Claude Silver on the Courage of Being Yourself at Work | EP 682

What if the greatest transformation in your career doesn’t come from working harder—but from leading with more heart? In this week’s episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Claude Silver , Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia, to explore what it really means to be yourself at work —and why authenticity, empathy, and belonging are the most underrated forces in leadership today. Claude has spent the past decade alongside Gary Vaynerchuk, pioneering a new model of leadership grounded not in authority, but in humanity. Her philosophy is simple yet radical: when people feel seen, valued, and safe to be themselves, everything changes—trust deepens, innovation flourishes, and culture transforms from the inside out. Together, we unpack the neuroscience of belonging, the silent tax of conformity, and why the future of leadership belongs to those brave enough to lead with love. This conversation continues our series The Forces That Shape Us —following episodes on gravity, doubt, luck, defiance, and communication—by uncovering one of the most powerful invisible forces of all: the human heart. 👉 Read the full show notes here! 🎧 Listen + Watch + Go Deeper All episode resources—including guest links, my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store—are gathered here: 👉 linktr.ee/John_R_Miles To learn more about Claude Silver, visit claudesilver.com Fuel your body with purpose Get 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen — clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded. Use code PASSIONSTRUCK at bubsnaturals.com After checkout, tell them our show sent you! Feel younger, sharper, and stronger — from the inside out Get 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies from Timeline, powered by clinically proven Urolithin A. Head to timeline.com/passionstruck Your cells will thank you. 🧠 About the Episode Discover how Claude Silver is redefining leadership as an act of emotional bravery. Learn why “checking your humanity at the door” is the biggest barrier to performance. Understand the neuroscience of belonging and how psychological safety drives innovation. Explore Claude’s Three Habits of Heart-Led Leadership —emotional bravery, emotional optimism, and emotional efficiency. Hear how to bring authenticity back to work and create cultures where people feel seen, valued, and capable of making a difference. Join The Ignited Life Community If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action. 🔗 Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net Support the Movement Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it. Wear it. Live it. Visit StartMattering.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .