Seen, Heard, Valued: The New Currency of Leadership

Laura Cooke, CEO and Co-Founder of Positive Foundry, brings a forward-looking keynote to PeopleFirst Summit ’25. In “Seen, Heard, Valued: The New Currency of Leadership,” she argues that in an age of burnout and declining engagement, leaders must shift focus from managing function to helping people flourish. Drawing on insights from Gallup, McKinsey, and Harvard, Laura outlines the drivers of discretionary effort, innovation, and loyalty. She shows how small, intentional leadership actions—demonstrating genuine recognition, listening deeply, fostering belonging—can unlock resilience and transform culture. Her talk is a call to move beyond traditional engagement models toward cultivating flourishing teams. For leaders seeking to inspire loyalty and performance in uncertain times, Laura’s session is essential viewing. Watch on-demand to discover how to lead with connection, meaning, and humanity.