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The Kind Leader

The Kind Leader

By: Gino Degregori
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 Welcome to "The Kind Leader Podcast," your essential guide to the transformative power of kind leadership. Hosted by Gino Degregori, this series embarks on a quest to redefine leadership through the lens of empathy, compassion, and integrity. Each episode brings to light the profound impact of kindness in leadership, featuring conversations with a diverse array of leaders who have woven empathy into the fabric of their leadership, across various industries including tech, government, healthcare, and more. Join Gino as he uncovers the secrets to balancing a kind heart with a strategic mind, illustrating how empathy can be a catalyst for innovation, effective team building, and sustainable success. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned executive, or someone passionate about the evolution of leadership, "The Kind Leader Podcast" offers a wealth of inspiration and practical advice to help you lead with kindness and make a generational impact. Tune in to learn, grow, and be part of a movement that's shaping the future of empathetic leadership.2023 Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Leading with Optimism: Josh Dorfman on Making Climate Solutions Human, Scalable & Enduring

    Leading with Optimism: Josh Dorfman on Making Climate Solutions Human, Scalable & Enduring
    Jan 28 2026
    What if the path to sustainability isn't driven by fear or guilt, but by innovation, optimism, and kind leadership? In this inspiring episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with Josh Dorfman, climate tech entrepreneur, sustainability strategist, and founder of Supercool, a media platform spotlighting climate solutions that are scaling right now. Josh shares his remarkable journey from living and working in China in the 1990s to becoming a leader at the intersection of business, climate innovation, and media. Along the way, he reflects on how early global experiences shaped his understanding of growth, consumption, and the urgent need to rethink how we build a high-quality life on a finite planet. Together, Gino and Josh explore why real change doesn't come from shame-based messaging, but from solutions that make life better while reducing environmental impact. They discuss how AI, systems thinking, and human-centered leadership are accelerating climate innovation, from smarter infrastructure and clean energy to more efficient transportation and consumer products. This conversation reframes sustainability as a leadership opportunity: one rooted in clarity, empathy, and collaboration, where doing the right thing is also the most compelling business strategy. 💡 In this episode, you'll learn how to: Lead sustainability efforts without relying on fear or guilt Use innovation and AI to scale climate solutions that actually improve everyday life Reframe climate action as a win for people, businesses, and communities Apply kind leadership principles to complex, global challenges Build cultures and companies that drive impact through optimism and possibility If you care about leadership, innovation, and creating a future where progress and sustainability go hand in hand, this episode will expand how you think about what's possible. 🎧 Tune in and discover how kind leadership can help power the solutions our world needs now. 5 Key Takeaways Sustainability works best when it improves quality of life. The most powerful climate solutions don't rely on fear or guilt. They win because they deliver better performance, lower costs, and more comfort, proving sustainability and quality of life are not opposites. Kind leadership is disciplined, not soft. Empathetic leadership means combining clear expectations with emotional intelligence. Leaders who understand what people need to succeed create high performance without toxicity. Climate innovation is a competitive advantage. Forward-thinking companies aren't just "doing the right thing." They're unlocking efficiency, customer preference, and market opportunity by embedding sustainability into their core strategy. AI accelerates sustainability at scale. When used thoughtfully, AI and machine learning can optimize systems in ways that reduce costs, improve service, and dramatically lower environmental impact, all at the same time. Adoption matters more than invention. The biggest challenge isn't building sustainable technology, it's getting people to say yes. Leaders who remove friction, simplify decisions, and communicate value clearly are the ones who drive real change. Resources & Book Recommended 🔗 Connect with Josh Dorfman LinkedIn: Josh Dorfman 🌍 Organizations & Projects Mentioned SupercoolA media platform highlighting climate solutions that are already working and scaling, focused on optimism, innovation, and real-world impact. 🔗 https://getsuper.cool/ Supercool Podcast Conversations with founders, leaders, and innovators building practical climate solutions for a better future. 🔗 https://getsuper.cool/podcast/ Planted A materials innovation company creating high-performance, plant-based alternatives that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing quality or durability. 🔗 https://www.plantdmaterials.com 📚 Book RecommendedJackdaws – Ken FollettA fast-paced historical thriller about courage, teamwork, and leadership under pressure. Through high-stakes decisions and trust in uncertain conditions, the novel offers timeless insights into resilience, collaboration, and human ingenuity.
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    47 mins
  • Leading with Safety: Tom Krause on Psychological Safety, Systems Thinking & High-Trust Leadership

