The Unlock: Humanity at Work

Hosted by idealis

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Nov 2024

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About the show

At work, we have one thing in common across all our differences: our shared humanity. Join organizational psychologist and founder of idealis., Dr. Sumona De Graaf, as she brings together extraordinary people who lead with humanity at work, from the classroom to the boardroom and beyond. The Unlock amplifies the voices of leaders who keep a relentless focus on the human center in all that they do. Guests will share how leading with humanity at work has unlocked something powerful within themselves, and has had radiating impact on human lives, companies, and society. Hearing their stories may unlock something in you, too.

Listen to episodes

25 recent

November 11, 202438 min

Leading at Scale and with Impact with David Landman

David Landman and Sumona explore what it's like to leave what you know behind for something unknown - and the courage it takes to take the leap. After two decades at the coveted financial firm, Goldman Sachs, David talks about "Life after Goldman" - the lessons he learned, the learnings he applies in his work as a Board member and advisor, and his newfound passion to unlock the fullest potential of humanity at work through human to human connection.

October 28, 202427 min

Learning to Lead Never Ends with Diane Neal

Join Sumona and Diane Neal, Board Member of General Mills and LL Bean and former CEO of Sur La Table and Bath and Body Works, as they discuss the leadership lessons we learn over the course of a career. Having worked in consumer focused retail brands, Diane and Sumona connect the dots between the customer and employee experience, exploring how culture is what ties the two together. Diane shares advice on staying empathetic, relevant and effective in our roles as leaders today.

October 14, 202420 min

Dear Leader: How to Navigate Change (Without Falling Over)

In this episode of Dear Leader, idealis' Chief Learning Officer, Allison Williams, joins Sumona to answer a question from a leader who is feeling exhausted and overwhelmed from all the change they've faced over the past few years. They'll address the question with some ideas about how we navigate change as individuals and as leaders, and they'll remind us of how we have what it takes to withstand more than we might think. We just need to stay centered, keep perspective, and lean on what we know and who we know.

September 30, 202433 min

A New Way of Working: Full-Time, Part-Time and My-Time with Tony Buffum

Join Sumona and Tony Buffum from Upwork, as they talk about how the way we work has changed over time. As two former HR executives, they'll reflect on what they are hearing from leaders and companies today – a timeless need to hire great people and unlock the potential of the best talent available in the market. They will discuss how accessibility to that talent requires new, innovative solutions and a new mindset as we think about work, workers and the workplace.

September 16, 202417 min

Dear Leader: How to work in a way that works for you

Join Sumona De Graaf and Anne Newton as they answer a question from a leader who is trying to navigate their career growth as a remote worker in a company that is setting new standards on where and how people work. You'll hear advice on how to have a human-centered conversation about this tricky topic that so many leaders and their teams are facing today.

September 2, 202439 min

The Nuance of Human Decisions with John Dick

Imagine if we entered the world seeking out more data - not because we are open to changing our mind, but because we are entering the world with an open mind. That's what Sumona talks about with John Dick, Founder and CEO of Civic Science. With a regular pulse on the needs, wants, fears and motives of over 130 million Americans, John shares his experiences with companies and leaders who seek out attitudinal data to make better decisions about their products and services. Sumona and John talk about protecting our ability to make good decisions in the age of misinformation, too much information, and echo chambers that limit the information we receive. Learn about the partnership between idealis and Civic Science that will provide the most influential leaders with greater insight on humans at work.

August 19, 202437 min

Dear Leader: How to decide on a career opportunity

Join Sumona as she talks through leading in a new environment with her husband, Justin De Graaf. Having moved across multiple global cities and leading people in many new contexts, they tackle a leadership question raised by a listener on whether to pursue a new opportunity. This episode is for anyone who has experienced or is considering a career change - whether it is changing companies, functional roles, teams, or locations.

August 5, 202416 min

The Context in Which We Are Leading

Listen in as we kick off season three of The Unlock: Humanity at Work with Sumona where we'll share what we've learned about what makes it hard to lead ourselves and others with humanity at work, in the workplace and in the world. The context in which we are leading is evolving at rapid speed, and while some might say we need to change how we lead because of that - Sumona will share a different point of view that involves getting back to center on the very things we as human beings do best. https://idealisadvisory.com/podcast

January 2, 202420 min

Season 2 Finale with Dr. Sumona De Graaf

In the season finale, Sumona reflects on the past season's guests and the leadership lessons we learned about human-centered leadership. She talks about the research that her team at idealis is doing about the hardships and heartaches of leadership today. As we kick off a new year, Sumona reminds us of the blurred lines between work and life, and how leaders and companies can shape how we lead our lives in and outside of work. She reflects on the consequential role we play as leaders as we shape the human experiences of those we lead at work, in the workplace and the world – and how we can spread humanity at work with simple, intentional, meaningful human interactions.

December 18, 202347 min

Learning to learn with Dr. Veronica Harvey

Join Sumona as she explores the topic of learning agility with consultant and author, Dr. Veronica Harvey, who has spent the past thirty years studying and advising on the topic of learning in organizations. She will share how leaders can gain personally and build exceptional cultures when they focus on learning, unlocking the fullest potential of what we are capable of. We hope that this conversation inspires you to make time to learn as a core part of your job, whether you are learning about yourself, those around you, or the world at large.