Hema Vyas

From silent heartache to authentic leadership

Google

The Guardian

Visa Inc.

Dubai Future Foundation

Deloitte

30+ yrs Empowering 1000s | UK Top 4 Innovation Mentor | Pioneering Psychologist

Uncover how overthinking is tied to unconscious beliefs. When we clear the roots, space is created for the new to emerge

How to recognise and explore silent patterns

Tuning into heart intelligence allows you to move from overthinking to incisive thinking, reflection to right action

How to activate your heart intelligence  in decision-making

Evaluate your work traits critically, even "landing on your feet." While positive, these may be keeping you from growing

Evolve past your comfort zone

COURSE CONTENT:8 Hours over one weekend, and 2 bonus hours before and after, combining presentations and case studies, interactive exercises in small groups and self reflection time. OVERVIEW: You are already comfortable managing others, but to get to the next level of leading large teams, you are aware that you need to be able to identify and drive transformative opportunities for the business, assess and lean into the risks associated with them, overcome your own fears of putting your ideas on the line, and inspire followership from others. You also know that this level of leadership can be exhausting - and require resilience in the face of push back or results taking longer to achieve than you hoped. Its tempting to "put off" the time it takes to work on these topics, but if you can invest the time now, it will make your leadership impact, visibility and effectiveness significantly stronger, by not having your own fears, or perceived weaknesses getting in your way. KEY TOPICS INCLUDED: 1. Establish your leadership advantage.- How to stop comparing yourself to others and instead lean into your own unique strengths as a leader- How to overcome imposter syndrome and tap into your courage to be confident leading at a higher level- How to get comfortable admitting what you don't know - and inviting others in to help as your support system to grow your confidence- How to get comfortable leading others on a larger team who's functional skills are outside your own knowledge and/or who have more age/experience than you- How to inspire and influence others to come along with ideas you are championing 2. See the opportunities that others won't. - Finding the gap - how to leverage foresight instead of hindsight in the pursuit of breakthrough strategies- How and when to tap into your instincts, when data isn't available for decision making- How to understand when a breakthrough opportunity is achievable with your team and your resources 3. Overcome your fears.- How to understand what holds you back from making bold moves- How to understand your tolerance for risk in relation to others to get confident to make more transformative moves- How to bounce back and recalibrate when things do not go as you expect 4. Navigating the politics. - How to get the confidence to invite dissent and assess the input and feedback from others who do not support your bold moves- How to go from trying to "convince" others, to "co-creating the future" with others.- How to read the room and ensure peer and team discussion is transparent and constructive- How to react when you know colleagues are not supporting your plans- How to make decisions when your team are disagreeing with each other and need you to break the tie 5. Fuel your endurance. - How to understand your unique energy needs to ensure that you prevent burnout during times of great stress- How to understand the different energy needs of others on your team so that you can work together to meet the collective team's needs 6. Build a culture of high performance fun.- How to leverage your own unique style to inspire others and build authentic followership- How to set your team "house rules" to establish a culture of high expectations and high results- How to build an inclusive team that is comfortable with dissent This is a course that is designed to get you out of your comfort zone. To get to the senior levels, it is not enough to deliver on your own existing KPIs, it requires you signaling that you are the kind of leader that is proactive and has courage, conviction and the ability to influence. This course will get you out of the text book and in to real life examples to "road test" how you would react. Course material and advice is based on real life case studies from Sarah's business experience moving from a manager of a small team of 5 individual contributors at one company, and then moving her way up to leading the complete transformation and turnaround of the $5Bn global Gatorade business less than 10 years later. Sarah is a proven coach and developer of talent, having managed teams as small as 5 and as large as 15,000. She led the reinvention and turnaround of the $5Bn Gatorade business as its global president, before leading the digital transformation of Equinox Fitness Clubs as president. Sarah has also taught workshops to over 500 young professionals, with an average NPS rating in the 60s. TESTIMONIALS FROM STUDENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN SARAH'S IN PERSON WORKSHOPS "It was a really fun two days taking the time to reflect on really important "stuff" that I normally don't make time for. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the day to day grind of work without pausing to take that time to check in with yourself. I'm also rarely surrounded by such an inspirational group of people who have relevant complementary skillsets and experiences to my own. I find that hearing others' goals pushed me to think bigger and take on even more. Thank you!Head of Client Services for an Innovation Agency "Loved this! Will definitely recommend to friends. Loved the interactive exercises - especially the debate one and the compliment one. The discussion about my blind spots (figure out weaknesses and the anti-you) was SO helpful. The group made me think about things I never would have realized. Exercise about pain training was so helpful and almost therapeutic to hear others fears and commiserate."Product Leader "I loved it. Great format with lots of variety. I came away feeling motivated to make change, supported by those around me, and inspired by everyone in the room. I would be most likely to recommend this to someone who has been considering a leap, or who has tangible goals in mind."Director of Strategy "This was a great experience. It flew by, which doesn’t happen with these types of workshops. I really liked the layout of content and the perfect combination of case studies and larger group talk. You created a safe space for everyone to be vulnerable, supportive, encouraging and excited."Director Programming and Operations "Very challenging, ahead of the game and awe-inspiring workshop."IT Strategy Consultant

