Bridging Worlds: Spirituality, Leadership, and Workplace Transformation, with Judi Neal

In this episode of Spirituality in Leadership, host Andrew Cohn sits down with Judi Neal, a pioneer in workplace spirituality and the force behind the Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality and Edgewalkers International. Judi opens up about her personal journey, including her time at Honeywell, where she took a stand as a whistleblower—an experience that reshaped her understanding of integrity, trust, and spiritual resilience.

Together, Andrew and Judi explore how spirituality can transform leadership and workplace culture, making organizations more compassionate, ethical, and inclusive. Drawing insights from her books Inspiring Workplace Spirituality, Edgewalkers, and Creating Enlightened Organizations, Judi shares practical ways to integrate faith and spirituality into daily work life—no matter your beliefs.

This conversation is for anyone looking to lead with greater purpose, foster a more inclusive workplace, or simply navigate their career with a deeper sense of meaning. 

Key Takeaways

• Integration of spirituality into leadership and business practices

• The concept of blessings in the workplace and recognizing inherent value

• Personal experiences and stories related to workplace spirituality

• The ethical dilemma faced by a whistleblower and its impact on personal values

• The importance of aligning personal values with professional responsibilities

• Fostering a culture of appreciation, trust, and community in organizations

• The transformative power of spirituality in creating ethical and compassionate work environments

• Impact of spirituality on leadership styles and organizational culture

• The concept of "edge walkers" as individuals bridging material and spiritual worlds

• Mindfulness and self-reflection as tools for effective leadership

• Addressing skepticism and resistance to spirituality in professional contexts

• Resources and frameworks for implementing spirituality in organizations

In This Episode:

• (00:00:01) Introduction to appreciative inquiry  

• (00:01:09) Introduction of Judi Neal  

• (00:03:28) Reading from Inspiring Workplace Spirituality

• (00:04:48) Moment of silence  

• (00:06:05) Concept of blessing  

• (00:07:26) Transforming judgment to blessing  

• (00:10:07) Impact of workplace negativity  

• (00:10:52) Appreciative inquiry practice  

• (00:11:00) Discussion on blessing and religion  

• (00:12:39) Cultural creative study insights  

• (00:14:45) Judi's journey into spirituality  

• (00:15:49) Whistleblower experience at Honeywell  

• (00:16:51) Moral dilemma in the workplace  

• (00:20:46) Spiritual awakening  

• (00:23:24) Consequences of whistleblowing  

• (00:24:33) Spiritual awakening and connection 

• (00:26:35) Legal action against Honeywell  

• (00:28:44) Teaching management and tokenism

• (00:31:10) Common themes among leaders  

• (00:33:23) Reception of spirituality in the workplace  

• (00:33:49) Defining religion, spirituality, and faith  

• (00:35:48) Building bridges between worldviews  

• (00:39:14) Authenticity and trust in organizations  

• (00:39:59) Creating space for conversations  

• (00:41:26) Practices for opening doors to meaning   

• (00:43:47) Inspirational reading assignments  

• (00:46:47) Eileen Fisher's personal growth initiative  

• (00:48:04) Spirituality as a dimension of diversity  

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