Leadership, Humanity, and the Spiritual Mess We’re All In. Podcast with Tibisay Hernandez

Let’s face it: the phrase “mindful leadership” is about as overused these days as a politician’s promise to “listen to the people.” Yet, in this week’s Spiritual Conversations podcast — hosted by the ever-curious Philipp Kobald — it somehow comes alive, fresh and relevant. This episode, featuring Tibisay Hernandez, a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) specialist and mindful leadership trainer, serves up a conversation that manages to be both practical and profound.

Yes, there’s a lot about empathy, workplace wellness, and something called The Curious Space — Hernandez’s personal venture into reimagining how we interact at work and beyond. But before you tune out thinking this is yet another earnest pep talk, stay with me. There’s a bite to Hernandez’s vision of leadership that feels as necessary as it is overdue.

Leaders, Please Take a Seat

It’s tempting to imagine Hernandez addressing this podcast directly to the many corporate overlords whose LinkedIn bios boast of their “passion for people” while their companies quietly implement mass layoffs via Zoom. Instead, Hernandez talks about something radical: leading with actual humanity. Her version of leadership is grounded in service, not manipulation — a concept that, one suspects, would make a few boardrooms break out in hives.

“Servant leadership,” she calls it, with the patience of someone who has had to explain this concept far too many times. “It’s about being in service to human beings within your organization.” And before you can object that this sounds a little soft, Hernandez has receipts. “What the pandemic showed us,” she explains, “is that people are walking away from companies that don’t respect their humanity.”

Apparently, the Great Resignation isn’t just a catchy HR buzzword — it’s a verdict.

Empathy Is a Business Case

Hernandez doesn’t mince words when it comes to why empathy isn’t just nice to have; it’s essential. Leaders, she insists, must stop treating employees as cogs in a machine and start seeing them as, well, human. The old model of “leave your emotions at the door” has collapsed under the weight of global burnout, mental health crises, and the sheer audacity of human beings wanting better lives.

And here’s the kicker: servant leadership makes economic sense. Companies that invest in the well-being of their people aren’t just throwing out beanbags and nap pods in a dystopian Silicon Valley imitation of a casino. They’re creating sustainable businesses that people actually want to work for.

Discomfort as a Catalyst

But don’t mistake this for a feel-good lecture. Hernandez isn’t asking anyone to hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Instead, she dives into something more challenging: the role of discomfort in growth.

“Learning requires us to lean into discomfort,” she explains, drawing a parallel between childhood learning and adult emotional growth. It’s a concept that resonates far beyond the workplace. In spiritual practices, discomfort is often seen as a necessary step toward enlightenment. Hernandez ties this idea back to education, where she spent much of her career.

“Discomfort can feel like an attack,” she says, with the kind of clarity that makes you pause mid-listen. The key, she argues, is creating environments where people feel safe enough to embrace the discomfort without being consumed by it.

Spirituality in Disguise

Despite the podcast’s title, the conversation rarely veers into overtly spiritual territory. And yet, spirituality is everywhere in Hernandez’s words. Her insistence on empathy, connection, and creating spaces for vulnerability sounds a lot like what the mystics of old might call soul work.

“The human experience,” she says, “is ultimately about connection.” And if that isn’t the essence of spirituality, what is?

A Curious Space

Hernandez’s own project, The Curious Space, is a testament to her philosophy. Designed as a platform for honest conversations, it invites people to ask difficult questions without fear of judgment. It’s part mindfulness seminar, part DEI workshop, and entirely dedicated to fostering human connection.

Her aim is ambitious but essential: to create a world where leaders care enough to listen and workers feel safe enough to speak. “We need to trust each other more,” she says, with a conviction that’s hard to ignore.

Can Empathy Save Us?

Perhaps the most striking moment in the podcast comes when Hernandez takes on the fear-driven politics and economics that dominate much of our world. “They don’t expect us to come together,” she says. “So let’s do the unexpected.”

It’s a call to action that feels both urgent and oddly hopeful. If empathy and connection can become the currency of leadership, perhaps we have a shot at building workplaces — and a world — that aren’t defined by fear and division.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Spiritual Conversations isn’t just a masterclass in leadership; it’s a reminder of what’s possible when we dare to lead with humanity. Whether you’re a CEO, a teacher, or simply someone trying to make sense of an increasingly fractured world, Hernandez’s insights offer a way forward.

So, is servant leadership the answer to all our problems? Probably not. But it’s a start. And in a world that often feels like it’s running on fumes, that’s enough.

Relevant Hashtags

#Podcast #SpiritualConversations #HolisticCircle #PhilippKobald #TibisayHernandez #MindfulLeadership #WorkplaceWellness #EmpathyInAction #HumanConnection #ServantLeadership

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Links to our guest:

web: https://a-curious-space.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tibisay/

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Links provided by our host: HolisticCircle
web: HolisticCircle.org
youtube.com/@HolisticCircle
https://www.instagram.com/a.curious.space/
we offer: online one-on-one sessions (spirituality, personal development)

For more information, visit HolisticCircle.org. Copyright HolisticCircle.org by Philipp Kobald, 2024.