Secret Leaders with Dan Murray-Serter & Chris Donnelly

Why Toxic Men Become CEOs (and How to Stop It)

Mar 28, 2025

Explore the unsettling world of leadership where toxic masculinity thrives among CEOs. Discover how traits like dominance and emotional disconnection are often rewarded, creating a toxic corporate culture. Hear insights on overcoming systemic biases that hinder empathetic leaders, particularly women. Dive into an interview with Sam Conniff, who challenges outdated notions of masculinity and leadership. Learn practical ways to identify toxicity in yourself and others, paving the way for a more compassionate workplace.

10:52

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Quick takeaways

Toxic leadership is often rewarded due to stereotypes and corporate pipelines that favor dominance over emotional intelligence in CEOs.

Promoting empathy and collaboration in leadership can combat toxic masculinity and reshape future corporate hierarchies towards inclusivity.

Deep dives

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The Complex Dynamics of Leadership: Traits and Gender Disparity

5min

Navigating Toxic Masculinity in Leadership

7min

You've seen them—the red-faced, power-tripping, emotionally disconnected CEOs barking orders while morale sinks. But how did we get here? And more importantly… how do we fix it?

This isn't just another workplace rant—it's a deep dive into the dark psychology of leadership, the gendered traits that dominate boardrooms, and the systemic bias that keeps emotionally intelligent leaders out of power.

In this video essay, we expose, why toxic traits like dominance & cold toughness get rewarded, how history, stereotypes & corporate pipelines keep weak men on top and roadmap to build better leadership—without sacrificing results.

This week, we’re dropped an interview episode with Sam Conniff—serial entrepreneur and the mind behind the #HardAsNails campaign. He’s shaking up outdated norms about what it means to be a man and a leader. We unpack how to spot toxicity in yourself, your colleagues, even your friends—and how to build something better. It’s raw, real, and packed with insights.

Watch Sam Conniff Interview on our profile now..

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