Kindness is a strategy: practicing the platinum rule with Marissa Andrada

Key Themes & Unmissable Takeaways

✨ Names carry history & power
Marissa recalls the moment she stood up for the correct pronunciation of her name as a young girl, an early lesson in claiming her identity and owning her voice.

✨ Belonging grows from shared values
She reflects on a moment early in her career when a leader showed up in a very human way—helping her move homes. That moment became a blueprint for leadership that cares about the whole person, not just the job title.

✨ The pressure to blend in comes at a cost
Marissa shares her experience in a corporate program “designed” for diverse talent , one that subtly encouraged conformity. Instead of shrinking herself, she chose to push forward while staying true to her cultural truth.

✨ Kindness means courageous honesty
She reframes kindness as showing up fully and speaking truth with care, even when it’s uncomfortable. Kindness is not passive, it’s active leadership.

✨ Leaders create the culture—whether they mean to or not
Christopher and Marissa unpack how a leader’s values, daily choices, and willingness to be real directly influence how teams feel, behave, and show up.

Marissa’s standout reflections

• “Kindness means showing up with honesty and care in the exact moment it’s needed.”

• “I feel at home in a workplace when my values aren’t just welcomed—they’re mirrored by the people leading it.”

• “A company’s culture always follows the leader’s example—for better or worse.”

• “The platinum rule matters: honor people the way they wish to be honored.”

• “You can drive results and still bring joy into the room, those things aren’t opposites.”

• “You don’t have to trade your values to succeed. They’re part of your strength.”

• “You can’t always choose what happens, but you can choose to respond with grace.”

• “Kindness isn’t softness. It’s truth delivered with genuine care.”