In this episode of Leadership With Heart, I sit down with Kirstin Guptill, Chief People Officer at HopeWest, to explore how leadership is evolving beyond administration into deeply human, strategic, and transformative work.

Kirstin shares her experience stepping into a brand new CPO role at a nonprofit that supports people through some of life's most challenging moments. With a background in HR leadership and a passion for building cultures that prioritize connection, she walks us through her approach to shaping employee experiences, driving retention, and ensuring that workplace culture is more than just a buzzword. Every team member must feel it.

We also discuss the power of boomerang employees, the importance of designing recruitment processes that truly attract the right people, and how organizations can move from a transactional approach to a relational one. Kirstin’s insights highlight why great leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about asking the right questions, listening, and creating a workplace where people do not just work,

they belong beyond the workplace. We talk about something we all need to embrace more, self-leadership. Kirstin shares how working in hospice and palliative care has deepened her gratitude and reshaped how she approaches life outside of work.

This conversation is full of wisdom for anyone looking to step up as a leader, build a culture of belonging, or rethink what it means to support people, whether in the workplace or in their most vulnerable moments.

So how do you define leadership with heart, and what steps are you taking to build a workplace where people want to be? Let’s talk about it.