Episode Summary

In this conversation with Louis Fordham, Vice President of Human Resources at Engineered Floors, we explore what leadership looks like from the perspective of someone who has spent 35 years guiding executives from inside. Louis shares what it’s like to witness CEOs carry the immense weight of responsibility, why he never aspired to the top job himself, and how isolation is often built into leadership structures by nature. He also opens up about the unique challenges of being an introverted leader, the importance of self-awareness in building strong teams, and the cultural barriers that keep many executives from seeking outside support. With honesty and clarity, Louis brings wisdom from decades in HR to show how leaders can balance responsibility, presence, and humanity without losing themselves.

Episode Highlights

• Responsibility at the top: Why Louis believes the CEO and head of HR hold unique responsibility for every employee in an organization.
• Structural isolation: How the design of executive roles creates inevitable loneliness, regardless of personality.
• Introversion in leadership: Louis reflects on being an introvert at the leadership table and why self-awareness matters more than extroversion.
• The “regal” factor: His insight that sometimes employees need their CEO to project steadiness and authority, even when it feels unnatural.
• Boundaries in HR: A personal story of why he had to stop having a close work friendship to preserve trust and objectivity.

Connect with Louis on LinkedIn