Episode 17

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Published on:

23rd Sep 2025

The Genius of Cultural Intelligence at Work: with Dr. Kimberly Harden

In this episode, Aveline sits down with Dr. Kimberly Harden, CEO of Harden Consulting Group, to explore what it means to build WE-centric workplaces rooted in trust, cultural intelligence, and courage. Kimberly shares her powerful journey from healthcare to academia to entrepreneurship—and how divine callings, family legacy, and life pivots shaped her mission to dismantle bias and advance racial equity in the workplace. Dive in as they discuss cultural intelligence, the reality of social media illusions, and the deep importance of alignment in both leadership and life.

Here’s a summary of what they discussed:

(02:52) Kimberly’s mission: empowering leaders to build WE-centric workplaces

(03:59) From healthcare to professor: teaching teamwork and cultural intelligence

(08:03) Divine intervention and starting her business after her mother’s passing

(17:11) Why she returned to education and pursued communication and leadership studies

(22:24) The LEAD philosophy: Love, Enthusiasm, Awareness, Development

(33:44) Why WE-centric workplaces are essential for the future of leadership

(40:25) Self-care, grief, and setting boundaries as an entrepreneur

(47:49) Kimberly’s superpower—and why she’s like a silicone spatula

…and much more.

Enjoy!

YouTube episode:

https://youtu.be/JKdkdcxw198


Here’s some information about our guest, Kimberly:

CEO of Harden Consulting Group

Dr. Kimberly Harden is a Leadership and Culture Consultant specialising in Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and WE-Centric workforce solutions. She is an award-winning educator with over a decade of experience as a professor of Communication Studies and a 2x Amazon best-selling author. Kimberly is also an advocate for racial equity and eliminating racism in the workplace. Beyond her professional life, she’s a weightlifter, loves Tim McGraw, and even eats salad for breakfast!


Here’s how you can connect with Kimberly:

Website – www.hardenconsultinggroup.com

LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylharden


The purpose of the Mission Activated podcast is to inspire people with the stories of people who are activated on their mission, and are living a life of purpose, passion and alignment. Being in business is not just about money: it's about bringing our genius and our gifts to the world to impact others.


If you'd like to get in touch please contact us at contact@6starleaders.com

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About the Podcast

Mission Activated
Sharing inspiring journeys of individuals who have awakened to their true purpose
Mission Activated is a podcast dedicated to sharing the inspiring journeys of individuals who have awakened to their true purpose.
Hosted by Aveline Clarke, each episode dives deep into the stories of people who are living passionately and in alignment with their soul’s calling. It's not just about building careers or making money – it's about making a meaningful impact on the world around them, no matter the scale.
Through authentic conversations, we explore how these individuals have overcome challenges, embraced their missions, and are creating change by staying true to who they are. Whether you're seeking motivation, clarity, or a sense of connection to your own purpose, this podcast will guide and empower you to activate your mission and inspire others along the way.
Tune in, stay aligned, and become part of the movement that prioritises purpose over societal expectations.