Is people development truly the key to business success and societal impact? Join us as we welcome Catherine Allen, co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of AO People Partners, who passionately argues that it is. Catherine sheds light on the transformative power of intentional people development while advocating for a paradigm shift where developing interpersonal skills, such as emotional intelligence, becomes a strategic priority, especially during challenging times. We break down the essential soft skills into core mind skills and people skills. Catherine shares her insights on cognitive-based abilities like executive function, adaptability, and creativity, as well as emotional intelligence-derived skills such as empathy and active listening. Emphasizing the gap between knowledge and practice, Catherine underscores the significance of daily practice and supportive environments for skill development. Learn how these skills are best cultivated through consistent interactions and behaviors within organizations. Our discussion culminates in the creation of a growth-minded, development-centric culture. Catherine illustrates the vital role leaders play in modeling continuous learning and authenticity. She shares real-life examples, including a software company leader who turned project failure into a profound learning opportunity. Discover how fostering a growth mindset, embedding learning rituals, and normalizing a shared language around development can elevate both individual performance and organizational success. Dive into the practical steps leaders can take to embed development into the core of business strategy, ultimately contributing to a thriving workplace and society. What You’ll Learn: • The importance of rethinking why and how organizations develop their employees. • Distinguishing between core mind skills and people skills. • The gap between knowing and doing. • How to create supportive environments to integrate these skills into everyday interactions. • Compelling real-life examples of putting these skills into practice.  • Practical steps to foster a culture of development and continuous learning. Podcast Timestamps: (00:00) - Reimagining People Development in Business (12:15) - Developing Core Soft Skills in Business (19:22) - Fostering a Growth Mindset in Organizations (26:46) – A Model for Leadership Development (42:59) - Creating a Development-Centric Culture More of Catherine: Catherine Allen is the co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of AO People Partners, a leadership development and culture transformation firm dedicated to inspiring and supporting the conscious practice of people development and culture. She specializes in helping executive leaders and teams own, model, and drive the integration of business and people development within their organizations. With a 30-year track record in leadership and consulting, Catherine assists executive leaders in designing strategies, navigating the complex human realities of organizational life. She holds an MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. Catherine is also the co-author of "Conscious, Capable, and Ready to Contribute: How Employee Development Can Become the Highest Form of Social Contribution." LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineallenao/ Mentions: Conscious, Capable, and Ready to Contribute: How Employee Development Can Become the Highest Form of Social Contribution by Ed Offterdinger and Catherine Allen  Key Topics Discussed: Positive Leadership, Employee Development, Societal Impact, Intentional People Development, Interpersonal Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Navigating Challenging Times, Developing Soft Skills, Growth Mindset, Creativity, Empathy, Active Listening, Organizational Change, Self-awareness, Authenticity, Continuous Learning, Development-Centric Culture More of Do Good to Lead Well: Website: https://craigdowden.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.c