Asking for What You Need and Creating a Sustainable Culture - an Interview with Liz Almeida, Chief Human Resources Officer at Panasonic North America

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the true pleasure of sitting down with Liz Almeida, Chief Human Resources Officer at Panasonic North America. Liz shared an inspiring story of resilience, curiosity, and leadership transformation — and a much-needed reminder that success rarely follows a straight line.

Liz’s career didn’t start in HR. She originally aspired to be a mechanical engineer at NASA, but a tough academic setback in college and the support of a powerful mentor helped her pivot, embrace curiosity, and lean into unexpected opportunities. That openness not only changed her career trajectory but shaped her leadership philosophy today.

Throughout our conversation, Liz reflected on the critical importance of culture transformation, psychological safety, and co-creation — especially during times of disruption. She believes the best cultures are intentionally built around clear values and inclusive leadership that invites vulnerability, innovation, and diverse perspectives.

Liz is a fierce advocate for mentorship, reverse mentoring, and creating organizations where people feel safe bringing their whole selves to work.

Key takeaways from the interview:

🔹 0:01:31 – Liz’s leadership journey began after a college setback and a mentor’s tough love, which sparked a lifelong commitment to curiosity and growth.

🔹 0:03:44 – Mentorship, both formal and informal, has been crucial to her success — and she now makes it a leadership responsibility to pay that forward.

🔹 0:05:42 – Liz’s career path felt more like a “jungle gym” than a ladder — driven by curiosity and opportunities for intellectual growth, not titles.

🔹 0:08:45 – The encouragement of her mother instilled a fearless mindset: if no one’s done it before, be the first.

🔹 0:11:03 – Psychological safety is the foundation for innovation and high performance — leaders must create spaces where people feel safe being themselves.

🔹 0:14:28 – Leaders should actively work to build cultures where even “crazy” ideas are welcomed — because those ideas often lead to breakthrough innovation.

🔹 0:17:06 – Reverse mentoring has been a valuable leadership tool for Liz, helping challenge her assumptions and stay sharp in a fast-changing world.

🔹 0:19:42 – Culture must be intentionally aligned to company values, with leaders modeling the way and being transparent about what those values look like in action.

🔹 0:21:32 – Listening with curiosity is one of the most underrated leadership skills — the best ideas and solutions often come from unexpected places.

🔹 0:23:11 – Co-creation is essential for engagement and performance; people support what they help build.

If you’re interested in being featured on the Fearless Female Leadership podcast, or you’re a leader looking to gain clarity on ‘what’s next’, how to build more cohesive and high-performing teams, and lead with greater confidence and influence, let’s have a confidential conversation.

Cheering you on always!
– Sheryl