Mark C. Crowley is a pioneering voice in the movement to redefine workplace leadership. Known for his bestselling book Lead from the Heart, Mark returns with a bold, research-backed follow-up: The Power of Employee Well-Being. Drawing from Oxford’s 20-million-person global study and his decades of experience as a financial services executive, Mark’s message is clear: outdated metrics like engagement scores aren’t enough.

Instead, workplace wellbeing must be the North Star of 21st-century leadership—because people don’t perform at their best unless they feel cared for, connected, and safe. Mark’s work offers a practical, soul-awakening roadmap for leaders who want to build flourishing teams, retain talent, and lead with empathy in a high-pressure world.

Zach Mercurio, is one of today’s leading voices in meaningful work, purposeful leadership, and positive organizational culture.

He’s the author of The Invisible Leader and The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance. Through decades of research, teaching, and consulting with organizations like Marriott, Delta Airlines, the U.S. Army, and the FDA, Zach empowers leaders to create cultures where people feel seen, valued, and essential.

Zach will help us explore how mattering — feeling noticed, needed, and important — is a fundamental human need often overlooked in modern work cultures.

Specifically, in this episode, we’ll explore:

Why mattering is a basic human need and a competitive advantage

How purposeful leadership transforms performance and well-being

Practical ways leaders can embed mattering into daily organizational life

Why meaning and connection, not perks, are the true retention strategies today

Vatsal Sood is a rising voice in the world of communication—and not just because of his powerful stage presence. As a public speaking coach, keynote speaker, and leadership mentor, Vatsal helps high-achieving professionals transform fear into confidence and speaking into impact.

He walks the talk—from impromptu storytelling at Halifax’s first Story Slam to sharing emotional truths on stage at Toastmasters competitions. Whether you’re a nervous speaker or a seasoned presenter, Vatsal brings a compassionate, strategic, and community-first lens to public speaking.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

✅ How to conquer public speaking anxiety and unlock authenticity

✅ Why storytelling is a superpower in leadership and life

✅ The role of community in shaping confident communicators

Dave Allman is on a mission to rewire how organizations think about care. As the founder of Wellbeing @ Work (W@W) and Careots, Dave has built platforms that transform vague wellbeing intentions into data-driven strategies that drive real impact on performance, retention, and engagement.

This episode explores how Dave’s “Google Maps” approach to wellbeing helps leaders navigate the complexities of emotional, social, physical, and financial wellbeing—empowering them to meet employees where they are and guide them toward a thriving work life.

We’ll discuss how moving from check-the-box wellness programs to personalized, scalable wellbeing maps is not only the future of work—it’s a business imperative.

🔍 In this episode, we’ll explore:

✅Why wellbeing is more than yoga and fruit bowls—it’s organizational performance

✅ How data helps leaders prove they care in ways employees can see and feel

✅ The link between a thriving workforce and reduced turnover, burnout, and disengagement

✅ Why personalized wellbeing journeys help build resilient, high-performing cultures

✅ How Gallup science and smart tech can operationalize care at scale

George Alifragis is a trilingual business transformation expert with over 15 years of success in driving growth, delivering transformative results, and cultivating strategic partnerships. As Senior Vice President at Metropolitan Partners Group and a thought leader with the Forbes Business Council, George specializes in building innovative frameworks that align organizational objectives with customer success and employee engagement.

Previously, George has held pivotal leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer at Sryas, where he successfully exited, and Chief Customer & Innovation Officer at Altima Telecom, driving customer-centric innovation. His track record includes spearheading global initiatives, implementing change management strategies, and creating cross-functional collaborations that deliver measurable impact.

Today, we’ll dive into George’s insights on leveraging human-centric leadership and innovative strategies to transform businesses, empower employees, and achieve sustainable success.

Dr. Sam Elmi is a rare blend of organizational psychologist and HR strategist with over a decade of experience designing people-first systems inside fast-scaling environments. Most recently, as Director of People Strategy and operations at Nava, a public benefit corporation transforming government services, Sam built a new function from the ground up, anchored in human development, competency frameworks, and inclusion.

Throughout his career, from government to healthcare to tech, Sam has redesigned performance systems, developed employee experience programs, and helped leadership teams align around growth, equity, and care.

In this conversation, we’ll explore how leaders can turn organizational complexity into human clarity and scale HR in ethical, strategic, and deeply human ways.

DJ Campbell is a seasoned healthcare executive and transformational leader specializing in people strategy. As VP/Chief HR Officer at Sanford Health, DJ oversees nearly 3,800 team members in the Bismarck market while contributing to enterprise-wide strategy for the organization’s 50,000 employees. With a focus on workforce development, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness, DJ plays a pivotal role in driving change and fostering a culture of excellence at Sanford Health.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, DJ is deeply invested in the Bismarck-Mandan community, serving on boards such as Make-A-Wish North Dakota, the North Dakota Workforce Development Council, and the State Board of Higher Education. An active member of SHRM and the Society for Diversity, DJ exemplifies a commitment to advancing HR practices and creating inclusive, dynamic workplaces.

Today, we’ll delve into DJ’s insights on shaping the future of healthcare workforces, driving impactful change, and creating environments where both employees and organizations can thrive.

Sheeja Rai is an accomplished leader with over two decades of experience across industries such as chemicals, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and IT. As the Global Head of HR for Taste & Wellbeing at Givaudan, Sheeja leads strategic initiatives to drive employee engagement, performance management, and wellbeing for a diverse, global workforce.

Her innovative, people-first strategies have earned her recognition as a transformative leader in HR. From pioneering advanced performance management systems to spearheading employee engagement programs, Sheeja combines a strategic focus with a deep commitment to fostering a culture of care.

In today’s episode, we’ll explore Sheeja’s journey, her strategies for integrating employee wellbeing into organizational success, and how HR leaders can prepare employees for fulfilling, resilient careers in an ever-changing global landscape.

Michelle Grocholsky is a global equity strategist and the founder of Empowered EDI, a consulting firm redefining how organizations approach equity, diversity, and inclusion. With two decades of experience and international accolades—including Canada’s Top 100, and a distinction for progressing gender equality across Canadian corporations—Michelle is known for moving EDI beyond performative talk and into systemic transformation.

Her work focuses on changing the way people make decisions. From advising Fortune 500 firms and not-for-profits to leading global strategy at BlackBerry and BMO, she has helped shape cultures where equity is not an afterthought, but a foundational operating principle.

Michelle’s philosophy, “lift as you rise,” is more than a tagline—it’s a leadership lens that informs how she coaches, consults, and shows up in the world.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

✅ How to embed equity into decision-making systems—not just in values, but in practice

✅ Why metrics matter (and which ones drive change)

✅ What it takes to build workplaces where everyone can thrive, not just survive.

In this episode, host Thyagi DeLanerolle sits down with Dr. Rae Chresfield. Dr. Rae is a trailblazing leader in mental health advocacy, education, and organizational development. As the Assistant Vice President of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Dr. Rae is dedicated to fostering a culture of care that equips students with the tools they need to succeed in both academic and professional settings.

With a decade of experience in counselling, higher education leadership, and organizational development, Dr. Rae has a proven track record of creating programs that address mental health, resilience, and career readiness. Her innovative approach has included establishing a sober living wellness residence and designing workshops to help students transition from campus to career while maintaining their mental wellbeing.

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss Dr. Rae’s journey, her strategies for preparing students for workforce challenges, and the importance of aligning student and employee wellbeing.