Can conflict actually make your team stronger?

In this episode of How to Make a Leader, communication expert and Harvard Business Review podcast host Amy Gallo discusses the communication dynamics that shape high-performing professionals and teams.

Amy shares strategies to build trust, improve collaboration, and ensure that even the toughest conversations lead to progress. Whether you’re a team leader, an aspiring manager, or someone navigating complex work relationships, this episode is packed with insights to strengthen your communication skills and leadership approach.

You’ll learn:

• How high performing teams disagree respectfully and collaboratively
• How to approach difficult conversations in the workplace
• Strategies to improve communication across remote, hybrid, and in-person teams
• The leadership mindset shift that drives long-term success

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introducing Amy Gallo
(01:39) Building trust quickly to enhance workplace communication
(04:57) Three key principles for navigating workplace conflict
(09:34) How remote and hybrid work impact workplace communication
(13:31) Strategies to prevent miscommunication in digital environments
(18:38) When to vent, when to wait, and when to take action
(21:27) What distinguishes high-performing teams from struggling teams
(24:49) Leadership strategies to encourage open and honest communication
(29:08) Emotional regulation and its impact on leadership effectiveness
(35:25) How societal tensions are influencing workplace interactions
(39:39) Maintaining composure in high-conflict situations
(44:13) Why connection should be a leadership priority

To learn more about Amy and her work, check out her Linkedin profile, her website, and her podcast. Read Amy Gallo’s book: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People).

Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/events

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus

How do strong leaders tackle today’s DEI challenges?

In a time of shifting policies and conflicting public discourse around DEI, consider this episode a practical guide to build inclusive teams with inclusive leaders. In this special How to Make a Leader episode, we’re sharing a virtual panel discussion with experts Chloé Valdary, Ruchika T. Malhotra, and La’Kita Williams, who bring decades of experience in inclusion, workplace culture, and leadership to tackle some of the toughest questions in DEI today.

From navigating fear-based rhetoric to rebuilding trust in organizational initiatives, this conversation cuts through the noise to focus on what truly matters: creating workplaces where everyone thrives.

You’ll learn:

• How to address fear and backlash surrounding DEI efforts
• The biggest reasons DEI initiatives succeed (or fail)
• Practical ways to build inclusion into leadership at every level
• How to foster real belonging beyond performative policies
• What leaders can do today to create lasting, meaningful change

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introducing Chloé Valdary, Ruchika T. Malhotra, and La’Kita Williams
(05:18) What diversity and inclusion look like in the workplace
(09:29) Challenges of making DEI truly inclusive for people of all backgrounds
(12:28) The role of leadership in fostering inclusion and psychological safety
(23:13) Translating DEI into business language: Efficiency, innovation, and growth
(24:58) Common pitfalls in DEI initiatives and how to rebuild trust
(29:39) Crafting mission statements that reflect diversity as a business asset
(32:08) Audience Q&A about DEI Initiatives
(35:03) Avoiding scarcity thinking and expanding leadership opportunities
(39:45) Creating safe spaces for diversity and difficult conversations in the workplace

To learn more about our panel and their respective work, check out the links below:

• Chloé Valdary - LinkedIn Profile | Theory of Enchantment
• Ruchika T. Malhotra - LinkedIn Profile | Inclusion on Purpose
• La’Kita Williams - LinkedIn Profile | CoCreate Work

Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/events

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus

How do you turn early talent into future leaders?

Harvard career advisor and WSJ best-selling author Gorick Ng shares the “unspoken rules” of professional growth and talent development. From career navigation to building a diverse leadership pipeline, he shares real-world insights garnered from thousands of interviews with professionals and his advisory work with Fortune500 companies.

Whether you’re working with early, mid-level or senior employees, Gorick offers actionable strategies to level the playing field and maximize potential in your workforce.

You’ll learn:

• The “three Cs” framework for career success
• How to align onboarding with retention and engagement goals
• Practical steps to diversify your leadership pipeline
• The five traits of successful leaders
• The #1 piece of career advice (from a career advisor)

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Gorick Ng

(01:25) Gorick’s personal journey and first-generation college experience

(04:14) The important but unspoken rules of career navigation

(05:07) A real-world story about visibility and career advancement

(07:26) The “Three Cs” framework for professional success

(09:48) Systemic barriers to career growth and access to tools

(11:46) Preparing early-career professionals before day one

(13:26) The role of peer mentors in effective onboarding

(16:28) Creating psychological safety for early-stage professionals

(20:44) How to engage mid-level managers to balance growth and burnout

(24:58) Building lateral career movement opportunities within organizations

(27:10) The power of recognition and feedback in employee engagement

(29:38) Developing leadership pipelines with rotational programs

(33:52) Expanding diversity in leadership through actionable steps

(35:03) The value of vulnerability in leadership storytelling

(37:25) Leadership traits and the balance between managing and leading

(38:11) Gorick’s most memorable piece of career advice

To learn more about Gorick and his work, check out his Linkedin profile and his website. If you’d like to purchase his book, The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting your Career Off Right, you can check out this link.

Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/events

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus