Your Brain at Work
Neuroleadership Institute
In organizations around the world, leaders are facing a deluge of urgent issues: a crisis in employee engagement, the need to make workforces more diverse, and the challenge of making workplaces feel human in an era of increasing dependence on technology and remote communication.
At the NeuroLeadership Institute, we believe brain science can help provide solutions. Join us on Your Brain At Work, the official podcast of the NeuroLeadership Institute — where top researchers and thought leaders share breakthroughs in brain science and industry leaders reveal the strategies behind their success.
By helping them understand how the brain works, we equip leaders with the tools to transform their organizations — building new habits and changing how people work, communicate, and make decisions. Combining research and practice, brain science and business leadership, Your Brain at Work explores how insights from the lab can provide solutions that work across industries and at any scale.
Season 1 guests include broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien; Dean Carter, Director of Human Resources, Finance, Legal, Shared Services at Patagonia; Deb Bubb, Vice President of Learning and Inclusion at IBM; and FD Wilder, Senior Vice President of Go-To-Market Strategy and Innovation at Procter & Gamble.
Your Brain At Work. Helping make organizations more human.
At the NeuroLeadership Institute, we believe brain science can help provide solutions. Join us on Your Brain At Work, the official podcast of the NeuroLeadership Institute — where top researchers and thought leaders share breakthroughs in brain science and industry leaders reveal the strategies behind their success.
By helping them understand how the brain works, we equip leaders with the tools to transform their organizations — building new habits and changing how people work, communicate, and make decisions. Combining research and practice, brain science and business leadership, Your Brain at Work explores how insights from the lab can provide solutions that work across industries and at any scale.
Season 1 guests include broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien; Dean Carter, Director of Human Resources, Finance, Legal, Shared Services at Patagonia; Deb Bubb, Vice President of Learning and Inclusion at IBM; and FD Wilder, Senior Vice President of Go-To-Market Strategy and Innovation at Procter & Gamble.
Your Brain At Work. Helping make organizations more human.
Episodes
Mentioned books
11 snips
Jun 27, 2025 • 55min
The Future of Leadership AI: An Ecosystem of Coherent Insights
Explore the future of leadership with AI designed to provide coherent insights for smarter decision-making. Discover how personalized 'neuro-intelligent nudges' can help leaders navigate challenges before they arise. The conversation dives into the delicate balance of coherence and diversity, essential for driving innovation. Gain insights into the Niles system, which fuses neuroscience with AI to enhance organizational intelligence and communication. Tune in for a vision of leadership that embraces both technology and personal cognition!
Jun 20, 2025 • 49min
How NILES Can Make Leaders Smarter
Today’s leaders are constantly trying to keep up with the complexity of the organizational landscape, all while making smarter decisions and driving their teams towards innovation. Join us for the next edition of "Your Brain at Work Live," where Dr. Emma Sarro discusses how NILES, the NeuroLeadership Institute's AI leadership coach, is set to revolutionize how leaders face each of these challenges.
Most AI chatbots are designed to spit out answers like a simple search engine, which research shows only dulls our thinking. NILES is designed to generate moments of insight, sparking motivation to act, creativity and growth.
In this session, you’ll discover the scientific foundation of NILES and how it can guide leaders to tap into their innate creativity, facilitating moments of insight that lead to transformative solutions. Drs. Rock and Sarro will discuss the science behind insight generation, pulled from over twenty years of coaching experience and peer-reviewed research. They’ll share how NILES is already driving leaders to insight in every conversation, increasing their critical thinking, creative problem solving, and strengthening their EQ.
Don't miss this opportunity to discover how NILES can be your partner in achieving smarter, more effective leadership.
7 snips
Jun 13, 2025 • 52min
The Real Science of Habits
In this episode of Your Brain at Work, we unlock the secrets to embedding effective and resilient habits. In today’s environment of accelerating change and overwhelming demands, building strong habits – those that become default under pressure – is more crucial than ever. Organizations need strategies that work quickly and scale easily, and are more helpful than telling people to rely on repetition.
For over 25 years, NLI has been embedding habits quickly and at scale in organizations, transforming cultures in the process. Whether you're looking to build your own new habits or lead your team through transformative change, we’ll cover the strategies and key insights that help you succeed. Discover how to leverage the power of neuroscience to create lasting, impactful habits that support your goals and withstand the pressures of modern life.
