Leadership With Heart

What does it mean to show up—not just as a leader, but as an advocate for those who rely on us? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Alex Allen, Senior Director of Inclusion and Collaboration at Cisco, to explore how his leadership journey has been shaped by one of the most important roles in his life: being a father to his incredible son, Bryce. Alex opens up about a moment that has stayed with him for years—the day he brought Bryce to a company event and was met with a look of disdain from a senior leader. Instead of advocating at that moment, he stayed silent. That experience became a turning point, igniting his commitment to never let that happen again—for his son, himself, and others navigating workplaces where they may not always feel seen or valued.   Throughout our conversation, Alex shares how raising a child with disabilities reshaped his understanding of resilience, leadership, and the power of proximity—the idea that when we get close to people's lived experiences