Notes on Resilience

Send us a textWhat happens when we acknowledge our full humanity in the workplace? Fran Benjamin, Managing Partner at GoodWorks Consulting, delivers a masterclass in organizational transformation that challenges longstanding assumptions about leadership.Fran offers a definition of compassion: "that moment in which one can no longer distinguish themselves from the other," and explores how this concept applies to modern organizational structures. Rather than viewing companies as collections of individual cogs, they advocate for seeing people as interconnected ecosystems where mutual benefit and reinforcement drive success.The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Fran traces the evolution of leadership competencies through major historical events. During the Cold War, decisiveness reigned supreme. After 9/11, empathy emerged as crucial. The 2008 financial crisis elevated transparency.2020's dual crises highlighted psychological safety. Now, as we face what Fran calls the 2025 polycrisis, new leadership qualities are emerging: principled dissent (values-based courage), regenerative leadership, and coalition building.For leaders hesitant to embrace compassion, there are tangible costs: increased employee attrition, legal liability, reduced market access, and diminished community impact. The antidote? Building systems that institutionalize compassionate leadership beyond individual personalities or initiatives.Whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company or a community organization, this episode offers practical wisdom for creating more resilient, innovative, and human-centered workplaces. Join us to discover how acknowledging our full humanity (emotions, bodies, relationships and all) unlocks our collective potential.Fran Benjamin (they/he/she) is the Managing Partner and Principal Consultant at Good Works Consulting, an organizational development, human capital consulting, and executive coaching firm. With 20 years of experience guiding organizational transformation and inclusive cultures, Fran has led global teams through 50+ successful engagements with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. An MBA graduate from UCLA Anderson, Fran is also a certified Integral Coach, yoga instructor, and a somatics practitioner, blending professional rigor with creative and holistic approaches to leadership.You can learn more about Fran on LinkedIn or email them at: fran@goodworks.consulting. Learn more about Good Works Consulting on the website: https://www.goodworks.consulting/Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a textWhen you think of manufacturing environments, compassionate leadership and unconditional love probably aren't the first concepts that come to mind. Yet at Cambridge Air Solutions, these principles form the backbone of a thriving culture that's delivering remarkable business results.Meg Brown, Chief Operating Officer, reveals the surprisingly simple practices that have transformed their workplace. The most powerful is a ritual called personal-professional check-in, where team members briefly share their highest highs and lowest lows in work and life. With "thank you for sharing" as the only permitted response, this creates psychological safety while fostering genuine human connection.What makes Cambridge Air's approach particularly compelling is its absolute clarity about values. Leadership has literally posted the definition of workplace unconditional love on their walls, describing specific behaviors that demonstrate this value: investing time to know each other, creating space for authenticity, staying curious during conflict, and offering forgiveness. The business impact speaks volumes: Higher retention, increased safety, improved productivity, and stronger financial performance.In divisive times, this approach offers something increasingly rare: a community where people feel seen and valued regardless of differences in background or belief. Listen now to discover how compassionate leadership might be the strategic advantage your organization needs.Ready to see this culture in action? Cambridge welcomes visitors—virtually or in person. Sign up at the website: cambridgeair.com/tours. Meg Brown is COO of Cambridge Air Solutions, leading supply chain, manufacturing, and people functions, driving operational excellence and leadership development. Previously, as VP of Human Resources, Meg shaped Cambridge’s employee experience, talent processes, and leadership growth. She is passionate about unlocking potential in others and her true focus has been growing heart based culture, building strong teams and fostering growth.Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a text"We have more information than ever and less knowledge. We talk at each other more than ever and we're less connected." James Warren, founder and CEO of Share More Stories, takes us on a journey through the transformative power of stories as the lifeblood of the human experience. He reveals how storytelling creates three essential benefits for organizations: enhanced self-awareness for leaders, strengthened empathy through neurological connection, and accelerated collective learning. Our brains are literally wired for narrative, activating empathic responses that bridge differences and create shared understanding.He describes the ecosystem involving the teller, the listener, and the story that requires psychological safety to flourish. When we share vulnerably, a transformative alchemy occurs—a rising tide of empathy where both parties want to be heard and develop