Episodios

  • Best of 2025: Emotional Intelligence Still Matters in the Age of AI with Caroline Stokes

    Best of 2025: Emotional Intelligence Still Matters in the Age of AI with Caroline Stokes
    Dec 12 2025
    Best of 2025: Emotional Intelligence Still Matters in the Age of AI with Caroline Stokes

    As we close out a strong year for The Leadership Habit Podcast, we are revisiting three of the most impactful conversations from 2025. These episodes challenged conventional thinking, encouraged deeper reflection, and offered leaders practical insight for navigating change. Our Best of 2025 series brings these standout conversations back as we look ahead to new voices and ideas in 2026.

    The second episode in this series features leadership strategist and author Caroline Stokes. In Emotional Intelligence Still Matters in the Age of AI, Caroline explores the mindset shifts leaders must make to remain effective in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, climate disruption, and societal change.

    This conversation challenges outdated leadership models that prioritize speed and scale over emotional awareness. Caroline explains why emotional intelligence, radical listening, and trauma-aware leadership are not optional skills but core capabilities for leading in a polycrisis era. As technology reshapes work, leaders must focus just as much on how people experience change as on the change itself.

    Revisiting this episode is a timely reminder that the most future-ready leaders are those who combine adaptability with empathy and clarity. Rather than resisting uncertainty, Caroline encourages leaders to meet it with curiosity, courage, and a willingness to rethink how leadership systems are designed.

    We look forward to sharing more conversations with innovative and forward-thinking leaders in 2026. Until then, this episode remains one of the most important discussions of the year for leaders preparing for what comes next.

    Listen to the Best of 2025 episode: Emotional Intelligence Still Matters in the Age of AI with Caroline Stokes

    The post Best of 2025: Emotional Intelligence Still Matters in the Age of AI with Caroline Stokes appeared first on Crestcom International.
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  • Best of 2025: How to Make a Purpose Pivot with Melissa Gonzalez

    Best of 2025: How to Make a Purpose Pivot with Melissa Gonzalez
    Dec 5 2025
    Make a Purpose Pivot in the New Year

    As we wrap up another incredible year on The Leadership Habit Podcast, we are revisiting three of our most impactful conversations from 2025. These episodes sparked reflection, inspired change, and created real momentum for leaders across industries. To celebrate the year, we are launching a short series called Best of 2025.

    Our first featured episode returns to a listener favorite: How to Make a Purpose Pivot: Finding Balance and Fulfillment with Melissa Gonzalez. In this conversation, Melissa shares how leaders can step back, realign their energy, and redefine what meaningful success looks like. Her insights continue to resonate, especially during moments of transition and year-end reflection.

    This replay is the perfect reminder that leadership growth often begins with a pause. As you prepare for the year ahead, Melissa Gonzalez offers a powerful guide for reconnecting with intention and building a more balanced approach to work and life.

    We look forward to bringing even more innovative voices and fresh perspectives to The Leadership Habit Podcast in 2026. Until then, enjoy this standout episode and revisit the ideas that shaped our conversations this year.

    The post Best of 2025: How to Make a Purpose Pivot with Melissa Gonzalez appeared first on Crestcom International.
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  • How to Navigate Conflict and Set Boundaries at Work with Dr. Jen Fry

    How to Navigate Conflict and Set Boundaries at Work with Dr. Jen Fry
    Nov 14 2025
    Conflict is part of being human, but many leaders still struggle to approach difficult conversations in a healthy, productive way. Whether it shows up as tension on a team, discomfort around identity-based issues, or uncertainty about when to speak up, many professionals have never been given the tools to navigate conflict with confidence. In this episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, host Jenn DeWall speaks with Dr. Jen Fry, a social justice educator, speaker, and researcher who helps individuals and organizations understand how identity, communication, and power dynamics shape the way we engage with one another. Through her deeply practical and accessible approach, she shows leaders how to build stronger relationships, develop healthy boundaries, and embrace conflict as an opportunity for growth. Meet Dr. Jen Fry, Conflict Literacy Expert Dr. Jen Fry is the founder of JenFryTalks, a social justice education firm that works with organizations, teams, and leaders to help them better understand race, identity, conflict, and communication. With a background in collegiate athletics, a doctorate focused on social justice and higher education, and years of experience coaching leaders through difficult conversations, Dr. Fry brings a grounded and approachable style to complex topics. She has worked with companies, universities, and sports organizations across the country, helping people understand how identity shows up in everyday interactions and how to communicate compassionately, directly, and effectively. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, ESPN, NPR, and other major outlets. Why Conflict Is Necessary for Growth Many professionals have been conditioned to think of conflict as something to avoid. Dr. Fry challenges this belief by explaining that conflict is not inherently harmful. It is simply a signal that something needs attention. When handled with clarity and care, conflict creates opportunities to repair, improve, and deepen relationships. She explains that conflict avoidance often comes from fear. People fear being misunderstood, disliked, or labeled as difficult. As a result, they gloss over issues that need to be addressed, causing those small moments to grow into long-term resentment. Healthy conflict, on the other hand, creates space for honesty, accountability, and trust. Dr. Fry emphasizes that leaders must get comfortable being uncomfortable. Growth requires willing participation in conversations that may feel awkward or tense. By learning to name what is happening, set appropriate boundaries, and stay present in the moment, leaders can strengthen their teams and reduce long-term friction. Understanding the Role of Identity Managing conflict requires understanding your own identity and how it shapes how you show up. Dr. Fry encourages leaders to consider how their lived experiences, cultural background, and social identity shape their lens. For example, someone who grew up in a family that avoided conflict may naturally default to silence. Someone who learned early in life that speaking up had negative consequences may hesitate to voice concerns. Someone who carries marginalized identities may navigate conversations with stakes or risks different from those of colleagues who hold more privilege. Recognizing these influences is not about judgment. It is about awareness. When leaders understand their own communication patterns, they can approach conflict more intentionally instead of reacting from old habits. Why Boundaries Are Essential One of the most powerful messages from Dr. Fry is that boundaries are not barriers. They are tools for clarity, safety, and mutual respect. Boundaries allow individuals to say what they need, articulate what is not acceptable, and protect their emotional and psychological well-being. Dr. Fry explains that many people struggle with boundaries because they confuse them with ultimatums. Boundaries are not threats. They are statements about what you can and cannot manage. For example: I can talk about this issue, but I need a few hours to process it first.I want to resolve this, but I cannot do that while being interrupted.I am willing to listen, but I will not participate if the conversation becomes disrespectful. Healthy boundaries help teams function more effectively. They reduce assumptions, prevent miscommunication, and build trust. Intent Versus Impact Another key insight Dr. Fry highlights is the difference between intent and impact. Good intentions do not erase harm. Leaders often justify their actions by explaining what they meant rather than acknowledging the other person’s experience. Dr. Fry recommends focusing on impact first. When someone is hurt, the priority is to understand the harm, take responsibility where appropriate, and repair the relationship. This approach builds credibility and strengthens team cohesion. How to Approach Difficult Conversations More Effectively Throughout the episode, Dr. Fry shares practical strategies ...
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    42 m
  • How to Drive Results as a Leadership Coach with Will Linssen

