What if love is not a soft emotion, but a courageous business practice?

In a world marked by conflict, division, political polarisation, organisational politics and growing uncertainty, love can feel strangely absent from serious conversations about leadership, women and change. Yet some of the most influential business leaders, activists and social movements in history have been grounded not in fear, domination or hatred, but in compassion, dignity and a deep commitment to humanity.

In this episode, Dr Sam Collins explores the radical idea of love as a force for change.

Drawing on insights from Stanford University's course Love as a Force for Social Justice, the concept of agape love, her own experiences in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and decades of working with powerful leaders and organisations, Sam examines whether love can survive in the presence of conflict, injustice and fear.

She asks a provocative question:

Can love survive in the presence of violence, oppression and injustice?

And perhaps even more relevant for many of us:

Can love survive in the boardroom, the difficult meeting, the political workplace or the challenging relationship?

This is not an episode about being nice, avoiding conflict or becoming passive. It is about finding another way to lead. A way that allows us to challenge harmful behaviour, speak truth, hold boundaries and exercise power without losing our humanity.

For women navigating workplaces where dominance is often mistaken for strength, this conversation explores how compassion, intuition and allyship can become powerful leadership practices rather than liabilities.

• Why one male CEO's unexpected answer to a leadership question changed Sam's thinking forever.
• What agape love really means and why it differs from sentimentality, people pleasing or romantic love.
• How compassion can coexist with courage, boundaries and accountability.
• Why fear, stress and anger drain our energy and how a different response can protect it.
• How to navigate dominant personalities and organisational politics without becoming reactive.
• What non-violent resistance can teach us about leadership and influence.
• Why empathy and intuition can be powerful strategic capabilities at work.
• How women can stand fully in their power without borrowing the behaviours that may be damaging workplace cultures.
• The role allies can play in creating healthier, more humane organisations.
• A practical "Agape Meeting Practice" you can use before your next difficult conversation.

This episode is for women who want to create change without becoming hardened by the world around them.

Because perhaps the future does not need us to become tougher. Perhaps it needs us to become brave enough to love where love is least expected.

About Dr Sam Collins

Dr Sam Collins is a speaker, author and founder of Aspire. For more than 25 years she has worked with women around the world to help them lead change, navigate transitions and create lives and careers with greater meaning, impact and freedom. She is the creator of 1 Million Change Leaders by 2030 and the Choose Freedom movement, which encourages women to reclaim their agency, shape the future and make a difference in the worlds they touch.

Connect with Dr Sam Collins

Website: drsamcollins.com

LinkedIn: Dr Sam Collins

Instagram: @drsamcollins

YouTube: Dr Sam Collins

TikTok: Dr Sam Collins

Books: Available on Amazon

New episodes released weekly.