enhanced capacity to hear others. This directly addresses what Maya Angelou called "the agony of bearing an untold story inside you."As workplaces increasingly function as communities, Warren challenges leaders to reconsider the fundamental value proposition of work itself. Organizations demanding more while offering less security and community face unsustainable imbalances. The path forward requires leaders who understand that profitability and human-centered approaches aren't contradictory but complementary strategies for lasting success.Ready to transform your organization through the power of story? Listen now to discover how compassionate leadership creates workplaces where people genuinely belong. Then share your thoughts—what story are you waiting to tell?James Warren is the Founder and CEO of Share More Stories, a human experience insights company that built the SEEQ Platform to uncover emotional drivers behind employee and customer experiences. He is a researcher, strategist, writer and facilitator who blends storytelling, AI, and insights to help organizations better understand themselves, their customers, and their communities.You can learn more about Share More Stories on their website, connect with James on LinkedIn, or email him at: james@sharemorestories.comGo to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a textHave you ever wondered why good people sometimes make terrible decisions? Kevin McCarthy lived this question when he unwittingly became involved in what turned out to be Washington state's largest fraud case—an experience that landed him in federal prison for 33 months despite having no knowledge of the crime. Rather than becoming bitter, Kevin transformed this devastating setback into profound insight about human blind spots and leadership.In this thought-provoking conversation, Kevin shares his journey from successful entrepreneur to federal inmate to leadership development pioneer. He explains how blind spots—our unconscious biases, thinking errors, and limiting beliefs—affect even the most well-intentioned people, especially as they rise to positions of greater authority.Kevin discusses the fundamental flaw in leadership development: we promote technical experts without equipping them with essential people skills. While organizations invest heavily in teaching processes and methodologies, they neglect to help leaders understand themselves and others. The consequences are severe—with Gallup research showing only 23% of the global workforce is engaged, while a staggering 18% actively sabotages their organizations.Kevin's metaphor of prison life brilliantly captures the challenge we all face: we can choose the wide, easy path of remaining unchanged, or the narrower, more challenging path of growth and self-improvement. "I challenge every leader to choose the narrow path and decide to proactively become a better version of yourself," he urges. "We can all learn to think better, be better, and do better."Whether you're a seasoned executive, an aspiring leader, or simply interested in understanding the human factors that influence decision-making, this episode offers invaluable insights on developing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and compassion in leadership. Listen now to discover how Kevin's assessment tools and training programs are helping organizations build better leaders and healthier workplaces worldwide.Kevin McCarthy is a consultant, leadership development coach, and author of the bestselling book, BlindSpots – Why Good People Make Bad Choices. You cYou can learn more about Kevin on his website or connect with him on LinkedIn. Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a textWhat happens when disaster strikes a community and the ripple effects touch everyone differently?This episode originally aired on The Security Circle podcast, where I joined host Yoyo Hamblen to talk about trauma, recovery, and resilience. I'm sharing it here because the conversation gets to the heart of what we're exploring on Notes on Resilience: the real work of rebuilding trust, leading with empathy, and supporting people through change. In this revealing conversation with Boston Marathon bombing survivor Manya Chylinski, Yoyo and I discuss the complex world of trauma, healing, and organizational support during times of crisis.I share my firsthand experience as someone who walked away physically unharmed from the 2013 bombing but carried invisible wounds that profoundly impacted my life. This story illuminates how differently people process trauma, with some bouncing back quickly while others face a longer road to recovery.At the heart of this conversation is a perspective on workplaces as communities—spaces where our full humanity deserves acknowledgment, especially during difficult times. People are messy, and organizations can either hinder or support healing through their responses to employees experiencing trauma. Whether it's a suicide that affects the entire company or widespread disasters like wildfires, how leadership responds matters deeply We discuss how resilience is a tool we all possess but may not recognize in ourselves. Whether you're a security professional, leader, or someone navigating your own relationship with trauma, this episode offers invaluable insights about human experience during crisis. Listen in for a compassionate, thoughtful discussion that will transform how you think about resilience, workplace support, and our shared humanity during life's most challenging moments.Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a textHave you ever wondered why inspiring speeches from leaders don't always translate to motivated teams?In this conversation with Rob Lion, we discuss how leaders often forget that employees don't necessarily love the organization the same way they do. While executives might focus on purpose and vision, many employees are primarily concerned with meeting foundational needs like providing for their families or maintaining stability. This disconnect explains why what works at the leadership level doesn't always resonate throughout the organization.One of the most thought-provoking parts of our conversation focuses on rethinking onboarding. Rob draws a parallel to vacation: What do you do day one on vacation? You explore, you have fun...Yet most companies approach onboarding like reading emergency procedures instead of letting employees explore and understand the culture they've joined. This simple shift in thinking could transform how organizations welcome new team members.Rob emphasizes that culture work and performance objectives must operate concurrently. Becoming too culture-focused can make an organization self-centered, while overemphasizing performance can lead to forgetting employees' humanity. Finding this balance is the sweet spot for leadership that delivers both fulfillment and results.Dr. Rob Lion is a professor at Idaho State University and co-founder of Black River Performance Management, where the motto is "Work should fuel the spirit, not drain it." With over 20 years of expertise in leadership, organizational development, and performance improvement, Rob is renowned for his innovative, people-first approach. He specializes in creating human-centric, sustainable systems that drive growth and success within organizations.Learn about Black River Performance Management on their website or connect with Rob on LinkedIn.Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a textWhat makes the difference between leaders who inspire innovation and those whose teams merely go through the motions? The answer might surprise you.Melissa Robinson-Winemiller, author, speaker, and leadership coach, reveals that empathy—far from being soft or unnecessary—actually requires tremendous courage and drives measurable business results. In this fascinating conversation, she unveils that there are actually 43 different types of empathy across eight categories, challenging our simplified understanding of what it means to truly connect with others."Empathy is what you feel, compassion is what you do," Melissa explains, offering a crucial distinction that many leaders miss. Without first understanding what people actually need, even well-intentioned actions can completely backfire, like the infamous pizza party solution to burnout that leaves many employees feeling more disconnected than ever.The business case is compelling: Ernst & Young studies show organizations leading with authentic empathy see 87% higher productivity, 86% greater innovation, and 82% increased profit. Insincere attempts at empathy produced worse results than no empathy at all.As technology and AI continue transforming how we work, Melissa argues that genuine human connection becomes more valuable, not less. "Organizations either evolve or become obsolete," she warns. "What they're risking is becoming obsolete as managers... they're not going to be the innovators."For leaders feeling overwhelmed, Melissa offers a surprising starting point: self-empathy. Many achieve leadership positions through technical excellence rather than people skills, then struggle to connect authentically with teams. By first understanding themselves, leaders build the foundation for extending empathy to others.Whether you're a seasoned executive or aspiring leader, this episode provides both the practical framework and compelling business case for leading with genuine empathy in an increasingly technological world.Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is an author, speaker and leadership coach who has conducted in-depth research into the use of empathy in leadership. She is on a mission to change the world of communication for the good of humanity.Learn more about Melissa and her work on her website, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a textHave you ever considered that your leadership style might be trapped in patterns established when you were five years old? That's just one of the eye-opening perspectives shared by Gary Cohen, managing partner and co-founder of CO2 Partners, in this thought-provoking exploration of compassionate leadership.Gary introduces us to the powerful metaphor of walking the ridgeline – the delicate balance leaders must maintain between excessive ego on one side and debilitating humility on the other. This balance, he argues, is essential for authentic leadership that inspires rather than demands compliance. Through compelling stories and practical insights, Gary illuminates how our earliest experiences with authority shape our leadership approach, creating what he calls a cascade of fear that ripples through organizations.Perhaps most provocatively, Gary challenges conventional leadership wisdom by exposing how permission-seeking and permission-giving dynamics undermine trust and accountability. He shares how true leadership requires breaking these patterns – illustrated perfectly by the story of Mike Harper, who transformed ConAgra from near bankruptcy to a $20 billion company by refusing to give answers when his executives sought permission. Instead, he returned responsibility to them, building a culture of ownership and decision-making