Our understanding and definition of what excellent leadership is can vary greatly across continents, countries, and cultures. It is also influenced by individual characteristics such as age, gender, and heritage. And as newer generations enter, and progress, within the workforce, so too do their values and preferences. One of the most notable shifts currently taking place is how we value emotional intelligence (particularly in the workplace) and the growing recognition of its role in cultivating exceptional leadership. Joining us today on the show to help us unpack this nuanced topic is Luis Moreno, an expert in emotional intelligence and human-centered leadership with a special interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Luis has long been an advocate for the important role of emotional intelligence when it comes to leadership. His many years at various Fortune 500 companies exposed him to a range of leadership styles and taught him how to recognize the type of leaders that bring out the best in their employees. This inspired him to establish his platform LuisMorenoTCBPN (The Twin Cities Business Peer Network), where he is training a new generation of leaders to be more effective, more inclusive, and more human-centered in their thinking, behaviors and communication. In our conversation, we discuss the concept of emotional intelligence, how it can help you become a great leader, and how Luis is seeing this play out in organizations around the world. He goes on to explore the notion of empathy, its role in the workplace, and why understanding and respecting someone’s perspective doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with them. Luis also breaks down the responsibility organizations have when it comes to investing in leadership training and how this will help them avoid key problem areas such as a lack of engagement from employees and a high turnover rate. Today’s conversation will leave you with a new appreciation for what it means to be a thoughtful and conscientious leader. Tune in to hear all of Luis’s thought-provoking insights and observations on how the world is re-examining empathy, emotional intelligence, and leadership and why that re-examination is critical for the success of businesses, employees and work cultures today.   Key Highlights From This Episode:  Introducing Luis Moreno, his career trajectory, and what his work at multiple Fortune 500 hundred companies has taught him about leadership. [01:30] Understanding the complex conversation on being ‘liked’ versus ‘respected’ as a leader and the downsides that accompany the fear of not being liked. [06:27]  The image companies project about themselves concerning issues like diversity, equity, and inclusion, versus the reality of what they’re actually implementing, and how this affects employees. [11:48] An overview of emotional intelligence, how it can make you a better leader, and why it results in superior decision-making and improved outcomes in the long term. [16:18] The younger generation’s expectations of leaders and why they require leaders to be transparent about their values. [19:21] Training people to understand the impact of their views and how emotional intelligence helps us connect with people who do not share our perspective. [26:55] How emotional intelligence can help you gain an understanding of why an employee or teammate is underperforming. [35:31] Recognizing how corporate environments often don’t allow minorities and people from marginalized communities to excel. [37:48] Learn where you can find Luis and his training online. [39:32] Luis’s parting message on emotional intelligence: the value of finding appreciation for someone else’s interests and how this can be applied to the workplace. [40:41] For More Information:  LuisMorenoTCBPN  Luis Moreno on LinkedIn Luis Moreno TCBPN on Twitter Luis Moreno TCBPN on Instagram Luis Moreno TCBPN on YouTube The Twin Cities Bu