Rebels With A Heart

About Rebels With A Heart

Rebels With A Heart is the podcast for leaders who refuse to choose between performance and people. Hosted by Derek Lundsten, CEO of LifeGuides, the show features focused, strategic conversations with executives, CHROs, business leaders, and partners exploring how organizations are evolving to meet the demands of today's world of work — where AI is reshaping how things get done, expectations around leadership and culture are shifting, and the pressure on teams has never been higher. The future of work is changing fast. Rebels With A Heart brings together the leaders shaping it.

Publisher

Powered by LifeGuides

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Oct 2021

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 87 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   What the Future of Work Actually Demands from Leaders

   AI is changing how work gets done. But what does that mean for the people doing the work and the leaders responsible for supporting them? In this episode of Rebels with a Heart, Derek Lundsten, CEO of LifeGuides, sits down with Jim Link, CHRO of SHRM, to explore how AI is reshaping the workplace and why Jim believes organizations may be asking the wrong questions about its impact. They discuss how AI can help managers make better human decisions, why organizations continue to underinvest in middle managers, the shared responsibility for employee wellbeing, and how the role of HR itself is evolving. As Jim puts it, when it comes to what's changed in HR: "The answer is absolutely everything has changed." Listen in for a timely conversation about AI, leadership, and why the future of work may be more human than ever.

2. 

   9 Jun 2026

   Promoted, Pressured, and Underprepared: Rethinking the Role of the Modern Manager

   Organizations are investing heavily in AI, technology, and strategy — yet many are overlooking the most powerful driver of performance: the people manager. More than 90% of HR leaders say managers are critical to business performance. Yet research from SHRM shows a persistent preparedness gap, particularly among first-time and frontline managers, many of whom report feeling under-equipped to lead effectively. At the intersection of performance and wellbeing sits the modern manager — asked to deliver results, support mental health, integrate AI, and retain talent, often without the systems or development to succeed. The result? Burnout at the managerial level, inconsistent employee experience, and weakened organizational resilience. But the same role that represents the greatest vulnerability inside an organization also represents its greatest leverage point. In this episode of Rebels with a Heart, Derek Lundsten sits down with Dr. Alex Alonso, Chief Knowledge Officer at SHRM, to explore: What the data tells us about the widening manager capability gap Why traditional leadership training isn’t translating into daily effectiveness The measurable business impact of manager wellbeing and readiness How organizations can build real, measurable manager readiness In an AI-accelerated world, competitive advantage won’t just come from better tools, it will come from leaders who can protect performance by protecting their people.

3. 

   21 Jan 2025

   Building Genuine Connections with Empathetic Leadership (May 15, 2024)

   In this episode, we'll hear from three guests in hospitality about how empathy not only enhances relationships with customers but also fosters a sense of belonging among employees, creating a ripple effect that positively impacts business.Join the discussion to explore: Cultivating Genuine Connections: Discover how empathy serves as the cornerstone of exceptional customer service, leading to deeper connections and trust between customers and staff. Learn practical strategies for fostering authentic relationships with customers, resulting in memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression and foster a sense of belonging. Embracing Empathetic Leadership: Explore the importance of empathic leadership in hospitality, including how leaders can model empathy, inspire their teams, and create a culture of care and compassion that resonates throughout the organization. Panelists: Arte Nathan, Previously served as the CHRO for Golden Nugget, Mirage Resorts, and Wynn Resorts Lindsey Garito, People & Culture Leader Susana Guerra, Regional Human Resources Manager, KSL Resorts https://www.linkedin.com/in/arte-nathan/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-garito/https://www.linkedin.com/in/susana-guerra-49504343/Arthur “Arte” Nathan served as Chief Human Resources Officer for Golden Nugget, Mirage Resorts, and Wynn Resorts from 1983 – 2006: he opened and helped operate all of their casinos in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Mississippi and China. Arte retired from the gaming industry in 2006 and helped develop and open the Resort at Pelican Hill. Throughout his career, Arte oversaw all aspects of HR including talent acquisition, training and development, compensation, workplace safety, labor and employee relations, employee communications, human resource information systems, and employee engagement. He currently serves on the Board of several companies, consults with hospitality and service companies worldwide, and writes a daily motivational blog.Lindsey Garito is a senior HR/People leader with 20 years of progressive experience in the field of human resources. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in HR Management from Pace University and will graduate in May 2024 with her MBA. Lindsey holds SHRM-SCP and SPHR certifications. Lindsey is the proud recipient of the 2023 Susan R. Meisinger Fellowship Award through SHRM Foundation. Throughout her career, Lindsey has worked in various disciplines of HR including talent acquisition, total rewards, performance management, compensation, HR technology, employee relations, and general HR. Her industry experience includes consumer services, healthcare, and hospitality. Lindsey actively serves on the board of Westchester Human Resource Management Association as Emerging Professionals Chair. She also volunteers in SHRM’s national career mentoring program. Lindsey is a thought leader and regularly shares her insights and experiences in various publications and media and is a member of the Forbes Human Resources Council.Susana is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 20 years of experience in various HR functions. Her expertise lies in Employee Relations, planning and organizing recruiting and staffing efforts, Benefits and Compensation, Training, and working in both union and non-union environments. She is currently Regional Human Resources Manager at KSL Resorts. Previously, she served as the Corporate Director of Talent and Purpose at Legacy Vacation Resorts. One of Susana's notable accomplishments is her contribution to Legacy Vacation Resorts becoming a B Certified company, demonstrating her commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Inside a recent episode

Rebels Leader Series - Speaking Your Authentic Truth with Kacy Fleming (March 2023)

Published 1 Apr 2023 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Right. So it's really every time you're. You're doing something, whether it's new or something old, it's keeping that beginner's mindset and really being aware of yourself and not beating yourself up when you make a mistake, but. Taking the time to process that to move on so that you just keep doing better, not your best, not perfect, not amazing, just your best every day. And I think that's what I mean when I mean doing the work is really figuring all that messy middle stuff out that's always happening. I love your philosophy around this and your definition and the specifics that you've been. […]

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