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In this powerful episode of The Business Bookmark, hosts Howard Montagu and Harjit Chana unpack Simon Sinek’s bestselling book Leaders Eat Last—a must-read for anyone in leadership, management, or aspiring to inspire.

Discover how the best leaders create psychological safety, foster a circle of trust, and build thriving cultures by putting people first. From the US Marine Corps to Google’s Project Aristotle, and crisis leadership in the Tylenol recall, this episode is packed with real-world case studies, biological insights, and practical strategies to lead with empathy and impact.

Whether you’re leading a team, growing a business, or navigating change, this episode will equip you with the tools to prioritize people over profits and achieve sustainable success.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The true meaning of leadership and why safety and trust are core to performance
• How to build a resilient circle of safety within your organization
• Why the metrics trap and short-termism can destroy long-term success
• The biological impact of leadership – understanding dopamine, cortisol, and oxytocin
• How companies like Barry-Wehmiller and Tylenol embody values-led leadership
• The dark side of leadership through the lens of Goldman Sachs’ Abacus scandal
• Actionable ideas to create a people-first culture that thrives in the modern workplace

🕒 Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: What Makes Teams Succeed?

00:59 – Simon Sinek’s Core Message Explained

01:46 – Building the “Circle of Trust”

02:08 – The Buffalo Fable: Culture in Action

04:03 – What Happens When Workplaces Feel Unsafe

06:48 – Leadership and Human Biology

09:43 – The Rise of Cortisol-Driven Cultures

10:35 – Goldman Sachs and the Ethics of Profit

13:26 – Building Sustainable Leadership with Trust

19:02 – Why Autonomy & Empowerment Matter

22:11 – Peer Recognition: A Simple, Powerful Tool

22:29 – Barry-Wehmiller’s Cultural Turnaround

24:19 – The Metrics Trap: When Numbers Mislead

24:33 – Jack Welch and the Cost of Shareholder Primacy

32:00 – Tylenol Crisis: Values in Action

33:49 – Crisis Leadership Done Right

34:11 – Why Trust Is the Ultimate Leadership Tool

38:50 – Strengths & Gaps in Leaders Eat Last

41:35 – Final Reflections & Practical Takeaways