What if the greatest transformation in your career doesn’t come from working harder—but from leading with more heart?

In this week’s episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia, to explore what it really means to be yourself at work—and why authenticity, empathy, and belonging are the most underrated forces in leadership today.

Claude has spent the past decade alongside Gary Vaynerchuk, pioneering a new model of leadership grounded not in authority, but in humanity. Her philosophy is simple yet radical: when people feel seen, valued, and safe to be themselves, everything changes—trust deepens, innovation flourishes, and culture transforms from the inside out.

Together, we unpack the neuroscience of belonging, the silent tax of conformity, and why the future of leadership belongs to those brave enough to lead with love.

This conversation continues our series The Forces That Shape Us—following episodes on gravity, doubt, luck, defiance, and communication—by uncovering one of the most powerful invisible forces of all: the human heart.

👉 Read the full show notes here!

🎧 Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources—including guest links, my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store—are gathered here:

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To learn more about Claude Silver, visit claudesilver.com

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🧠 About the Episode

• Discover how Claude Silver is redefining leadership as an act of emotional bravery.
• Learn why “checking your humanity at the door” is the biggest barrier to performance.
• Understand the neuroscience of belonging and how psychological safety drives innovation.
• Explore Claude’s Three Habits of Heart-Led Leadership—emotional bravery, emotional optimism, and emotional efficiency.
• Hear how to bring authenticity back to work and create cultures where people feel seen, valued, and capable of making a difference.

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