Why Great Leaders Prioritize Connection

Your professional identity is bigger than your job title. But when the workplace is changing rapidly, how do you stay connected to who you are while continuing to grow?In this episode of The SHIFT Forward, Dr. Cindy Pace sits down with Dr. Stephanie Creary, Assistant Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. They explore professional identity, how to write your own narrative, and the place of relationships and technology in your search for agency. The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases Tuesdays. Learn more about Cindy at drcindypace.com.Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world is changing faster than ever and the pace is only accelerating. While change isn’t inherently a threat, your brain may perceive it that way. Understanding your brain, recognizing your capacity limits, and learning how to interact with other humans in the age of AI will help you navigate the shifts ahead.In this episode of The SHIFT Forward, Cindy Pace sits down with Dr. David Rock, CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute and the researcher who coined the term “neuroleadership.” For more than 25 years, Dr. Rock has helped leaders understand the connection between neuroscience, human behavior, and the way we work.His newest book, Good with Humans: The Neuroscience of What Makes Us Tick and What Ticks Us Off, comes out in November 2026.The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases Tuesdays. Learn more about Cindy at drcindypace.com.Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leadership frameworks offer you a roadmap for how to excel at your job. But most are missing some crucial elements. Power, identity, and accountability shape our ability to lead well.Join my conversation with Aiko Bethea, founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting and author of Anchored, Aligned, Accountable, as we explore power dynamics, identity, values, agency, and what it really means to lead yourself.Becoming a better leader isn't about finding a magic formula. It's about understanding yourself, interrogating the systems around you, and taking responsibility for how you show up.The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases on Tuesdays. Learn about Cindy at https://www.drcindypace.comViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaders are facing pressure to help their people and their organizations navigate disruption. Trust and support are essential to building a functional workplace, but in this episode we go beyond that to explore how to build a truly great place to work.Join my conversation with Julian Lute, Innovation and Insights Strategist at Great Place to Work, as we explore the MegaSHIFTs impacting the employee experience and what leaders need to know to shape the future of work. We dig into the data behind today's workplace changes and why leaders' habits and actions must match their words, especially when it comes to AI.The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases on Tuesdays. Learn about Cindy at https://www.drcindypace.comViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you communicating at your team, or truly connecting with them?People feel more disconnected than ever, but as a leader, you have the power to change that. Real connection is a human and business imperative in this era of disruption, and the best leaders work at it intentionally.Join my conversation with Dr. Michelle Johnston, leadership professor, executive coach, and author of The Seismic Shift in You: The Seven Necessary Shifts to Create Connection and Drive Results. We dive into how to lead better through connection and why connection is more than just communication; it’s about reciprocity, energy, and intentionality.We both recognize that megaSHIFTs are happening in the world right now, and leaders need to make them to keep up. The next SHIFT in your leadership starts today.The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases biweekly on Tuesdays. Learn about Cindy at https://www.drcindypace.comViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest responsibility a leader has is shaping culture. People need something to ground them, someone to look up to and a shared inspiration. You can be that inspirational leader. On The SHIFT Forward, Dr. Marcus Collins tells you how to build a shared belief system. He is an award-winning marketer, professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and the author of 2 books, “For the Culture” and the upcoming book, “Good Soil.” The idea we most want you to take away from this episode is that culture is EVERYTHING.The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases biweekly on Tuesdays. Learn about Cindy at https://www.drcindypace.comViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a SHIFT happening between people and technology that we cannot ignore. AI is shaping the future of work. It is up to us to figure out how we can use it to set ourselves up for better relationships, communication and innovation.For this episode, I’m joined by Amy Gallo. She is the best-selling author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People),  a Contributing Editor at Harvard Business Review and a workplace expert who frequently writes about gender, interpersonal dynamics, and difficult conversations.Amy will share how AI can improve our workplace communications, like preparing us for tough conversations. But she’ll also share the watch outs!We’ll learn what it actually means to use AI with integrity. And stay tuned to the end of the episode so Amy can share her ONE phrase that can SHIFT the energy of your team when conflict arises. The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases biweekly on Tuesdays. Learn about Cindy at https://www.drcindypace.comViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Workplace culture is often described in broad and aspirational terms but peoples day to day interactions are what really shape their experience. Our best workplaces build fairness into the fabric of the organization in a way where all people feel like they matter. In this episode I’m joined by Siri Chilazi, a senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and an internationally recognized expert in advancing women and promoting gender equity in organizations. She's also coauthor of the award-winning book Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results. Together we’ll explore why good culture doesn’t just grow out of good intention. It’s something leaders can design for, measure and improve through specific behaviors, systems, and decisions.The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases biweekly on Tuesdays. Learn about Cindy at https://www.drcindypace.comViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Technology is revolutionizing how we work, but our true edge lies in our own biology. To build thriving workplaces we must consider both.In this episode of The SHIFT Forward, Dr. Cindy Pace welcomes Dr. Britt Andreatta, CEO of Brain Aware Training and internationally recognized leader in the neuroscience of learning.Together, we dive into the megaSHIFT of human interaction and break down the biological hardwiring that drives our workplace dynamics. You will learn exactly why understanding what people need to thrive at work is the most critical tool for today’s adaptive leaders.It’s time to stop treating workplace interactions as a soft skill and start leveraging them as your greatest business advantage.The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases biweekly on Tuesdays. Learn about Cindy at https://www.drcindypace.comViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Change can work for you instead of against you but only if you’re prepared to rethink how you lead.In this episode of The SHIFT Forward, Dr. Cindy Pace sits down with Dr. Wanda Wallace, Executive coach, Managing Partner of Leadership Forum, author of “You Can’t Know it All” and host of the long running and fantastic podcast, “Out of the Comfort Zone.”Together, they unpack the leadership megaSHIFT reshaping today’s workplaces. This new era of leadership requires leaders to understand what their teams actually need, identify where they add the greatest value and remove roadblocks instead of creating them.The SHIFT Forward with Dr. Cindy Pace releases biweekly on Tuesdays. Learn about Cindy at https://www.drcindypace.comViews and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Hueman Group Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.