New episodes dropping soon

A Podcast by Laurie Riker

What's Next?

Conversations on compassionate leadership

Clarity Confidence Compassion Powered by Intuition
Watch on YouTube Learn More
25+
Years Leading
SPHR
Certified
Global
Speaker & Coach

Meet the Host

Laurie Riker

Executive coach, keynote speaker, and 25-year HR leader who believes the best organizations are built on compassion.

With a Master's in Social Work from Rutgers and a business degree from Cal State Long Beach, Laurie brings a rare combination of human insight and business acumen to every conversation. She's led people strategy at organizations from Fortune 50 companies to global startups, across tech, biotech, consulting, and non-profit sectors.

As a certified executive coach, ICF member since 1998, and National Speakers Association professional, Laurie has spent decades helping leaders navigate complexity with compassion. From a keynote stage in Paris to boardrooms across the globe, her message is consistent: leadership is about how people experience you.

SPHR Certified Executive Coach ICF Member NSA Speaker CTI Trained MSW, Rutgers
Laurie Riker — Host of What's Next? podcast

The Podcast

What to Expect

Real conversations with leaders who are rewriting the rules of what it means to lead with heart.

Unscripted Conversations

No rehearsed answers. Raw, honest dialogue with leaders who share what they've learned about showing up with compassion in high-stakes environments.

Diverse Perspectives

C-suite executives, founders, mental health advocates, and change-makers. Voices from every sector who are proving that compassion and performance go together.

Actionable Insights

Every episode leaves you with clarity on one question: what's the next step you can take to lead more compassionately, starting tomorrow?

Strategy may drive the merger. But leadership determines how people experience it.

Laurie Riker

What We Explore

Topics & Themes

Each episode dives into the real challenges of leading with humanity in a complex world.

Compassionate Leadership

How to balance accountability with genuine care for the people you lead, especially during times of change.

Organizational Transformation

Navigating mergers, restructures, and cultural shifts while keeping people at the center of every decision.

Leading Through Complexity

When there are no easy answers, how do leaders find clarity and move forward with confidence?

Women in Leadership

Amplifying the voices of women who are reshaping what leadership looks like across industries.

Self-Leadership & Wellbeing

You can't pour from an empty cup. Exploring how leaders sustain themselves while sustaining others.

Intuition in Decision-Making

The undervalued superpower: learning to trust your instincts alongside data and strategy.

Building High-Trust Teams

The coaching mindset: creating environments where people feel safe to grow, fail, and innovate.

Purpose-Driven Careers

Finding meaning in your work and helping others discover theirs. What happens when purpose meets profession.

The Resume Behind the Mic

Built on Experience

Laurie doesn't just talk about leadership. She's lived it across industries, continents, and decades.

25+
Years of Senior
HR Leadership
6
Industries
Spanned
28
Years as ICF
Coach Member
3
C-Suite & VP
Roles Held

Join the Conversation

Ready to Lead
What's Next?

Subscribe to the podcast, connect with Laurie, or reach out to explore speaking and coaching engagements.

Get in Touch Watch on YouTube