    How to Drive Results as a Leadership Coach with Will Linssen
    Oct 31 2025
    The latest episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast welcomes globally recognized leadership coach Will Linssen to discuss how leaders can drive measurable results through better coaching. Hosted by Jenn DeWall, this conversation explores what separates good leaders from great ones and why sustainable leadership growth depends on one crucial shift: moving from know-how to show-how. Leadership coaching has become one of the most effective ways to enhance results and strengthen teams, especially when paired with comprehensive leadership development programs. Meet Will Linssen, Executive Coach and Author Will Linssen is one of the world’s top executive coaches and the CEO of Global Coach Group. Named the world’s number one leadership coach by Global Gurus and the top coach trainer by Thinkers50, Will is also a Master Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the highest professional designation in the field. He is a number one Amazon international bestselling author and serves as an advisor to the Harvard Business Review, shaping global conversations around leadership development, coaching, and performance growth. Will’s work has influenced more than 100,000 leaders worldwide through data-driven coaching frameworks designed to deliver measurable impact for leaders, their teams, and their organizations. Why Leadership Coaching Matters More Than Ever Leadership today is harder than ever. Teams are stretched thin, priorities are constantly shifting, and leaders are expected to balance results, engagement, and well-being all at once. As Jenn DeWall noted during the episode, “Being a leader today is challenging. Being a coach is hard, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the tools or best practices within it.” Will agrees—and he believes much of the problem starts with how we prepare people to lead. “Most people never got any education in people skills,” he explains. “They step into leadership roles without preparation, and organizations just say, ‘Now it’s up to you.’ It’s like becoming a parent with no manual.” That gap between what leaders know and what they actually do creates frustration, burnout, and disengagement. It’s why many leaders, despite their best intentions, struggle to truly develop their teams or sustain results. From Know-How to Show-How One of Will Linssen’s central insights is that most leaders don’t fail because they lack knowledge—they fail because they lack application. “Most leaders we work with already know the right thing to do,” he says. “The challenge isn’t know-how. It’s show-how—doing the right things consistently so it impacts the people around them.” When leaders are overwhelmed, buried in meetings, or constantly reacting to problems, their good intentions don’t translate into meaningful behavior. As Will puts it, “When things heat up, the show-how suffers, and that’s how leadership effectiveness suffers.” This approach echoes the principles discussed in Crestcom’s Be the Coach They Need training module, which focuses on helping leaders turn awareness into consistent behavior. By choosing just two key areas to improve—and committing to practice those behaviors daily—leaders can make visible, lasting progress. The Triple Win Approach At the core of Will’s method is the idea of a Triple Win—helping leaders grow, improving team performance, and achieving better organizational results simultaneously. He explains, “We reverse engineer success. We define what success looks like for the leader, the team, and the business, then build a plan to get there.” This data-backed approach has been tested with more than 100,000 leaders worldwide, achieving a remarkable 95% success rate in measurable improvement. Here’s how the framework works in practice: Choose two leadership growth areas. Focus on the skills that matter most to both the leader and their team—such as empowerment, decision-making, or stakeholder management.Create a business case for change. Show how improving in these areas benefits not just the individual leader but the entire team and organization.Engage coworkers in feedback. Involve team members in providing suggestions and observations about the leader’s growth areas.Implement and measure progress. Use quarterly reflections and pulse surveys to track improvement from the perspective of both the leader and the team. This process not only creates accountability but also builds shared ownership of the change. “Leadership,” Will emphasizes, “is about co-creating change with coworkers. When the leader and the team work together, performance must increase. It always works.” Building a Culture of Feedback and Accountability Even with a solid process, many organizations struggle with one key challenge—getting honest feedback. Employees often hold back from sharing candid observations out of fear of retaliation or hierarchy. Will’s advice is simple but powerful: ...
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    43 m
  • How to Prepare for High Stakes Conversations with Dia Bondi

