Why do toxic leaders keep getting promoted when everyone knows they're toxic? And why do we treat being human at work like it's optional?

It’s the Heathers episode! Blakely and Heather Cooper sit down with Heather Conklin, CEO of Torch and former SVP and General Manager at Salesforce, to talk about why we only bring a fraction of ourselves to work—the polished, professional tip of the iceberg—while hiding everything else that makes us human. Heather introduces us to "fail salad," breaks down why toxic leaders keep getting promoted despite everyone knowing who they are, and breaks down why companies keep choosing results over humanity—even when it eventually catches up to them.

Key Takeaways:

• The Toxic Leader Paradox - Why companies keep promoting toxic leaders at the same rate as good ones (and what it signals to everyone else)

• The Iceberg Principle - Why understanding what's beneath the surface of who people are changes everything about how you lead

• "Fail Salad" - The monthly ritual that builds psychological safety and actually encourages innovation

• How to Balance Results and Humanity - Why "I care just as much about what you do as how you do it" is the leadership standard we need

• The Sonder Concept - Why remembering that everyone has a rich, complex story you don't understand makes you a better leader

• Why Soft Skills Aren't Soft - They're actually higher-order skills that determine whether your team thrives or just survives

Please consider sharing this episode & subscribing to the show for more unfiltered conversations about leadership, growth, and the messy human side of business.

Follow Heather:

• Connect with Heather on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherconklin/  

• Learn about Torch: https://torch.io

Mentions:

• MIT Sloan Toxic Culture Research: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/toxic-culture-is-driving-the-great-resignation/

• Heathers (1989 Movie): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097493/ 

• Adam Grant & Sonder Concept: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammgrant/ 

• Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/ 

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• Write a note: https://notall.biz

• Leave a voice memo: https://notall.biz/home#situations

• Send an email: [email protected]

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