What does leadership require of us when the old story of work no longer works?

That’s the question I explore in this conversation with Jonathan David Lewis, president and partner at McKee Wallwork and author of The Rebuilders: Daily Foundations for the Leaders We Need.

Jonathan and I talked about how dramatically the world of work has changed and how many of the assumptions that shaped previous generations no longer resonate with today’s workforce. If we’re trying to solve new problems with an old story, we’re going to struggle to find the right solutions.

One of the ideas that really stayed with me is Jonathan’s metaphor of “getting behind the stroller.” Leadership means recognizing that we have a responsibility to the people and communities around us, even when we didn’t choose the circumstances we’re leading through.

I loved this conversation because Jonathan doesn’t pretend that the changes we’re navigating are easy. Instead, he offers a different way of looking at them: things may be crumbling, but that doesn’t mean they have to stay that way. We can rebuild.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why today’s workforce is experiencing what Jonathan calls “transactional, futureless suffering”
• The leadership challenge of this moment
• What leaders need to create instead of optimizing everything for efficiency
• Why our people need a quest—a meaningful challenge and a future they can believe in
• What organizations look like when they rediscover their identity and get their “mojo” back
• What it means to answer the call to become a rebuilder

Mentioned:

• The Rebuilders: Daily Foundations for the Leaders We Need
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't, Jim Collins
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Simon Sinek

Learn More About Jonathan David Lewis:

• McKee Wallwork
• Connect on LinkedIn

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated

What if employee wellbeing isn't a nice-to-have, but a fundamental part of how we create high-performing organizations?

In this episode of Culture by Design, I’m joined by Chris Carey, CEO of Calm Health, to talk about the changing relationship between mental health, wellbeing, and performance at work.

As AI takes over more of the information processing in our jobs, Chris argues that the skills that remain deeply human — decision-making, leadership, creativity, and meaningful collaboration — become even more important. And to perform at our best, we need to rethink how we approach mental wellbeing and recovery.

Chris and I talk about why organizations can't expect their people to sprint indefinitely, how leaders can model healthy habits, and why culture is built through everyday behaviors rather than words on a whiteboard.

Chris Carey, CEO of Calm Health, is an experienced leader passionate about building amazing teams striving to create healthcare tools to make the system work for everyone. At Calm Health, Chris is focused on creating a mental health platform for the world’s most trusted healthcare solutions by building and investing in simple, innovative solutions that address all dimensions of health.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How stress directly impacts our ability to engage in constructive conflict, focused ideation, and creativity
• What organizations can learn from athletes about the importance of recovery to performance
• Why leaders should share their personal wellness habits and goals with their teams
• Why we need to shift mindsets about supporting mental health away from crisis management
• The three things Chris believes employers can do to support employee mental wellbeing

Learn More About Chris Carey:

• Calm Health
• Connect on LinkedIn

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated

When conflict shows up at work, our instinct is often to solve it as quickly as possible or to prove we're right. But what if the strongest leaders do something entirely different?

In this episode, I'm joined by Patrick Payton, Managing Director at Consilium Business Labs, former mayor, founding pastor, business consultant, and author. Drawing on decades of leading through uncertainty and division, Patrick shares why the best leaders choose curiosity over certainty, collaboration over competition, and purpose over polarization.

If you're leading a team through change, navigating differing opinions, or working to build a stronger culture, this conversation offers practical insights that will challenge the way you think about leadership.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why great leaders choose wisdom over simply being right.
• How understanding another person's perspective builds trust and reduces division.
• The shift from competing with people to collaborating alongside them.
• Why a shared purpose is the foundation for alignment and healthy culture.
• Questions that move difficult conversations from posturing to genuine learning.
• How to lead teams through disagreement without becoming divisive.
• Patrick's advice for bringing people with you instead of leaving them behind.

Learn More About Patrick Payton:

• Website
• Consilium Business Labs
• No Neutral Moments Podcast
• Instagram: @patrickpayton_
• The Middle: How the Quiet Majority Can Mend a Divided Nation

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated

Resources:

• 12: Serving People to Serve the Purpose: Dave Kuhnert’s Approach to Leadership and Accountability
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey
• Celebrate Kids
• 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences, Kathy Koch Phd