After years in broadcast television, Paula Faris took a leap of faith and chose to follow a new call in her life. For Paula, that call includes working to strengthen families by fighting for working moms. On the launch of her second book, You Don’t Have to Carry It All, Paula sat down with the Global Leadership Network’s Lori Hermann to talk about the surprising link between motherhood and leadership characteristics, how she works through fear, and how she cultivates a supportive community around her.

What does it take to be able to be brilliant at a moment’s notice? Author, speaker, and podcast host Todd Henry has a life mission to give creatives the information and tools to help them produce consistently great work. In this episode, Todd sits down with our own Jason Jaggard to share insights from his life as a creative, including how he prepares for a keyote, how you don’t have to love writing in order to be a writer, and the key idea that fuels and focuses all of his work. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to show up and be able to do excellent creative work over the long haul, this episode is perfect for you! 

A significant life crisis led him to the conclusion that the world desperately needed more kindness, and Shola Richards responded by becoming a champion of workplace civility and kindness. Since then, he has gone on to share his learnings through books, speaking, and consulting with many successful organizations. Recently, Shola took some time out of his busy schedule to sit down with our host Lori Hermann, and we invite you to listen in as Shola shares the some of the values, experiences, and activities that helped him in his journey from a place of deep depression to a life of deep purpose and positivity.  

NOTE: This episode discusses depression and suicide. If you are struggling and need help, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.  

It is an understatement to say that Deb Liu’s rise to CEO of Ancestry.com is “unique.” From growing up as a child of Chinese immigrants in South Carolina (where she was often told to “Go back to where she came from”), to navigating gender imbalance in the tech industry, to an ongoing battle with imposter syndrome, Deb has met challenges with wisdom, grace, and a gentle perseverance. In this conversation with Paula Faris, you can hear Deb share her personal reactions to the challenges (and blessings) of her career, and specific tips, tools, and structures that she uses to arrange her life for continued growth.  

Goals. Practically all of us have them, but most of us also struggle to consistently achieve them. New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff is passionate about helping people get better at reaching their dreams, and we recently sat down with him to hear about how his work impacts his personal life. Join us for this wide-ranging and lighthearted conversation as Jon shares about a variety of topics, from how he evaluates the viability of his various creative ideas, to how he constructively deals with fear and chaos in his life, and what it’s like to work on his latest book with his daughters.  

How does one go from being a lawyer, with a sure and safe career path, to becoming an innovative entrepreneur and launching a successful coffee franchise in a nation that is known for drinking tea? Sahar Hashemi’s story is a testimony to the power of action, perseverance, and to being unwilling to settle for a life where you cannot thrive. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be an entrepreneur, listen as Sahar shares the essential (but simple) behaviors that can help anyone (or any organization) develop—and maintain—a startup mentality.

What do leaders get wrong about human performance and motivation? How can leaders help their people to better navigate uncertainty? Social Psychologist Dr. Heidi Grant-Halvorson regularly explores these kinds of questions, and in this conversation with team member Jason Jaggard, she shares insights from her work in the science of leadership, and also some personal “hacks” for working through the process of writing books.  Whether you’re an aspiring author, or a leader seeking to more effectively motivate your team, this is a must-listen episode!

What does it take to run the largest HR organization in the world? How does one become prepared for that kind of responsibility? To kick off our 7th season, Lori Herman, one of our hosts and Executive Producer of the Global Leadership Summit, sits down with Johnny C. Taylor, President and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Join us as Johnny shares key moments from his leadership journey, the importance of cultural clarity in his leadership, and other insights designed to help us understand “the person behind the leader.”  

Is leadership about taking people somewhere, or is it about shaping people in powerful ways? In a recent talk, author, fashion designer, and pastor Erwin Raphael McManus shared the tremendous capacities of human beings—our inherent genius and the ability to create futures. While many of us end up believing a lesser story and forget about our creative power, Erwin shows how leaders can help people recover their faith in their God-given creative capacity and suggests a couple critical, practical tools to unlock your genius.

What if learning to focus simply on what you’ve been called to do could enhance your leadership and influence? In this conversation, entrepreneur, illustrator, and advocate Danielle Coke, shares all the different ways “finding her simple” has impacted her calling, her craft, and her leadership. Listen as this young leader shares her insights on “going viral”, knowing when to step back as a leader, and what it takes to keep creativity flowing in her life.