The Leader in You

What if the greatest skill for navigating team conflict isn't better communication—it's relentless empathy ? In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina explore why empathy is one of the most important skills leaders, managers, HR professionals, and L&D practitioners can develop to create emotionally safe, high-performing teams. When team members become frustrated, defensive, or w...

Most onboarding programs teach new employees how to do the job. Few teach them how to navigate the relationships. In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola and Polina discuss one of the most overlooked gaps in employee onboarding: preparing new hires to recognize, navigate, and address team conflict before they become part of it. When employees join a new team, they don't enter a...

At the ATD Conference, we noticed a common theme: many leaders and learning professionals were excited about innovation and AI, yet hesitant when it came to navigating emotions, vulnerability, and human connection in the workplace. That tension inspired this conversation on emotional ambivalence —the experience of feeling pulled in two directions at the same time.  In this episode, Lola and Polina...

After returning from the ATD Conference, one thing kept staying with us. Yes, AI was everywhere. It was in sessions, at booths, and woven into conversations about the future of work. But what stood out most wasn't technology at all. It was people. In this episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola Gershfeld reconnects with Niamh Hannan and Aoife O'Brien to reflect on their experience after...

In this special live episode from the ATD Conference in Los Angeles, Dr. Lola Gershfeld welcomes returning guest Aoife O'Brien, author of Thriving Talent and host of the Happier at Work Podcast , for a thought-provoking conversation about one of the biggest questions leaders face today: As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, what happens to the human connections that help people fe...

What really causes disengagement at work? Is it a lack of motivation, poor communication, or something deeper? Broadcasting live from the ATD Conference in Los Angeles, Dr. Lola Gershfeld, Polina Marian, and Niamh Hannan explore the hidden emotional patterns that shape workplace relationships and team performance. Together, they unpack new research showing the powerful impact managers have on empl...

In this deeply personal and insightful episode of The Leader in You Podcast , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian explore why workplace relationships can feel so emotionally intense—and why conflict at work often has roots far deeper than communication skills alone. Drawing from attachment science, emotional connection research, and real workplace examples, they unpack how the patterns we learned...

What if the biggest challenge in your workplace isn’t culture… but disconnection? In this episode, we explore a powerful insight from the recent SIOP Conference:  No matter where people come from—different countries, languages, or backgrounds—the way they respond to disconnection looks strikingly the same. Through real stories—from a multicultural workplace to a transformative meeting in South Kor...

What really happens in those moments when emotions take over at work? In this episode of The Leader in You , we sit down with Karen Thrall, author of Don’t Lose Your Sh*t at Work, to explore the powerful patterns behind how we react under pressure—and why those reactions can either damage or deepen our relationships. Karen shares her deeply personal journey—from being a successful executive who st...

What happens when you travel a million miles away from Earth… and discover what truly matters most? In this deeply moving episode, we reflect on the emotional return of the Artemis II astronauts—and what their experience reveals about the human need for connection, trust, and belonging. As the astronauts shared their journey, one message stood out above all: “We are bonded forever.” Their words we...

What if the most important leadership skill isn’t how you manage others—but how you manage yourself? In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Niamh Hannan explore how the Emotional Connection (EmC) process can be used for self-development—helping you recognize when you’re triggered, understand your negative cycle, and shift out of reactive patterns that damage connection. You’ll learn how to slow d...

What if the very thing you’ve been taught to hide…  is actually your greatest strength? For many men, emotions have been framed as something to control, suppress, or avoid—especially at work. Stay logical. Stay composed. Stay strong.  But underneath that message is something rarely acknowledged: The pressure to disconnect—from your own experience, and from the people around you. In this episode of...

Workplace conflicts happen—but most leaders don’t know how to stop the cycle once it starts. In this episode of The Leader in You , Polina and Dr. Lola Gershfeld explain how to beat the fight in four steps using the Emotional Connection (EmC) process. Instead of escalating arguments or avoiding difficult conversations, leaders can guide teams through a structured process that helps people feel saf...

