We’ve all heard the "hustle harder" mantra, but the numbers tell a different story. Right now, workplace disengagement is a global crisis, costing businesses an estimated $9 trillion in lost productivity. In this episode of the Growth Hacking Culture Podcast, we’re getting real about what it actually takes to lead without running yourself—or your team—into the ground.

Our guest, Hanna Bauer, author of Hustle with a Heart, brings a perspective on resilience that you won’t find in a standard management textbook. After surviving a terminal heart disease diagnosis, Hanna discovered that resilience isn't a personality trait; it’s a systemic outcome built through intentional habits and a supportive environment.

If you’ve ever felt that burnout is just the price of success, this conversation is for you. Hanna breaks down why "running on fumes" makes you a liability rather than a high-impact leader, and how to use her 52 mini-shifts to transform your leadership from the inside out.

In this episode, we explore:

  • The ROI of Humanity: Why employee engagement isn't just a "nice-to-have," but a multi-trillion dollar financial lever.

  • The HEART Framework: Breaking down the five pillars—Hope, Empowerment, Accountability, Results, and Trust.

  • Resilience as a Network: Why leading in isolation is a recipe for failure and how to build a support structure that lasts.

  • The "Arrhythmia" of Business: How a relentless hustle culture creates chaos in your systems and kills long-term innovation.

  • The BEAT Method: A simple, 4-step daily practice (Believe, Engage, Act, Transform) to keep your leadership aligned.

This isn’t just about working less; it’s about leading with a clarity that burns away complexity and empowers everyone around you to show up as their best selves.



Connect with Hanna Bauer:

- Book: Hustle with HEART: 52 Mini-Shifts to Maximize your Impact (available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/dDeK4mD )

- Her website: https://heartnomics.com/  

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna 

Key Highlights & Timestamps

  • 00:00 – The $9 trillion leadership crisis: Why disengagement is a financial catastrophe.

  • 04:42 – Moving past the grind: Why resilience isn't just "pushing through."

  • 06:30 – Leading with HEART: Building trust and empowerment in your culture.

  • 11:55 – The Bridge Analogy: Why you can't be resilient on your own.

  • 14:20 – The mandatory recovery: Why restoration is as important as the "sprint."

  • 17:35 – Organizational Arrhythmia: Spotting the signs of a broken culture.

  • 23:45 – The invisible waste: Identifying the cost of human potential being left on the table.

  • 28:10 – The ROI of "Soft Skills": Why resilience is the hardest skill to master.

  • 33:20 – Psychological Safety: The secret ingredient for innovation that actually works.

  • 38:55 – Mastering the BEAT: Aligning your internal beliefs with your external execution.

  • 42:15 – Cutting the noise: How clarity of mission prevents leader burnout.

  • 46:30 – Starting Tomorrow: One small shift to change your leadership trajectory.