Inspirational Leadership for People Managers, Executives & HR Leaders Podcast

Did you know that great leadership isn't about putting on a professional mask or striving for constant seriousness? Great leadership is about fostering a culture of psychological safety and belonging, not by being perfect, but by being human.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Michael Kerr about the urgent need for more humane, happy, and humor-driven workplace cultures. Michael is a Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame inductee, an international business speaker, a very funny motivational speaker, and workshop trainer, hes also the author of nine books. For more than 25 years, Michael has traveled the world researching, writing, and speaking about inspiring workplace cultures, inspiring leaders, and businesses that leverage their humor resources to drive outrageous results for their employees and their customers. He has delivered his captivating keynote presentations and training workshops to more than 3,000 audiences, from Austria to Australia, from Boston to Bermuda, from Cleveland to Calgary.

Listen in to learn how positive workplace cultures and the strategic use of humor contribute to higher engagement, reduced burnout, and extraordinary business results. You will also learn about the transformative power of creating people-centered, high-accountability workplace cultures.

Key Takeaways:

• How simple actions like regular check-ins can make a profound impact on engagement and culture.
• The value of building workplaces that energize rather than exhaust people.
• Concrete benefits of humor: improved productivity, engagement, innovation, and retention.
• How making meetings fun can lead to more honest and productive conversations.
• How celebrating mistakes as a leader builds psychological safety and normalizes failure as part of innovation.
• The importance of leading with humanity by balancing business outcomes with emotional well-being.

Standout Quotes:

• As a leader, youre highly contagious with your behaviors, attitudes, and emotions, so think about the mood you want to set.- Michael Kerr [15:45]
• When we practice a healthy sense of humor as leaders, we tend to trust those leaders more because they come across as more real.- Michael Kerr [19:11]
• Better to have no values than to trumpet your values and then do the opposite or not live up to them because all you're doing is creating mistrust and creating cynical employees.- Michael Kerr [26:18]

Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/PodcastMichaelKerr

If this episode inspired you, share it with a fellow leader or tag me onLinkedInwith your biggest takeaway! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a dose of real, practical leadership wisdom.

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As a leader, how intentional are you about the people you surround yourself with? What would it look like if networking felt less transactional - and more transformational?

In this solo episode of The Inspirational Leadership Podcast, we’re unpacking what it truly means to network as a leader. Forget the business card swaps and elevator pitches - this is about building genuine, strategic, and lasting relationships that support your leadership journey.

Whether you’re a seasoned exec or stepping into your first leadership role, these 7 actionable tips will help you show up with purpose, lead through connection, and build a network that actually matters.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

• Why curiosity is more powerful than credentials
• How to show up to events with clear intention
• The secret to nurturing - not just collecting - connections
• Why having a clear point of view strengthens your presence
• The importance of aligning networking with your natural leadership style
• How generosity fuels trust and influence
• Simple ways to make networking a habit, not a hustle

If this episode inspired you, share it with a fellow leader or tag me on LinkedIn with your biggest takeaway! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a dose of real, practical leadership wisdom.

➡️ Join the conversation on LinkedIn

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗼𝗻-𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: www.kristenharcourt.com

What if the most powerful leadership tool wasn’t a strategy or skill—but the courage to show up as your true self, even when it scares you? Showing up as your true self in leadership is important while bravery and self-awareness enable leaders to inspire and engage with others.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Kimberly Davis about practical strategies for measuring impact, staying values-aligned under pressure, and why bravery is the key to influential leadership. Kimberly is a TEDx speaker and her book, Brave Leadership: Unleash Your Most Confident, Authentic, and Powerful Self to Get the Results You Need, is the 2019 winner of the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Business and Career; an Amazon Bestseller; and was named as the number one book to read in Inc. Magazine’s “The 12 Most Impactful Books to Read in 2018”. An expert on authentic leadership, Kimberly Davis shares her inspirational message of personal power, responsibility, and impact with organizations across the country and teaches leadership programs worldwide; most notably, her program “OnStage Leadership”.

