Tuesday May 26, 2026

Colombia, Leadership & the 5 People Who Taught Laura Garcia to Truly See Others

S05 EP07 Laura Garcia

In this warm, soulful and beautifully human episode of People Are Everything, host Julia Duthie speaks with Laura Garcia, joining from Bogotá, Colombia, for a conversation rich with culture, family, faith, friendship and leadership. Julia is instantly fascinated by Laura’s Colombian background, joking that Laura will become her “Google” for Colombia, and the episode opens with a joyful exploration of Colombian life — food, music, family gatherings, street parties, coffee, weather, Bad Bunny, and the deep sense of community that Laura says defines her country.

At the heart of the interview are the five people and groups who have most shaped Laura’s life: her family, her husband José, her lifelong friends, the people who first introduced her to leadership through Scouts and Jesuit experiences, and the colleagues and communities who helped her “marry” leadership as a life’s work. Julia responds throughout with curiosity, humour and emotional insight, especially as Laura reflects on unconditional love, being truly seen, faith, service, friendship, and the idea that leadership is not just a professional skill, but a way of living more humanely with others.

Highlights

Laura’s life in Bogotá and what Colombia is really like beyond stereotypes
Colombian food, music, coffee, family gatherings and street parties
The influence of family and the meaning of unconditional love
How Laura’s mother, father and brother shaped her confidence, care and courage
Meeting her husband José as a teenager and growing through life together
Marriage as a safe place to be “fully Laura”
Why friendship is a powerful, chosen relationship
Laura’s lifelong friendship with Silvia
Scouts, Jesuit workshops and the beginning of Laura’s leadership journey
Faith, gratitude, spirituality and noticing the presence of something bigger
The idea of “I see you” as a way of recognising another person fully
Leadership as service, not status
Why sales, coaching and leadership can all be rooted in humanity
Stakeholder-centred coaching and asking: “How can I be better for you?”
Julia and Laura’s shared belief that people should bring their full humanity into work

Laura’s 5 Most Influential People

1. Her Family — mother, father, brother and wider Colombian family

Laura describes her family as the source of unconditional love, warmth and belonging. Her mother gave her creativity and momentum, her father gave her devotion and safety, and her brother brings playfulness, challenge and unexpected wisdom.

2. Her Husband, José

José has been Laura’s partner since they were teenagers. She describes him as calm, structured, pragmatic and deeply present — her “knight without armour” and the person with whom she has grown through every stage of life.

3. Her Friends, especially Silvia

Laura’s friends are her chosen family. Silvia, her best friend since childhood, represents depth, complexity, play and the freedom to explore every part of herself without judgment.

4. The People Who Helped Her Fall in Love with Leadership

Through Scouts and Jesuit leadership experiences, Laura discovered ideas that would shape her whole life: leaving the world better, serving others, reflecting deeply, and becoming more in order to serve better.

5. Her Leadership Colleagues and Communities

Laura’s final choice is the people she works alongside in leadership, coaching and personal development — including those connected to stakeholder-centred coaching and the “Power Rangers” team mentioned through Brandon. These are the people who helped her turn leadership from an idea into a daily practice of service.