March 25, 2025

S4-Ep6b: The Leadership Balancing Act: CEO Michelle Harrison on Work, Life, & Leading Inclusively

19 minutes

Guest: Michelle Harrison, Global CEO, Verian

Join us in an engaging conversation with Michelle Harrison as she discusses the challenges of balancing leadership responsibilities with family life. Michelle shares her personal experiences, the importance of transparency, and the contextual nature of decision-making as a leader. She also dives into inclusivity, gender issues in the workplace, and the significance of creating an environment that allows for both professional and personal fulfillment. This candid discussion is a must-listen for anyone juggling leadership roles and family commitments.

Here's what Michelle and host Maureen Metcalf cover:

Why, for women especially, it’s not a work-life balance, but a work-life trade-off;

The invisible algorithm women leaders use in making decisisons; and

Why rising execs so often stay silent about the problems they see in an organization.

Produced in conjunction with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

The Bonobo Sisterhood with Diane Rosenfeld

Empowering Women for the Prosperity of Nations with Amanda Ellise & Augusto Lopez-Claros

Winning in the Face of Adversity: Raising Up the Next Generation of Women Leaders with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty & Doug McCollough

To Stop a Tyrant with Ira Chaleff

For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!

RESOURCES:

Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.

Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8 . The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.

Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.

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OUR PODCAST TEAM:

Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf

Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko

Assistant Editor: Devon Mushalko

Graphics: Devon Mushalko & Stacia Rogan

Booking Producer: Jenna Reik

CONNECT WITH US:

YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership

Threads: @innovativeleaders

X/Twitter/Whatever New Name It Has This Week: @IL_Institute

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2

TikTok: @innovativeleadership

Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com

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About Our Guest:

Michelle Harrison is Global CEO of Verian, the international evidence and advisory business to governments and multi lateral organisations around the world. Prior to this, she was the CEO of Kantar Public, a division of the Kantar Group, leading its evolution to Verian in 2022 following a management led divestment. In parallel Michelle has had a 20+ year career as a NED and Government Advisory Committee member, which has focused on public innovation, sustainability and social impact investment. She is a Board Director of Social Finance and Big Win Philanthropy, the co-founder of The Reykjavik Index for Leadership, and a member of the Advisory Board for the Reykjavik Global Forum.

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