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  • Human Leadership Connection

    Connecting through human-focused leadership

  • Blog: Reflections on Human-Focused Leadership

    Sometimes Productivity Takes a Backseat
    February 3, 2026 · Team Culture
    "I need you to pack up everything you think you'll need to do your job at home for at least a...
    What the heck? - The Power of Clear Roles & Responsibilities
    January 27, 2026 · Team Culture
    I walked out of my manager's office, shook my head in bewilderment, then went back to the task I...
    Unopened Boxes: The Importance of Accountability
    January 20, 2026 · Team Culture
    After graduating from college, I had a few false starts, dipping my toe into things that didn't...
    Coffee with a Geologist
    January 13, 2026 · Team Culture,Employee Development,Hiring,Leadership Development
    A colleague reached out to me one day asking if I'd be willing to meet with their spouse. The...
    Protecting Your Team While Building a Better Workplace
    January 6, 2026 · Team Culture
    A reader recently asked me about the following scenario: "As a leader, how do you deal with...
    A Pat on the Back
    December 30, 2025
    As the year comes to a close, everyone is focusing on the New Year, setting resolutions or...
    The Gift of Feedback
    December 23, 2025
    "Feedback is a gift." These are the last words I was expecting to hear from that particular...
    Chart vs. Chart
    December 16, 2025
    Several years ago, I had intern who spent 12 weeks of their summer working on an assignment that...
    Tis the Season
    December 9, 2025
    With the year quickly coming to a end, we are right in the heat of what I call "Crazy Season". ...
    Raising the Bar
    December 2, 2025
    "You're the best manager I've ever had." These words from an internal transfer surprised me. ...
    More Posts
  • Team Member Insights

    “Jessica was my leader for multiple years, and she always put the person in the role first. She advocated for me to attend technical trainings to ensure that I was challenged and always learning. She ensured that on days when changes were happening in the world around us, we had the space to focus on mental health. She has been a role-model to me as a strong people leader.”

    — Maggie M.

    "Jessica has the interpersonal and communications skills to solve the world's problems. She recently allowed me to realize that I CAN figure things out while surrounded by the unknown, regarding a stretch goal role in the workplace. She can see my potential and helps me see it, too. Witnessing Jessica operate inspires me to push myself. She is fearless and is making moves for herself and influencing others to make them, too. I call Jessica a "catalyst" for she is causing reactions and change merely by being herself and living to her values."

    — Carly T.

    "Jessica's leadership is centered around empowering her team with the support and trust they need to thrive. She fosters an environment where individuals are encouraged to pursue their passions, allowing them to excel and grow. Her approach balances flexibility with fairness, ensuring a healthy work-life balance for everyone.

    As a result, she cultivates an energetic, team-driven atmosphere where open communication and trust are at the forefront. This leads to a high-performance culture that consistently delivers exceptional results for the company."

    — Clinton M.

  • About

    What is Human-focused Leadership?

    Human-focused leadership puts people first. By prioritizing the well-being and growth of individuals we enable them to show up as their best self in a team environment. Human-focused leaders engage in active listening, promote professional growth, and build cultures where team members feel valued and understood.

    Why is Human-focused leadership important?

    Human-focused leadership creates an environment in which team members feel valued, respected and connected. People who know that they are seen, heard and appreciated experience a stronger sense of belonging, overcome challenges through perserverance, and feel a higher sense of satisfaction. When team culture is open and accepting, people are able to create and innovate freely.

    How can I improve my leadership skills?

    The essential element to being a strong leader is building trust with the members of your team. Trust is built on open, honest and transparent* communication. Practicing curiosity, engaging in self-reflection, and modelling vulnerability equip you with trust-building tools and enable you to create a psychologically safe environment for your team.

    *Transparency doesn't always mean sharing every detail you know. Sometimes transparency means acknowledging that you have information that you are not at liberty to share.

    Our program supports new managers as they face the complexities of real-world leadership. By engaging with peers and mentors, you’ll gain the insights and tools necessary to navigate challenges with confidence and compassion. Empowering Leaders Through Community Human-Centered Leadership 101 is more than just a learning space — it’s a community for leaders who believe that people come first.
Whether you're stepping into leadership for the first time or evolving how you lead, this group is for those who want to grow alongside others who care deeply about leading with empathy, authenticity, and emotional intelligence.
We’re building a supportive community of:
•	Emerging leaders looking for guidance and connection
•	New managers navigating real-world leadership challenges
•	Evolving leaders committed to doing the inner work of becoming more human-centered
Here, we share ideas, ask questions, and support each other through the messy, meaningful work of leading humans — as humans.
If you’re ready to lead with heart, self-awareness, and intention — and want to do it with others who get it — welcome in. You belong here.

    Hi, I'm Jessica. I've been a leader all my life. In high school and college, I was on the leadership team for the local chapter of a national volunteer organization.

    Early in my career I became known for being able to lead without authority and was regularly tagged to lead up special projects. As my career evolved, I've spent time as a technical team lead, a leader of leaders and leading in a management role. People are the key resource in any group and I'm passionate about putting the people first. In my experience, when we put people first, we can accomplish incredible things.

  • Connect

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©2025 - Jessica K. Larson

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