Amira Barger: The Price of Nice: A Call to Action
My guest today is a powerhouse in communications, change management, and equity-driven leadership — Amira Barger. She’s the award-winning Executive Vice President at Edelman- Communications, Change Management and DEIB advisory. She is a strategist trusted by some of the biggest names in healthcare and beyond, and the author of the upcoming book The Price of Nice, dropping October 28, 2025 — a bold call to break free from the comfort that keeps us stuck and create real, lasting change. Named 2024 Woman of the Year by Women Health Care Executives and featured on more “Top 50” and “Top 100” lists than I can count — including Business Insider’s 30 Under 40 in Healthcare Innovation — Amira has spent more than 18 years shaping reputations, influencing stakeholders, and mobilizing communities on a global scale. She’s counseled giants like CVS, Pfizer, Genentech, and the CDC, and she’s just as passionate about teaching as she is about leading, serving as a professor at Cal State East Bay and a lecturer at UCSF. When she’s not advising, teaching, or speaking truth to power, she’s road-tripping across America with her family, checking off every single one of our 417 national parks. Amira Barger is here — and I promise, you’re about to see why she’s one of the most compelling voices in the game right now. For more, visit www.amirabarger.com for the book, book tour dates, and more! Follow Amira on all socials at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirabarger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amirabarger TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amirabarger
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Summary
In this episode of #thePOZcast, Adam Posner interviews Amira Barger, an executive VP at Edelman Communications and author of 'The Price of Nice.' They discuss Amira's upbringing, her journey into healthcare communications, and the importance of empathy in leadership. Amira shares insights from her book, emphasizing the dangers of being too nice in professional settings and advocating for the need to disrupt the status quo. The conversation also explores the power of storytelling, the importance of building foundations in leadership, and the significance of shared values in driving impactful change.
Takeaways
- Amira's upbringing as a minister's child shaped her empathetic approach to healthcare.
- Healthcare is a human right, and access to it is crucial.
- The book 'The Price of Nice' challenges the notion of being overly nice in professional settings.
- Being too nice can protect existing power structures and hinder progress.
- Nerve is necessary for effective leadership and communication.
- Storytelling is a powerful tool for transformation in organizations.
- True leadership involves building other leaders and fostering collaboration.
- Shared values are essential for effective teamwork and community building.
- Niceness often prioritizes comfort over necessary confrontation.
- Personal growth is a continuous journey of unlearning and relearning.
