Leaving Your Ego at the Door with Heather Handyside

Today’s episode features Heather Handyside, President and COO of Thompson & Co. Public Relations, who joins me to talk about leadership, culture, and making big career transitions. Heather’s career spans high-profile roles in government, corporate communications, and now agency leadership, and she brings a wealth of perspective on building strong teams and maintaining high standards while fostering genuine support for her people.We talk about what it takes to “leave your ego at the door,” why humility and accountability are essential leadership traits, and how surrounding yourself with talented, driven colleagues can accelerate everyone’s growth. Heather also shares how she balances high expectations with flexibility, adapts to generational shifts in the workplace, and why community involvement is both personally meaningful and professionally valuable.Whether you’re leading a small team or a large organization, Heather’s insights on judgment, trust, and culture are a masterclass in modern leadership.Connect with Heather: LinkedInMy free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results—without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets