Flourishing > Surviving with Dr. Chris Laszlo

The Braintrust "Driving Change" Podcast

In this episode, Jeff Bloomfield sits down with Dr. Chris Laszlo—professor, author, and co-founder of the Global Consciousness Institute—to explore a transformative new approach to business leadership. Drawing on decades of research and deep personal reflection, Dr. Laszlo challenges the narrow focus on profit and “sustainability” in favor of something richer: human and organizational flourishing. He introduces concepts from his book Quantum Leadership and shares why a leader’s inner world—how they connect with self, others, nature, and transcendence—may hold the key to long-term impact, innovation, and success.

If you're a business leader or executive struggling to align purpose with performance, this episode is a must. Laszlo unpacks how emotional connectedness and daily practices rooted in neuroscience, not spreadsheets, create the foundation for true, regenerative leadership. His insights are especially valuable for C-suite leaders, coaches, and culture builders who want to move beyond compliance checklists and unlock real transformation.

1. Sustainability ≠ Flourishing: Laszlo distinguishes between surviving (sustainability) and thriving (flourishing), calling for a more ambitious goal for business.

2. Origin in Philosophy: His father, renowned systems philosopher Ervin Laszlo, sparked

3. early reflections on systems, ethics, and purpose.

4. Early Wake-Up Call: As a teen at a wealthy boarding school, Laszlo realized the disconnect between privilege and global inequality—igniting a lifelong purpose.

5. Economics with a Conscience: Frustrated by ethics being an afterthought in business, he asked: “Why can’t doing good be profitable?”

6. Flourishing Requires Inner Transformation: Real change in organizations must begin with how leaders are, not just what they do.

7. Four Connections Matter: Lasting impact comes from daily practices that connect leaders to self, others, nature, and the transcendent.

8. It’s Not About Time—It’s About Intent: You don’t need more hours—just more awareness in how you run meetings, lead conversations, and engage others.

9. Quantum Science Meets Leadership: Emerging science supports the interconnectedness of all things, providing a scientific foundation for humanistic leadership.

10. Daily Practices Matter: Laszlo identified over 110 “connectedness practices”—from running to music to mindful meetings—that enhance leadership capacity.

11. The Future Is Conscious: Through his nonprofit (GCI.Earth), Laszlo works to scale practices that elevate global consciousness in business and beyond.

• 00:00 – Jeff sets the stage: leadership, communication, and purpose

• 04:24 – Chris’s intro and worldview on business as a force for good

• 06:17 – Chris's origin story: systems philosophy and a call to make a difference

• 12:00 – Economic education vs. ethical purpose: the inner conflict

• 18:28 – Redefining “sustainability” as “flourishing”

• 23:00 – Neuroscience of emotions: positive attractors, stress, and connectedness

• 26:00 – Leadership research: over 100 practices of connected CEOs

• 32:00 – 4 types of connectedness: self, others, nature, transcendence

• 39:00 – Quantum leadership and global consciousness

• 43:00 – AI, consciousness, and humanity’s next frontier

• 46:00 – Resources, books, and ways to connect with Chris

• 📘 Quantum Leadership (Stanford University Press, 2019)

• 📄 Business and Society Review (2025 Open Source Article)
  

• 🌐 Global Consciousness Institute – https://gci.earth
  

Why You Should ListenTop 10 TakeawaysChapter MarkingsMentioned Resources & Links💼 Contact Chris on LinkedIn or via email: [email protected]