393: Learning to Lead Yourself is the only Path Forward
Release Date: 02/11/2025
406: Relatable Leadership: William’s Journey from High School Dropout to CFO
Leadership With Heart
What does it take to go from the mail room to the C-suite? And how does someone stay grounded in empathy while holding one of the highest positions in a global firm? In this episode of Leadership with Heart, William McKinley Washington II, Global CFO at Baker McKenzie, shares a journey that challenges assumptions about leadership, success, and what it means to rise. His story begins far from corner offices and executive meetings. William is open about being a high school and college dropout, a young father navigating food stamps and homelessness, and someone who never expected to one day lead...
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405: Scaling Businesses, Scaling Leaders: Lessons from Brian Brault
Leadership With Heart
What does it mean to lead from the heart, and what happens when we admit we do not have all the answers? In this episode, I speak with Brian Brault, founder of Legacy of Significance and a globally respected leadership teacher and entrepreneur. Brian has built and sold two companies and dedicates his time mentoring leaders worldwide. His work is rooted in humility, curiosity, and a deep belief in helping people discover the leadership potential that already exists within them. Our conversation moves beyond traditional leadership tropes. Brian shares what he learned about vulnerability...
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404: Mission-Driven Leadership: The Navy's Lessons for Business Success
Leadership With Heart
In this episode, I’m joined by Marc Koehler, a former U.S. Navy submarine officer. His unique perspective, gained from leading in a nuclear submarine where every action has consequences and complacency can be catastrophic, offers some of the clearest thinking on leadership I've heard in a long time. Marc shares how his experiences taught him lessons about accountability, emotional influence, and self-leadership that every leader on land needs to hear. What struck me most is Marc’s belief that leadership isn’t something we wait to be given. We must choose to step into it, regardless of...
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403: From Diamonds to Diapers: How a 3M Chief Scientist Mastered Her Leadership Purpose
Leadership With Heart
What happens when a scientist decides to lead from the heart? In this Leadership of the Heart podcast episode, Heather welcomes Jayshree Seth, Corporate Scientist and Chief Science Advocate at 3M. Jayshree's journey challenges traditional leadership narratives, proving that influence and impact do not require a title or permission. Her path from technical expert to global science ambassador is an authenticity, resilience, and service masterclass. Jayshree reflects on how a role that had never existed before was created around her unique blend of expertise and advocacy. She shares how...
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402: From Sales to CEO: Leadership Wisdom with Shawn Hanks
Leadership With Heart
In this episode of Leadership with Heart, Shawn Hanks, CEO of Premiere Speakers Bureau, reflects on his evolution from sales leader to CEO. He shares the pivotal lessons that shaped his leadership, including when he learned that offering his opinion too soon in meetings unintentionally stifled the voices around him. Rather than leading with answers, Shawn now leads with questions and listens first, giving his team the space to bring forward their insights.This conversation is grounded in humility and real-world experience. Shawn opens up about the difference between knowing and...
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401: Scaling Leadership: AI, Coaching, and the Future of Development
Leadership With Heart
In this Leadership with Heart podcast episode, I welcome Kevin Kruse, Founder and CEO of LEADx. Kevin shares how his introverted nature and deep sense of purpose led him to build a platform designed to democratize leadership development and bring coaching and emotional intelligence tools to every leader through AI and digital innovation. Our conversation goes far beyond leadership tech. It's a personal and reflective look into why Kevin does what he does, including his intentional decisions to support emerging voices, elevate women leaders, and use his platform to advocate for access and...
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400: More Than Profits: How Employee Ownership Drives Social Impact
Leadership With Heart
What happens when the CFO leads a company’s social responsibility efforts? And what if that initiative not only improves company culture but strengthens the bottom line? In this episode of the Leadership With Heart podcast, we hear from Sandra Torre, Co-President and CFO at Lavidge, a full-service advertising agency based in Phoenix, Arizona. Sandra challenges conventional expectations of the CFO role by spearheading a company-wide volunteer program called “Impact Giving and Caring with Passion.” This refreshing conversation highlights how financial and human-centered leadership can...
