Let’s be real: what makes a team unstoppable isn’t just what they know - it’s how they click. And no, we’re not talking about forced fun or motivational posters in Comic Sans.
In today’s workplaces, where change is nonstop and everyone is collaborating across apps, org charts, and time zones, the ability to build trust and shared understanding isn’t optional.
It’s what powers momentum, creativity, and actual human collaboration. But here’s the twist: The skills that help us connect - empathy, self-awareness, active listening - often get labelled as “soft,” even though they’re some of the hardest-wired, most biologically baked-in features of your brain. So the next time someone calls them “soft,” tell them your neurons would like a word.
Wired to Connect is the first pillar in the new Wired to Lead series by Hatch. A neuroscience-backed, human-based approach to building the soft skills, attitudes, and behaviours that today's leaders need.
.png)
Chief Science Officer & neuroscientist with Hatch.
Dr. Skyla Herod, Ph.D., is a behavioural neuroscientist and Chief Science Officer at Hatch Immersive Learning Studios, where she applies her expertise in neuroplasticity, resilience, and well-being to leadership development and 21st-century workplace transformation. Her mission? Making the hard science of “soft” skills relatable, practical, and fun.
Drawing from both animal and clinical research, she has collaborated with international neuroscientists to explore how the brain adapts to stress and life transitions, and mechanisms for resilience. This foundation informs her work at Hatch, where she designs and delivers transformational learning experiences that bridge cutting-edge neuroscience with real-world corporate challenges.