    How to Prepare for High Stakes Conversations with Dia Bondi
    Oct 17 2025
    Every leader faces those moments that can make or break an opportunity. It may be asking for a raise, pitching a big idea, or addressing a room full of decision-makers. These high-stakes conversations require the ability to communicate with confidence! In this episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, host Jenn DeWall sits down with Dia Bondi, a communications catalyst and author of Ask Like an Auctioneer: How to Ask for More and Get It. Together, they explore what it takes to prepare for those defining conversations where trust, influence, and outcomes are on the line. Whether you’re negotiating resources, inspiring your team, or advocating for change, Dia’s frameworks and insights reveal how to speak powerfully and how to be “absolutely clutch in clutch moments.” Meet Dia Bondi, Communications Catalyst Dia Bondi is a keynote speaker, coach, and communications expert who helps leaders and changemakers speak with authenticity and authority when it matters most. Her clients include global brands like Nike, Meta, Salesforce, and Dropbox, as well as entrepreneurs, executives, and athletes seeking to elevate their presence in high-pressure situations. As the author of Ask Like an Auctioneer: How to Ask for More and Get It, Dia combines storytelling, neuroscience, and negotiation strategy to help people push past fear and unlock their boldest communication potential. Her work has been featured on CNBC, NPR, and Forbes, and she’s known for helping professionals deliver messages that move audiences to action. Why High-Stakes Conversations Matter As Bondi explains, high-stakes moments aren’t just about closing a deal or landing a promotion; they’re about leadership itself. These are the situations where your communication can unlock decisions, resources, or opportunities that move your business and career forward. A high-stakes conversation could be a one-on-one with your boss, a pitch to a major client, or a keynote at a conference. What makes it high stakes is the combination of risk, visibility, and impact. These moments require you to build trust quickly, communicate with purpose, and guide others toward a decision. “Every high-stakes moment,” Bondi says, “is really an ask. You’re asking for engagement, for a decision, or for action, and how you prepare for that ask determines the outcome.” The Most Common Communication Mistakes In her two decades of coaching executives, startup founders, and leaders, Dia has seen several recurring missteps that undermine even the most talented professionals. 1. Rushing Through the Story Too often, leaders jump straight to the solution, listing features, metrics, or data, without slowing down to paint a compelling picture of why it matters. “The most powerful communicators,” Bondi explains, “don’t just describe a product or proposal. They invite the audience into a vision of what’s possible.” By taking time to describe the problem, future, and stakes, leaders create emotional engagement and tension that make the solution more valuable. 2. Focusing Only on Themselves Nerves and pressure can cause people to over-focus on their own objectives, like what they need, want, or fear. But as Bondi reminds us, “communication isn’t just about information transfer. It’s about connection.” Compelling storytelling shifts attention to the audience: their desires, frustrations, and motivations. When people feel seen and understood, they’re more likely to say yes. 3. Playing Too Small Many professionals limit themselves by asking for too little. Bondi challenges leaders to “ask big enough that you might get a no.” This approach, inspired by her experience as an auctioneer, helps leaders stretch beyond comfort zones and uncover what’s truly possible. If you get a no, you’ve found the boundary. If you get a yes, you’ve just achieved more than you thought possible. Building a Strategic Ask Behind every effective communicator is a strategic ask, a clear understanding of what you’re requesting, who you’re asking, and when the timing is right. Bondi encourages leaders to check three elements before entering any high-stakes moment: The Right Ask: Are you requesting something you don’t already have? Don’t waste time asking for permission or support that’s already been given.The Right People: Identify who truly influences the decision. Sometimes it’s not the top decision-maker but a trusted ally who can advocate on your behalf.The Right Timing: Consider the broader context, including market conditions, organizational priorities, or competing pressures. The right message delivered at the wrong time can still fall flat. When you align these three factors, your message lands with far greater impact and credibility. Storytelling Frameworks That Work Under Pressure Dia Bondi’s genius lies in turning complex communication strategies into simple, repeatable frameworks. Two of her most powerful tools are the Blocker Buster and the ...
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    43 m
  • How to Make a Purpose Pivot: Finding Balance and Fulfillment with Melissa Gonzalez

