From Heart to Bottom Line: The ROI of Humanistic Management
Overview
What if leading with humanity was not only the right thing to do, but also the most strategic? In this interactive session, Steve Gund, President and CEO of The Gund Company, shares how Humanistic Management transforms organizations in both human and financial terms. As a business owner who has proven that care, culture, and profitability can thrive together, Steve offers a rare inside look at the measurable ROI of putting people first. Attendees will learn how to connect purpose with performance, build a compelling business case for investing in people, and create workplaces where engagement, innovation, and results all rise together.
Host Company
Lean Leadership Center The Lean Leadership Center partners with CEOs of people-centric companies who struggle with leadership capability and sustainable improvement. Through our coaching-focused approach, we help organizations build leader-led systems that develop independent teams, solve people problems, and drive lasting results. Our clients experience increased engagement, stronger bench strength, and the ability to create limitless organizational value through their people. leanleadershipcenter.com
Presenter
Cheryl Jekiel, facilitator
Cheryl Jekiel, founder of the Lean Leadership Center, works with visionary organizations that require strong people strategies and systems to achieve their business vision. She and her team help leadership teams increase the capability of their people to create limitless organizational value. Jekiel has developed expertise in optimizing lean manufacturing cultures while working with various organizations on their transformational journeys.
Before opening the Lean Leadership Center, Jekiel held numerous senior leadership roles, including head of operations, head of human resources, and chief operating officer. As the author of “Lean Human Resources: Redesigning HR Practices for a Culture of Continuous Improvement,” Jekiel has illuminated how the role of HR in organizations optimizes people’s talents. Jekiel also released a book in 2023 on “Let Go to Lead: Six Habits for Happier, More Independent Teams (With Less Stress and More Time for Yourself).”
Steve Gund is the President and CEO of The Gund Company, a global manufacturer known for its people-first culture and commitment to humanistic leadership. Under his guidance, the company has become a model for aligning operational excellence with care for people. Steve is passionate about developing leaders who create workplaces where both business and humanity can thrive.
Agenda
November 12, 2025 - 12:00-1:00PM
- Opening/Engagement question
- Pair Share
- Breakout Group
- General discussion
- Debrief
- Close out
PARTICIPANT BENEFITS
- A clear framework for linking people-centered leadership to measurable business results.
- Practical language and examples for making a strong business case for culture, training, and staffing investments.
- Insight into how human flourishing drives engagement, retention, and innovation.
- Tools to communicate the ROI of humanity, showing that care and profitability can thrive together.
- Inspiration to lead with both heart and strategy, creating workplaces where people and performance rise together.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Leaders, executives, and HR professionals who want to build thriving, values-driven organizations.
- This session is ideal for anyone interested in servant leadership, operational excellence, and developing a culture where people and performance grow together.
Safety Requirements
OTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
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