The LEADing Edge

Allyson Zimmermann and Sarah McGowan challenge the common idea that courage in leadership has to be bold and visible. Instead, they argue that real courage is often quiet, relational, and easy to overlook. But crucially, the episode doesn’t just redefine courage; it offers clear, actionable ways to practise it.

With Begoña Jiménez, Global Corporate Vice President at Henkel.

References:

Brescoll, V. L. (2011). Who takes the floor and why: Gender, power, and volubility in organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 56(4), 622–641. https://doi.org/10.1177/0001839212439994
Detert, J. R. (2018). Cultivating everyday courage. Harvard Business Review, 96(6), 128–135.
https://hbr.org/2018/11/cultivating-everyday-courage
Detert, J. R., & Bruno, E. A. (2017). Workplace courage: Review, synthesis, and future agenda for a complex construct. Academy of Management Annals, 11(2), 593–639. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2015.0155
Grant, A. M. (2013). Rocking the boat but keeping it steady: The role of emotion regulation in employee voice. Academy of Management Journal, 56(6), 1703–1723. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.0035
Harbour, M., & Kisfalvi, V. (2014). In the eye of the beholder: An exploration of managerial courage. Journal of Business Ethics, 119(4), 493–515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1835-7
Howard, M. C., & Fox, F. R. (2020). Does gender have a significant relationship with social courage? Test of dual sequentially mediated pathways. Personality and Individual Differences, 159, 109904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.109904
Kennedy, J. A., Kray, L. J., & Ku, G. (2017). A social-cognitive approach to understanding gender differences in negotiator ethics: The role of moral identity. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 138, 28–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2016.11.003
Ogunfowora, B., Maerz, A., & Varty, C. T. (2021). How do leaders foster morally courageous behavior in employees? Leader role modeling, moral ownership, and felt obligation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 42(4), 483-503.
Tremmel, M., & Wahl, I. (2023). Gender stereotypes in leadership: Analyzing the content and evaluation of stereotypes about typical, male, and female leaders. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1034258. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1034258
Tkachenko, O. (2018). Courage in the workplace: The effects of organizational level and gender on the relationship between behavioral courage and job performance. https://doi.org/10.1017/JMO.2018.12
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This second episode of our series on the best insights from the conference in Milan reflects on inclusive practices in the world we live in today. Allyson Zimmerman explores essential strategies for fostering an inclusive culture in a context that’s not always supportive of DEI efforts, where progress can feel fragile and commitment is increasingly tested.

With insights from Georgia Durham, Global Culture & Entertainment Manager, Nurture Brands Co-Chair, Amri B. Johnson, CEO of Inclusive Wins, Jérôme Garbi, Global Cheese CO & CEO for EMEAO, Bel Group, Mariama Conteh Senior Inclusion & Diversity Mars UK, Charlotte Exell, Group Online Director, Morrisons.

Podcast producer: Julien Manuguerra-Patten
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As 2025 draws to a close, Allyson Zimmermann brings you a two-episode recap of key insights from our October conference in Milan. In this first episode, we focus on inclusive leadership. The discussions explore the importance of trust, psychological safety, vulnerability in leadership, and the creation of safe environments for innovation and feedback. Our next episode, continuing the conference insights, will be dedicated to what it means to be really inclusive in today’s world.

Featuring talks by Paolo Grue, President and CEO of Procter & Gamble Italy; Begoña Jiménez, CVP Global Laundry, Henkel Consumer Brands; and Francesco Del Porto, President, Italy Region, and Global Chief Customer Officer, Barilla Group.

Podcast producer: Julien Manuguerra-Patten
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In this episode, Sarah McGowan and Allyson Zimmermann sit down for a real, open conversation about menopause at work; a topic that’s still too often left out of DEI discussions. Millions of women in mid to late career face the complex transition of perimenopause and menopause, often dealing with symptoms in silence due to stigma. Allyson and Sarah explore the real impacts of menopause on women's careers and businesses and share their own experiences.

With Clarice Pinto, CEO of Pausetiv
Catherine Mulhall, Reckitt
Nóirín Ní Laocha, Musgrave

Thanks to the panellists who participated to our discussion in Milan on Smashing the Stigma of Menopause in the Worplace - Nóirín Ní Laocha, Catherine Mulhall, Rose Cox, Nadia Zagui and John Bradbury.

Please note: this conversation reflects personal and professional experiences of individuals, not medical guidance. Menopause is different for everyone, and listeners should seek advice from qualified healthcare professionals for individual concerns.
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For decades, the “business case” for diversity, equity, and inclusion has shaped the conversation. The data is clear: diverse organizations often outperform their peers; but despite this, progress hasn’t always matched the promise.

So in this episode, Allyson Zimmermann and Sarah McGowan go beyond the numbers. Instead of asking whether DEI works - we know it does! - we’re asking why it works. What are the mechanisms that make DEI effective? What actually happens inside diverse teams that leads to better performance, sharper decisions, and stronger leadership? To explore this, we turn to academic research that doesn’t often make its way into boardrooms but offers powerful insights for leaders and HR professionals in consumer goods, retail, and beyond.

🔗 References mentioned in this episode:
Katherine W. Phillips (2019), Diversity Makes Better Teams – NYU talk on YouTube
Hoobler, J. M., Masterson, C. R., Nkomo, S. M., & Michel, E. J. (2018). The business case for women leaders: Meta-analysis, research critique, and path forward. Journal of Management.

Thanks to New York University (NYU), the Center for Workplace Excellence at the University of South Australia and Professor Jenny Hubler for providing content and insights that helped shape this episode.

Podcast producer: Julien Manuguerra-Patten
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