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399: Beyond Administration: The Strategic Shift in HR
Leadership With Heart
In this episode of Leadership With Heart, I sit down with Kirstin Guptill, Chief People Officer at HopeWest, to explore how leadership is evolving beyond administration into deeply human, strategic, and transformative work. Kirstin shares her experience stepping into a brand new CPO role at a nonprofit that supports people through some of life's most challenging moments. With a background in HR leadership and a passion for building cultures that prioritize connection, she walks us through her approach to shaping employee experiences, driving retention, and ensuring that workplace culture is...
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398: Overcoming Barriers, Leading with Purpose: Susan Valverde’s Story
Leadership With Heart
What does it mean to lead with both heart and results? How do strong leaders build teams that thrive while ensuring business success? In this episode of Leadership With Heart, I have the pleasure of speaking with Susan Valverde, Brand President of Sylvan Learning, whose leadership journey is nothing short of inspiring. From starting as a franchisee to leading a national organization, Susan's path is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and people-centered Leadership. Throughout our conversation, Susan shares how her deep belief in her team's potential has shaped her leadership approach....
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397: Striking the Balance between Soft and Hard in Leadership
Leadership With Heart
How do great leaders inspire confidence, even in the most challenging moments? What impact do body language, tone, and presence have on the people we lead? In this episode of Leadership with Heart, I sit down with Tracy Nolan, Senior Vice President of MarketPoint at Humana, to explore the art of leading with strength and compassion, often without saying a word. Tracy shares her journey from retail to telecommunications and ultimately to healthcare, where she leads thousands of employees and agents in helping people make critical health decisions. Our conversation takes an unexpected turn as we...
info_outlineWhat if the biggest barrier to your success wasn’t external—but internal? What if the way you frame challenges, setbacks, and even opportunities determines how far you can go?
Today is a special day—February 11th, the official launch of my new book, The Art of Self-Leadership: Discover the Power Within You and Learn to Lead Yourself. This book isn’t just another leadership guide—it’s a call to action for anyone who feels stuck, powerless, or waiting for permission to move forward.
Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with leaders, employees, and organizations, and I’ve noticed a troubling trend: Too many people feel like they’re at the mercy of their circumstances. They feel like passengers in their own careers, waiting for someone else to open doors, create opportunities, or define their next steps.
But here’s the truth: You are the driver. You are your own green light.
In this episode, I share:
✅ Why I wrote this book now and what self-leadership really means
✅ How victim thinking holds us back—and how to shift out of it faster
✅ The connection between self-leadership and caring leadership
✅ The role of mindset, choice, and personal responsibility in shaping your future
✅ Why waiting for someone else to lead you is the fastest way to give away your power
This book is a toolkit—a guide to help you reclaim your power, make better decisions, and move forward with clarity, courage, and conviction. Because the truth is, no one knows what’s best for you more than you do.
So today, I invite you to take this journey with me. Let’s learn to lead ourselves first—so we can show up stronger, more confident, and more intentional in every aspect of life.
Ready to step into your power? Grab your copy of The Art of Self-Leadership today. Let’s make this the moment we stop waiting—and start leading.
WHEN YOU’RE READY, HERE’S HOW WE CAN HELP:
Masterclass and More:
https://www.caringleadershiplearning.com/
Engage your people with work culture consulting:
Hire Heather to speak to your group:
https://www.heatheryounger.com
Access free Active Listening On-Demand Webinar:
https://heatheryounger.com/webinar/
Access free Art of Caring Leadership resources:
https://www.heatheryounger.com/kit
Book a consultation or general contact:
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About Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP
Heather R Younger is a highly sought-after speaker, 2x-TEDx speaker, diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, and contributor to leading news outlets. She is also the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm.
After over 25,000 employee engagement surveys and years of working with organizations to transform employee engagement, here’s what Heather has seen over and over:
When you know how to listen, employees will tell you exactly what they need to bring their full selves to work.
Book Heather to speak at your event or organization. Visit heatheryounger.com orhttps://www.cmispeakers.com/heather-r-younger. for more details.