An interactive weekend immersive, that  uses real situations to teach students.


Course syllabus

Pre course meet n greet session for students

Friday July 11th

<ul><li>All sessions are recorded</li><li>Students have lifetime access</li></ul>

Saturday July 12th and Sunday July 13th

Post course office hours for students

Friday July 18th

Course schedule

You have 8-10 years of experience and aspire to, or have landed your first leadership role with a large team and want to assert your vision

You are shifting from managing individual contributors to leading through managers and you want to create a culture of high performance fun

You need to step onto a bigger leadership stage and want to know how to establish your vision to make transformative high impact moves

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course

By reviewing insights from personality inventories and peers, you'll establish a clear framework that you can turn back to that articulates your most confident leadership style so that you can cultivate courage to lead others with skills and experiences beyond your own.

Confidence and strength to lead. Identify your competitive advantage as a leader to leverage your strengths and support your weaknesses.


Through an interactive exercise, you will explore the differences in your unique style for thinking and sharing your ideas, so you can develop your plan to create a culture of high performance with others, to help you drive high impact results.

Insights on building a high performing team. Understand how your style best plays, to improve your ability to get results through others.


Through an interactive case study based game, you will learn how to hone your instincts, and when to use them to see opportunities that others can't so that you are able to break through and add value to the business that others may not.

Strategies for identifying opportunities for growth. How to find the gap - and see opportunities for yourself, your team and your company.


Through a framework for group discussion, you will develop an understanding of your tolerance for risk in relation to others, and you will develop a personal strategy for overcoming your fears of making mistakes, which is critical when leading at the senior level.

Methods for facing your fears. Analyze what holds you back and establish strategies for risk taking, that enable you to drive change.


Through real life case studies you will learn how to navigate politics, influence others, turn to team mates for support when your fears kick in, and develop a willingness to admit that you don't have all the answers - a requirement for creating followership of large teams.

Techniques for top down and bottom up communication. How to get buy in, navigate politics and influence stakeholders to support your vision.


You will participate in an interactive case study assignment to teach you how to assess the long range viability of your greatest transformational moves, as it is critical at the senior level to understand how to evolve and sustain your biggest ideas.

Clear understanding of social cues. Apply a framework to know when to play harder, to pivot or to walk away from ideas you have championed.


You will spend time understanding your own needs around health, wellbeing and energy management so that you can prevent burnout. You will develop a framework to create a set of commitments to yourself that ensure you're endurance for the long leadership road ahead.

Strategies for sustaining yourself. How to establish the unique rituals that you will need to prioritize your own health and wellbeing.


