People Don't Want A Boss. They Want A Leader Who Gives A Damn

You Can't Lead Others Until You Lead Yourself

Most leaders think their biggest challenge is managing other people. Tinna Jackson believes it's managing themselves. In this powerful episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, Gino Degregori sits down with executive coach, bestselling author, and former U.S. Senate Deputy Chief of Staff Tinna Jackson to explore why self-awareness may be the foundation of every great leader. After a decade inside the U.S. Senate, Tinna learned a difficult lesson: The behaviors that limit our leadership are often the ones we can't see. Together, Gino and Tinna explore: • Why leadership begins with self-awareness • How childhood experiences shape the way we lead • The connection between ego, power, and influence • Why influence matters more than authority • How unexamined blind spots create chaos inside teams • Why asking for help is a leadership strength • The role of mentorship, feedback, and personal growth • How leaders can build stronger relationships through trust and authenticity This conversation goes far beyond leadership development. It's about having the courage to understand yourself before trying to lead anyone else. Because the hardest person you'll ever lead is yourself. Connect with Tinna Jackson: * Website: tinnajackson.com [https://tinnajackson.com] * LinkedIn: E. Tinna Jackson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinna-jackson/] * Instagram: @iamtinnajackson [https://www.instagram.com/iamtinnajackson/] * Youtube: Tinna Jackson [https://www.youtube.com/@tinnajackson] Resources Mentioned: * The Power Play Journal [https://thepowerplayjournal.com] by Tinna Jackson Connect with The Kind Leader Podcast: * Website: konect.to/thekindleaderpodcast [https://konect.to/thekindleaderpodcast] * YouTube: Kind Leader Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@KindLeaderPodcast] * Apple Podcasts: The Kind Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kind-leader/id1721837974] * Spotify: The Kind Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kind-leader/id1721837974] * Email: thekindleader@bravocg.com [thekindleader@bravocg.com] Chapters * 0:00 Why Power and Kindness Belong Together * 1:51 From the U.S. Senate to Self-Aware Leadership * 2:46 What Kind Leadership Really Requires * 4:04 The Leader Who Made Everyone Feel Seen * 5:41 Why Workplace Empathy Can't Be Optional Anymore * 10:13 The Chaos Leaders Create Without Self-Awareness * 13:09 How Childhood Triggers Follow Us Into Work * 17:35 Power Isn't the Problem. Ego Is. * 23:07 How Anyone Can Build Influence Without a Title * 27:10 The Feedback That Changed Tinna's Leadership * 34:34 Flip the Mic: Staying Kind When You're Burned Out * 38:41 Rapid Fire Questions * 43:09 Give Yourself Grace and Ask for Support

The 4 Habits That Feel Like Kindness, But Aren't

In the first solo episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, Gino shares one of the hardest leadership lessons he's learned: The things that make us feel like kind leaders aren't always kind at all. Avoiding hard conversations. Keeping the peace. Protecting people from discomfort. They may feel caring in the moment. But over time, they quietly erode trust, weaken teams, and create distance. Through a personal story and practical reflection, Gino explores: • Why kindness without accountability creates chaos • The difference between being nice and being kind • The four "near enemies" of kind leadership • Why avoiding hard conversations becomes a disservice • The hidden cost of conflict avoidance and toxic positivity • Three questions you can use this week to lead with more clarity and care This conversation goes far beyond leadership advice. It's about recognizing the habits that feel right in the moment but quietly create damage over time. Because great leadership isn't avoiding hard conversations. It's caring enough to have them. Connect with The Kind Leader Podcast: * Website: www.konect.to/thekindleaderpodcast [https://konect.to/thekindleaderpodcast] * YouTube: Kind Leader Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@KindLeaderPodcast] * Apple Podcasts: The Kind Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kind-leader/id1721837974] * Spotify: The Kind Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kind-leader/id1721837974] * Email: thekindleader@bravocg.com [thekindleader@bravocg.com] Chapters * 0:00 Why Most Leaders Get Kindness Wrong * 2:25 Kindness Without Accountability Creates Chaos * 4:07 The Hard Conversation I Avoided for Too Long * 7:01 The 4 Habits That Feel Like Kindness, But Aren't * 9:12 Three Questions Every Leader Should Ask This Week * 11:25 The CARES Framework: What's Coming Next

