What if the secret to better leadership isn't about doing more, but being more human?

In this episode of Work Doesn't Work (Anymore), Dr. Ryan Darby sits down with leadership expert and founder of Brain Squared Leadership Solutions, Laurie Cozart. With over 10,000 individuals and 500 teams coached, Laurie brings deep insights on how leaders can thrive in today's complex and rapidly changing workplace.

Together, they unpack why hero leadership is outdated, why clarity is the most underrated leadership skill, and how vulnerability and relationship-building are actually strategic advantages. Laurie shares stories from her own journey and introduces practical, neuroscience-backed tools for fostering resilient leadership, trust-filled teams, and simplified work cultures that don't burn people out.

If you're tired of the noise and looking to build magic teams that feel good and perform better, this conversation is your playbook.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Laurie on LinkedIn

Followed Brain Squared Leadership Solutions on LinkedIn

Learn more about Brain Squared Leadership Solutions

Connect with Dr. Ryan Darby for continued leadership insights

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow Gut + Science wherever you get your podcasts for more from Work Doesn't Work (Anymore)

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Hero leadership quietly exhausts everyone
• Clarity is kindness and performance fuel
• Relationships make hard tasks feel easy
• Vulnerability builds trust, not weakness
• Emotional safety drives resilience and engagement

What if your company values weren't just words on a wall, but a lived, breathing part of your culture that drives every hire, fire, and daily decision?

Live from CultureCon 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin, Nikki sits down with Eliza Jackson of ButcherBox for a conversation that flips traditional HR playbooks on their head.

With a colorful background that spans finance, kindergarten classrooms, and hypergrowth startups, Eliza brings a refreshingly real perspective on what it takes to build values-driven organizations that actually walk the talk.

From rejecting high-performing candidates who don't align with company values to ensuring every employee has access to a personal coach, Eliza breaks down ButcherBox's radical approach to "baking in" culture at every level. You'll hear how they future-proof their workforce through mindset over skillset, maintain startup agility at scale, and foster a culture of relentless improvement, all while staying human at the core.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Eliza on LinkedIn

Learn more about ButcherBox

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Zach on LinkedIn

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn

Learn more about CultureCon

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Values must be embedded across all touchpoints.
• Coaching unlocks personal and organizational growth.
• Hire for mindset, not just experience.
• Startup culture can scale if you're intentional.
• Inner work fuels external culture strength.

What if your AI tools were more like teammates than tech? AI isn't coming for your job, it's coming to take the busywork off your plate.

Jason and Nikki crack open how the PeopleForward Network team is weaving AI into their daily workflows without ditching what makes them... them.

From using ChatGPT for parenting convos to building sales proposals, onboarding guides, and culture content, they're showing how AI can augment your team, not replace it.

Expect lightbulb moments and a roadmap for using AI to go further faster while keeping your values and people at the center 💡

Additional Resources:

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• AI is a co-pilot. Use it to enhance, not replace, human work.
• Start small. Experiment with everyday tasks before scaling.
• Input matters. Better prompts lead to better, more authentic outputs.
• Culture comes first. Align AI use with your company's values.
• Free up time. Let AI handle the mundane so people can focus on meaningful work.