Leading with heart

Embracing our wholeness – including our fears, grief, and uncertainty – while staying connected to what brings us alive can lead us to unexpected renewal and purpose, even in the darkest moments.

Bruce Cryer is a multifaceted professional with a career spanning creativity, science, leadership, and wellness. He’s the former CEO of HeartMath, a research-based organisation focused on stress management and heart-brain coherence, where he led for 11 years and taught courses on wellbeing and leadership at Stanford University.

Before his work with HeartMath, Bruce trained at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and had a professional performing career in New York. After facing serious health challenges in 2009, he returned to his creative roots in singing, dancing, and photography.

This episode will help you

• Understand how heart coherence – a scientifically validated state of physiological alignment – can reduce stress, improve decision-making, and create more resilient leadership in high-pressure environments
• Learn practical approaches for navigating major life transitions and health crises by staying connected to what truly matters, rather than being paralysed by fear or uncertainty
• Discover how integrating creative expression and emotional authenticity into professional life can unlock new possibilities and prevent burnout, even after decades in demanding roles

Resources

• Connect with Bruce via LinkedIn
• Connect with Sally-Anne via LinkedIn

Highlights

• [00:10:20] Physiological coherence
• [00:16:45] Bringing data to personal development
• [00:19:06] “Will I ever dance again?”
• [00:29:28] A voice that needs to be heard
• [00:36:16] “Just love the people”
• [00:42:58] A new direction
• [00:46:01] What Fearless Forward means to Bruce
• [00:48:50] Takeaways from Sally-Anne