Claude Silver: Leading with Heart - How Empathy, Optimism, and Emotional Bravery Shape the Future of Work

Claude Silver (see her bio below) is rewriting the rules of leadership as the world’s first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX. Reporting directly to Gary Vaynerchuk, she’s built a culture rooted in empathy, belonging, and emotional intelligence, proving that leading with heart drives both humanity and performance.

In our conversation, Claude shares:

• The story behind her unconventional career path, from Outward Bound instructor to Gary Vee’s #2.

• The inspiration behind her new book, Be Yourself at Work, and why it’s a roadmap for authentic leadership.

• How emotional optimism, bravery, and efficiency can change the way teams perform.

• Why she doesn’t hire for “culture fit” and what she looks for instead.

• How to lead across generations with grace, not entitlement.

Claude also opens up about her early struggles with self-doubt and dyslexia, how a 93-day wilderness expedition changed her life, and why “being yourself” isn’t a cliché, it’s a competitive advantage.

It’s one of my favorite conversations, which is filled with honesty, humanity, and heart from one of the most influential voices in modern leadership.

 

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About Claude: Claude Silver is the world’s first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, where she’s redefining leadership with empathy, emotional intelligence, and heart. Her mission: create cultures where people feel safe enough to be themselves and brave enough to grow.

As a speaker, podcaster, and LinkedIn voice on modern leadership, Claude inspires leaders to lead with humanity and proves that belonging fuels performance. During her tenure, Vayner has scaled from 400 to 2,000 people across 11 countries. She also helped lead VaynerMedia to win Adweek’s 2022 “Breakthrough Agency of the Year.”

Claude was once told she “thinks too much with her heart.” Today, she calls that emotional optimism, and it’s her leadership superpower.

Her path hasn’t followed a script. Claude founded an outdoor adventure and surf company in San Francisco, became an Outward Bound instructor, and immersed herself in transpersonal psychology, Buddhist teachings, and the study of human potential. Before joining Vayner, she held executive roles at global advertising agencies, including JWT London, JWT San Francisco, and Publicis.

Claude has been honored with Campaign US’s Female Frontier Award, Adweek’s “Changing the Game” Award, and Adweek’s 2025 Mother of the Year. She’s been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and The Wall Street Journal, and regularly speaks on stages around the world about culture, emotional leadership, and the future of work.