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Light on Leadership
The secret to understanding change.
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Welcome to Light on Leadership! In under two minutes, our newsletter delivers one book recommendation, one leadership action step, and two leadership tips. We know you're busy, so we've designed this content to be both useful and shareable. Enjoy!
What are we reading? Head & Heart. The Art of Modern Leadership.
- by Kirstin Ferguson
How has leadership changed? More than a century ago, colleges and universities tasked with developing the next generation of "leaders" primarily equipped predominantly male students with management skills to lead organizations. These institutions focused on hierarchical structures and authoritative approaches that emphasized control rather than collaboration. The definition of leadership and its required skills differed greatly from those exhibited by world-changers today. The top-down, command-and-control model favored for decades has proven ineffective.
Today's successful leaders exhibit humility and vulnerability in their roles. They readily admit they don't have all the answers. The pandemic taught us many lessons—particularly that those who claimed to have all the answers were often proven wrong. In contrast, leaders who embraced uncertainty, led with compassion, and inspired hope fostered resilience, reinforcing the belief that we could overcome challenges together. These leaders demonstrated that empathy, adaptability, and transparent communication are not signs of weakness but rather essential components of effective leadership in times of crisis and beyond.
Action Step
How do you lead? Through threats and positional power, or by providing hope and inspiration? Begin each day by asking yourself this essential question.
Purchase this book! https://www.amazon.com/Head-Heart-Art-Modern-Leadership/dp/152300620X
HR is lonely. It doesn’t have to be.
The best HR advice comes from people who’ve been in the trenches.
That’s what this newsletter delivers.
I Hate it Here is your insider’s guide to surviving and thriving in HR, from someone who’s been there. It’s not about theory or buzzwords — it’s about practical, real-world advice for navigating everything from tricky managers to messy policies.
Every newsletter is written by Hebba Youssef — a Chief People Officer who’s seen it all and is here to share what actually works (and what doesn’t). We’re talking real talk, real strategies, and real support — all with a side of humor to keep you sane.
Because HR shouldn’t feel like a thankless job. And you shouldn’t feel alone in it.
Two Tips
“Life is a long lesson in humility.”
- James M. Barrie