    How to Make a Purpose Pivot: Finding Balance and Fulfillment with Melissa Gonzalez
    Oct 3 2025
    In this episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, host Jenn DeWall talks with Melissa Gonzalez, retail strategist, experiential designer, and author of The Purpose Pivot. Together, they explore how professionals and leaders can reconnect with what truly drives them—realigning their work, energy, and values to create a more fulfilling life. Gonzalez’s insights go beyond traditional career advice. She challenges the belief that constant busyness equals success and offers a practical roadmap for creating balance, purpose, and sustainable growth. Whether you’re leading a team or navigating your own next chapter, this conversation invites reflection on what it means to live and lead with intention. Why Every Leader Needs a Purpose Pivot Many leaders are running on autopilot—meeting after meeting, day after day—without pausing to ask if their actions truly align with their goals. In the podcast, Melissa Gonzalez explains that a purpose pivot is about stepping back, taking inventory, and asking: Am I creating the life I want to lead? Her inspiration for The Purpose Pivot came after a personal health crisis that forced her to slow down and reassess her priorities. Through that experience, she realized that wellbeing isn’t something to fit in “after work”—it must be part of how we lead and live every day. “Wellbeing shouldn’t be a side project,” Gonzalez says. “It deserves equal importance to your career growth.” The purpose pivot is about moving from busyness to impact—recognizing that filling your calendar isn’t the same as creating value. For leaders, this often means shifting from the mindset of doing more to doing what matters most. Overcoming the Challenge of Prioritizing Wellbeing Despite knowing the importance of rest and reflection, many high achievers still struggle to prioritize themselves. Gonzalez explains that this difficulty stems from how success is often measured—by how much we accomplish, not by how intentionally we live. She encourages professionals to ask key questions: Does this activity energize me or deplete me?Am I working out of obligation or genuine purpose?What would happen if I made space for reflection instead of rushing to the next task? In her book, Gonzalez includes an exercise where readers list what energizes them versus what drains them. This simple reflection often reveals patterns—time spent on tasks that deplete energy far outweighs the time spent on what brings joy or motivation. Taking time to reflect doesn’t slow progress—it fuels it. By giving yourself permission to pause, you create mental clarity, emotional balance, and stronger decision-making capacity. Building Trust in Yourself and Your Team As Gonzalez explains, purpose-driven leadership is rooted in trust—trust in others and trust in yourself. Many leaders resist delegating because they fear losing control or worry others won’t deliver at the same level. This lack of trust leads to burnout and exhaustion. True leadership, Gonzalez says, involves trusting your team to rise to the occasion while also trusting that you don’t have to carry everything alone. Jenn and Melissa also discuss self-trust, which can be even harder to cultivate. Self-trust means believing that you’ve prepared enough, done enough, and can let go when necessary. It’s recognizing when additional effort will no longer change the outcome and giving yourself grace to rest. Learning to delegate and release control not only improves wellbeing—it helps leaders model healthy behavior for their teams. When leaders demonstrate balance and confidence, others feel permission to do the same. How to Make Your Own Purpose Pivot Making a purpose pivot isn’t about quitting your job or overhauling your life overnight. It’s about intentionally adjusting how you spend your time and energy so that your daily actions reflect your long-term goals. Melissa Gonzalez outlines several strategies to begin this journey: Pause and Reflect. Schedule moments of quiet to check in with yourself. Reflection is not a luxury—it’s the foundation for clarity and creativity. Define Your Why. As Simon Sinek famously said, knowing your “why” brings direction and motivation. Identify what excites you and where you feel most fulfilled. Set Boundaries. Protect time for thinking, rest, and relationships. Saying no to what doesn’t align is an act of leadership. Celebrate Small Wins. Break large goals into milestones—25%, 50%, 75%—and celebrate each one. Progress builds confidence and momentum. Trust the Process. Growth takes time. Learn to let go of perfection and embrace progress instead. A purpose pivot is not about doing everything—it’s about focusing on what’s most meaningful. The Power of Reflection and Recalibration One of the most powerful lessons from The Purpose Pivot is the importance of reflection. Gonzalez reminds us that most leaders don’t stop long enough to acknowledge how far they’ve come. ...
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  • How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You with Stephanie Chung

    How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You with Stephanie Chung
    Sep 19 2025
    On the latest episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, Jenn DeWall sat down with aviation executive, trailblazer, and author Stephanie Chung to discuss one of the biggest challenges leaders face today: how to lead people who are not like them. Stephanie is the author of the new book Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You, which provides a practical framework for leaders who want to get the best results from diverse teams. In this episode, she shares her philosophy of Ally Leadership and explains why learning how to lead people across differences is not just about diversity, equity, and inclusion—it is about return on investment. Meet Stephanie Chung Stephanie Chung began her aviation career working at Boston Logan Airport, parking planes and handling luggage. From there, she rose through the ranks, becoming a top sales executive, then moving into private aviation, where she eventually sold and oversaw the sales of private jets. Her career milestones include becoming the first Black person in U.S. history to lead a major private aviation company as President of JetSuite. She later became the founding Chief Growth Officer at Wheels Up, helping take the company public—the first private jet company in the United States to do so. Today, she is an international bestselling author, keynote speaker, board member, and coach to Fortune 500 executives. Stephanie has also been named to the Ebony Power 100 list and recognized as one of the top 500 CEOs by the respected consultancy YPO. Her journey reflects not only professional success but also resilience, courage, and a commitment to helping leaders everywhere learn how to lead people across differences through the practice of Ally Leadership. Why Leading People Who Are Not Like You Matters Modern workplaces are changing faster than ever. Stephanie explains that today’s leaders face challenges never seen before. “If you are a leader worth your salt, your job is to make sure that you get the best people in the best position to get the best result. That’s the job of a leader.” What makes that more challenging now is the sheer range of diversity within the workforce. As Stephanie describes, six generations are now working side by side—from Boomers to Gen Z. Gender dynamics have shifted, and ethnic and cultural diversity is increasing. Organizations are more aware of the contributions from LGBTQ+ professionals and neurodiverse employees. This variety of backgrounds and perspectives can lead to misunderstandings if leaders rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. But when leaders embrace differences, the benefits are measurable. “Diverse teams are 35% more productive, diverse teams have a 70%… more likely to actually be more innovative, and diverse teams are 36% more profitable.” The takeaway is clear: learning how to lead people who are not like you is no longer optional. It is a requirement for leaders who want to deliver results. The Ally Framework At the heart of Stephanie’s philosophy is her book Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You. She defines Ally Leadership as the ability to create trust, curiosity, and action in diverse environments. The ALLY framework is simple but powerful: Ask – Leaders must ask thoughtful questions and avoid assuming they know what their team needs.Listen – Active listening is more than waiting for your turn to speak. It requires paying attention to what is said and what is not said.Learn – By asking and listening, leaders naturally learn. This learning helps them adapt and grow.You Take Action – Learning without action accomplishes nothing. Ally leaders follow through and implement change. “That’s the secret sauce here to getting the result out of your people”, Stephanie explained. By practicing Ally Leadership, leaders build stronger relationships, create safe environments for contribution, and encourage teams to innovate. The EARN System In addition to the ALLY framework, Stephanie developed the EARN system, a step-by-step approach to building high-performing teams: Establish an environment of psychological safety.Assure alignment so everyone knows how they contribute to company success.Rally the troops around a vision, not just a to-do list.Navigate the future by guiding teams through change and challenges. Stephanie notes that misalignment is expensive and disengaged employees are costly. The EARN system gives leaders practical tools to align teams and build momentum toward shared goals. Final Takeaways Leadership is never easy, but Stephanie believes it does not have to be overly complicated. “When you have to have an honest conversation about it… it’s not as hard or as complicated as people have told you it is. Utilize the talents that you have around you because they too have gifts and talents”. Her advice is clear: stop trying to do it all yourself. By becoming an ally leader, you can unleash the potential of your entire team. Where to Find More From...
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    39 m
  • Emotional Intelligence Still Matters in the Age of AI with Caroline Stokes

