About Craig Dowden, PhD:

Craig Dowden (Ph.D.) is an inspiring and thought-provoking executive coach, Forbes author and keynote speaker who partners with leaders and executives to tackle their most important personal and organizational challenges. Craig holds a Doctorate in psychology, with a concentration in business and is a Certified Positive Psychology Coach. In his role as a trusted advisor, he integrates the latest findings in the science of leadership, team, and organizational excellence into his coaching and consulting work.

A dynamic and award-winning speaker, participants have described Craig’s presentations as motivating, energizing, and empowering, as they come away with strategies they can implement immediately within their workplaces. Audience members also highly respect the scientific foundation of his ideas.

Craig is passionate about sharing world-class content and insights with his clients. To date, he has interviewed over 50 CEOs of North American companies, including Molson Coors, McDonald’s, IKEA, and VIA Rail. Craig has been asked to share his thought leadership in leading HR and business publications, including Forbes, the Huffington Post (U.S.), the Financial Post, the Financial Times, as well as Psychology Today.

Episode Notes:

Dr. Laura welcomes executive coach, keynote speaker, and author, Craig Dowden, to the show to talk about his book, A Time To Lead. Craig’s passion for learning what makes people tick drove his career toward understanding positive leadership qualities, and those insights shaped his book. He and Dr. Laura explore the idea of bettering yourself to better lead others.

Craig Dowden describes how leadership today must be focused on a human-centric or empathetic approach. People desire authentic connection. The genuine leadership Craig illuminates through seven key qualities, is a vital part of reaching people in what Craig describes as our current VUCA world. VUCA stands for volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, and Craig identifies authenticity and core belief alignment as vital for cutting through the VUCA world. 

“And I think that’s what’s incredibly powerful, is that when you really are looking at promoting positive and impactful change, it’s about the simplicity. It’s our ability to connect with others and for them to be able to see the movie that’s playing and to follow along. And so that’s at the heart of engagement.” – Craig Dowden

Season 3 Episodes:

Episode 62 | The Gift of Intuition in Our Work and Lives

About Dr. Laura: Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives. She...

Episode 60 | Exploring the Human Side of Unconscious Bias at Work

About Tina Varughese: An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation parents, Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humor into the changing workplace. Her highly...

Episode 59 | Closing the Confidence Gap to Thrive in Your Career

About Kelli Thompson: Kelli Thompson is a women’s leadership coach and speaker who helps women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She has coached and trained hundreds of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love....

More Thriving Human Episodes:

Episode 77 | Preventing Burnout In Our Lives

About Dr. Laura: Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives. She...

Listen on Your Favorite Apps