181: Leaders with Heart Reflect on Their Journey

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As Heather approaches her 50th birthday and looks back at her journey, she shares her reflections with her listeners. She reflects on her decisions, especially after COVID, and how they have led her to where she is today. In her own words, she now feels more in line with her journey than ever before. She regards the Caring Leadership Ecosystem (the book, the community, and the academy) as one of her greatest accomplishments because they are creating the impact she has always envisioned. Are you part of the community yet?  If not you can join here!

Key Takeaways: 

  • Leadership with Heart began in Heather's childhood
  • You can pave your own path
  • The journey of Caring Leadership never ends
  • Being a leader does not have to do with your title
  • Everyone can be a Caring Leader!
We can make all of our relationships richer by leading with care. - Heather R. Younger #leadershipwithheart Share on X

Heather R. Younger's Bio

Heather R. Younger is an experienced keynote speaker, two-time author, and the CEO and Founder of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement, leadership development, and DEI consulting firm, where she is on a mission to help leaders understand the power they possess to ensure people feel valued at work.

Known as The Employee WhispererTM, Heather harnesses humor, warmth, and an instant relatability to engage and uplift audiences and inspire them into action.

Rooted in her belief that employees aren’t just numbers on the payroll but human beings with ideas that matter, Heather’s talks and workshops are dedicated to helping teams, leaders, and organizations shine by improving how they listen to, communicate with, and empower employees on their journey to Caring Leadership.

The Caring Leadership Ecosystem

Caring Leadership began with a book but quickly turned into something much more significant than I could have imagined. It quickly evolved into an entire ecosystem. In addition to the book, Caring Leadership comes with a community, an academy, and an assessment. Besides, our latest addition is the community, and it is the most personal way to connect with my readers and listeners about all things leadership. This community has brought what I wrote on the pages of The Art of Caring Leadership to life, and I couldn't be more excited! Now, all things Caring Leadership can really be put into practice in this community.

journey caring leadership human resources

Leadership is not a journey to perfection, but a journey of continuous improvement. - Heather R. Younger #leadershipwithheart Share on X

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Becoming Unshakeable Podcast

With Heather R. Younger

Becoming Unshakable is the podcast for leaders, creators, and changemakers who know TRUE LEADERSHIP starts from within.

Each episode explores what it takes to lead with resilience, compassion, and purpose while staying human through it all.

Through candid conversations with executives, frontline leaders, coaches, and everyday heroes, Heather uncovers the real stories behind growth, compassion, setbacks, and transformation.

From navigating change to creating emotionally safe cultures, Becoming Unshakable reveals what it really takes to create leaders—and organizations—that can’t be shaken.

Hi, I'm Heather

I've been through every type of
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
you can think of.

Layoffs, reorgs, mergers, acquisitions and major technology shifts. More than 20 years leading teams through high-stakes situations where results mattered, people depended on me, and decisions couldn't wait.

Those years taught me how to lead. But they also showed me the hidden cost of always being the one who holds it all together.

During our second reorg in less than a year, I walked out of a meeting with no say in what was happening, just marching orders. When my team asked how the meeting went, I should have said, “Give me 15 minutes to process this.” But I didn't. Instead, I let them absorb every ounce of my frustration.

Then I saw their faces.

The people who looked to me for stability had just watched me unravel. What was that teaching them about their ability to handle the pressure?

That moment changed how I saw my role as a leader. Leading teams isn't only about grit or resilience. It's about how your presence builds the trust your team needs to function when things get hard.

Today, I help organizations build unshakable leaders, teams, and cultures. Because when leaders become the calm teams can count on, organizations don't just survive change, they come out strong enough to handle what’s next.

Heather Sitting
Heather_Younger_The_Cycle_of_Active_Listening_Guide

The Cycle of Active Listening

Create a listening culture that elevates the workplace experience for everyone.

Through this guide, uncover how to ensure those in your care at work feel heard and valued, resulting in increased loyalty and satisfaction.

  • Understand why listening is the key to improved engagement
  • Learn how the Cycle of Active Listening contributes to strong workplace relationships
  • Get a practical framework for creating a listening culture that is bidirectional, responsive, and supportive

Contact Heather Today!
+1 403-398-8488

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Contact Heather Today!
+1 403-398-8488

Contact
Contact

I'm really interested in...

(select all that apply)*

I can be reached at...

Additional Comments