Liam Weston is our Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and he brings extensive experience from his four prior CHRO roles, as well as a deep belief in leading by example to foster a growth mindset that fuels innovation.
“We recognize that the tone we set at the top profoundly impacts how others perceive acceptable behaviors around psychological safety and risk-taking,” Liam explains. Creating an environment of trust and safety is the foundation of progress: “Without trust, it’s hard to move forward.”
Liam is passionate about building “stretching environments,” spaces where people feel safe to push beyond their comfort zones, take risks, and grow. “We should move people forward before they feel ready,” he says. Using a hockey analogy, Liam notes that great leadership means helping your team “skate to where the puck’s going, not where it is today.” In practical terms, this means keeping conversations focused on where we’re going, not where we’ve been, and rewarding the right behaviors, even when the outcomes aren’t perfect.
Liam also emphasizes the importance of language and mindset in performance. He uses a simple framework to evaluate teams: skill (ability and knowledge), will (desire and motivation), and hill (challenges or capacity limits). By listening closely to how people talk about their work, he gains insight into what may be enabling or hindering their progress.
Liam believes our company has established a strong foundation in cultivating a growth mindset but sees opportunities to go further. Innovation, he says, depends on people feeling safe to take risks: “It’s hard to innovate if you don’t feel rewarded for making mistakes. Without that, you stick to the ‘tried and true,’, but our customers expect more than that.”
Liam envisions expanding leadership development beyond technical knowledge to include attitude, belief, and behavior. “If you teach one thing but do another, it doesn’t work,” he notes. To multiply great leaders, the organization must model the very principles it teaches: accountability, curiosity, and courage.
Liam advocates for leadership that is more present and hands-on with teams by working alongside them to prioritize, stretch, and pursue bold, strategic goals. Sometimes this means slowing down, pausing less important activities, and strategically channeling focus. “Leadership is the architecture,” he says, “and then the team builds within that architecture.”
Liam reflects on how operational and talent reviews act as “microcosms of culture.” The way leaders show up in these short but significant moments sets the tone for the entire organization. “As leaders, we need to show up in the right way, balancing curiosity and critique, offering feedback alongside coaching and guidance.” For Liam, trust and psychological safety cannot simply be declared; they must be demonstrated through consistent action.
“You can’t just tell people to believe you. You must show them. That’s how you build a credibility of belief.”
Liam’s philosophy is grounded in personal transformation: “If you want to change the world, don’t try to change others. Change yourself first.” He believes that culture follows behavior, not slogans: “If something really matters, it will emanate from how leaders behave, not from what’s written on the wall.”
Early in his career, Liam spent nine years running outdoor leadership programs for corporate executive teams. Week after week, he watched groups of seasoned leaders navigate challenges together in a natural environment, stripped of titles and hierarchy. Those experiences deeply shaped his understanding of raw leadership as a practice of collaboration, trust, and shared growth. Today, Liam channels that same spirit into shaping the future of our organization. With the freedom to take risks and think ahead, he’s focused on building a culture where people can grow, stretch, and create together.
“Leadership isn’t always about being the one in front. It’s about being the one who brings others with them.”
Liam’s approach to leadership is a reminder that growth and innovation begin with courage; the courage to take risks, to model the behaviors we value, and to lead with authenticity. By fostering trust, encouraging curiosity, and embracing challenges, he continues to shape a culture where people not only feel safe to stretch, but inspired to explore new possibilities.
In leading by example, Liam demonstrates that a true growth mindset is not just a philosophy but a daily practice that drives innovation and builds the future of our organization.