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Check out last week’s newsletter: Choosing Your Values Over Fear
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LEADERSHIP VIBE SHIFT
There is a massive shift happening in the corporate world right now. For decades, the "climb to the top" was described in war metaphors. You had to fight for a seat at the table. You had to battle against bias. You had to crush the competition.
But what if the very language we use the "fighting" narrative is the thing holding us back?
1. The Death of the "Battle of the Sexes"
We’ve been told that diversity is a zero-sum game. If one group wins, another loses. But the newest wave of leadership thinking suggests a "Uniting Model." Instead of pitting masculine traits against feminine ones, high-level success comes from a "both/and" approach. It’s about merging decisiveness with empathy and structure with intuition.
2. Culture is a "Co-Design" Project
The days of a boss handing down "company values" from a mountain top are over. If you want a team that actually cares, you have to co-design the culture with them. It’s the difference between being a passenger and being the architect. When people help build the house, they don’t want to see it burn down.
3. Safety is the Ultimate Superpower
The most successful companies in 2026 aren't the ones with the smartest people; they’re the ones with the most Psychological Safety.
If you’re too scared to drop a "hot take" or admit a mistake in a meeting, that company is hemorrhaging money. Real innovation only happens when people feel safe enough to be "cringe," be wrong, and be themselves.
4. Resilience vs. Recovery
It’s one thing to talk about "bouncing back" from a bad quarter. It’s another thing entirely to rebuild your life and career after a catastrophic, near-fatal event. True leadership isn’t just about professional strategy; it’s about positive psychology—the mental grit to find a path forward when the map has been completely destroyed.
The Visionary Behind the Message
Who is the powerhouse proving that these "soft skills" lead to hard results?
Meet Hacia Atherton.
Hacia isn't just a theorist; she’s the author of the bestselling book, The Billion Dollar Blind Spot and the first female CEO of a major plumbing company in Australia. After surviving a harrowing, near-fatal horse-riding accident, she used her recovery to stress-test these leadership principles in one of the most male-dominated industries on the planet. She didn't just survive; she led a "uniting" revolution.
TL;DR
The old "climb to the top" war metaphors are officially dead. Here’s how the modern C-suite is actually winning. From "Fighting" to "Uniting". The "Co-Design" Method: Psychological safety is the secret sauce that allows teams to take risks without catching heat. These insights come from Hacia Atherton, author of The Billion Dollar Blind Spot. As the first female CEO of a major Australian plumbing firm, she used positive psychology to pivot from a near-fatal accident to industry-leading success.
DETAILS ABOUT EPISODE
Hacia Atherton is the author of The Billion Dollar Blind Spot, a leadership strategist, and the first female CEO of a major plumbing company in Australia. Hacia shares her harrowing journey from a near-fatal horse riding accident to becoming the first female CEO of a major plumbing company. The conversation centers on the intersection of positive psychology, psychological safety, and the "co-design" of workplace culture. Hacia challenges listeners to move past the "fighting" narrative of gender diversity and instead embrace a "uniting" model where both masculine and feminine strengths are valued.
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