CuriosityBased

A Journaling Practice: Writing Letters No One Will Read Journaling is often used to document events. But it can also be a powerful way to process emotions. One practice that makes journaling more concrete is writing a letter to someone who will never read it. Each year around the anniversary of her father’s passing, Julie Pham, PhD writes him a letter. She updates him on family, business, and the Vietnamese community he once served as founder of Seattle’s longest-running Vietnamese newspaper. Then she shares how she’s really doing—money worries, moments of pride, concerns about family. In the early years, those letters were shared publicly. Now they are private. The power lies in writing freely, without managing someone else’s reaction. This practice isn’t limited to grief. You might write to: ✔️ Someone you no longer speak to ✔️ A mentor ✔️ A younger version of yourself What would you say if you didn’t need to manage the response? Sometimes clarity comes when the only audience is yourself. ➡️ Read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gzwA32nv 🎧 Listen to Julie Pham, PhD read the newsletter on YouTube  https://lnkd.in/gpmnWSP6 #Journaling #EmotionalProcessing #GriefAndGrowth #SelfReflection #CuriosityInPractice #LeadershipDevelopment Image caption: Julie’s father, Kim Pham, at one of his favorite restaurants, Ba Bar.

Courage doesn’t always happen in the moment. Sometimes, it needs time. On this “The Courage Effect" podcast listener favorite, host Suzanne Weller revisits a powerful conversation with Julie Pham, PhD, who shares honest stories and practical insights on: 👉 Why courage can look like slowing down 👉 How curiosity helps us communicate when things get messy 👉 What it really takes to speak up—with clarity and care A thoughtful listen for anyone navigating hard conversations at work or in life. ➡️ Tune in to the podcast: https://lnkd.in/ghAWVm23 #CuriosityAtWork #CourageousCommunication #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #RespectAtWork #CuriosityBased #ThoughtLeadership #TheCourageEffect

A new season of Curiosity at Work podcast is dropping once a month, but this short from last season featuring Mikaela Kiner, founder of #Reverb, gets too the heart of why it's important to be a curious employee. 📽️ View full episode: https://lnkd.in/erA5pqNN

Women’s History Month: 800+ Leadership Books by Women To honor Women’s History Month, CuriosityBased has updated its leadership book list featuring authors who identify as women. The list now includes 800+ titles and continues to grow each year. One recent addition is "Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success" by Ruchika T. Malhotra. In "Uncompete," Malhotra challenges the assumption that success requires constant competition. She introduces “uncompete” as both a mindset and a practice—prioritizing peace with yourself, shifting from scarcity to abundance, and recognizing that one person’s success can expand opportunity for others. Rather than denying how natural comparison can feel, she offers practical ways to reframe it. Her message is constructive: power is not limited. It can be shared, expanded, and sustained through collaboration. That philosophy mirrors the intention behind CuriosityBased’s growing leadership book lists. The goal is not to rank or limit perspectives, but to elevate more of them. Leadership is not a scarce resource. The more voices we include, the richer our collective understanding becomes. 👉 Explore the updated list here: https://lnkd.in/gUCHPdnw We put a lot of energy into curating this list. Please help us by sharing them. ➡️ Read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g4EYAheg 🎧 Listen to Julie Pham, PhD read the newsletter on YouTube https://lnkd.in/gdwzWzDz #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInLeadership #LeadershipBooks #Uncompete #AbundanceMindset #ExpandWhoWeRead #CuriosityBased Image caption: The 2026 Leadership Book Lists by Female Authors, researched by CuriosityBased https://lnkd.in/gUCHPdnw 

In this NEW episode of the Curiosity at Work podcast, Julie Pham, PhD sits down with Bradd Busick, former Senior Vice President and CIO at MultiCare Health System, to explore how curiosity shapes healthcare IT, patient care, and leadership during uncertainty. From navigating COVID-19 to accelerating telehealth use, Bradd shares how technology is not just a support function — it’s part of the care team. They discuss: • Why psychological safety is essential for reporting failures • How a questioning mindset improves patient outcomes • The evolving role of the CIO in healthcare • Why investing in IT directly impacts care delivery Curiosity isn’t abstract. It changes how we lead, how we respond to uncertainty, and how we care for others. 🎧 Listen to Episode 29 of Curiosity at Work and explore how curiosity transforms healthcare leadership. https://lnkd.in/gvwufmrN More episodes: https://lnkd.in/g8KHmNiF #CuriosityAtWork #CuriosityBased #HealthcareLeadership #HealthcareIT #CIO #PatientCare #PsychologicalSafety #Telehealth #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #TechnologyInHealthcare #PracticeCuriosity

Are You Listening—or Performing Listening? Have you ever stopped listening without realizing it? During a large summit, one participant began sharing feedback about the conference design. On the surface, the response looked attentive—nodding, eye contact, visible engagement. Later, during a team debrief, it became clear that only part of her feedback had actually been heard. After the first few sentences, assumptions took over. The rest of her message was mentally filled in and quietly dismissed. It was a case of “performing listening.” Most people believe they are strong listeners. In organizational work, however, there is often a gap between how individuals rate their listening skills and how their colleagues experience them. We know the visible cues: ✔️ Nod ✔️ Maintain eye contact ✔️ Paraphrase key phrases But these signals can mask disengagement. Real listening begins with noticing how you are listening—and what might be getting in the way. That’s why CuriosityBased created How to Actively Listen with Curiosity, a live workshop focused on building self-awareness and strengthening practical listening skills. Upcoming sessions take place April 23, July 21, and August 19. 👉 Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gGM-DX-Q Even if you don’t attend, try this: Pay attention to when you are truly listening—and when you might simply be performing it. What do you notice? ➡️ Read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gBm-5FbV 🎧 Listen to Julie Pham, PhD read the newsletter on YouTube https://lnkd.in/g7_kuNdc #ActiveListening #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #CommunicationSkills #WorkplaceCulture #CuriosityInPractice Image Caption: Writer and performer Susan Lieu demonstrates what “performing listening” looks like.

