Ep 16: Bringing Levity to Leadership: How Humor and Heartset Build Stronger Teams w/Stefano Iaboni

Ep 16: Bringing Levity to Leadership: How Humor and Heartset Build Stronger Teams w/Stefano Iaboni

CAN YOU LEAD WITH LAUGHTER? UNLOCKING THE POWER OF LEVITY AND CONNECTION AT WORK Show notes can be found here: http://heartsetstudio.com/podcast [http://heartsetstudio.com/podcast]  What if the secret to stronger teams, deeper connection, and unforgettable leadership wasn't just in strategies or spreadsheets—but in a good laugh? “The closest thing for  Join Lisa Virtue on the HEARTset Studio Leadership Podcast as she sits down with international keynote speaker, team-building facilitator, and comedic performer Stefano Iaboni, founder of Smile Solution LLC, to uncover the transformative impact of humor and heart in the modern workplace. In this episode, you’ll find: * Why levity in leadership matters: Discover how laughter can foster psychological safety, boost morale, and improve team performance—especially in high-pressure, fast-changing environments. * Real-world stories & actionable tips: Hear how Stefano Iaboni’s global comedy background translates into practical strategies for bonding teams, igniting creativity, and even landing your next job interview. * How to create psychological safety: Learn simple, effective icebreakers and authentic self-disclosure techniques that make meetings and team-building sessions truly engaging—not awkward or forced. * Navigating humor’s delicate side: Understand the difference between inclusive, self-aware fun and the pitfalls of sarcasm or inappropriate jokes that erode trust. * The leader’s challenge: How to show vulnerability, embrace mistakes, and create an environment where everyone feels empowered to share ideas—even the “ridiculous” ones that just might be brilliant. If you’re a leader struggling to balance results with retention, or an HR professional searching for practical ways to strengthen workplace culture, this episode delivers what you need: * Expert insights on why modern teams thrive with laughter and how authenticity is your leadership superpower. * Immediately actionable methods—from icebreakers to gamification—for making meetings and workplace interactions more human, memorable, and effective. * The neuroscience behind humor: Find out how laughter creates real neurochemical shifts, making work a place people want to be, not just have to be. Key topics and search intent for today’s leaders: * How to build team trust with humor * Creating psychological safety for innovation * Team icebreakers that actually work * Inclusive leadership and the power of self-deprecating stories * Leveraging workplace levity for better engagement and retention * Overcoming the fear of “not being funny” as a leader Whether you’re leading a remote team, navigating rapid organizational change, or simply want to bring more joy into your company, this episode will inspire you to infuse your leadership with laughter—and see real results. Ready to start leading with heart, humor, and humanity? Press play and step into the art (and science) of memorable, meaningful leadership. Want to level up your own or your organization’s leadership heartset? Visit http://heartsetstudio.com [http://heartsetstudio.com].

Ep 15: Burnout, Bore Out, and Belonging: How to Keep Your Team Engaged w/Jasmine Fitzpatrick

HOW CAN HEARTFELT LEADERSHIP TRANSFORM GLOBAL TEAMS IN THE AGE OF AI, BURNOUT, AND UNCERTAINTY? For full show notes, visit: http://heartsetstudio.com/podcast [http://heartsetstudio.com/podcast] Dive into an eye-opening conversation between Lisa Virtue and global learning leader Jasmine Fitzpatrick on this HEARTset Studio Leadership Podcast episode, where the focus is on actionable heart-centered leadership in a fast-changing world. Are you a leader seeking to build resilient, inclusive, and high-performing teams, while navigating the complexities of AI, burnout, remote work, and diversity? This episode delivers powerful insights and real-world strategies to help you empower your people and thrive in the face of uncertainty. Key Topics and Takeaways: * Leading with Heart Across Borders: Jasmine Fitzpatrick shares her journey from Google Dublin to leading global learning at FIFA—and now as the founder of Impact Mission, supporting nonprofits and individuals through coaching and training. Her unique perspective on scaling diversity and inclusion programs, like Google's Precise Language, underscores the power and challenges of building cultures of belonging in multinational environments. * Battling Burnout, Boreout & Change Fatigue: Discover why burnout isn’t just about overwork—but also about values misalignment and lack of meaningful impact. Jasmine Fitzpatrick introduces the concept of “boreout” and details how she’s helping organizations address burnout by embedding well-being and work-life balance practices, such as Google’s “One Simple Thing” initiative, into team culture. * The Leadership Power of Psychological Safety: Drawing on Google’s Project Aristotle and her own experience, Jasmine Fitzpatrick and Lisa Virtue discuss how vulnerability and psychological safety drive true team performance, innovation, and longevity. * AI, Upskilling, and Women in Tech: Explore the fears and realities facing leaders as AI reshapes the workplace. Hear how Jasmine Fitzpatrick is championing women in AI through grassroots community-building in Switzerland, while combatting “technological burnout” and the increasing need for in-person connection and critical thinking as technological demands accelerate. * Career and Coaching Wisdom for Modern Leaders: Whether you’re job-seeking or leading, get practical advice on aligning your work with your core values, building resilience, and designing environments where people can truly thrive—inclusive of specific resources like the 80,000 Hours nonprofit career board for purpose-driven opportunities. * Creating Boundary-Respecting Cultures: The episode tackles the hard realities of “schedule creep,” overwork, and the vital importance of leaders modeling and enabling healthy boundaries. Hear candid stories from Jasmine Fitzpatrick and Lisa Virtue on how powerful permission and clarity from leaders foster not just productivity, but sustainability and loyalty. Who Should Listen? * Leaders and people managers at any level navigating remote, hybrid, or global teams * HR, L&D, and DEI professionals looking for actionable strategies to reduce burnout and foster engagement * Aspiring and current women in tech and those interested in the human impact of AI * Coaches, career seekers, and those interested in purpose-driven work You will walk away with: * Concrete ideas for building connection and trust across your teams * Candid frameworks for addressing burnout and technological overwhelm * New inspiration to lead with heart Leadership is human. Start building your HEARTset today.

