Few organizations have stood the test of time like Dale Carnegie & Associates, a global pioneer in leadership transformation and global leadership training.
Under global COO and CMO Christine Buscarino’s leadership, the company is fusing human insight with technology to prepare leaders for the future of work.
In this episode of Speed of Culture, host Matt Britton and Christine unpack how leadership empathy, adaptability, communication, and trust are becoming the bedrock of effective hybrid leadership models.
From guiding a cross-generational workforce to mastering virtual training engagement, this conversation captures what leadership looks like when AI and human skills work in harmony.
With over 25 years of experience at brands like Office Depot and Adrianna Papell, Christine brings deep expertise in customer-focused strategy and organizational transformation. At Dale Carnegie, she is championing global leadership training initiatives and digital innovation that elevate people-centric culture.
Her work helps organizations strengthen leadership empathy, communication, and trust, and emotional intelligence at work, skills essential to the future of leadership in today’s fast-changing business environment.
Key takeaways:
[03:10] Managing the Cross-Generational Workforce — Christine describes how today’s cross-generational workforce, from Gen Z digital natives to veteran leaders, has reshaped management. She explains how leadership empathy helps middle managers navigate new expectations, create trust across ages, and sustain effective hybrid leadership models built on understanding rather than authority.
[05:37] Culture Beyond Compensation — Younger employees care less about titles and more about purpose. Christine shares how people-centric culture and genuine communication and trust make teams feel valued. When leaders show empathy and connect work to meaning, engagement rises and so do retention and performance.
[06:46] Universal Principles, Local Nuance — Across 80 countries, Dale Carnegie training adapts to cultural differences without losing its human core. Christine highlights how principles like listening, empathy, and resilience shape global leadership training, proving that while delivery changes, leadership transformation still begins with understanding people.
[09:20] The Art of Public Speaking in the Digital Era — Christine believes influence still starts with presence. Whether on stage or video, emotional intelligence at work, through storytelling, eye contact, and sincerity, drives connection. Great speakers, she says, blend skill with empathy to move people, a timeless asset in the future of leadership.
[10:59] Keeping Virtual Teams Engaged — In virtual spaces, distraction is the biggest rival. Christine shares simple techniques from Dale Carnegie training like concise storytelling, clear takeaways, and looking directly into the camera, to elevate virtual training engagement and sustain energy in global hybrid leadership models.
[16:53] Human by Design: Future-Proofing in an AI World — Christine and Matt Britton discuss the Human by Design program, a collaboration between Suzy and Dale Carnegie training focused on preparing leaders for the AI and human skills era. Christine details how empathy and authenticity bridge technology and humanity, ensuring confidence through rapid change.
