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Workday Playdate

321: Why Everyone’s Obsessed With Harvard’s #1 Leadership Class - And What You’ll Steal From It with Margaret Andrews

Dec 17, 2025 · 38 min · Episode 321 · 37.4 MB
0:00-38:03

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In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin welcomes Margaret Andrews—Harvard professor, leadership expert, and architect behind Harvard’s #1 leadership course—to unpack why this class has everyone talking.Together, Erin and Margaret explore why the most effective leaders manage themselves first; how vision setting starts with exploring possibilities rather than forcing answers; and why play, creativity, and emotional awareness are non-negotiable leadership skills. Margaret shares stories from teaching executives at Amazon, Walmart, Citi, the UN, and beyond, plus lessons from her book Manage Yourself to Lead Others. The big takeaway? Leadership is about self-awareness, intention, and creating space for humans to be human at work.
Inside This Episode:

  • Why Harvard’s #1 Leadership Class Works: The self-management framework that helps leaders lead with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.
  • Vision Setting, Reimagined: Why great vision starts with exploring possibilities before setting intentions.
  • Self-Awareness = Career Insurance: The small daily practices that prevent burnout, derailment, and leadership misfires.
  • Play + Creativity at Work: How joy, laughter, and improv-adjacent thinking unlock better ideas and stronger teams.
  • Manage Yourself First: The core leadership skill most people skip—and why it changes everything.
  • Questions > Answers: How better questions lead to better leadership, decisions, and cultures.

Who This Episode Is For:
  • People leaders who want to lead with empathy, clarity, and confidence.
  • High performers feeling burnt out, stuck, or pressured to “be a certain kind of leader.”
  • Anyone curious about why Harvard’s top leadership class is so popular—and how to apply its lessons at work today.

Your FreebieYou’ve tried the emails, the all-hands rollout, and the polished decks, but the vision still isn’t landing.That’s because people don’t buy into a vision that’s presented to them; they buy into one they help shape. The 30-Minute Vision-Setting Meeting Template gives you a simple, human-centered way to create alignment, spark ownership, and build real momentum. Download it here.
No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)
  • Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
  • Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
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  • Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
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Connect with Margaret Andrews
Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

🌟 Learn more about Workday Playdate: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/podcast-page
🎤 Book Erin to speak: https://passionstruckspeakers.com/speakers/erin-diehl/
📚 Workshops & Team Experiences: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/experiential-training
💌 Learn more about Erin: https://www.itserindiehl.com/meet-erin
📱 For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Loved this episode?

If this conversation made you think differently about work, leadership, or building joyful teams, please follow Workday Playdate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use more play in their workday.


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