People Don't Want A Boss. They Want A Leader Who Gives A Damn

People don't want a boss. They want a leader who gives a damn. In this powerful episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, Gino Degregori sits down with leadership advisor and Root & Regard founder Marion Kennedy to explore why great leaders don't choose between head and heart. They learn to lead with both. After decades leading teams in some of the most mission-intensive environments inside the intelligence community, Marion learned something many organizations still get wrong: High performance without humanity doesn't create stronger teams. It quietly creates disconnection. Together, Gino and Marion explore: * What "giving a damn leadership" really means * Why leaders should stop choosing between head and heart * The connection between self-awareness and leadership * Why people are not transactions or data points * The hidden cost of leadership focused only on numbers * How trust and belonging shape culture * Why employees want to feel seen, heard, and valued This conversation goes far beyond leadership frameworks. It's about what happens when people stop feeling like metrics and start feeling like they matter. Because great leadership isn't choosing between performance and people. It's learning to lead with both, without sacrificing either. Connect with Marion Kennedy: * LinkedIn: Marion Kennedy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennedymc/] * Root & Regard: rootandregard.com [https://rootandregard.com] * Email: marion@rootandregard.com [marion@rootandregard.com] Resources Mentioned: * The Only Leaders Worth Following [https://a.co/d/029GeHnJ] by Tim Spiker Connect with The Kind Leader Podcast: * Website: www.konect.to/thekindleaderpodcast [https://konect.to/thekindleaderpodcast] * YouTube: Kind Leader Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@KindLeaderPodcast] * Apple Podcasts: The Kind Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kind-leader/id1721837974] * Spotify: The Kind Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kind-leader/id1721837974] * Email: thekindleader@bravocg.com [thekindleader@bravocg.com] Chapters * 00:00 Introduction & Why Leaders Should Stop Choosing Between Head and Heart * 01:38 Marion Kennedy's Leadership Journey * 03:29 What "Giving A Damn Leadership" Really Means * 04:13 The Mentor Who Shaped Marion's Leadership Style * 07:56 Root & Regard: The Framework Behind Better Leadership * 10:29 Why Great Leaders Must Understand Themselves First * 13:34 Why Leaders Should Stop Putting People In Boxes * 15:29 Leading In High-Pressure, Mission-Critical Environments * 18:40 Head vs Heart: Why Great Leaders Need Both * 22:15 Leading With Humanity In High-Stakes Organizations * 25:06 How To Build Culture With Distributed Teams * 27:04 The "Be Accessible" Leadership Principle * 29:16 Why One-on-One Conversations Matter * 31:02 Building Trust Through Small Moments * 32:28 Why Employee Experience Shapes Your Brand * 34:38 Flip The Mic: Marion Asks Gino About The Future Of Leadership * 35:12 Gino's Vision: Generational Impact Through Leadership * 37:03 Rapid Fire Questions * 38:21 Leadership Book Recommendation * 39:49 Marion's Personal Mantra & Reflection Questions * 40:42 The Leadership Message Marion Wants You To Remember * 41:29 Connect With Marion & Closing Thoughts

The Biggest Lie In Cybersecurity: "People Are The Weakest Link"

What if the biggest risk inside your organization isn't technology… but fear? In this powerful episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, Gino Degregori sits down with cybersecurity executive, TEDx speaker, advisor to Duke University's executive cybersecurity program, and director of cybersecurity policy for the Panamanian Banking Association, Juan Carlos Paris. For decades, the cybersecurity industry has labeled people as "the weakest link." But Juan Carlos believes that mindset may be one of the greatest strategic mistakes organizations continue to make. After decades leading cybersecurity in the banking industry, Juan Carlos explains why fear-based leadership quietly destroys trust, communication, and culture, while cybercriminals continue exploiting human psychology better than most companies do. Together, Gino and Juan Carlos explore: • Why fear creates silence inside organizations • How trust transforms people into defenders • Why kindness and accountability can coexist • The hidden dangers of fear-based leadership • How cybercriminals exploit human behavior and emotion • The Three Cs framework: Consciousness, Commitment, and Culture • How AI is creating hyper-personalized attacks • Why people are not the weakest link This conversation goes far beyond cybersecurity. It's about the kind of culture leaders create. The kind of trust people feel. And the kind of impact leadership leaves behind. Connect with Juan Carlos Paris: * LinkedIn: Juan Carlos Paris Balleza [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcparisb/] * Instagram: @CoachInnovativo [https://www.instagram.com/coachinnovativo/] * Website: www.deusuariosadefensores.com [https://www.deusuariosadefensores.com] Connect with The Kind Leader Podcast: * Website: www.konect.to/thekindleaderpodcast [https://konect.to/thekindleaderpodcast] * YouTube: Kind Leader Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@KindLeaderPodcast] * Apple Podcasts: The Kind Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kind-leader/id1721837974] * Spotify: The Kind Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kind-leader/id1721837974]

What If Profit and Purpose Weren't Opposites? Rethinking Leadership, Capital, and Impact with Jenna Nicholas