Secure your spot for our new "How to Cope with Change with Curiosity" workshop on March 24. Here's what people are saying about this timely topic: 💡 "The session was helpful in creating a shared understanding of the types of change one can experience and how we are not alone in that experience." 💡 "It's helpful to get a 3rd party perspective on something that I've only been talking to the same few people about." More info and sign up 👉 https://lnkd.in/gADdPmts This workshop will be facilitated by Julie Pham, PhD & Linh Huynh, MSW

Women’s History Month: Who Shows Up—and Why? March is Women’s History Month, and workplaces, schools, and communities are hosting events to celebrate women’s achievements. These gatherings often focus on leadership, innovation, communication, and resilience—topics that are not inherently gender-specific. Organizers frequently say, “All are welcome.” And yet, attendance patterns tell an interesting story. At Women’s History Month events, the majority of participants are often women and girls. The same pattern appears elsewhere. At the inaugural game of Seattle’s professional women’s hockey team, the crowd was largely female, while men’s hockey games in the same city skew predominantly male. What influences who shows up? Is it interest? Habit? Marketing? Social norms? A sense of belonging—or not belonging? Even when the topic is broadly applicable, such as respect or leadership development, participation may not reflect the broader workforce demographics. For men reading this: ➡️ What influences your decision to attend (or not attend) events celebrating women’s achievements? ➡️ Do these events feel primarily intended for women? ➡️ Do you wait for a direct invitation? ➡️ Do the topics feel relevant to you? ➡️ More broadly, what helps people feel “called in” rather than simply “welcome”? Curiosity about attendance patterns can reveal deeper insights about inclusion, belonging, and workplace culture. 👉 Read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gRhk8eet 🎧 Listen to Julie Pham, PhD read the newsletter on YouTube https://lnkd.in/gMXaasmA #WomensHistoryMonth #InclusiveLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #Belonging #LeadershipDevelopment #CuriosityInPractice Photo Caption: The Seattle Torrent Professional Women's Hockey League team lines up to play at their first ever game on Nov. 28, 2025.

When Change Feels Chaotic: Cope with Anxiety Through Curiosity We all know change is constant. Yet lately, it can feel especially chaotic. Being told “don’t worry” rarely helps. Ignoring anxiety doesn’t make uncertainty disappear. Emotions researcher Karla McLaren reminds us that anxiety is future-oriented. Our bodies can’t live in the future, so when we mentally camp out there, we feel ungrounded. One way to cope is to return to what’s within your control right now. Another is to name what you’re actually feeling. Research cited by Lisa Feldman Barrett in “How Emotions Are Made” shows that people who describe their emotions with greater nuance—what she calls emotional granularity—tend to experience better mental and physical health. At CuriosityBased, many clients are navigating reorganizations, layoffs, and rapid growth. In response, we created a live workshop: How to Cope with Change with Curiosity, facilitated by Julie Pham, PhD and Linh Huynh, MSW. It offers practical tools to build self-awareness and focus energy where it actually matters. ➡️ Learn more and sign up for How to Cope with Change with Curiosity https://lnkd.in/gADdPmts If change feels overwhelming, a fresh perspective can help. What helps you stay grounded during uncertainty? 🎧 Listen to Julie read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/guHb_Ym7 👉 Read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g7Ajwitz #ChangeManagement #EmotionalIntelligence #Anxiety #LeadershipDevelopment #CuriosityInPractice #ProfessionalGrowth Photo Caption: A residential street in Toronto undergoing a great transition. On the left side are brand new homes. On the right side are the original homes built decades before.

What happens when people define respect differently and no one says it out loud? On a recent episode of "Inclusion on Demand" podcast, host Brian Fishbone sits down with Julie Pham, PhD to explore how curiosity can unlock deeper respect and more inclusive workplaces. Julie shares insights from her research and lived experience, including: 👉 Why respect is contextual—and often misunderstood 👉 How curiosity helps us navigate difference without defensiveness 👉 Practical ways leaders and teams can practice inclusion, not just talk about it A thoughtful, practical conversation for anyone navigating differences at work modeled by leaning into fewer assumptions and more curiosity. 🎙️Check out the podcast: https://lnkd.in/gfcG-6v5 #InclusionOnDemandPodcast #CuriosityAtWork #InclusiveLeadership #RespectAtWork #WorkplaceCulture #DEI #CuriosityBased #ThoughtLeadership Brian Fishbone, Principal, Inclusion on Demand, Global Educator and Unflappable Optimist can be found at  LI: https://lnkd.in/gcMd8QaS  Web: https://lnkd.in/g2tc3qid   Podcast: https://lnkd.in/gTMcsEee