What does it truly take to build a culture where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to do their best work? In this inspiring episode of the podcast, host Rebecca Dhrimaj sits down with HR executive Donna Long for a deeply candid conversation on the transformational power of empathetic leadership.

Donna shares her unique and circuitous career path—starting from her early days in hair and makeup inspired by trailblazing Dayton news anchor Marsha Bonhart, through data analytics, and ultimately into Human Resources, where her passion for people finally aligned with her profession. Together, Rebecca and Donna unpack why leadership in high-pressure environments, such as healthcare, requires us to slow down, build self-awareness around our triggers, and choose understanding over speed.