What if the most profitable businesses were also the most conscious? In this thought-provoking episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with Jenna Nicholas, President of Lightpost Capital, Co-Founder & CEO of Impact Experience, and Forbes 30 Under 30 social entrepreneur, to explore the intersection of spirituality, investing, and leadership. Jenna has helped mobilize over $50 billion in capital away from fossil fuels toward more sustainable and purpose-driven investments. But her work goes far beyond finance. In her book Enlightened Bottom Line, Jenna introduces a framework that challenges how we define success in business: HEAL - Hope, Empathy, Abundance, and Legacy. This conversation explores what it really means to bring these principles into spaces where they're often left unspoken, from boardrooms to investment decisions to high-stakes leadership moments. Through real-world examples, from rethinking how we engage with others to bridging divides between investors and communities, Jenna shows how empathy and connection can unlock better outcomes for everyone involved. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why spirituality belongs in business and investing • The HEAL framework, and how to apply it • How empathy becomes a strategic advantage in high-stakes decisions • Why honest feedback is one of the kindest things a leader can do • How to bridge divides between capital, communities, and perspectives • Why legacy thinking reshapes how leaders build and operate This conversation is a powerful reminder: Leadership isn't just about what you build, it's about what you stand for. 🎧 Listen now to explore how purpose, empathy, and conscious leadership can transform the way you lead, invest, and create impact. 5 Key Takeaways 1. Kind Leadership Is a Discipline, Not a Soft Skill Kindness in leadership isn't about being agreeable, it's about consistently putting people at the center of decisions. It requires intention, presence, and the discipline to lead with both heart and clarity. 2. Profit and Purpose Can, and Should, Coexist The idea that financial success and positive impact are in conflict is outdated. Leaders who align capital with values unlock more sustainable, meaningful, and long-term outcomes. 3. The HEAL Framework Redefines Success Hope, Empathy, Abundance, and Legacy aren't abstract ideals, they are practical lenses for decision-making. When applied consistently, they shape stronger cultures, better investments, and more human organizations. 4. Empathy Creates Better Decisions, Not Just Better Relationships Seeing others as interconnected, not transactional, changes everything. From boardrooms to communities, empathy enables deeper understanding, stronger collaboration, and more effective outcomes. 5. Legacy Thinking Expands Leadership Beyond the Short Term When leaders shift from short-term gains to long-term impact, their decisions change. Thinking about what you leave behind, rather than just what you achieve, transforms how you lead and build. Resources & Additional Information Connect with Jenna NicholasLearn more about Jenna's work at the intersection of conscious leadership, investing, and impact: Website: www.jenna-nicholas.com [https://www.jenna-nicholas.com] LinkedIn: Jenna Anita Nicholas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennanicholas/] Substack: @JennaNicholas2 [https://substack.com/@jennanicholas2] Instagram: @jennanicholas1 [https://www.instagram.com/jennanicholas1/] Organizations & Work Lightpost Capital [https://www.lightpostcapital.com] A mission-driven investment and acquisition firm, focused on partnering with visionary companies to support long-term growth while strengthening culture, systems, and positive impact. Impact Experience [https://www.impact-experience.com] A community and leadership platform designed to bridge investors, entrepreneurs, and overlooked communities through empathy, dialogue, and shared human connection. Books Enlightened Bottom Line: Exploring the Intersection of Spirituality, Business, and Investing by Jenna Nicholas [https://a.co/d/0eYNZ3YG] A thought-provoking exploration of how business and investing can be guided by purpose, integrity, and compassion. Through real stories, practical frameworks, and spiritual insight, Jenna reimagines success as something deeper than profit—showing how leadership, capital, and impact can become vehicles for healing, meaning, and long-term change. Leadership ReflectionBased on Jenna's HEAL Framework: • Which area am I neglecting most right now: Hope, Empathy, Abundance, or Legacy? • How might my leadership change if I intentionally strengthened that area this week? Chapters 00:00 What Enlightened Leadership Really Means 00:35 Bringing Spirituality Into Business and Investing 03:38 Defining Kind Leadership Through Human Dignity 06:36 Practicing Empathy and Loving Kindness in Leadership 09:21 The Uncomfortable Side of Kind Leadership 12:40 The HEAL Framework: Hope, Empathy, Abundance & Legacy 15:23 Legacy Thinking and Long-Term Impact 25:04 Why Hope and Empathy Matter More Than Ever 26:27 Rethinking Legacy and Leadership 27:34 Connecting the HEAL and CARES Frameworks 29:46 Building Bridges Between Capital and Community 31:42 Empathy, Business, and Human Fulfillment 33:42 Why Spirituality Belongs in Leadership 37:01 Personal Spirituality, Meditation, and Self-Awareness 39:13 Living with Abundance and Gratitude 41:10 Unexpected Books, Reflection, and Growth 42:16 Purpose Beyond Profit 42:37 Taking the First Step Toward Change