    Emotional Intelligence Still Matters in the Age of AI with Caroline Stokes
    Sep 5 2025
    What will it take to lead in the year 2030? In this episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, Crestcom’s Jenn DeWall speaks with leadership strategist and author Caroline Stokes about the critical mindset shifts leaders must make to stay relevant in a world defined by artificial intelligence, climate disruption, and societal transformation. From emotional intelligence to radical listening and future-ready leadership systems, this conversation challenges old paradigms and offers a practical path forward. Caroline invites leaders to step into the uncertainty—not with fear, but with curiosity, courage, and the willingness to reinvent themselves and their organizations. Meet Caroline Stokes Caroline Stokes is an executive recruiter, leadership coach, futurist, and the founder of Workplace EQ. She is the author of Elephants Before Unicorns: Emotionally Intelligent HR Strategies to Save Your Company and her most recent book, AfterShock to 2030: A CEO’s Guide to Reinvention in the Age of AI, Climate, and Societal Collapse. Drawing on decades of experience at companies like Sony and Disney, Caroline now works with founders, boards, and executives to build emotionally intelligent, trauma-aware, and adaptive leadership systems. She has spoken at the World Bank and the United Nations, and her insights appear in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and other leading publications. Leadership in a Polycrisis Era Caroline begins by identifying the defining feature of our current moment: we’re living in a polycrisis era—an interconnected web of challenges that include AI disruption, climate change, economic instability, and societal unrest. “We all have to reinvent our nervous system to be able to evolve in this particular age,” she explains. “It means doing it at a much faster pace than ever before.” This isn’t just about learning new technology. It’s about changing the way leaders show up emotionally, psychologically, and strategically. Traditional models of top-down leadership are no longer effective in an environment where employees are under unprecedented levels of stress. The Emotional Reality of Leadership in the Age of AI Many leaders today are navigating exhaustion, outrage, and anxiety—right alongside their teams. Caroline explains that many people are stuck in a stress response: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. She says: “We’re all pretty much paralyzed in some way to understand and comprehend the challenging environment that we see ourselves in.” This emotional context cannot be ignored. Whether it’s burnout, distrust, or the rising cost of living, Caroline emphasizes that leadership is emotional and psychological. CEOs can no longer separate performance from well-being. Caroline asks: “If you haven’t got the basics satisfied, how can you expect people to perform at a high level?” This is a direct challenge to leaders who try to motivate with perks or platitudes. A free yoga class won’t matter if your employees are worried about putting food on the table. Why Emotional Intelligence Still Wins Even in the age of artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence remains the most human and most powerful leadership skill. “AI is not emotionally intelligent. It can’t show empathy. It doesn’t care. That’s still our job.” Caroline urges leaders to go beyond performative empathy and instead practice radical listening—a deliberate effort to create space for honest feedback, without judgment or fear. “We’re trying to understand where the themes are, where the gaps are, where the opportunities are… and to put everybody’s ego on the line.” This shift isn’t about being soft. It’s about being real, responsive, and ready to act on what your team actually needs. Reinventing the CEO Mindset To lead through disruption, CEOs must embrace what Caroline calls a “blank slate” mindset. That means letting go of outdated goals and assumptions—especially those tied to unbridled growth. She explains: “We have left the old paradigm. The past is firmly in the past. We’re in a new paradigm, and it requires us to have a different mindset.” Caroline explains that growth targets and OKRs rooted in pre-pandemic expectations are no longer realistic—or responsible. “We’re not going to achieve growth right now. The world that we had previously experienced in previous decades just isn’t happening anymore.” Instead, leaders should build future-ready leadership systems that reflect current realities. That includes involving employees in shaping new goals, acknowledging the emotional toll of change, and aligning strategies with both performance and sustainability. Hope Is a Leadership Strategy With all the uncertainty ahead, is there still room for hope? Caroline says yes—but it must be grounded in reflection, not toxic positivity. “Hope can only be found once you’ve actually done the work.” In her book, AfterShock to 2030, she provides CEOs with ...
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    38 m