Karin Hurt
Karin Hurt is an award-winning leadership expert and founder-CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders who writes on workplace communication, courageous cultures, and practical management. A former Verizon Wireless executive, she coauthored books including Winning Well, Courageous Cultures, and Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict, and has helped develop tens of thousands of leaders worldwide. ((https://letsgrowleaders.com/biographies/))
Biography & Author's Journey
Karin Hurt’s documented background centers on education and executive experience rather than a heavily publicized early-life narrative. She earned a BA in Communication from Wake Forest University, an MA in Organizational Communication from Towson University, and completed additional graduate work at the University of Maryland, where she later taught in MBA and executive education programs. Before becoming known as an author and leadership advisor, she spent more than two decades at Verizon Wireless in sales, customer service, and human resources. Official bios credit her with developing a national sales team responsible for $1.5 billion in revenue and helping transform a customer-service outsourcing operation that grew to 8 million calls a month. A notable career turning point came when a senior leader urged her to move beyond HR into field assignments, leading her into B2B call-center leadership and later responsibility for a 2,200-person retail sales organization. ((https://letsgrowleaders.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/karinhurt_One_Sheet.pdf))
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Lead with Radical Candor
In today's fast-paced work environment, leaders often struggle to balance directness with empathy. This plan is designed for managers and aspiring leaders who need to drive performance through honest communication while building deep, lasting rapport with their teams.
Lead with Connection
In today's fast-paced work environment, technical skill is often overshadowed by the need for high emotional intelligence and relational trust. This plan is designed for emerging leaders and managers who want to reduce workplace friction and master the art of difficult conversations. By focusing on both daily rapport and psychological triggers, learners can transform their leadership style from transactional to transformational.
Improve leadership & communication for growth
Effective leadership communication is the cornerstone of organizational success, yet many leaders struggle to inspire teams and drive growth through their communication. This learning plan helps emerging and established leaders develop the communication skills needed to build trust, empower teams, and scale their leadership impact.
Lead Through the Hard Moments
Leadership is tested most during periods of friction, underperformance, and systemic failure. This plan is designed for managers and executives who need to deliver tough news while preserving team morale and repairing foundational trust.
Stay curious, grounded, and lead teams well
This plan is designed for emerging and established leaders who want to balance personal growth with effective team management. It combines internal self-mastery with external leadership tactics to build resilient, high-performing cultures.
Magnetic Presence and Kind Candor
In an era of digital distraction, the ability to project both authority and empathy is a critical leadership differentiator. This plan is designed for professionals and leaders who want to increase their influence without sacrificing authenticity or kindness.
Speak with Impact and Authority
Effective communication is the cornerstone of leadership, yet many professionals struggle with anxiety and disorganized thoughts. This plan is designed for aspiring leaders and executives who need to project authority and clarity in high-stakes environments.
The Manager’s Survival Guide
In today's volatile work environment, managers face the dual challenge of driving results while protecting team well-being. This guide is essential for new and experienced leaders navigating layoffs, burnout, and the rapid rise of AI. It provides the tactical tools needed to restore trust and maintain high performance under pressure.
Community Voices
"Karin Hurt is a former Verizon Wireless executive, an accomplished author, and an international keynote speaker"
— Marcel Schwantes
"Courageous Cultures, by Karin Hurt and David Dye, will teach you how to cast that spell"
— Kevin Kruse
"Conflict happens-and Karin Hurt and David Dye want you to be prepared"
— Ken Blanchard
"Karin Hurt and David Dye give you the tools you need to improve business performance without sacrificing your humanity"
— Marshall Goldsmith
"Mastering conflict is a disruptor's superpower, and Karin Hurt and David Dye are your guides as to how"
— Whitney Johnson
"Karin Hurt and David Dye masterfully unearth an invaluable competitive advantage for any company"
— Eric George
"Karin Hurt and David Dye's new book beautifully provides what is missing in virtually all books on conflict management"
— Ralph H. Kilmann
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
