090: Pausing to Evolve: Deepening my commitment to trauma informed leadership

In this final episode of Evolve: A New Era of Leadership, I reflect on my journey of producing the show and share my decision to take a pause from podcasting to focus more deeply on trauma-informed leadership.

After 90 episodes filled with meaningful conversations with incredible guests, I’ve come to appreciate the transformative power of trauma-informed leadership in creating resilient, purpose-driven organizations. Throughout this process, I’ve continually emphasized the importance of self-awareness, self-regulation, and co-regulation—three key elements that I believe every leader should explore to build workplaces that truly tap into human potential while breaking free from outdated patterns.

This episode feels bittersweet as I share how my work has impacted others, from leadership circles to academic communities. I’ve had the privilege of completing a year-long training in trauma-informed coaching and consulting, under the guidance of Thomas Hübl and Amy Elizabeth Fox, which has only deepened my commitment to this vital area of leadership.

I’m incredibly grateful to all of the guests who joined me on this journey and to each one of you for tuning in. Though I’ve decided to take a break from Evolve, this is not goodbye—it’s a chance for me to dig deeper into this work and return with even more insight and focus.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways:

• The Power of Trauma-Informed Leadership: I reflect on how trauma and emotional wounds impact leadership and how addressing these factors can foster stronger, more empathetic organizations. 🧠
  
  

• Creating Safe Workplaces: I talk about the importance of psychological and physiological safety in the workplace, encouraging leaders to create environments where people feel safe enough to grow, thrive, and heal. 🔒
  
  

• Reevaluating Purpose: I ask you to consider how your own emotional wounds and experiences may shape your leadership style and deepen your sense of purpose. 💡
  
  

• The Future of Leadership: I believe trauma-informed leadership is the future, focusing on empathy, vulnerability, and self-awareness to help us lead more effectively in today’s complex world. 🌍
  
  

• Personal Reflections and Future Direction: This pause is giving me the space to continue researching and speaking about trauma-informed leadership, and to align my work even more closely with my passion. 🌱

We talk about:

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:49 The Impact of Trauma Informed Leadership

• 05:44 Taking a Break and Future Directions

• 08:31 Reflecting on Emotional Wounds in Leadership

• 11:28 Creating Trauma-Informed Workplaces

• 12:30 Finding Meaning and Purpose in Work

• 14:04 Gratitude and Future Directions

#TraumaInformedLeadership #LeadershipJourney #ResilientOrganizations #EmpathyInLeadership #EmotionalWounds

Connect with me

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolynswora/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynswora/

• Website: https://www.carolynswora.com/

• Contact: [email protected]