Learn to lead boldly, assess risks, and drive change. Gain confidence to inspire large teams and seize breakthrough leadership opportunities


Sarah Robb O'Hagan

Cohort 2

Cohort 4

But not everyone thinks the way you do, and you need the skills to be effective with everyone. Being your unfiltered self at work is like showing up in pajamas - comfortable, but not helping your career. Here's the truth: more than two-thirds of us are perceived differently than we intend at work. That gap is likely keeping you from achieving your goals - but you can fix it. In this live, cohort-based learning experience, you'll discover exactly how others perceive the strengths and weaknesses of your communication style. You'll practice concrete tools to help you adapt when needed. You'll leave knowing how to read any room and adjust your approach for maximum impact. Through live sessions, practical exercises, and real-world applications, you'll master the Communciations Comfort Zone framework. This isn't theory - it's a battle tested approach used by top performers to: 🏆 Win trust rapidly by identifying and breaking down communication barriers 💥 Approach challenging conversations with confidence 🤔 Stop wondering where conversations went wrong and learn to recognize the warning signs of misperception in real-time 🤖 Reinforce your learning and get suggestions post-course with our exclusive Communication Comfort Zone AI tool Want to learn more? Let's chat: https://calendly.com/sheilaosullivan/communication-style-course-exploratory-call-20-mins

Your authentic style is perfect - for people exactly like you.

Please plan to be live and on camera at this time

Two 1.5 hour sessions in one week, with an optional office hour/Q&A

Cohort participants will need to complete a self-rating survey. The assignment must be completed no later than 24 hours prior to the start of the cohort.

Prep work

New managers or managers taking on new teams who want to quickly understand the team, gain its respect and get results quickly.

The experienced executive who wants to coach young managers on leadership communication to help them reach their potential.

The individual contributor who wants to successfully influence others and advance ideas more effectively.

Who this is perfect for:

What you’ll actually learn

<ul><li>Discover exactly how others perceive your communication style</li><li>Identify where your natural tendencies help or hurt you</li><li>Get concrete tools to adapt your approach when needed</li><li>Access ongoing AI powered feedback post-course</li></ul>

See your blind spots clearly

<ul><li>Learn to read communication preferences in real-time</li><li>Spot potential conflicts before they arise</li><li>Adapt your communication to build trust quickly</li><li>Get practical scripts for different scenarios</li></ul>

Map your stakeholders effectively

<ul><li>Handle high-stakes conversations confidently</li><li>Move seamlessly between zones</li><li>Turn potential tension into productive dialogues</li><li>Practice with real-world scenarios in a safe environment</li></ul>

Master cross-zone communication

Being your authentic self at work: is it working for you or against you? It's both. Learn a proven model to persuade and win more often.

