Love as a Strategy

Hosted by Softway

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

209

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

A podcast that brings humanity to the workplace. Each episode of LAAS busts the doors off topics that most business leaders shy away from in the workplace. Ready to have important conversations to drive real change in your organization? It starts with love. Let us show you how.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 20, 2026Episode 1225 min

S2E012 - Love as a Service-Centric Strategy with Vasanthan Ramakrishnan

In this episode, we sit down with Vasanthan "Vas" Ramakrishnan—entrepreneur, technologist, human rights advocate, and founder of Ascent HSI Advisory Partners. Vas shares his personal journey as a first-generation immigrant to the US, reflecting on how overcoming major hardships—including a life-altering car accident, job loss during the pandemic, and complex visa obstacles—shaped his resilience and fueled his passion for service. Tune in to gain actionable insights into building a genuinely human-centered, service-first organizational culture. Vas outlines how leaders can move beyond transactional metrics and rigid KPIs by leading by example, making meaningful accommodations for individual needs, and actively aligning daily managerial decisions with their company's core mission. Follow Vas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasanthan-ramakrishnan/

August 6, 2026Episode 1124 min

S2E011 - Love as a Relationship Strategy with Alexis Dennard

In this episode of Love as a Strategy , we welcome a dynamic people-first corporate leader, Alexis Dennard, to discuss how bringing humanity, empathy, and authenticity into the workplace can transform organizational culture. With over 25 years of experience leading complex, large-scale supply chain operations, Alexis shares her unique "relationship-first" leadership philosophy, emphasizing why prioritizing the person over the transaction builds trust and drives performance. Tune in as they explore the power of vulnerability, the importance of creating psychological safety for teams to thrive, and how integrating a little fun and genuine, authentic energy can unlock both personal potential and business success.

July 23, 2026Episode 1026 min

S2E010 - Love as a Difficult Conversation Strategy with Bruce Mayhew

In this episode of Love as a Strategy , host Jeff Ma sits down with veteran leadership coach Bruce Mayhew to dismantle the fear surrounding difficult conversations. Drawing on insights from his new book, The Path of an Inspired Leader , Bruce explains why these moments aren't about conflict—they are about vulnerability, trust, and aligning expectations long before the pressure hits. Join us as we explore how to move away from bureaucratic blame, embrace the humanity of your team, and turn "difficult" dialogues into opportunities for growth and sustainable leadership.

May 28, 202626 min

S2E009 - Love as an Accountability Strategy with Patrick Lyons and Patsy Feeman

In this episode of Love as a Strategy, host Jeff Ma talks with leadership experts Patrick Lyons and Patsy Feeman of The Lyons Group about reframing the frustrating issue of accountability. Patrick argues that accountability is a "mirror," not a hammer, stressing that leaders cannot hold people accountable—each person must hold him or herself accountable. Instead, a powerful strategy is for leaders to possess the managerial courage and love to hold to high standards and communicate performance gaps, all to help people "unleash that greatness". Patsy outlines the practical foundation, emphasizing that self-accountability requires clarity, reliability, and visibility in commitments. The conversation explores why leaders shy away from difficult conversations and how to deliver honest feedback as "the greatest gift," rooted in a mindset of care and trust to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be successful. Contact Patrick & Patsy to learn more: thelyonsgroupconsulting.com patrick@thelyonsgroupconsulting.com patsy@thelysonsgroupconsulting.com

May 12, 2026Episode 825 min

S2E008 - Love as a Third Element Strategy with Randy Lyman

In this episode, we speak with Randy Lyman, a physicist, multi-time founder, and author of The Third Element , to explore how leaders can find clarity and fulfillment by embracing emotional awareness instead of choosing between logic and empathy. Randy shares his personal journey from a strictly "left-brain" leader to one who centers on the "Third Element"—our emotions—explaining that true success and lasting solutions are only found when leading from a place of love and confident vulnerability, rather than fear or ego. He outlines the three core needs of employees that matter more than money—acknowledgment, contribution, and belonging—and offers tangible advice on how deep listening and personal comfort with uncomfortable topics can transform team dynamics, ultimately attracting better people, increasing team effectiveness, and easing the burden on managers. Buy the book: https://randylyman.com/the-third-element/

April 29, 202623 min

S2E007 - Love as a Transformational Strategy with Matt Marcotte

In this episode we sit down with leadership coach and C-suite veteran Matt Marcotte (Apple, Salesforce, Gap) to explore how to truly unleash human potential. Matt challenges conventional organizational thinking by arguing that humans are wired to lead with Heart, Head, and Hands—feeling first, thinking second, and acting third. Discover why leading with emotion inspires true transformation in a way data alone never can.1 The discussion dives into the galvanizing power of belief and why purpose must be the core driver, not profit, for sustainable business success. Learn how to get to the root cause of misalignment and get a tangible takeaway for starting your personal journey of transformation this week. Be sure to check out Matt’s Book, Built on Belief: Why Cultures of Commitment are the Competitive Advantage: https://a.co/d/0d7skqaB Learn more at Matt’s website: m2collaborative.com Contact Matt: matt.marcotte@me.com

April 16, 2026Episode 627 min

S2E006 - Love as a Change Strategy with Brad Fideli

In this episode, Jeff Ma talks with Brad Fideli, Director of HR at NTN Bearing Corporation, about the often-overlooked "people element" of large-scale organizational transitions. Using his company’s recent headquarters relocation as a case study, Brad explains how to move beyond stagnant email blasts by "bringing communications to life" through interactive samples, floorplan sketches, and employee-led committees. From addressing minor daily frustrations like "talking garbage" to fostering authentic connections through casual, interactive gatherings, Brad shares why leadership must remain visible and present long after the initial change is rolled out. Tune in to learn how to navigate major shifts by prioritizing transparency, active listening, and genuine human connection.

April 1, 2026Episode 529 min

S2E005 - Love as a 100% Responsibility with Blake D. Bauer

Leaders, stop the blame game. Host Jeff Ma welcomes executive coach and international bestselling author of You Were Not Born to Suffer , Blake D. Bauer, to discuss a radical approach to leadership and change: taking 100% personal responsibility . Blake explains how this shift—away from blame and toward a solution-minded approach—is the key to strengthening mental health, crushing burnout, and achieving genuine high performance. Discover why practicing 100% responsibility is the highest form of love. Learn more from blake: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-d-bauer/ https://www.instagram.com/blakedbauer/

March 12, 2026Episode 425 min

S2E004 - Love as an Olympic Strategy with Jane Figueiredo

In this episode, we sit down with two-time Olympic champion coach Jane Figueiredo to explore how a strategy of love, compassion, and empathy drives success in high-stakes environments, from Olympic diving to the world of business. Jane shares powerful stories of navigating preparation, consistency, devastating setbacks, and the difficult but necessary process of change throughout her career.

February 27, 202622 min

S2E003 - Love as a Health Strategy with Jeff Tkach

In this episode of "Love as a Strategy," we talk with Jeff Tkach, CEO of the Rodale Institute. Discover the secret to human health hidden right beneath our feet, the connection between "healthy soil, healthy food, and healthy people," and why Jeff believes every human is being called to a metaphorical "return to the farm." Plus, get the inside story on his personal health journey and his brand new book, The Farm is Here . Learn more about his new book here: https://rodaleinstitute.org/the-farm-is-here/ Order your copy here: https://a.co/d/0cdRMkqX