Listen in to learn why traditional definitions of success leave leaders feeling empty and how aligning actions with personal impact creates fulfillment and results. You will also learn why leaders must connect personally to their organization’s mission and create an environment where individuals see their role as part of a greater impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the connection between acting techniques and authentic leadership.
• How leaders can build trust and influence by showing up as their true selves.
• Leadership as a transformative process that benefits both leaders and those they inspire.
• The role of leadership in shaping an organization's mission beyond shareholder value.
• Common mistakes leaders make when trying to enforce purpose rather than inspire it.
• The shift from traditional command-and-control leadership to a more purpose-driven approach.
• How emerging leaders can navigate the challenges of modern leadership.

Standout Quotes:

• “When a leader stops being in alignment with their purpose they suffer and their organization suffers.”- Kimberly [25:59]
• “I believe that emerging leaders are our future and if we want to see more purposeful leadership, we’ve got to start with emerging leaders.”- Kimberly [34:41]

⇢ Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/PodcastKimberlyDavis

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗼𝗻-𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: www.kristenharcourt.com

Do you know what triggers you and how your body responds when dysregulated? How do you master the self-regulation skill? While you can’t control everything that happens to you, you can control how you respond—and that’s where growth and freedom lie.

In this solo episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, Kristen discusses the power of self-regulation and how taking responsibility for how you show up can change your life and relationships. She shares practical tools like deep breathing, self-compassion, and self-soothing techniques to help regain control when triggered.

Listen in to learn how to create new neural pathways by intentionally choosing new responses, even if old patterns feel deeply ingrained.  You will also learn the importance of modeling vulnerability and repairing relationships when you don’t show up as your best self.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of self-regulation, especially in high-stress situations where triggers can lead to dysregulation.
• Understanding fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses in high-stress situations.
• How self-regulation can help you choose a more compassionate and intentional approach to responding.
• How apologizing and taking responsibility can repair and strengthen relationships.
• Understanding that emotions only last 90 seconds in the body, and how to break free from emotional spirals.

Standout Quotes:

• “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." – Charles R. Swindoll
• “What triggers you is a mirror to show you where you're not free." – Peter Crone
• “Emotions are moved through very quickly—within 90 seconds. After that, any remaining emotional response is a choice to stay in that emotional cycle." – Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor
• “The most difficult people in your life are your biggest teachers." – Kristen Harcourt

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗼𝗻-𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: www.kristenharcourt.com

What makes emotional intelligence in leaders so powerful? What would leadership look like if we all embraced emotional intelligence and authenticity as our guiding principles? Emotional intelligence is paramount in not only building authentic connections but also in navigating the complexities of leadership in high-stress environments.

In this episode of the Inspirational Leadership podcast, I speak with Angela Payne about how leaders can harness their strengths while addressing their blind spots to become more effective. Angela is the co-founder of LeedHR, where she’s responsible for both development and delivery of client programs, ultimately creating better organizational leaders. Everyone who knows her recognizes her ability to make authentic and long-lasting connections. This “superpower” has enabled Angela to not only build and grow successful teams but also become a strategic coach for many other leaders inside and outside of her organization. Her recent engagement as the National Board President for Lean In Canada, a not-for-profit organization and community of professional women, which empower each other to build purposeful and fulfilling careers, empowered her to set the vision, develop the strategy, and enable the growth for their nationwide chapters and circles initiatives.

Listen in to learn about the nuances of emotional intelligence and the importance of being human and authentic in leadership. You will also learn the unique challenges female leaders face and how to be unapologetic when pursuing your ambitions and embracing your desires.

Key Takeaways:

• The role of emotional intelligence in leadership and how leaders can recognize and regulate their emotions to show up more effectively.
• The power of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership rather than striving for perfection.
• How mentors and sponsors can help women find their voice and succeed in leadership roles.
• Why women should stop apologizing for their ambitions and embrace their desires unapologetically.
• The value of community and sisterhood in helping women recognize and overcome self-limiting behaviors.
• The role of vulnerability in building trust and inspiring others, and embracing imperfection as a leader.

Standout Quotes:

• “If I think about the leaders that I appreciated the most in my career, they were leaders who were far from perfection, but were actually human and helped me appreciate the fact that I could also make mistakes and it would be okay.”- Angela Payne [19:55]
• “Everybody's just on a journey of working on themselves and being the best version of themselves; we're all just working towards that together”- Angela Payne [35:33]

⇢ Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/AngelaPayne

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗼𝗻-𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: www.kristenharcourt.com