HEART Leadership
Welcome to Leading with HEART—the podcast redefining leadership from the inside out.
Hosted by Sara Valentine, HR executive, leadership strategist, and creator of the HEART Leadership Principle, this show is your weekly guide to leading with Hear, Empathy, Acknowledge, Respond, and Thank.
Each episode explores how real leaders bring humanity back into the workplace—through honest conversations, practical insights, and powerful personal stories.
Whether you’re a CEO, a new manager, or someone just trying to lead yourself better, this podcast will challenge you to show up with purpose, connect more deeply, and create impact that lasts.
Because leadership isn’t about control—it’s about connection.
And when we lead with HEART, we give others permission to do the same.
HEART Leadership
H is for Hear: The Leadership Skill We Forget First
In this powerful episode, Sara Valentine explores the first pillar of the HEART Leadership framework: Hear. True leadership starts with listening—not just to what's said, but to what’s unsaid, uncomfortable, and sometimes hard to hear. Sara shares personal stories, including a pivotal conflict with a union rep, and reflects on moments in her HR career when she failed to truly hear those who needed it most.
She also challenges leaders to examine how well they’re listening—to their people, their gut, and even their own mistakes. If you've ever struggled with defensiveness, burnout, or missed the human behind the policy, this episode will challenge and encourage you to hear differently.
A HEARTfelt thank you for listening!
