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Interview: How Arianna Huffington Leads With Strengths

Listen to Leading With Strengths on these popular platforms or wherever you listen to podcasts. Gallup Podcast on iPhone and iPad Clifton Strengths Podcast on Spotify

About the Leader

Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington Founder and CEO, Thrive Global Founder, The Huffington Post

  • Connectedness®
  • Strategic®
  • Learner®
  • Achiever®
  • Intellection®

“I really believe that human beings are meant to keep evolving. We are all a work in progress. I don't know anybody who's perfect … so how can we help humans become better?”

Connectedness

"It's my absolute belief -- that there is something more to the universe, that we are living in a benevolent universe and that I'm connected to it."

Huffington feels linked to the universe and has a profound trust that things happen for a reason. This includes difficulties and challenges that have ultimately developed into cherished parts of her life.

Learner

"When I learn something, I want to shout it from the rooftops."

She makes discoveries and then shares them to help people have happier, healthier lives that are free from unnecessary suffering.

Intellection

"Is that all there is?"

Huffington uses her Intellection to ask deep questions about life's meaning and the nature of happiness. This talent drives her to constantly seek deeper meaning.

Achiever

"The most important thing for Achievers is to study the science of achieving."

Huffington says that, like herself, Achievers who need to be creative or innovative need to continually refuel themselves. Hard work is necessary for achieving, she says, but hard work without refueling has diminishing returns: The more you put in, the less you get out.

Strategic

"I use Strategic to look around the corner and see where I think the world is going."

When she launched The Huffington Post, blogging was on the fringes of the literary world, but using her Strategic to anticipate a boom in the blogging industry, she built The Huffington Post around this way of writing.