Sheila O'Sullivan

Sep 29-31, 2025 12pm - 1:30pm ET

Nov 3-5, 2025 12-1:30pm ET

The ChallengeYour days are filled with:🗓️ back-to-back meetings,🚀 sky-high customer or investor expectations,⏱️ wishes that your team could move faster sooner,🔥 wishes that you could move even faster and work on what really matters instead of fighting fires. You start each day with the best intentions, but somehow find yourself constantly reacting instead of leading.&nbsp;Sure, it would be nice to focus on your own goals, but you care about those other people (or at least some of them 😁). They’re colleagues and customers, family and friends... How can you collaborate with them responsively without forsaking your goals and becoming just a (re-)Actor in their story? 🎬 ✨ You wonder if AI can help, you wonder how other leaders are using AI to manage it all and manage their teams—but honestly, who's got the time to figure that out? ⏳ You have a constant, lurking anxiety about what’s falling through the cracks or not getting done, so you work faster. As you try to move faster, people fall short of your expectations and their potential. It causes friction and frustration (even if you hide it well). It's uncomfortable to call out, so you avoid giving feedback or mention it lightly, which makes the situation more uncomfortable. Eventually, you decide to give feedback. Sometimes it goes okay. Often, you try to move through and out of the conversation as quickly as possible because it feels so awkward. Growth and improvements rarely last. You take on more work yourself to get it done. The Solution (Evidence-based. Immediately applicable.)⏱️&nbsp;EVERYTHING YOU READ BELOW WILL BE ORIENTED TO IMMEDIATE APPLICATION DURING THE COURSE ⏱️What if you could shift from reacting to the constant inputs to creating what matters most and leading your team in that direction--everyday? This course will support you, step by step, in building your Operating System to make this shift. Fancy apps aren't enough. Nor are bursts of motivation. A sustainable Operating System has 3 features:🧰 Tools (simple enough to keep using, and amplified by AI)🔁&nbsp;Habits (the tools don't use themselves...except for some of the AI ones we'll build)🧠 Mindsets (you can "productively" spend your life responding to other people's messages and requests--or build something that matters) No, "perfection" isn't possible (or even desirable). But our days--and our results--completely shift when we focus our attention systematically instead of ad-hoc and reactively. And our conversations shift when we stop trying to fix people and start inspiring them to take action and grow. We teach you how to do this by using straightforward approaches that reliably transform defensiveness and friction into self-reflection, connection, and motivation to grow. You will start to look forward to feedback conversations because you will know how to use them as powerful tools for building trust and deepening connection. You will also explore your own mindsets and beliefs around feedback, identifying your own patterns around conflict avoidance, people-pleasing, and controlling behaviors. AI is woven throughout the course, including:1️⃣ building your own Custom GPTs2️⃣&nbsp;mastering your calendar3️⃣ using AI as a practice partner for difficult conversations and coaching skills4️⃣ helping your team use AI, and so much more! Once you've shifted the way you manage yourself and lead your team conversations, applying evidence-based approaches tested with 1000s of managers and amplified with AI, the whole game becomes fun again. Bonus:📝 You will also get 5 step-by-step facilitation guides for sharing and teaching your team members everything we cover in this course. This helps establish shared language and frameworks within your team/organization, and positions you as the leader of change. 📖&nbsp;You'll also get our 20-page Offsite Playbook with step-by-step guidance on how to design and facilitate unforgettable team and company gatherings. 🚀 And you'll get to do this while in a practice lab with other high-growth leaders.

Spend your days fighting fires or each other?

Tuesdays (+ 1 Thursday)

Weekly Office Hours

High-Growth ManagersReady to move out of IC mode, you want to be the inspiring leader people thank for the rest of their careers.

ExecutivesYou know there's a better way than back-to-back meetings everyday. To scale your impact, you know you must scale yourself first

Startup FoundersYou're expanding your focus from building a product to building a team. And to do so, you need the team to step up fast.

You'll have the Inner and Outer Game in place:<ul><li>A systematic set of habits, tools, and mindsets to define What Matters Most each day and week</li><li>You'll be using your emotions as signals for what needs to happen next</li><li>Your mind will be at ease</li></ul>

Clear Focus & Emotional Balance

Whether you're currently intimidated by AI, curious, or all-in, you will:<ul><li>know exactly how to leverage Claude and ChatGPT to improve your skills and help you prepare for key conversations</li><li>have your own CustomGPT to do a recurring management task FOR you</li></ul>

AI As Your Ally (including your own CustomGPT)

<ul><li>Next Actions template (simplest tool possible to stay organized)</li><li>Weekly Preview Checklist (define what matters most and who should do it)</li><li>Daily Defining Checklist</li></ul>

The Operating System (feel on top of your s***)

<ul><li>Know how to decide WHAT to delegate to increase your leverage</li><li>Know HOW to delegate (to a person or AI) in ways that build confidence and follow-through</li></ul>

The Leverage Framework

<ul><li>GAIN Template for how to structure feedback conversations that inspire response-ability, action, and growth</li><li>how to use AI to prepare and practice</li></ul>

GAIN Feedback Framework

<ul><li>GROW Template for coaching conversations</li><li>The key skill to coach effectively</li><li>Know the difference between a feedback and a coaching conversation</li><li>how to use AI to practice and get feedback on a coaching conversation</li></ul>

GROW Coaching Framework

What if you felt on top of everything?
What if your team were aligning and growing through every conversation with you?

