Why Caregiving Might Be The Most Meaningful Work: Lessons from T.L. Boyd

How can caregiving, especially the kinds we rarely talk about, become a powerful form of leadership?

In this episode, Andrew Soren speaks with Terrance L. (T. L.) Boyd, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Management and Leadership at Texas Christian University.

T.L. brings both personal insight and academic rigor to a conversation about non-traditional caregiving. His research explores how responsibilities outside of work, often overlooked or undervalued, can shape the way people lead, connect, and grow. As a scholar deeply committed to representation and equity, T.L. centers the lived experiences of historically marginalized communities in his work and teaching.

This conversation is a reminder that people’s lives outside of work often influence their impact inside the workplace. Recognizing that reality opens up new ways to support, include, and empower each other.

Key Takeaways

Caregiving is part of professional life: T.L. explains that caregiving responsibilities, especially those outside of traditional roles, often strengthen qualities like empathy, flexibility, and resilience.

We need to broaden the definition of caregiving: Workplace systems are usually built with only traditional caregivers in mind. People caring for parents, siblings, or chosen family are often left out of policies and support.

Caregiving can lead to growth, not just strain: While it comes with challenges, caregiving can also develop skills that are powerfully applicable in the workplace. These experiences can build the kind of character and emotional intelligence that is otherwise hard to develop on the job.

Leaders set the tone: Managers act as “climate engineers.” The way they respond to caregiving disclosures shapes whether people feel safe sharing their realities or choose to stay silent.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode encourages us to see caregiving as part of what makes people effective and human at work. It invites leaders to move past assumptions and to notice the invisible responsibilities their people may be carrying. By doing so, they can build more inclusive and supportive workplaces.

About Our Guest

Terrance L. (T. L.) Boyd, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Management and Leadership at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business. A firm believer that representation matters, his research explores how historically marginalized communities show up in dyadic and group interactions, with a particular focus on emotion and cognition in the workplace.

Prior to entering academia, he served as the inaugural director of the Honors College Path Program at the University of Arkansas, a mentoring initiative designed to increase diversity in honors education and graduation. His scholarship seeks to create knowledge that reflects the nuanced realities of those often excluded from mainstream research.

T.L. is a co-author of the paper “Out of the Shadows: Bringing Nontraditional Caregiving to the Foreground of Management Research,” which can be found here.

Connect with him on LinkedIn and visit the companion blog on our website for deeper insights from this episode.