In this deeply reflective conversation, Raj Sisodia and Nalima Bhat explore why even the smartest, most successful leaders can suddenly find themselves stuck, hitting an invisible ceiling that strategy, coaching, or performance optimization alone cannot break. Drawing from their new book, Healing Leaders: A Manual for Life and Leadership Recovery, they make the case that leadership development without inner healing is fundamentally incomplete.

To see the full video podcast, check out the Conscious Capitalists YouTube channel here

Together, we unpack how unhealed psychological wounds quietly shape decision making, relationships, and organizational culture, often sabotaging leaders at the very height of their success. Raj and Nalima introduce their seven step framework for healing and integration, Know, Love, Be, Choose, Express, Complete, and Heal, guiding leaders on a journey that begins with self awareness and ends with genuine transformation.

The conversation moves into the distinction between post traumatic stress and post traumatic growth, and why real growth requires what they describe as going down to the basement of consciousness before rising to the next level of leadership. Nalima shares insights on integrating masculine and feminine energies, elder and child wisdom, and embracing the role of the wise fool of tough love, a leader grounded in both compassion and truth.

At its core, this episode challenges the idea that leadership is only about external results. As Raj puts it, you cannot have a healing organization with a leader who is not healed. The more leaders do their own inner work, the more they create cultures that foster trust, psychological safety, and collective flourishing.

This is not just a conversation about business or leadership performance. It is about what it truly means to lead in a way that heals organizations, communities, and ultimately the world.

About the Guest

Nalima Bhat is a visionary speaker, leadership coach, and co author of Shakti Leadership, and a former Distinguished Professor in Gender and Conscious Leadership at Tecnológico de Monterrey.

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For transcripts and show notes, please go to: https://www.theconsciouscapitalists.com

This show is presented by Conscious Capitalism, Inc. (https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/) and is produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co/) with Matthew “MoJo” Jones as Executive Producer, and Nathan Wheatley as Associate Producer & Editor.

Thank you for your support!

- Timothy & Raj

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction & Welcome
1:30 - Why This Book? The Journey to Healing Leaders
4:57 - From Shakti Leadership to Therapy for Leaders
6:35 - The Seven Steps of Healing Overview
10:55 - Coaching vs. Psychological Healing
15:55 - When Smart Leaders Get Stuck
20:02 - Step 1: Know Yourself - Unpacking Identity
24:21 - Step 2: Love Yourself - Breaking Self-Destructive Patterns
26:53 - Step 3: Be Yourself - Cultivating Presence
29:21 - Step 4: Choose Yourself - From Victim to Hero
31:09 - Step 5: Express Yourself - Finding Your Purpose
36:47 - Step 6: Complete Yourself - The Wise Fool of Tough Love
40:19 - Step 7: Heal Yourself - Addressing Trauma & Wounds
47:59 - Healing Leaders Creates Healing Organizations
50:05 - Final Reflections & Closing Thoughts

What is The Conscious Capitalists?

Conscious Capitalism: contradiction in terms, or way of the future? Timothy Henry and Raj Sisodia, co-founders of the Conscious Capitalism movement and co-authors of ‘Conscious Capitalism - The Field Guide' get together and discuss current topics from the perspective of enlightened, conscious entrepreneurs and businesses.