Jack Cohen

Cohort 1

(Nov 7-Dec 12)Again and again, we learn that the expectations and 'shoulds' we live by often rob us of our agency and joy. We feel and perform better when we pause instead to greet reality just as it is—and listen. In that listening, we don’t find easy answers but rather deep understanding: a moral grounding that guides tough decisions and a reliable sense of direction when the world feels upside down. This course brings together the lessons of the five preceding fluencies. Through this series, we’ve been cultivating the ability to see and adapt to change (Reinvention); allowing purpose to guide us (Purpose); using the forces of change to inspire humility and possibility (Foresight); actively engaging in future-building (Innovation); and connecting with others to foster true growth and evolution (Belonging). Now, we are prepared to step into the humility, discernment, and ethical core that define wisdom. Wisdom is not only the work of our lifetime; it is its purpose. This is the last of six fluencies in the Lead Like a Futurist program:Leading Self: Reinvention and Purpose (TBD – join the waitlist at leadlikeafuturist.com)Leading Strategy: Foresight and Innovation (Spring 2025)Leading Culture: Belonging and Wisdom (Fall 2025)Learn more at leadlikeafuturist.com.___________________________________DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!Register for two or more fluencies within a 24-hour period and save big. Indicate your interest on the application to receive your discount code: - Two Fluencies: $100 off each course- Three Fluencies: $125 off each course- Four Fluencies: $150 off each course That's 4 for the price of 3! BONUS: Registering for two or more fluencies grants you access to continued Workroom coaching sessions between courses. This high-value opportunity is exclusively available to those who make this commitment. CERTIFICATION: Students who complete the full Lead Like a Futurist six-fluency leadership program will be awarded a certificate that verifies their achievement and training. This certificate is suitable for framing, adding to your resume, and showcasing on your LinkedIn profile to highlight your leadership development.

Finding clarity and equanimity in an upside down world.

<ul><li>Prework Videos and Readings:&nbsp;Access anytime!</li><li>Recorded Live Sessions:&nbsp;Can’t make it live? Catch up with session recordings.</li><li>Workroom Time on Fridays:&nbsp;A time to dive deeper into the material.</li><li>1:1 Support Calls:&nbsp;Personalized guidance to keep you aligned and moving forward.</li></ul>

If your schedule blows up, we've got you

There are five 90-min live sessions that occur on Wednesdays at 9am CST. This time is suited to a variety of timezones, making it friendly to students across the Americas and Europe.These are the people you've been waiting to meet: thoughtful and passionate—just like you!

A 5-part series

<ul><li>The Prework will generally be 30 minutes of time or less.</li><li>Expect Homework to take 30-60 minutes each week.</li></ul>Additionally, we offer two Workrooms (Optional) for group coaching and project work on Fridays, 9am and 3pm

Prework and Homework

Let the lessons take root with real-life coaching between course, where you'll tackle pressures, politics, and decisions in a supportive community.Available for those registered in 2+ fluencies in 2025.

The Workroom Continues

This course is built for busy professionals

You sense there's a kind of leadership training that will take you to the next level in a way that traditional development doesn't touch.

You want to be a leader who can meet the needs of this next era, equipped to "dance with change as it emerges."

You understand that to be an evolved and effective leader, you have to be an evolved and effective human.

Who this course is for:

Become the Calm in the Center of the Storm

<ul><li>Create ease by aligning perception and action with the natural flow of change.</li><li>Celebrate lightness as the 'fake news' of our belief-driven minds begins to lose its grip.</li></ul>

Awaken to a Simple View of Life on Life’s Terms

<ul><li>Laugh at the paradox that we will never know it all, yet are always right.</li><li>Relax into awe, discovering wonder in any and every moment.</li></ul>

Experience the Softening and Expanding Effects of Humility

<ul><li>Learn to separate facts from feelings, truth from triggers, and reality from fiction.</li><li>Approach study as a vital tool for digging deep into discernment and uncovering wisdom.</li></ul>

Exchange Judgment for Discernment

<ul><li>Accept loss as an inherent part of every decision, meeting it with compassion and grace.</li><li>Master decision-making frameworks and collaborative problem-solving techniques to confidently navigate life’s toughest choices as a leader.</li></ul>

Discover What’s Right to Do When There Are No Right Answers

Today we are drowning in intelligence, yet face a drought of wisdom. This course helps you tap into this most vital, underutilized resource.

Lightning Lessons

From silent heartache to authentic leadership