In this episode, I'm joined by Founder & CEO of Grapevine Software, Zach Wright. 

Key topics:

✔️ The news stories telling us that remote work is dead, RTO is king, and that all employees now somehow prefer hybrid arrangements. 🤔 Is this true?

✔️  Dag believed that leadership was about service, not status. In a fully remote environment, how can leaders make sure that employees still feel seen, valued, and appreciated outside of the typical brick-and-mortar office?

✔️ Some companies rely on AI for feedback and/or they toss out a $5 gift card and assume that's enough to say, "You've done a great job." How can organizations use technology yet not become impersonal?

✔️ When working with a global team, how can you practice cultural sensitivity? 

Links:

You can find Zach on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-wright-mba/

And Grapevine here: https://www.grapevinesoftware.io/

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📖 Pick up Decoding the Unicorn today on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0D9xM3b. 

aka: TTW Dag met all 4,000 employees at the UN. 

When Dag Hammarskjöld became Secretary-General of the United Nations, he did something that no one expected—he took the time to meet every single UN staff member, from the basement to the top floor. That’s over 4,000 people. Individually!

This wasn’t a publicity stunt. It wasn’t about ego. It was about connection.

Yet, despite this, myths about introverts and highly sensitive people (HSPs) persist. We’re often told we need to “come out of our shells” to be effective leaders, that we need to be louder, bolder, or more extroverted to succeed. But Dag’s leadership shows us a different path—one that values thoughtfulness, quiet confidence, and deep engagement over shallow charisma.

In this episode, we’ll explore:
 ✅ How Dag Hammarskjöld shattered the myth that introverts can’t lead
 ✅ The power of intentional, personal connection in leadership
 ✅ Why you don’t have to change who you are to be effective—you just need to lead on your own terms

I'll also read an excerpt from Decoding the Unicorn, where I recount Dag’s building tour and what it reveals about his character.

So if you’ve ever been told you’re “too quiet” to lead—this one’s for you.

📖 Read Decoding the Unicorn: https://a.co/d/0D9xM3b. 
 

When you think of a leader, do you picture someone loud, brash, and commanding? Society often equates leadership with extroversion (especially in the West), but history tells a different story. In this episode, I'll challenge the myth that leaders have to be loud in order to be effective. I'll explore how introverted leadership works, particularly by studying the example of Dag Hammarskjöld, and why it’s often more impactful in the long run.

Key topics:
✅ Why society assumes leaders must be extroverted—and why that’s wrong
✅ How introverts like Dag Hammarskjöld shaped history through quiet leadership
✅ Why introverted leaders excel in high-stakes situations
✅ Practical strategies to lead authentically without faking extroversion
✅ How to find the right balance between speaking up and leading through action

If you've ever felt like you didn't fit the traditional leadership mold, this episode is for you. It’s time to embrace the power of quiet leadership and redefine what it means to lead.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to harness your introverted strengths to make a lasting impact.

In a world that rewards loud voices, where does that leave the quiet leaders? Today, politics, business, and media glorify "charisma" over competence, mistaking performance for wisdom. But what if true leadership doesn’t look like the loudest voice in the room?

In this episode, we'll explore the bias toward extroverted leadership, why it's failing us, and how leaders like Dag Hammarskjöld offer a desperately needed alternative.

Topics include:
✅ How modern leadership favors showmanship over substance
✅ Why introverts and deep thinkers are overlooked—and why that’s dangerous
✅ How Dag led with intellect, integrity, and quiet strength
✅ What today’s world can learn from his leadership in a crisis
✅ Practical takeaways for embracing introverted leadership in your own life

If you’ve ever felt like your quiet nature was a disadvantage in leadership, this episode is for you. Let's challenge the extrovert bias—and redefine what real leadership looks like.

Links:

https://thisibelieve.org/essay/16608/

For more, please check out Decoding the Unicorn: A New Look at Dag Hammarskjöld. Click here to buy it on Amazon. 

Welcome to Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast. 

What is this? Who am I? What can you expect?

New episodes forthcoming in March!

***

You can find my book Decoding the Unicorn: A New Look at Dag Hammarskjöld on Amazon.

Get ready to uncover the real Dag Hammarskjöld. Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast goes beyond the history books to explore Hammarskjöld’s leadership, spirituality, and the myths that have shaped his legacy.

Subscribe now and be the first to hear new episodes. You can find Sara's book Decoding the Unicorn: A New Look at Dag Hammarskjöld on Amazon.

Episodes drop in March!