In this episode of The Leader in You , Polina and Dr. Lola Gershfeld welcome leadership consultant and author Aoife O’Brien to explore a powerful question facing many leaders today: Is psychological safety enough — or do teams need something deeper to truly thrive? Drawing from her book Thriving Talent , Aoife shares her insights from working with organizations struggling with burnout, disengageme...

What if the real breakthrough in leadership isn’t about strategy — but about learning to pause? In this episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola and Polina welcome entrepreneur and leader Lisa Zimmer for an honest, vulnerable, and deeply practical conversation about emotional growth in leadership. Lisa shares how learning the principles of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — the foundation behind t...

What if “just think positive” is actually keeping you stuck? In this powerful and slightly controversial episode of The Leader in You , we unpack a viral positive-thinking challenge that promises life change in seven days — no complaining, no criticizing, only positivity. Sounds inspiring… but does it really work? Drawing on neuroscience, attachment science, and real workplace stories, Dr. Lola an...

Why is vulnerability so often seen as weakness—especially at work? And what if it’s actually the key to movement, motivation, and lasting success? In this episode, Dr. Lola and Polina build on their previous conversation about the basics of the EmC process and dive deeper into one of the most misunderstood leadership strengths: vulnerability. You’ll learn: The difference between withdrawers and pu...

What happens when a manager doesn’t respond to an employee’s text? When a request is ignored? When “we’re just here to do a job” becomes the culture? In this powerful conversation, we sit down with employment attorney Hanna Ranaan , who has represented both employees and employers and now serves as in-house counsel for a publicly traded company. She gives us a rare inside look at how small moments...

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re talking about something we don’t discuss nearly enough— love, emotional connection, and why they matter so deeply in our work and relationships . In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina explore the simplicity of the Emotional Connection (EmC) process and why reconnecting emotionally changes everything—from how clearly we think, to how effectively we work...

What happens when leadership feels overwhelming, disconnected, or quietly empty—even when success looks strong from the outside? In this episode of The Leader in You , we’re joined by Susan M. Taylor , CEO of Generon International and founder of Taylored Wisdom, for a powerful conversation about transforming leadership turmoil into deeper purpose, alignment, and connection. Together, we explore wh...

In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina unpack the real reason people feel “so sensitive” at work—and why it’s not a flaw, weakness, or lack of professionalism. What we often label as sensitivity is actually the activation of emotional raw spots —deep relational sensitivities formed through past experiences of exclusion, being ignored, devalued, or feeling unsa...

As the new year begins, many leaders set bold resolutions—yet struggle to create change that truly lasts. In this episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina explore one simple but powerful micro-habit that can fundamentally transform leadership: slowing down in moments of emotional intensity . Rather than focusing on productivity hacks or self-improvement routines, this conversat...

Some leadership frameworks are born in classrooms.  Others are born in suffering . In this deeply personal episode of The Leader in You Podcast , Dr. Lola shares the story behind the Emotional Connection (EmC) process—a journey shaped by years of workplace conflict, disconnection, and emotional pain, and ultimately transformed into a path of healing, clarity, and hope. Rather than offering another...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Merry Brown —a philosopher-turned-mediator, ombuds, facilitator, and host of Conflict Managed —to explore how her unique journey from academia to workplace conflict resolution is reshaping the way organizations think about tension, triggers, and team relationships. Merry brings a calm, grounding presence and a rare ability to connect the intellectual wor...

In this special and heartfelt episode of The Leader in You , Dr. Lola Gershfeld and co-host Polina Marian welcome a uniquely insightful guest— 16-year-old CEO, influencer, and long-time EmC practitioner, Elli Goldberg . Elli shares her remarkable journey of navigating family transitions, growing through emotionally focused therapy, and applying the Emotional Connection (EmC) process to her relatio...