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Every week we publish a new episode of truth telling, corporate real talk to help people-centered leaders find validation and support in navigating tricky corporate cultures.
S1 E12: You Can’t Handle My Whole Self At Work
We can't expect individuals to bring their whole selves if the organization isn't willing to put its own whole self out on the table ." In this episode, Susan and Marissa dismantle the corporate cliché of the "whole self," exposing the gap between idealized brand promises and the real, messy baggage that humans carry every single day.
S1 E11: When No One Tells the CEO the Truth
Filtered truth causes false confidence . When we prioritize 'professionalism' over proximity, we lose the honest signals needed to lead effectively." In this episode, Susan and Marissa unearth the high cost of managing up through avoidance and why "drafty work" is the key to innovation.
S1 E10: Ask Your People: Data Is Not a Substitute for Judgment
Data has become a way to put off decisions and shirk responsibility. Not every observation needs a data point; sometimes, it just needs a leader brave enough to act on what they see." . In the season finale, Susan and Marissa unearth why an over-reliance on dashboards is holding organizations back from moving at the pace of change.
S1 E9: DEATH BY POWERPOINT: Storytelling is the Next Great Leadership Capability
"Leaders who can’t tell a story cannot move people. Storytelling isn’t a charismatic 'add-on'; it’s a required leadership capability." S1 E9 of Brave Proximity unearths why our reliance on 80-page slide decks is killing inspiration and change initiatives. We’re moving from 'telling' to 'inspiring'—from bullet points to human connection.
S1 E7: The Work No One Needs: The Real Reason We’re Drowning in Work That Doesn’t Matter
Are you busy, or are you just indifferent? We’re so caught up in the 'work about the work'—the decks, the updates, the performative spreadsheets—that we’ve lost proximity to the mission. In this episode, Susan and Marissa unearth the real reason we’re drowning in work that doesn't matter and why the most courageous thing a leader can do is delete the tasks that no longer serve a purpose.
S1 E5: Calling It Transformation Doesn’t Make It Humane: The Truth About Layoffs
Tired of corporate theater? If the only thing that changed is who is gone, it wasn't a 'transformation'—it was a layoff. In this episode, Susan and Marissa unearth the high cost of mislabeling mass layoffs and why 'corporate spin' is eroding the very trust leaders need to survive. It’s time to stop performing the restructuring and start leading the humans left behind.