In this episode of Workplace Stories, we sit down with Zane Zumbahlen, Chief People Officer at Wedgwood Veterinary Pharmacy, to explore how vulnerability in leadership can catalyze organizational change.

With a 30-year career spanning IBM, CTCA, and global roles in Sweden and Japan, Zane shares candid stories that reveal the power of low-ego, high-confidence leadership. From active listening sessions that rebuilt trust among skeptical managers to structural programs that flipped the risk equation for women leaders, Zane's journey is a masterclass in how HR leaders can move from intention to impactful systems.

His approach blends authenticity, experimentation, and a relentless drive to make things better, one conversation at a time.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• (00:00) Intro
• (04:21) How vulnerability accelerates trust and change.
• (12:45) The real-life risks of emotional leadership.
• (18:50) Driving systemic transformation from the HR seat.
• (22:33) A roadmap for active listening that leads to measurable action.
• (35:10) Building female leadership pipelines in risk-averse cultures.
• (47:52) Examples of HR-led innovation across global contexts.
• (56:15) Rethinking how credibility and compassion coexist in leadership.

Resources & People Mentioned:

• Wedgwood Veterinary Pharmacy
• Adam Grant on Personal Branding and Trust

Connect with Zane Zumbahlen:

• LinkedIn: Zane Zumbahlen

Connect With Red Thread Research

• Website: Red Thread Research
• On LinkedIn
• On Facebook
• On Twitter

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