Ep 14: Leading With Heart: Ethical Influence and Building High-Performing Teams w/Dan Rochon

ARE YOU READY TO TRANSFORM YOUR LEADERSHIP BY BLENDING HEART, LOGIC, AND RESULTS-DRIVEN ETHICAL INFLUENCE? Check out the show notes here: http://heartsetleadership.com/podcast [http://heartsetleadership.com/podcast] In this episode of the HEARTset Studio Leadership Podcast, host Lisa Virtue sits down with Dan Rochon, author of Teach to Sell: Why Top Salespeople Never Sell—and What They Do Instead, to crack open the secrets of authentic, ethical influence for today’s leaders. Drawing from his journey from high-end steakhouse waiter coping with addiction to respected real estate entrepreneur and sales mentor, Dan Rochon reveals how leaders can create consistent, predictable success—while staying connected to their hearts. KEY EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * Heartset vs. Mindset for Leaders: Understand why “all-in” leaders often risk burnout, and how to tap into both empathy and action for sustainable impact. * The True Meaning of Ethical Influence: Distinguish between genuine persuasion and manipulation. Discover why putting others first creates results—and lasting trust.. * Self-Influence and Awareness Practices: Learn Dan Rochon’s practical framework rooted in neuroscience, psychology, and NLP—plus a powerful daily hack to reset your mindset for peak performance. * The 3-Step CPI Communication Model: Unlock the step-by-step process to master rapport, ask adept questions, and actively listen—transforming your team dynamics and sales interactions.. * Coaching Your Team to Influence: Why the best leaders train their teams to be listeners, not talkers, and how that translates to real-world sales and internal growth. * Practical Approaches for Marketplace Influence: Gain actionable advice for founders, solopreneurs, and business owners to pinpoint their “first domino,” achieve product-market fit, and scale authentically. * The Six Core Priorities for Leadership: Discover the essential activities every leader must master—recruiting, selecting, training, leading, motivating, and managing the money—to create high-performance, purpose-driven organizations. * Leveraging AI for Human-First Leadership: Explore how delegating routine tasks to AI frees up space for leaders and teams to focus on relationship-building and human connection in the workplace. Whether you’re a founder searching for ethical sales frameworks, a corporate leader looking to inspire your team, or an organizational coach wanting practical, neuroscience-backed leadership tools, this episode is packed with hands-on strategies and mindset shifts. Explore how to move from inconsistency to confidence, and from self-doubt to being a heart-centered leader who motivates results. ---------------------------------------- Perfect for searches like: * how to lead with heart and logic * ethical leadership vs. manipulation * consistent sales frameworks for founders * how to influence teams authentically * communication skills for leaders * actionable leadership podcast * best leader podcasts 2026 Unlock new confidence and create meaningful, sustainable impact—starting from the inside out. Listen now and discover your blueprint for HEARTset leadership.

Ep 13: From a Leader’s Internal Work to the Power of the F Word - Feedback w/Stevie Rabinowitz

