Compassionate Leadership:
What does it mean to show up—not just as a leader, but as an advocate for those who rely on us? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Alex Allen, Senior Director of Inclusion and Collaboration at Cisco, to explore how his leadership journey has been shaped by one of the most important roles in his life: being a father to his incredible son, Bryce.
Alex opens up about a moment that has stayed with him for years—the day he brought Bryce to a company event and was met with a look of disdain from a senior leader. Instead of advocating at that moment, he stayed silent. That experience became a turning point, igniting his commitment to never let that happen again—for his son, himself, and others navigating workplaces where they may not always feel seen or valued.
Throughout our conversation, Alex shares how raising a child with disabilities reshaped his understanding of resilience, leadership, and the power of proximity—the idea that when we get close to people’s lived experiences, we gain insights that can transform how we lead. We discuss the challenges and rewards of embracing authenticity, vulnerability, and courage in leadership and why true inclusion requires action, not just intention.
We also explore:
- How personal experiences shape our approach to leadership
- The importance of advocating for others—even when it’s uncomfortable
- Why the workplace must be a place where people feel they belong
- How leaders can step up, challenge biases, and create lasting change
This episode is about owning your narrative, taking risks, and ensuring that the next time we’re faced with a choice—to speak up or stay silent—we make the right one.
Have you ever had a moment where you wish you had spoken up, but didn’t? What did you learn from it? Let’s talk.
Bio:
Alex Allen is the Senior Director of Inclusion and Collaboration at Cisco, responsible for leading the Go-to-Market Strategy for Diversity and Inclusion initiatives worldwide. A seasoned human capital strategist and executive consultant, Alex has earned a reputation for designing and implementing award-winning human capital initiatives that drive business transformation through leadership commitment and organizational effectiveness. Passionate about unifying workplace culture, increasing talent attraction and retention, Alex counts three North American Employee Engagement Awards and one Bronze Stevie among his accolades for organizational transformation and internal communication. Named by Inspiring Workplaces as one of 101 top influencers around the world in employee engagement and experience.
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About Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP
Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP is a highly sought-after speaker, 2x-TEDx speaker, diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, and contributor to leading news outlets. She is also the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm. After over 25,000 employee engagement surveys and years of working with organizations to transform employee engagement, here’s what Heather has seen over and over: When you know how to listen, employees will tell you exactly what they need to bring their full selves to work. Book Heather to speak at your event or organization.
Visit heatheryounger.com or https://www.cmispeakers.com/heather-r-younger for more details.