confidence.The conversation travels through unexpected territory – from Gary's accidental car theft to the profound impact of authenticity in leadership and how our current social climate influences leadership styles. Throughout, Gary offers practical approaches to measuring psychological safety and building genuine trust within teams.Whether you're leading a large organization, a small team, or simply interested in the psychology of leadership, this episode offers fresh perspectives on creating workplaces built on trust rather than fear. Connect with us on LinkedIn or visit manyachalinski.com to continue the conversation about compassionate leadership.Gary Cohen is an executive coach and leadership management consultant and the Managing Partner and Co-founder of CO2 Partners, LLC. He probes his clients with the only kind of questions that can produce change: unexpected ones. From the client’s answers, he offers not just insights but alternative courses of action. He has yet to meet a client who wants to be ordinary, and he helps them enjoy unusual success by employing unusual approaches. He is also the author of Just Ask Leadership: Why Great Managers Always Ask the Right Questions.You can connect with Gary on LinkedIn.Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a textWhat if the secret to effective leadership wasn't having all the answers, but rather creating space for genuine human connection? In this enlightening conversation with Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, co-founders of the Abbracci Group, we explore the transformative power of compassion in the workplace.The dialogue begins with a fundamental truth: people want to feel cared for, regardless of whether they're at home or at work. Despite this simple reality, many managers struggle to show genuine empathy and vulnerability—often because they've been conditioned to maintain professional distance or believe they must always provide immediate solutions to every problem.As Keri points out, it is hard to fully listen as humans, especially in our hyper-connected, distraction-filled world. Yet this skill becomes increasingly crucial in times of uncertainty. Kelly emphasizes that managers needn't have answers to every question; sometimes their most valuable contribution is simply acknowledging, "I don't know what's going on, but as soon as I have information, I'll share it with you."The conversation navigates the delicate balance between compassion and boundaries. Contrary to popular belief, these concepts aren't opposites—in fact, clear expectations and boundaries are themselves compassionate acts. Without them, managers risk becoming ineffective "besties" rather than leaders who can guide their teams through challenges.Perhaps most compelling is the business case for compassion. When employees don't feel cared for, engagement plummets, discretionary effort disappears, and eventually, customer experience suffers. It might not happen right away, Keri warns, but eventually you will lose customers, clients, and revenue.Through personal stories and practical insights, this episode offers a masterclass in human-centered leadership that acknowledges our shared vulnerability while maintaining the structure necessary for organizational success.Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther are the founders of Abbracci Group, co-authors of  “Whatever the Hell You Want," and hosts of The Breakout podcast.  Dr. Keri Ohlrich has over two decades in HR leadership, and embodies a passion for transforming workplaces into thriving ecosystems. Kelly Guenther brings a holistic approach to people and talent, focusing not only on the organization but also on the individuals who create teams.Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

Send us a textWhat happens when a leader admits they've made a mistake? This vulnerability forms the bedrock of trust in modern organizations. And trust is in critically short supply. The psychological contract between employers and employees has fundamentally fractured, leaving many professionals feeling disposable rather than valued.In this conversation with executive coach Cynthia Pong, we explore how compassionate leadership creates the psychological safety necessary for high-performing teams and the need to invest in measuring and developing compassion as a core competency. We discuss practical metrics for tracking psychological safety (like the number and types of questions team members feel comfortable asking) and examine how organizations can rebuild trust in small, meaningful steps.The stakes couldn't be higher. As Cynthia notes, companies will lose out on A++ talent, who will go to a competitor because the competitor has a better culture. With five generations in today's workplace and values-driven Gen Z employees entering the workforce, compassionate leadership is essential for organizational survival.Cynthia Pong, JD, is an award-winning executive coach and speaker who empowers women of color leaders to advance their careers into positions of power. She is Founder and CEO of Embrace Change, working with a team to provide specialized coaching and training programs for high-performing women of color up to the C-suite. She is the author of the book Don’t Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color.You can learn more about her company on the website or LinkedIn.Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp. Support the show__________ Producer / Editor: Neel PanjiInvite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity.Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor