Resilience in Leadership Development

In this compelling interview, Rachel Bolton, Director of Enterprise Leadership Development at Stanley Black & Decker, reveals the critical skill missing from most leadership job descriptions: resilience.

Bolton explains that leadership development professionals operate at the intersection of HR, business strategy, organizational culture, and transformational change—requiring the ability to navigate competing stakeholders, overcome resistance, and persist through inevitable setbacks.
She addresses a fundamental misconception many organizations have: separating leadership development from culture. Rather than viewing leadership development as a reactive solution to organizational change, Bolton advocates for integrating it organically into company culture and strategy from the start.

The discussion explores Bolton’s balanced approach to measuring leadership development success, combining traditional quantitative metrics with powerful qualitative indicators—the stories of transformation, promotions, and behavioral changes that resonate deeply with C-suite executives and inspire others in the organization.

This is essential viewing for HR professionals, leadership development specialists, and executives committed to building sustainable leadership cultures.