Carley Hauck is a learning architect, leadership development consultant, author, speaker, and serves as adjunct faculty at Stanford University and UC Berkeley Haas School of Business teaching on the subject of leadership and business as a platform for positive change in the world.

For the last decade, she has served hundreds of leaders and companies in Fortune 100 companies and high growth start-ups such as: LinkedIn, Genentech, Pixar, Clif Bar, Intuit, Bank of the West, etc. to uplevel their inclusive leadership skills, cultivate their recipes for resilience, and create thriving workplaces and mission driven businesses. Carley feels inspired to guide leaders with a new skill set of tools to support the next paradigm of conscious leadership and business that is emerging in our changing world. In her upcoming book, Shine- Ignite your inner game to lead consciously at work and the world, Carley guides readers on a transformational inner to outer journey to inspire a new workplace and world that works for everyone and prioritizes people and planet first.

Carley’s writing and work has been featured in Mindful Magazine, Conscious Company Media, 15 Five, and Emerging Women. Additionally, Carley is the host of the inspiring Shine podcast. She interviews leaders on the practices and tools they use to rise amidst adversity, lead with authenticity, love, and influence business to be a force for good in the world. 

Q: What inspired you to found Leading from Wholeness and what were the main challenges you faced?

I began my business in 2010 after being invited to give a training to senior lawyers at Littler Mendelson in SF on how to increase their resilience to stress.  I believe that the people who hold positions of social capital, leadership, and influence in the workplace have so much power to create positive change in the world.  In my business, I create uniquely tailored learning initiatives, DEI trainings, and manager development programs to support workplaces that inspire greater self-awareness, emotional intelligence, collaboration, empathy, compassion, and courage so that everyone can bring their whole selves to work and thrive.  

I have had many challenges in my 10+ career as a learning architect and leadership development professional.  I have been fortunate to work with so many amazing companies such as: LinkedIn, Asana, Pixar, Clif Bar, Genentech, Bank of the West, and as adjunct faculty at Stanford University and UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.  I would say the biggest challenge has been finding the right talent and people with complimentary skill sets that I could delegate more of my tasks and responsibilities so that I could work more in my zone of genius, instead of managing everything and everyone.  As the founder of my business, I have worked in every dimension of marketing, business development, design, facilitation, project management, gathering metrics and data analysis of programs, vendor management, and finally to stakeholder management.  I have also continued to grow my knowledge and expertise over many different workplace topics of talent management, employee engagement, manager development, senior leadership development, and DEI.  

Q: Did you start the venture alone? 

Yes.

Q: In your opinion, what are some key opportunities in the leadership development space going forward?

I believe what is going to foster our greatest success in solving some of the larger problems in the workplace, but also that humanity is facing is in how we come together as teams, but then in the greater organization.  This is going to require that workers, managers, and leaders have similar skill sets of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, compassion, empathy, communication, and courage.  If we all do the inner work and commit to learning, growth, and development with greater enthusiasm to become the best versions of ourselves possible, then we will thrive.  This COIVD world is requiring us and giving us a huge opportunity at work and in the world, to hospice out the systems and structures that have led to oppression, complicity, inequity, and harm.  We can create new structures and systems that support greater health, equity, inclusion, and a regenerative business model that is self-sustaining vs. depleting to those in the workplace and the natural ecosystem of our planet.   

Q: Do you think luck played a role in the success of your company?

No, tenacity, resilience, persistence, and love.  

Q: What are your goals for the future?

My desire is to pivot from my 10 year consulting business to a Senior L & D role with the right team and company.  I feel excited to bring my greatest gifts and love to support an inclusive and thriving workplace that is going to make a positive impact on humanity and the world. 

Q: If you had to start over, what would you do differently?

I would have started with some seed money, a great business coach who could have guided me along the way. I found one many years later which was somewhat helpful, but starting earlier would have been smart. I had no funding and just pure vision and motivation to serve and do good in the world when I began my business. I learned by failing and I feel if I had had more mentorship earlier on, I probably could have fallen down less, but it definitely helped me to learn and grow. I also learned to do what was working and stop what wasn’t working. 

I would have put more effort on find a business partner early on so I could have worked smarter, not harder. With that said, 60% if co-founders break up within 1-2 years.  

Q: Can you talk about one woman who has impacted your life?    

Lynne Twist is one of the many women leaders who have inspired and impacted me in significantly positive ways. Lynne is the author of the Soul of Money and co- founder of the Pachamama Alliance, is an elder in my life who wrote the foreword for my upcoming book- Shine- Ignite your inner game to lead consciously at work and in the world. Her passion, intelligence, and vision for the new world emerging and the dismantling of systems that we see now in the midst of COVID19 was something she has been speaking on for several years. She inspired me with the hope and the great privilege and responsibility we all have to be part of the change. I believe those who hold positions of power and influence in business have a huge opportunity to be that change for good and it must began now.  

Q: What are your favorite books?

There are so many!  In the leadership and work culture space I will name 4 who are all written by dear friends and colleagues of mine.  

Chip Conley Wisdom at Work

Jennifer Brown- How to be an Inclusive Leader

Dr. Maysa Akbar- Beyond Ally

Brene Brown- Dare to Lead

Sheryl O Loughlin- Killing It 

Q: What's your advice for female founders who are just starting out?

The first 3-5 years are going to be intense. Be mindful of burnout and create a strong foundation of well being and self care practices from the beginning. A business is like a baby, I wouldn’t recommend doing it alone. It takes a village.

Learn to delegate what you don’t like or are not your strengths sooner rather than later. Learn to fail fast.

You are going to fall down a lot, but its just part of the process of learning and growth. Also, seek a business partner and/or a great team who are aligned with your mission and then appreciate them and hold them accountable and give them the skills and tools to thrive. Be the light and shine the light! ☺