    Leading with Safety: Tom Krause on Psychological Safety, Systems Thinking & High-Trust Leadership
    Jan 21 2026
    What if safety wasn't just a compliance metric, but a reflection of leadership, culture, and care for people? In this powerful episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with Tom Krause, globally recognized expert in organizational safety, leadership, and culture. With more than 45 years of experience transforming safety cultures across industries, Tom is a pioneer of behavioral-based safety, co-founder of Krause Bell Group, and a trusted advisor to organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies, including NASA following the Columbia disaster. Tom shares how his background in psychology led him to redefine safety not as a technical or procedural issue, but as a deeply human one. Through compelling stories and real-world examples, he explains why organizations that truly care about people create safer, more resilient, and higher-performing cultures. Together, Gino and Tom explore the connection between kind leadership, physical safety, and psychological safety. They discuss why blaming individuals is rarely the answer, how systems shape behavior, and what leaders must do to create environments where people feel safe to speak up, challenge decisions, and prevent catastrophic failures before they happen. 💡 In this conversation, you'll learn how to: Redefine safety as a leadership responsibility, not just a set of rules Understand the link between psychological safety and organizational performance Create cultures where upward communication is encouraged and protected Balance accountability with genuine care for people Turn kind leadership into measurable results across safety, quality, and trust Whether you're leading in government, industry, or a growing organization, this episode offers a profound reminder: when leaders put people first, safety, performance, and culture improve together. 🎧 Listen now and discover why true safety isn't enforced, it's led. 5 Key Takeaways Psychological safety is about truth, not comfort. Real psychological safety means people can challenge authority, admit mistakes, and raise uncomfortable truths without fear. It's not about being "nice," it's about enabling honest communication that prevents failure and drives learning. Most problems are system problems, not people problems. When something goes wrong, effective leaders look beyond individual behavior and ask what processes, policies, or cultural pressures made that outcome likely. Systems thinking builds trust and reveals fixable root causes. Upward communication predicts performance. Organizations where employees feel safe speaking up consistently outperform others in safety, quality, innovation, and retention. Silence is often the first warning sign of deeper cultural risk. What leaders do matters more than what they say. Culture is revealed through daily decisions, resource allocation, and how leaders respond when challenged or inconvenienced, not through mission statements or well-intended words. Safety culture reflects overall leadership quality. Teams that excel at safety tend to excel everywhere else. Strong safety cultures signal strong leadership fundamentals: engagement, systems thinking, and continuous improvement. Resources & Book Recommended 🔗 Connect with Tom KrauseLinkedIn: Tom Krause 🏢 Organization Krause Bell Grouphttps://krausebellgroup.com/ A global consulting firm focused on improving safety, performance, and organizational culture through leadership and systems thinking. ✍️ Safety Leadership Blog https://krausebellgroup.com/articles-blogs/ Insights and practical perspectives on safety leadership, psychological safety, systems thinking, and organizational performance. 📚 Book Recommended Leading with Safety – Tom KrauseDrawing on decades of research and real-world experience, Leading with Safety reframes safety as a leadership practice that shapes culture, performance, and trust. Krause presents practical frameworks for understanding human performance, systems thinking, and leader behavior, showing how organizations that truly lead with safety become more resilient, productive, and effective. Out of the Crisis – W. Edwards Deming A foundational work on systems thinking and management, Out of the Crisis challenges leaders to move beyond blaming individuals and instead improve the systems in which people work. Deming's principles laid the groundwork for modern quality, safety, and continuous improvement, making this a must-read for leaders serious about sustainable performance and cultural change.
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    41 mins
  • Abundance Over Scarcity: Bernard Youngblood on Kind Leadership, Partnerships & the Future of Work

    Abundance Over Scarcity: Bernard Youngblood on Kind Leadership, Partnerships & the Future of Work
    Jan 14 2026
    What if the biggest limitation in leadership isn't resources, competition, or technology, but scarcity thinking? In this insightful episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with Bernard Youngblood, Director of Partnerships at HotLogic, founder and CEO of Think Partners, and host of the podcast Unboxing the Office. Bernard brings a refreshing perspective on leadership rooted in abundance, trust, and purpose-driven collaboration. He shares how shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset transformed the way he leads, builds partnerships, and helps both for-profit and nonprofit organizations grow sustainably. Together, Gino and Bernard explore how kind leadership shows up in decision-making, negotiations, and everyday business interactions. They discuss why leaders who operate from abundance create stronger cultures, more resilient organizations, and deeper impact, especially during times of uncertainty and change. 💡 In this conversation, you'll learn how to: Shift from scarcity thinking to abundance-driven leadership Build trust-based partnerships instead of transactional relationships Lead with purpose without sacrificing business results Create cultures where collaboration outperforms competition Make decisions from confidence, not fear Whether you're leading a growing company, building partnerships, or navigating complex business ecosystems, this episode offers a powerful reminder: when leaders lead from abundance, everyone wins. 🎧 Listen now and discover how choosing abundance over scarcity can transform the way you lead, build, and connect. 5 Key Takeaways Abundance is a leadership choice, not a theory. Scarcity isn't an economic inevitability, it's a mindset. Leaders choose abundance when they organize people, resources, and decisions around shared success rather than fear and control. Kindness is a competitive advantage in the AI era. As AI increases productivity and transparency exposes bad behavior, organizations with poor cultures will struggle. Kind leadership becomes a moat that attracts talent, loyalty, and trust. Win-win thinking beats win-lose negotiation. The most sustainable partnerships start by asking, "What does a win look like for you?" Moving away from dominance toward mutual benefit creates longer-lasting value for everyone involved. Culture is visible, whether you manage it or not. In a world of social media and radical transparency, internal culture and external brand are inseparable. How people are treated inside the organization always shows up outside. Build for legacy, not exits. Organizations focused on purpose, beauty, and long-term impact outperform those built only for acquisition or IPO. Legacy thinking attracts purpose-driven people and creates enduring success. Resources & Additional Information 🔗 Connect with Bernard Youngblood LinkedIn: Bernard Youngblood Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bernieyoungblood 🎧 Podcast Unboxing the Office - Conversations on workplace culture, leadership, and the future of work. 🤝 Organization Mentioned HotLogic - Known for The AI Oven, HotLogic is redefining how technology shows up in everyday life through simple, human-centered innovation. 📚 Book Recommended Unleashing the Killer App - Chungka Mui & Larry Downs A forward-thinking exploration of how disruptive technology reshapes markets and power structures. The book challenges leaders to rethink competition, embrace change, and lead with boldness in moments of technological transformation.
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    40 mins
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