70 Jeanette Meier: Why True Leadership Begins With the Heart

What happens when a leader steps away from strategy and embraces their heart? Twenty years ago, Jeanette Meier made a radical decision – to stop living for others, start loving herself, and rebuild her life on a foundation of emotional truth. This choice transformed not just her personal relationships, but revolutionized her approach to professional leadership."I was 100% giver," Jeanette reflects, describing how she once lived entirely for others to the point where "I didn't even know what I liked to eat." Her wake-up moment led her from New York to Barcelona and eventually to developing a leadership philosophy centered on human connection rather than control.The distinction Jeanette makes between loving yourself and valuing yourself offers profound insight. While she committed to self-love early in her journey, truly valuing herself took much longer – a realization that came through painful lessons about trusting her own judgment. This awareness shapes her approach to leadership, where she focuses on recognizing each person's unique gifts and creating space for them to flourish.Perhaps most illuminating is her concept of the three entities essential for any relationship: yourself, the other person, and what you create together. This framework applies equally to personal connections and professional collaborations, challenging us to show up authentically while honoring the creative space between us.For those interested in heart-centered leadership, Jeanette emphasizes practice and patience. Learning to distinguish between the chatter of thoughts and the deeper knowing of the heart takes time – but transforms every interaction. As she beautifully puts it, this approach "plants seeds in people that continue growing long after you're gone."Ready to explore how leading from the heart might transform your relationships and work? Connect with Jeanette at jeanettemeier.com or through LinkedIn to continue this powerful conversation.Help us improve! I'd love to get your feedback...Forging Resilience supports Save A WarriorSave A Warrior works with veterans and first responders facing complex PTSD and the reality of suicide.Through this podcast, we’re supporting their work.If you want to get behind it, you can do that by buying a bag of  Major Stoke Blend coffee. All profits go directly to Save A Warrior.Good coffee. Real conversations. Work that matters.Support the showFollow my social media accounts | LinkedIn | Instagram |