On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Beck Sydow, the Founder of HumanKind Business Leaders, and former CEO of StickerGiant. 

Beck’s passion is bringing people-hearted and business-minded leadership beliefs to individuals, teams, and organizations. A self-proclaimed “business geek” as well as a longtime mindfulness practitioner, Beck’s aim is to help people understand the importance of weaving together business and leadership, and to do so by showing up to work as their full selves. And Beck finds that sharing their personal story is a helpful illustration of this belief.

Beck grew up in an evangelical christian household, received a bachelor's degree from Liberty University, a large evangelical school, and later gained one of their master's degrees from Naropa University, a buddhist-inspired school. Beck is also same sex attracted and gender nonbinary, a component of their identity that has taken time to fully embrace and share with others, including their colleagues at different organizations, and family. And although the road has not always felt smooth, Beck acknowledges that in order for us as leaders to promise a culture of acceptance, we have to be willing to remove our own masks and show up as our full selves.

Tune into this episode to hear Beck and Paul discuss mindfulness in the workplace, embracing one’s complete self, and not being afraid to share our true selves with the ones we care about the most. 

Show Notes: 

• Business has become an external endeavor, but we can’t lose sight of the human side of business.
• What working for UPS taught Beck about business.
• “We make things bigger than they are because we’re afraid.”
• When beginning a mindfulness journey, “start where it’s easiest.”

Book that Inspired Beck:
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

Listen to Beck's story below: