerable and powerful reflection drawn from the Dare to Lead curriculum, challenging the way we judge ourselves and others. She unpacks what it really means to be our best, fully authentic selves, even when we're struggling, and why assuming others are doing their best can be a...

What if the root of today's workplace dysfunction isn't strategy or skills, but a basic human disconnect? Rosie sits down with Gregg Ward, founder of the Center for Respectful Leadership, to explore the crisis of disrespect in our workplaces and society. With a background that spans theater, journalism, and groundbreaking police training, Gregg shares how respect isn't just a nicety, it's a critic...

What if the most important thing your team needs right now isn't a new strategy, but a reset? Rosie invites us to consider the intentional, proactive resets we often overlook. While momentary resets help us realign in the middle of chaos, Rosie challenges us to go further, and to step out of the momentum and create space for reflection, realignment, and recalibration. Whether it's after a major pr...

🚨 The leadership pipeline is crumbling. Gen Z doesn't want in. Current leaders want out. So… what now? In this episode of the Courageous Leadership Series, Dr. Rosie Ward brings it all home with urgent, research-backed insights into what it truly takes to become a future-ready, human-centered leader. This isn't just another chat. Rosie unpacks the "why" behind her years of research and gives a bo...

What if the key to stronger leadership isn't pushing through, but slowing down? Rosie gets personal about what it really takes to lead well when life gets messy. From unexpected stressors to brain fog and simple mistakes, Rosie shares how she's learning to extend more grace, to herself and others, and how that shift is actually making her more effective. She explores how to move from judgment to c...

What if the key to transforming workplace culture isn't perks or programs, but one powerful, overlooked human need? Rosie sits down with Zach Mercurio, author of "The Power of Mattering" and one of Inc.'s top 50 leadership experts, to explore why mattering might just be the most important leadership skill of our time. Together, they unpack how feeling seen, valued, and essential isn't just a "nice...

What if loving your job wasn't a luxury, but your right? Rosie sits down with growth strategist, executive coach, and keynote speaker Gretchen Schott to unpack the powerful idea of leading with love and why joy at work isn't just possible, it's a choice. They dive into what it really means to feel affirmed and significant in your role, the difference between being nice and kind, and why being a lo...

How often do you find yourself thinking, "They should know better," or "Why would they do it that way?" Rosie gets real about our human tendency to judge, and how that instinct quietly blocks us from truly showing up for others. She shares a transformative mindset shift inspired by the Center for Courage and Renewal's Circle of Trust touchstone: When the going gets rough, turn to wonder. 💭✨ Rosi...

What if the key to leadership isn't having all the answers, but being brave enough to show up without them? Rosie sits down with Melanie Stuber, former corporate exec turned culture guide and CEO of Cultivate and Thrive, to talk about the real work behind authentic leadership. From shedding the pressure to be "perfect" in a male-dominated industry to building a personal board of directors that act...

Feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list? Rosie introduces a powerful four-bucket framework that helps you sort your work into what energizes you, what's just neutral, what drains you, and what you wish you had time for. This isn't just about productivity. It's about clarity, boundaries, and aligning with your strengths. Whether you're a leader ready to optimize your team's gifts or sim...

How do you scale a people-first culture without sacrificing speed or consistency? Rosie dives into a real, transparent conversation with Tim Leman, CEO of Gibson, as he shares how embracing process became the unexpected accelerator for growth, speed, and consistency across a multi-location business. From recruiting top talent using assessments like Kolbe and Working Genius to creating psychologica...

What if the way you label people is quietly eroding trust, connection, and collaboration in your workplace? Rosie unpacks a powerful truth many leaders overlook: when we define people by their roles, titles, or conditions, we strip away their humanity. Whether it's calling someone "a diabetic" or placing a CEO on a pedestal, these seemingly small habits can create distance and reinforce hierarchy....

What if the secret to scaling leadership across 70,000 people wasn't strategy, but staying human? Rosie catches up with Brian Garish, an unapologetically people-first leader who brings equal parts strategy, humility, and heart. From mopping floors at Walgreens at 16 to guiding global teams across 20+ countries, Brian shares real talk about staying grounded, leading with courage, and putting purpos...

What if your biggest breakthroughs came after you wanted to quit?🥋 Rosie gets real about grit, resilience, and the surprising lessons learned from watching her son earn his black belt in TaeKwonDo. Rosie takes us behind the scenes of this journey to unpack why passion isn't enough, what it means to show up when it's hard, and how committing to the bigger picture (even when it's uncomfortable) can...

What if the real secret to great leadership isn't about being in charge, but about being in tune with people? Rosie sits down with Alain Hunkins, author of "Cracking the Leadership Code" and a man who's worked with over 3,000 leadership groups across 29 countries. Together, they explore what it really means to lead in today's world (hint: it's way less about commanding and way more about connectin...

🚦What if hitting every red light was exactly what you needed? Rosie turns a frustrating drive full of red lights into a powerful reflection on life, leadership, and the magic of slowing down. Instead of blowing through the signs that tell us to pause, what if we embraced them as invitations to stop, breathe, and tune in? Rosie challenges our go-go-go mindset and explores how those seemingly annoy...

Ever feel like your org is sprinting toward growth... but nobody packed the map? 📈 Rosie is joined by Howard Cleveland and Meg Crosby, co-founders of PeopleCap Advisors and co-authors of "Running the Gauntlet," to unpack the real (and often messy) dynamics of leading through change. With decades of experience helping high-growth companies, they reveal the six imperatives every leader needs to sca...

What if not negotiating could be costing you over a million dollars? 😳 KL Shaw brings the energy and serious truth bombs as she unpacks why so many women and people of color aren't negotiating, and what it's really costing them. From a $42,000 surprise check story to breaking down the mindset traps that keep us stuck, Keri Lynn shares personal lessons and expert tips you can use right away. Wheth...

What if the biggest thing holding you back as a leader isn't your skills or knowledge, but your inner operating system? ⚙️ In this episode of the "Courageous Leadership Series," Rosie Ward unpacks the "faulty programs" we all unknowingly downloaded in childhood that continue to influence our thoughts, choices, and leadership today. From the Overachiever to the People Pleaser to the Control Freak,...

What if your business could be radically more aligned, energized, and future-ready… just 90 days from now? In this finale of the "Growth on Purpose" series, Claire takes us on one last space-themed adventure, and this time, it's personal. She's ditching the vague strategies and giving you a clear, actionable path to a thriving business future, all within the next 90 days. From your launch pad (aka...

Ever catch yourself "listening" but really just waiting for your turn to talk? Or maybe you jump in with advice before the other person even finishes? We've all been there. In this episode, Rosie flips the script on how we think about listening and challenges us to trade quick fixes and snap judgments for something deeper: listening with a spirit of service. 💡 Instead of making conversations abou...

We often hear the phrase "it's lonely at the top," but what if that loneliness isn't limited to executives, and something we all carry in different ways? Rosie sits down with Nick Jonsson, the world's leading voice on executive loneliness, to uncover why disconnection has become an epidemic and what we can do about it. Nick's story is both raw and inspiring, as he opens up about his personal battl...

Ever catch yourself thinking, "Did I cause that reaction? Was that my fault?" We've all been there… holding back, walking on eggshells, or spiraling into guilt because of how someone else responded. But here's the truth: their emotions aren't yours to carry. Rosie breaks down why trying to "own" other people's feelings keeps us stuck and drained. She reminds us that our real job is showing up with...