Susan Inouye is a transformational executive coach and best‑selling author who helps leaders build cultures of engagement and belonging. We explore her Sawubona approach, which means “I see you,” and the five leader shifts that move teams from control to connection, conformity to seeing and accepting, expectations to intentions, authority to authenticity, and bottom‑line myopia to belonging. We learn to ask people what it takes to engage them, spot their innate gifts, and align work to strengths. We also see how receiving feedback without judgment opens trust across generations. Susan’s stories show how leaders who get present, praise the gift behind the action, and create meaningful work see retention rise and results follow. We leave with practical ways to create workplaces where we feel seen, heard, and part of something bigger.

Highlights

1. Lead with connection - Learn to be present, listen without judgment, and make people feel seen so trust and ideas flow.

2. Spot innate gifts - Identify what energizes each person and align roles and projects to those natural strengths.

3. Shift expectations to intentions - Trade rigid “shoulds” for clear intentions that encourage learning, ownership, and creativity.

4. Model authentic leadership - Share real experience, invite two‑way dialogue, and let credibility come from wisdom, not title.

5. Build belonging on purpose - Tie work to shared meaning and values so we stay engaged, resilient, and motivated.

Resources Mentioned

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment)

How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?

You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I’ve discovered the 11 things that leaders do – even very well-intentioned leaders do – that kill productivity.

In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done.

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

About the Guest:

Susan Inouye is a transformational executive coach who has guided leaders in 600 companies across 40 industries. Her coaching blends practices of mind, heart, and body, influenced by training with a 7th-degree Black Belt Aikido sensei and insights from the HeartMath Institute. This holistic approach strengthens emotional intelligence and transforms organizations into sustainable, thriving cultures.

At the core of her work is Sawubona Leadership, inspired by the Zulu phrase “I see you,” which promotes inclusive cultures that value authenticity. A bestselling author of Leadership’s Perfect Storm, Susan highlights the influence of millennials on leadership today while also championing women leaders who create compassionate, purpose-driven organizations. Based in Los Angeles with her husband Tony, she continues to inspire leaders worldwide through coaching, retreats, and culture-building initiatives.

She can be reached at:

https://susaninouye.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-inouye-083384b/

About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2...

Five Leadership Shifts That Create Connection and Build Belonging | Susan Inouye

The Courage of a Leader