Lisseth Zouhbi: The Human Side of Leadership
On emotional intelligence, AI, and why the best leaders never stop learningEpisode SummaryLisseth Zouhbi is a Chief Human Resources Officer with 25 years of experience, a coauthor of multiple leadership anthologies—including Leadership Voices—a speaker, and a mother of two. In this conversation on Leadership Portraits, she shares the philosophy and frameworks that have shaped her career and her approach to developing leaders at every level.At the center of this conversation is Lisseth’s concept of the Emotional Compass—a five-step framework for navigating emotional intelligence in the workplace. The steps move from self-awareness (identifying what triggers your emotions) through understanding the “why,” reading the situation and those around you, responding with intention, and finally reflecting on what you learned. In hybrid and remote work environments where reading tone and body language is harder than ever, she argues this skill is becoming non-negotiable for effective leadership.Lisseth also speaks candidly about change management in the age of AI—a topic she sees as fundamentally a people challenge, not a technology one. For her, soft skills like critical thinking, communication, and emotional intelligence are more essential now than ever, precisely because AI cannot replace the human judgment required to validate, question, and act on its outputs.She shares how her organization built a tiered leadership development program covering senior executives, middle managers, and emerging leaders—and what skills she believes every aspiring leader must prioritize. Her advice to her younger self is both simple and powerful: make mistakes, don’t be hard on yourself, and never stop pushing forward.Lisseth Zouhbi embodies the kind of leader she encourages others to become—one who never stops learning, invests deeply in the people around her, and leads with curiosity, resilience, and heart.Key Quotes“I tell my kids and I tell my team: never stop learning. Always be curious, because no one’s going to take that away from you.”On continuous learning and curiosity“It’s like having your own personal compass—because you need to understand how to navigate your personal emotions to drive whatever outcome that you are seeking.”On the Emotional Compass concept“Always persevere. Continue to push yourself, regardless of what the outcome is, because it just helps to continue to build who you are and who you’re going to be.”Closing messageLearn more about Leadership Voices - the book that Lisseth recently co-authored. www.LeadershipVoicesBook.com oron Amazon at: https://a.co/d/0gA6vRwFConnect With Us and Learn More about Leadership PortraitsHost: Jennifer WrightPodcast: Leadership PortraitsDescription: Leadership Portraits is a gallery that pays homage to the exceptional individuals who have not only led great teams but have also ignited inspiration and motivation in the hearts of their followers. This unique collection of portraits delves into the core qualities that define extraordinary leadership, capturing the essence of those who have left an indelible mark on their respective fieldsFollow for more conversations that explore the stories, struggles, and insights behind modern leaderswww.LeadershipPortraits.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwrightexecuwright/
