Relationships at Work - a trust-driven leadership podcast

Part 1 of our 4-part conversation on the Superloop framework.In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher and Susan Leger Ferraro, author of Superloop, unpack how beliefs, biology, and behavior create the framework for everything we do as leaders and employees. Discover how awareness of this loop helps us stop running on autopilot and start shaping better outcomes for ourselves and our workplaces.Hey! If you're enjoying the insights from our guests, you'll love our R@W Notes Newsletter. It’s packed with guest takeaways, the resources that inspire them, and my own tips on how we as leaders can be better humans for the humans the are responsible for. Go to RelationshipsAtWorkShow.com and Subscribe Now and help the workplace be more human.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Governance isn't just paperwork and policy—it shapes how employees are hired, managed, and treated every single day. In this episode of Relationships at Work, host Russel Lolacher sits down with HR leader Dominique Brewer to dig into what HR governance really is, how it connects to the employee experience, and why leadership accountability is essential for it to succeed.From the Workhuman*LIVE event in Colorado, Dominique shares how frameworks and shared accountability can reduce risk, increase fairness, and build trust within teams—and why HR must be embedded in the business, not just sit beside it. From defining governance to navigating perception, communication, and culture, this conversation reframes HR from a department of compliance to a driver of equity and clarity.We explore:Why HR governance is more than “avoiding risk”How to assess whether governance is helping or hurting your cultureWhat good leadership looks like in a structured systemHow employee experience is shaped by policy clarity, or the lack of itWhether you're in HR, leadership, or just trying to understand the systems around you—this episode will give you a new lens on how organizations truly function (or don’t).Hey! If you're enjoying the insights from our guests, you'll love our R@W Notes Newsletter. It’s packed with guest takeaways, the resources that inspire them, and my own tips on how we as leaders can be better humans for the humans the are responsible for. Go to RelationshipsAtWorkShow.com and Subscribe Now and help the workplace be more human.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

This is part 4 of a 4-part conversation on authentic leadership.You can’t fake authenticity — and culture knows when you try. In this episode, author and executive coach Jim Fielding joins to discuss how leaders shape organizational culture through tone, vulnerability, and consistent behavior. As a former executive with teams of thousands at companies like Disney and Claire’s, Jim shares the signals of inauthentic cultures, the role of curiosity in connection, and the daily actions that build psychological safety. His advice? Start listening. Start watching. Culture is built in the small moments — and leaders set the pace.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

This is part 3 of a 4-part conversation on authentic leadership.Team culture begins before day one. In this episode, executive coach, author, and former Disney exec Jim Fielding reveals how authenticity shows up in the hiring process, how to build trust through vulnerability, and why showing up as a fully human leader sets the tone for every team interaction. From performance conversations to “espresso machine culture,” Jim explains what real empowerment looks like — and how to create workplaces where people actually want to belong.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

This is part 2 of a 4-part conversation on authentic leadership.Self-awareness isn’t optional if you want to lead authentically. In this episode, author and executive coach Jim Fielding explores the personal barriers that prevent leaders from showing up as their true selves. From trauma and identity to DISC profiles and 360 reviews, Jim shares the internal tools and honest moments that shaped his leadership journey — and how understanding your own story helps you lead with empathy, clarity, and presence. Jim is an executive coach and the author of All Pride, No Ego: A Queer Executive’s Journey on Living and Leading Authentically.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

This is part 1 of a 4-part conversation on authentic leadership.Authenticity is often used as a leadership buzzword — but what does it actually mean? In this episode, Jim Fielding, executive coach and author of All Pride, No Ego, shares his clear and human-centered definition of authentic leadership. Drawing on his experience as a former executive at Disney, DreamWorks, and Fox, Jim explains how authenticity creates psychological safety, the importance of adapting in “the grey,” and why creating space for people to bring their whole selves is good for business — and culture.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

In this episode of Relationships at Work, we explore how recognition is more than praise — it's a cultural signal that defines values, fosters belonging, and drives performance.Host Russel Lolacher sits down with a workplace recognition expert from Workhuman to dig into:Why generic praise fails to make people feel seenHow meaningful recognition strengthens psychological safetyThe damage of performative or biased recognitionWhy culture is built from everyday moments, not posters on the wallThe global, generational, and leadership nuances in how people want to be recognizedIf you're a leader or HR professional looking to create a culture of trust, recognition may be the most underutilized lever you have.Hey! If you're enjoying the insights from our guests, you'll love our R@W Notes Newsletter. It’s packed with guest takeaways, the resources that inspire them, and my own tips on how we as leaders can be better humans for the humans the are responsible for. Go to RelationshipsAtWorkShow.com and Subscribe Now and help the workplace be more human.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

This is part 4 of a 4-part conversation on the context we need for improving leadership development.If your workplace culture isn’t evolving, your leadership development probably isn’t either. In this Relationships at Work episode, Dr. Rob Lion joins Russel Lolacher to explore how broken systems, poor communication, and lack of psychological safety derail leadership development efforts. They dive into what it takes to manage up, lead across, and build better—without waiting for permission.🔍 You’ll learn:Why leadership development can’t live in silosWhat to do when your culture isn’t ready to support growthHow communication habits shape trust and cultureWhen to stay—and when to walk awayAnd connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

This is part 3 of a 4-part conversation on the context we need for improving leadership development.Great leadership development isn’t done in isolation—it’s done with the team. In this Relationships at Work episode, Dr. Rob Lion explains how leaders can use trust, vulnerability, and shared growth to develop themselves and those around them. Russel Lolacher explores how team engagement and development can be intentional, relational, and central to leadership success.🔍 You’ll learn:How to integrate development into 1:1s and team meetingsWhy vulnerability is key to real engagementHow to grow trust through shared learningWhy leadership development should build your team, not just yourselfAnd connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

This is part 2 of a 4-part conversation on the context we need for improving leadership development.You can’t develop as a leader if you don’t understand yourself. In this Relationships at Work episode, Dr. Rob Lion digs into the internal foundation of leadership development—mindset, identity, motivation, and the courage to seek help. With Russel Lolacher, he explores why self-awareness is non-negotiable and how leaders can stop outsourcing responsibility and start owning their growth.🔍 You’ll learn:Why mindset is the foundation of leadership developmentThe difference between motivation and driveWhat coaching (not outsourcing) looks likeHow identity and values shape how we leadAnd connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime