Episode Intro:

Dimple Dhabalia has woven both her own story and that of others she has worked with into a phenomenal book, Tell Me My Story: Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self; a book that digs deep into the realities that so many of us who provide service to others (because “caring for others in inherent to who we are, and to do anything different would leave us feeling unfulfilled and restless”) experience.

Did you know that vicarious trauma can result from repeated exposure to other people’s trauma and their stories of traumatic events, and that compassion fatigue can result from caring for those who are in significant pain and distress? It will likely come as no surprise that factors such as lack of transparency, decision making that doesn’t consider workforce health, and perceptions of unfairness in the workplace can tip our organizations into what is being termed “organizational trauma”, all of which contribute to toxic work environments, burnout, disengagement, and sickness. If your role includes oversight of people, you could be having to deal with all these - both as the leader of the team you are responsible for - and personally.

The good news is that we can reset and redesign once-traumatized cultures. Join us to learn more!

About Dimple Dhabalia:

Dimple D. Dhabalia is the founder of Roots in the Clouds and a human-centered leadership coach with over twenty years of government and public sector experience. Dimple partners with leaders across mission-driven sectors to address root issues and design inclusive, human-centered workplace cultures where emerging and seasoned leaders can learn how to preserve their own humanity as they work to preserve it for others.

After almost two decades working on the front lines of the government and humanitarian sectors, Dimple had experienced vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, moral injury, burnout, and anxiety. Like so many others, she worked in an organization that celebrated the resilience of the human spirit in the refugees and displaced persons they served, while failing to extend the same ethos to those working within their own organizations. Determined to educate and support heart-centered leaders, she developed and launched the Daring Leaders Project (DLP), the first mindfulness-based leadership development program of its kind within the agency. Her vision and leadership earned her Director’s awards for Innovator of the Year and the Pillar of Leadership.

In 2021, Dimple launched Roots in the Clouds with a personal mission of putting the “human” back into humanitarian and making service sustainable across mission-driven sectors. Today, Dimple’s cutting-edge work explores the intersection of generational trauma and moral injury and supports a holistic approach to addressing individual and organizational trauma using principles of mindful performance, positive psychology, and human-centered leadership. Her new book, Tell Me My Story–Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self [Ambika Media 2024], was recently excerpted in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and her work has also been featured in Fast Company, CEO World Magazine, and the Federal News Network. Dimple recently debuted a limited-series companion podcast to Tell Me My Story called  Service Without Sacrifice  and is also creator and co-host of the popular podcast What Would Ted Lasso Do? You can find Dimple @dimpstory across all social media platforms, and at dear HUMANitarian on Substack.

Connect with Dimple:

Website: @dimpstory

ROOTS IN THE CLOUDS | Dimple Dhabalia

dear HUMANitarian 

Podcast: Service Without Sacrifice

Podcast: What Would Ted Lasso Do?

LinkedIn: (4) Dimple Dhabalia | LinkedIn

Instagram: Dimple Dhabalia (@dimpstory) • Instagram photos and videos

Book: Tell Me My Story–Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self 

Articles: Stanford Social Innovation Review , Fast Company , CEO World Magazine Federal News Network

About the Host:

Susan has worked with people all her life. As a human resource professional, she has specialized in all aspects of employment, from hiring to retirement. She got her start as a national representative for a large Canadian union. After pursuing an undergrad degree in business administration, Susan transitioned to HR management, where she aspired to bring

both employee and management perspectives to her work. Susan holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Training. She retired from her multi-decade career in HR to pursue writing and consulting, and to be able, in her words, to “colour outside the lines.” She promises some fun and lots of learning through this podcast series. 

Susan is also the author of the book Leadership Inside Out: Effecting Change from

Within available on Amazon – click below. 

Leadership Inside Out: Effecting Change from Within: Ney, Susan G: 9781777030162: Books - Amazon.ca

If you wish to contact Susan, she can be reached through any of the following:

Website:          Home - Effecting Change from Within

Email:               [email protected]

Linked In:         www.linkedin.com/in/susan-ney-197494

Facebook:        www.facebook.com/susan.ney.5/

Phone:            (604) 341-5643

Thanks for listening!

It means so much that you listened to this podcast!  If you know of anyone else who might find this series of interest, please share. If you have questions about this episode, please send me an email at [email protected]

Subscribe to the podcast

If you wish to receive automatic notifications as new podcast episodes are made available, please subscribe.

Leave a review

Ratings and reviews from listeners are used to improve the podcasts.  They also help others find this series, so reviews are very much appreciated!