Harnessing Emotional Intelligence for Leadership—Dr. Marc Brackett on Anxiety, AI & Human Potential

Ideas are easy. AI implementation is hard. We make it smarter, faster, and more human. Subscribe now to lead AI change.Join host Ted Wolf, Co-Founder & CEO of Guidewise, for an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Marc Brackett—Founding Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, professor at Yale’s Child Study Center, and author of the bestselling book Permission to Feel and Dealing with Feeling—on the latest episode of Implementors. With over two decades of pioneering research, Marc has helped redefine how emotions shape learning, decision-making, leadership, and organizational culture. In this episode, Marc unpacks why emotions aren’t a distraction from performance but the very key to unlocking it. He shares how leaders can harness emotional intelligence to manage anxiety, make better decisions, and build healthier cultures in both business and education. From the evidence-based RULER framework to real-world examples in schools and Fortune 500 companies, Marc reveals practical strategies for transforming emotions into a leadership advantage. He also explores the rising importance of emotional intelligence in the age of AI, making the case that investing in emotional skills is now essential for resilience, innovation, and human flourishing. Whether you’re leading a company, teaching in a classroom, or simply navigating life in a world of rapid change, this episode offers wisdom, practical tools, and a compelling reminder that emotions are always at the table.ABOUT DR. MARC BRACKETT: Dr. Marc Brackett is a world-leading expert in emotional intelligence whose work bridges academia, business, and personal transformation. As the Founding Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in Yale’s Child Study Center, he has spent over two decades exploring how emotions influence learning, leadership, performance, and well-being. His bestselling book Permission to Feel (translated into 25+ languages) continues to shift cultural perspectives on feeling and leadership. Dealing with Feeling, his more recent release, offers actionable strategies for cultivating emotional awareness and resilience in daily life. Dr. Brackett’s research has garnered more than $100 million in grant funding and appeared in over 175 scholarly publications. His expertise has shaped emotional intelligence programs at Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and countless educators and organizations globally. Learn more about Dr. Marc Brackett: https://marcbrackett.com/. Purchase his book, Permission to Feel (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250212839/), and Dealing with Feeling: https://www.amazon.com/Dealing-Feeling-Your-Emotions-Create/dp/1250329590.ABOUT GUIDEWISE: At Guidewise, we blend operational expertise with AI-driven workforce analytics to guide enterprise organizations through impactful, enterprise AI implementation, digital transformation, and change adoption. Aiding our industry experts, our software platform harnesses AI and machine learning to integrate real-time people data into adaptive change management strategies — anticipating challenges, minimizing resistance, and driving lasting success. Let's talk about your organization's AI strategy and change adoption needs today: https://www.guidewise.ai/contact/.PODCAST LINKS:- Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@implementorspod- Podcast Homepage: https://www.guidewise.ai/podcast- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6uliK2fpHOOgjLDgUv1pNF?si=6520239306224710&nd=1- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guidewise-presents-implementors/id1678368738- Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8fcf7ddd-bf82-47cf-9339-efc29a75500d/guidewise-presents-implementorsSOCIAL:- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@implementorspod- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/implementorspod/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/implementorspod- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/implementorspod- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/implementorspod/