It’s become clear that workplace wellbeing and leadership are deeply connected. Too often, mental health is treated as an individual issue—something to be managed outside of work. But the reality is that our workplaces shape how we see ourselves, manage stress, and find purpose.
Pete Johnson and Angela Samata explored how leading with kindness can be key in improving organisational health, supporting employees through distress, and creating cultures where people feel valued, heard, and able to thrive.
Some key takeaways:
“Compassionate leadership isn’t about being soft. The real skill lies in balancing being bigger, stronger, wiser, and kinder.”
“It begins with you. Unless you are looking after yourself, unless you can recognise when you’re tipping into unhealthy habits where work is driving you into not being in a safe place, then how can you possibly role model that to people within your teams?”
“We need to think about what we need to thrive, not just survive, in our workplaces. It’s that kind of decision-making and people thinking about what you need as a whole person. (Talking about a previous role) They got 110% out of me because I was happy”
“When senior leaders see compassionate leadership on a managerial level, it can ripple upward.”
It isn’t about following a formula—it’s about showing up differently, creating safe spaces for people, and proving that trust and belonging are more than just words. Join us to explore what it means to lead in a way that makes a real difference.