REFLECTIONS

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is often described as the hidden driver of effective leadership. In fact, 90% of top performers score high in emotional intelligence, yet only 36% of people can accurately identify their emotions as they happen. As industries navigate rapid...

According to Harvard Business School, businesses with a strong sense of community and culture outperform competitors in retention, satisfaction, and long-term profitability. While many leaders focus on efficiency, scaling, or short-term wins, the real differentiator...

Empathy is often described as a “soft skill,” yet its impact on performance, culture, and retention is anything but soft. According to a 2024 Catalyst study, employees who work for empathetic leaders are over three times more likely to be happy at work and more than...

Leaders are often measured by their ability to hit targets, drive revenue, and keep operations running smoothly. But there’s another quality, often underestimated, that can transform not only teams but entire organizations: empathy. In our recent conversation with...

In the healthcare landscape, technology often takes center stage. But when it comes to elder care, the most powerful innovations are not found in devices or systems. They are found in compassion, presence, and meaningful relationships. On The Bliss Business Podcast,...

Marketing often gets measured by campaigns, funnels, and conversion metrics. Yet what truly shifts outcomes isn’t just strategy, it’s emotional intelligence. In our fast-paced world, the leaders who know how to feel, listen, and connect are the ones driving meaningful...

In an era where industries often focus on transactions and bottom-line results, building authentic human connection has become the most overlooked yet powerful differentiator. Creating a sense of belonging and community in business is no longer a “nice to have”, it is...

The future of work is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by a demand for flexibility, personalization, and empathy. Traditional 9-to-5 models and rigid corporate hierarchies are quickly giving way to systems that prioritize human connection and adaptability....

Inclusion is often spoken about as a moral obligation, but its strategic value is just as profound. Companies that truly embrace inclusivity outperform competitors, foster innovation, and create workplaces where people feel both seen and heard. According to McKinsey,...

Empathy is often praised but rarely operationalized in leadership. In a business world dominated by speed, scale, and profit, many leaders forget that people perform their best when they feel understood, supported, and aligned with purpose. On The Bliss Business...

Grief, caregiving, burnout, trauma. These aren’t just personal issues, they’re workplace realities. And yet, too many organizations still treat them as invisible. On this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, workplace empathy expert Liesel Mindrebo Mertes joins...

Too often, companies treat social impact like a PR campaign, something to announce rather than embody. But when doing good is baked into your DNA, customers can feel the difference. On The Bliss Business Podcast, Colin McIntosh, Founder and CEO of Sheets &...

For many leaders, empathy is a value that shows up during team celebrations or crises. But what happens when the loss isn’t visible? When the silence of grief sets in and business keeps moving? We caught up on the Bliss Business Podcast with Justin Clifford, who is...

The future of work isn’t about ping pong tables or open floor plans. It’s about meaning, flexibility, and the systems that allow people to thrive. In today’s evolving landscape, traditional 9-to-5 models and top-down leadership structures are quickly losing their...

Connection is more than a buzzword. It’s the foundation for creativity, loyalty, and long-term growth. Yet too often, business leaders focus on operational metrics while overlooking the emotional infrastructure that holds a team together. Community is not just about...

Empathy is often praised but rarely operationalized in leadership. Too many leaders mistake empathy for passivity, when in truth, it takes strength, clarity, and courage. Real empathy doesn’t just feel, it listens, adapts, and leads with intention. In this Bliss...

Business often starts with a product. But enduring companies are built around people. When leaders center their purpose not just on what they do, but who they serve, they unlock something far more valuable than growth. They build belonging. In this episode of The...

If you’re like most founders, you’ve been told to focus on building a great product and then crank up demand gen. But what if the failure point isn’t the product or even the demand, but what happens in between? In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re...

Change can reveal the best or the worst in people. Uncertainty amplifies emotion, and leaders either fuel anxiety or channel it into connection. In this Bliss Business Podcast roundtable, three pioneers of human-centered business shared how they keep generosity alive...

Capitalism is often criticized for its short-term mindset. Is it possible for business to still be a force for good? In this Bliss Business Podcast conversation, we sat down with John Hewitt, CEO of Loyalty Brands and founder of two of the largest tax service...

Speed, scale, and systems often dominate business conversations, so it’s easy to forget the simple truth that business is about people. But for Sally Facinelli, CEO of Salty Dawg Pet Salon + Bakery and advisor to emerging brands, building a successful organization...

In the age of AI, algorithms, and automation, it’s easy to forget the one thing that has always made brands magnetic, human connection. But for Jennifer Kaplan, founder of Evolve PR and Marketing, connection isn’t just a marketing tactic. It’s the soul of sustainable...

What happens when you take a seemingly mundane service and infuse it with dignity, joy, and a mission to serve the planet? Julie Harrell, President of Cooper Scoopers, is doing just that. Her company may be in the pet waste removal business, but behind the cheeky name...

When you’re managing a company that has grown from a single vacation rental to a national hospitality brand operating in over 18 markets, most leaders would reach for org charts, operational SOPs, and management consultants. But for Steve Schwab, the answer came in...

For many entrepreneurs, the tension between purpose and profit feels like a constant negotiation. Are you building a company to scale, or are you building something that stands for something? For Robin Gagnon, co-founder and CEO of We Sell Restaurants, that’s a false...

For years, the office was seen as the beating heart of business. If you wanted to prove your company was real, you needed a physical space. Desks. A kitchen. A place where people clocked in, gathered, and did the work. But as Alpesh Doshi, founder of Kendra Labs,...

Business isn’t just about transactions. It’s about relationships. David DeLorenzo, CEO of Bar and Restaurant Insurance and author of Just Getting Started, has built his career around this principle. He didn’t just create a business. He built a community. David’s...

Community is more than just a buzzword, it’s the backbone of lasting business success. In a recent episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, Jason Parker, CEO of K-Nine Resorts, shared how a simple idea built on trust transformed a local pet-sitting service into a...

When it comes to leadership, some traits are easy to recognize. Decisiveness, strategic thinking, and resilience often top the list. But there’s one skill that’s just as crucial, yet often overlooked: emotional intelligence (EQ). In a recent episode of The Bliss...