Elizabeth Donovan shares her story of resilience, leadership, and finding balance. From her family’s legacy of survival and hard work to her role as an empathetic leader at Acxiom, she opens up about the lessons that shaped her work ethic, mentorship, self-care, and community. A powerful look at how vulnerability can strengthen leadership and drive meaningful connections in today’s hybrid work culture. Takeaways

True leadership starts with empathy and understanding your team as people.
Balancing family, health, and work makes you a stronger professional.
Vulnerability connects leaders to their teams more deeply than perfection ever could.
Mentorship is a two-way exchange of learning that happens at every level.
Self-care and community are essential for long-term success and well-being.

Chapters 00:00 Jeremy Bloom welcomes Elizabeth Donovan and sets the tone for an honest conversation. 01:00 Elizabeth explains why vulnerability is the foundation of leadership. 04:30 Elizabeth reflects on her parents’ immigrant story and the lessons of resilience. 08:00 How guidance and hard work shaped her professional path. 10:40 From AccuWeather to Marriott to Acxiom, Elizabeth’s journey of innovation. 14:00 Why collaboration and flexibility drive today’s hybrid teams. 18:30 The importance of boundaries, family time, and personal rituals. 22:20 Elizabeth’s renewed focus on wellness and connection. 23:50 Her advice for the next generation of leaders.

OhHello Ep. 109: Leading with Heart: Elizabeth Donovan on Empathy, Balance, and Building Human-Centered Teams