🎙️ What if emotional intelligence wasn’t a soft skill, but the foundation of truly effective leadership?

In episode 50 of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori speaks with Barbara Boselli, founder of BNOW Consulting and former leader at global companies like Google and L'Oréal. Barbara shares how a single moment in Google’s Search Inside Yourself program shifted her understanding of leadership, and set her on a journey to bring mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and authentic communication into the heart of business.

Drawing from her Brazilian roots and global corporate experience, Barbara unpacks the difference between being nice and being kind, explaining why kind leadership sometimes means having the hard conversation. She introduces the powerful STOP Framework (Stop, Take a breath, Observe, Proceed) to help leaders respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally. This conversation is packed with practical tools for anyone ready to lead with presence, build psychological safety, and develop emotional resilience that drives results.

🔑 Key takeaways include:

• The STOP framework: A mindful tool for navigating emotional triggers and reacting with intention

• Psychological safety first: Creating space for honesty, mistakes, and vulnerability leads to stronger teams

• Mindfulness at work: Simple practices like collective breathing and intention-setting can shift team culture

• Kind ≠ Nice: True kindness means clarity, courage, and feedback that helps others grow

• Neuroplastic leadership: Emotional intelligence is trainable, just like any other leadership skill

🎧 Listen now and learn how to lead with emotional intelligence, compassion, and courage, from the inside out.

Important Links and Resources

🌐 Barbara Boselli’s Website: bnowconsulting.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 💼 LinkedIn: Connect with Barbara Boselli

📚 Books Mentioned:

• Loyalty to Your Soul by Ron and Mary Hulnick — A guide to expanding consciousness and transforming how you relate to the world

• Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish — A practical guide to better decision-making

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl — A profound work on purpose and resilience

Kind Leader Challenge

🌱 Try using the STOP Framework (Stop, Take a breath, Observe, Proceed) in your daily leadership moments, especially when emotions are high or the stakes feel personal.

Then share your reflections on LinkedIn using #KindLeaderChallenge. How are you using it? What shifts have you noticed? Let’s grow together.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Barbara’s Journey 03:00 The Essence of Kind Leadership 05:57 Adapting Leadership Across Cultures 11:57 Emotional Intelligence in Action 15:06 Mindfulness Techniques for Leaders 22:50 Managing Triggers with the STOP Framework 27:52 Using AI to Respond with Intention 28:45 Fostering Authentic Team Connection 34:32 Evolving as a Kind Leader 38:13 Rapid Fire Questions and Final Thoughts