49:06 minutes
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March 12, 2026
#38 The Power of Mattering
The Hidden Driver of Motivation at Work with Zach Mercurio
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About The Speaker
Zach Mercurio is an author, award-winning researcher, and leadership development facilitator specializing in mattering at work, meaningful work, purposeful leadership, and positive organizational psychology. He’s the author of The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance and The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose.
Zach advises leaders in organizations and governments worldwide on practices for building purposeful and high-performance cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued, and needed. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change from Colorado State University, where he serves as a senior fellow in The Center for Meaning and Purpose. His research has been awarded by the Academy of Management, the Association for Talent Development, and the Academy for Human Resource Development.
Zach also serves as one of Simon Sinek’s Optimist Instructors, teaching a top-rated course on mattering-centered leadership. He’s a regular contributor to The Harvard Business Review, and his work is regularly featured in Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Forbes, Psychology Today, The Denver Post, CNBC, and ABCNews.
He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife, two sons, and two adopted dogs.
Episode Description
In this episode of the Business and Society Podcast, Senthil Nathan speaks with researcher and leadership expert Zach Mercurio, author of The Power of Mattering. Together they explore a simple but powerful idea: people thrive at work when they feel that they truly matter.
Drawing on research across industries, Zach explains why small everyday interactions—being noticed, affirmed, and needed—can have a far greater impact on motivation and engagement than perks, pay, or promotions. The conversation unpacks the science behind the human need to matter, why workplace engagement is declining despite rising investment in employee programs, and how leaders can intentionally design cultures where people feel seen, valued, and indispensable.
Zach also shares practical tools leaders can use immediately, including the “NAN” model (Noticed, Affirmed, Needed) and the concept of a mattering audit to assess whether organizations are creating meaningful daily experiences for their people.
If you lead a team—or aspire to—this episode offers a powerful reminder: when people feel that they matter, energy, commitment, and performance follow.
Additional inspirations from Zach Mercurio
Link to Zach’s book: The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance
Harvard Business Review Article: https://hbr.org/2025/05/the-power-of-mattering-at-work