ARE YOU LEADING WITH AUTHENTICITY, OPENNESS, AND TRUE ENGAGEMENT? What does it really take to thrive as a leader through every chapter of your career? In this episode of the HEARTset Studio Leadership Podcast, executive coach and organizational strategist Stevie Rabinowitz of Lotus Leadership reveals the essential inner work that sets effective leaders apart—at every stage, from emerging talent to seasoned executives. Stevie Rabinowitz, with over 20 years leading learning and organizational development for top companies in the Bay Area, shares how self-reflection, curiosity, and intentional feedback transform not just individual performance, but team culture and engagement. Whether you're navigating your first leadership role or facing new challenges as a veteran leader, this insightful conversation breaks down the skills and mindset required to lead with heart and resilience. KEY TOPICS EXPLORED: * Authentic Leadership: Discover why self-awareness and embracing your full self—strengths, vulnerabilities, and evolving priorities—are non-negotiable for modern leaders. * The Power of Openness: Learn why both emerging and transitioning leaders must remain open to growth, feedback, and even discomfort, and how that openness leads to breakthroughs across your leadership journey 05:50. * Feedback vs. Data: Unpack why “feedback” can be the most intimidating F-word in leadership and how reframing it as actionable data ensures conversations become growth opportunities rather than threats 09:10. * Transparency and Trust: Gain practical tips on navigating confidential information, deciding what (and when) to share, and understanding the critical relationship between leader transparency and team trust 19:04. * Curiosity in Coaching: Hear how asking the right questions and creating space for “stay interviews” can unlock hidden potential on your teams, foster retention, and reveal what drives your people to excel 28:01. * Navigating Life’s Inflection Points: Insights into how personal milestones—like becoming a parent or facing career transitions—reshape your leadership style and call for new self-examination and clarity. Stevie offers actionable frameworks like the SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact) model for feedback and emphasizes the game-changing value of regular engagement conversations, slowing down to speed up team cohesion and performance 31:21. PERFECT FOR LEADERS WHO WANT TO: * Develop greater presence and influence, whatever their current career stage * Transform difficult feedback into empowering growth conversations * Foster deeper engagement and retention on their teams * Refine their leadership style as they navigate personal and professional transitions * Build lasting trust and transparency in fast-changing organizations If you’re a leader, manager, or HR professional seeking real strategies to grow yourself and your teams—not just for today’s challenges, but for whatever’s next—this episode is packed with practical wisdom and inspiration you can implement immediately. Listen now to recharge your leadership with heart, skill, and authenticity!

Ep 12: Building Trust and Psychological Safety in Teams w/Workplace Therapist Brandon Smith

Are You Leading with HEART — Or Just Hustling to Keep Up? In a world where time is everyone's biggest adversary and leadership demands are rocketing, how do you actually inspire, empower, and transform your team without burning out or losing your own sense of fulfillment? On this episode of the HEARTset Studio Leadership Podcast, Lisa Virtue sits down with Brandon Smith—better known as “The Workplace Therapist,” best-selling author, executive coach, and renowned advocate for eliminating workplace dysfunction. With a unique blend of clinical therapy and MBA insights, Brandon Smith has dedicated his career to making work healthier and more human, helping leaders balance growth, accountability, and compassion in an era where old approaches just aren’t enough. KEY TAKEAWAYS: * The Real Productivity Hack: Why time is every leader’s main obstacle—and how intention + clarity = high-performing, energized teams. * Compassion vs. Accountability: How to hold high standards while also championing psychological safety and real connection at work. * Author vs. Editor Leadership: Are you empowering your people to solve problems, or stuck doing the work for them? Learn when to author and when to edit, and why letting go is the real secret to scaling teams. * Actionable Feedback Loops: Why one-on-one meetings and clear feedback aren’t “nice-to-haves,” but mission-critical for morale, alignment, and results. * Building Trust as a Skill: The mathematical “trust equation” leaders need—authenticity, vulnerability, and credibility—and how balancing them drives performance and loyalty. * Creating Psychological Safety: Real-world stories and frameworks for leaders to become more transparent, set boundaries, and bring just enough personal touch to humanize themselves and nurture their teams. Brandon Smith shares memorable stories from the front lines of executive coaching—including helping a CFO stuck on positive feedback, transforming a team’s engagement by simply honoring meetings, and revealing how even the highest paid leaders sabotage themselves by refusing to delegate or trust. This episode isn’t just theory: it’s packed with practical frameworks every people manager needs now, from running better one-on-ones to self-assessing your own leadership authenticity and setting boundaries in a world without them. Discover why balancing authority with empathy isn’t just possible, but absolutely necessary for thriving in today’s organizations. SEARCHABLE LEADERSHIP SOLUTIONS YOU’LL FIND: * How to eliminate workplace dysfunction as a leader * The best techniques to build trust and psychological safety in teams * Coaching vs. therapy in leadership development * Tools for holding people accountable with compassion * Best questions for 1:1 meetings and actionable feedback * Author vs. editor model of leadership explained * How to assess and develop vulnerability and authenticity as a leader * Why your calendar reveals your leadership priorities (and how to fix it) * Effective use of 360 reviews and feedback in leadership Whether you’re a seasoned executive, emerging manager, or passionate team lead, this episode delivers immediate, actionable insights from one of today’s top leadership experts. Don’t just manage the whirlwind — learn how to lead from the heart and create the thriving, productive, and human-centered workplace you and your team deserve. Subscribe now and transform the way you lead, one episode at a time.