Passionate & Inspired

For Alise, gratitude has two dimensions: first, recognizing and deeply registering the feeling itself; second, expressing that gratitude outwardly.

She connects gratitude to meaning. The people we encounter, the relationships we build, what we create, and the attitude we bring to life can all become sources of meaning. Developing a greater capacity to notice gratitude can therefore deepen our sense of well-being and purpose.

Expressing gratitude adds another layer. When we give appreciation to another person, we are giving something of ourselves. In that sense, gratitude becomes an act of creation and an expression of love.

• Her health during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Her daughter, Gabi.
• Her friend Michael.

The opportunity arrived in 2014, shortly after Alise had presented her post-doctoral research on the different ways people experience meaning in their work. While driving home from that presentation, she received an invitation to host her own radio program.

When Working on Purpose launched in 2015, its early focus was on people who genuinely loved what they did for a living. Over time, the conversation expanded toward inspiration, purpose, leadership, and the future of work.

The show developed into a platform for conversations with business leaders and subject-matter experts about creating more meaningful, purposeful, and human workplaces.

Alise sees gratitude as part of truly seeing the people we lead: deliberately noticing what is good, valuable, and distinctive in them, then expressing appreciation for who they are and what they contribute.

Leadership, in this view, includes helping people recognize and develop their own greatness while making it clear that their presence and contribution matter.