In this session, Drs. David Rock and Emma Sarro, will explore the latest neuroscience research on why the right habits are so important to build and how to do it in a way that sticks.
6 snips
Jun 6, 2025 • 57min
Meet Coach NILES: A Next Generation Approach to Coaching Through AI
Rachel Cardero, VP at the Neuroleadership Institute, dives into the world of NILES, a cutting-edge AI designed to enhance leadership. The discussion highlights how NILES provides tailored, real-time support to address the pressures leaders face. They explore NILES' unique ability to enhance decision-making and stress management while improving team dynamics. Additionally, the duo discusses the revolutionary potential of neurointelligence and its application in creating impactful coaching experiences that adapt to individual needs.
May 30, 2025 • 54min
Trends in Leadership Now: How to Keep Inspiring Great Work Amidst Challenges
The discussion dives into the challenges leaders face amid rapid AI advancements and evolving global conditions. Concepts like VUCA and BANI help frame the unpredictable landscape. Key skills for leaders include fostering a growth mindset and creating psychological safety within teams. The importance of open feedback and accountability is emphasized, along with the role of innovation in leadership. Exciting developments in AI tailored for leadership roles highlight the future of team dynamics and performance.
May 16, 2025 • 55min
The Stuff of Thought: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI
David Rock, co-founder of the NeuroLeadership Institute and author, joins to discuss AI's influence on critical thinking. He reveals how AI can assist with tasks yet cautions against over-reliance, which may hinder cognitive development. The duo explores the balance of utilizing AI as a collaborative tool while preserving human creativity and judgment. They offer strategies for enhancing decision-making and suggest how AI systems like Niles can empower us, spotlighting the importance of active engagement and critical thinking in this evolving landscape.
61 snips
May 9, 2025 • 55min
From Mandatory to Compelling: The Science of Filling the Room
David Rock, co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute and pioneer in neuroleadership, joins to explore how to transform mandatory participation into compelling engagement. He shares insights on the drawbacks of enforced attendance, emphasizing autonomy's role in post-pandemic work. Rock discusses the importance of aligning learning with personal goals to boost motivation and introduces innovative tools like AI coaching for enhancing participation. This engaging conversation redefines how organizations can inspire genuine involvement and insight.
May 2, 2025 • 60min
The Neuroscience of Cognitive Bias
Explore the complex world of cognitive biases and their impact on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in the workplace. Discover how these mental shortcuts can lead to poor decision-making and hinder organizational growth. Learn about the SEEDS model, which offers a collaborative framework to tackle biases effectively. Uncover the ties between procrastination, forecasting, and emotional predictions through relatable examples. By understanding brain limitations and biases, organizations can foster innovation and improve outcomes for all.
Apr 25, 2025 • 54min
The Neuroscience of Psychological Safety
Brigid Lynn, Director of Research Design at the NeuroLeadership Institute, delves into the critical role of psychological safety in organizational success. She explains how an environment that fosters open expression enhances collaboration and innovation. The discussion highlights the consequences of lacking psychological safety and introduces strategies for cultivating a growth mindset among teams. Brigid also emphasizes the importance of healthy debates and positive friction in spurring creativity, tackling challenges, and navigating discomfort for better team dynamics.
Apr 18, 2025 • 60min
Leadership Now: Leading Through Uncertainty and Change
During times of intense uncertainty and change, leaders are often called upon to navigate their team through challenges, provide clarity in the face of ambiguity, and make critical decisions under pressure. In the midst of the chaos, leadership development may be deprioritized, when in fact it is more important than ever. Skilled, well-equipped leaders can ignite their teams' performance and foster organizational grit and resilience.
What are the key skills that leaders need to mobilize their teams when facing change? How can we provide leaders with the right tools to develop those necessary skills? And how can we get leaders to engage in the learning – one of the central challenges for HR and talent functions? The NeuroLeadership Institute has developed and refined a neuroscience-based leadership development program that has proven effective in increasing engagement and learning. Join Matt Summers, NLI’s Global Head of Leadership and Culture, and Dr. Emma Sarro, Senior Director of Research, to explore the fundamentals of leadership development, the key skills needed to handle uncertainty and change, and the various ways this learning can be scaled and delivered.
