SUMMARY

Paula Faris joins the podcast today to talk about the different ways leaders can “lead with heart.” Paula is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, podcast host and founder of CARRY Media, and she sat down for this conversation with Global Leadership Network President and CEO David Ashcraft. Together they explore the roles that intuition and passion have had in Paula’s life, how leaders can protect themselves while practicing openness and authenticity and how leading with heart informs and shapes Paula’s leadership today.

IN THIS EPISODE

3:00 Paula’s Journalism Career

4:40 Servant Leadership and Leading with Empathy

6:30 Paula’s Journey from Journalism to her Current Work

9:00 The Connection Between “Heart” and “Passion”

11:00 How Paula’s Journalism Peers Reacted to Her Leaving

15:15 The Pain Comes from Leading with Heart

20:45 How Paula Empowers Her Team to Speak Truth to Her

26:45 Feedback that Paula Finds Unhelpful

28:15 Lessons that Paula Has Learned as She’s Stepped into Leadership

30:30 How She Kept Going in Tough Times

37:00 What CARRY Media is All About

LISTEN

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

STANDOUTS AND TAKEAWAYS

• Part of leading with heart is simply leading with humanity and remembering that we are all human.

• Failure is a down payment on success.

• When we are called to something, it’s not a matter of failure or success; it’s a matter of obedience.

• In times of transition, we sometimes need to slow down, reflect and listen before we can see what’s coming next.

• Surround yourself with people who empower you, not enable you.

• We often need people who can tell us the truth in order to save us from ourselves.

• Each month, ask your team, “What’s one thing I need to get better at?”

• When you make a mistake, be transparent and just own it.

• At the end of the day, people want to feel seen and heard and to have a voice.

• All feedback is helpful, but it is possible to have too many voices. Cultivate a small circle of trusted voices.

• Calling does not equate to “easy”, but if God calls you, he will equip you.

• You can be exactly where you are supposed to be, and still miss things about your previous chapter.

• With every new season, you will gain new things, but you will also lose some things you value. Also, a new season is not forever.

• If you feel called to something new, just start moving. You won’t necessarily know if you’re heading in the right direction or not until you get going.

• Caregivers are the fastest growing segment of the workforce.

• We live in a world that talks about “balance,” but “alignment” is the better target to pursue.

LINKS MENTIONED

• Website: Paula’s Website

• Website: CARRY Media

• Podcast: The Paula Faris Show

• Book: You Don't Have to Carry It All: Ditch the Mom Guilt and Find a Better Way Forward (Amazon.com)

• Website: Team365

• Website: Global Leadership Summit 2025

• Website: Global Leadership Network

SPONSOR

• This episode sponsored by VAUSA.