Episode Details

In this episode of Workplace Stories, we sit down with Zane Zumbahlen, Chief People Officer at Wedgwood Veterinary Pharmacy, to explore how vulnerability in leadership can catalyze organizational change.

With a 30-year career spanning IBM, CTCA, and global roles in Sweden and Japan, Zane shares candid stories that reveal the power of low-ego, high-confidence leadership. From active listening sessions that rebuilt trust among skeptical managers to structural programs that flipped the risk equation for women leaders, Zane's journey is a masterclass in how HR leaders can move from intention to impactful systems.

His approach blends authenticity, experimentation, and a relentless drive to make things better, one conversation at a time.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• (00:00) Intro
• (04:21) How vulnerability accelerates trust and change.
• (12:45) The real-life risks of emotional leadership.
• (18:50) Driving systemic transformation from the HR seat.
• (22:33) A roadmap for active listening that leads to measurable action.
• (35:10) Building female leadership pipelines in risk-averse cultures.
• (47:52) Examples of HR-led innovation across global contexts.
• (56:15) Rethinking how credibility and compassion coexist in leadership.

Resources & People Mentioned:

• Wedgwood Veterinary Pharmacy
• Adam Grant on Personal Branding and Trust

Connect with Zane Zumbahlen:

• LinkedIn: Zane Zumbahlen

Connect With Red Thread Research

• Website: Red Thread Research
• On LinkedIn
• On Facebook
• On Twitter

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