Respect & Leadership: How Culture Shapes Influence, Trust, and Genuine Hope | Dr. Julie Pham

What does respect really mean and why does it look so different across cultures, teams, and leadership contexts? In this episode of the Lifting Leaders Podcast, we’re joined by Julie Pham, PhD, author of 7 Forms of Respect, to explore how respect shapes leadership effectiveness, influence, trust, and belonging, especially in today’s polarized world. Julie challenges the assumption that respect is universal, inviting leaders to examine how culture, micro-cultures, hierarchy, and lived experience shape both the respect we expect and the respect we extend to others. Together, we dive deeply into two often overlooked forms of respect and why misunderstanding them can quietly erode trust, collaboration, and inclusion on teams. Grounded in our 2026 focus on Influencing Genuine Hope, this conversation explores how curiosity about respect can: Reduce polarized communication Bridge cultural and relational divides Strengthen leadership influence without authority Foster trust, psychological safety, and belonging Insightful, practical, and deeply human, this episode offers leaders a hope-forward path one where respect becomes an everyday leadership practice that brings people closer together rather than pushing them apart.