Podcast Summary
In this episode of the Working Well Podcast, host Tim Borys explores the intersection of science, resilience, and human connection with Dr. Laura Gabayan — emergency physician, researcher, and author of The Common Wisdom: Eight Essential Elements of a Meaningful Life.
After her medical career was disrupted by chronic illness, Dr. Gabayan turned her journey of loss and recovery into a decade-long research project interviewing 60 people across North America. Her findings revealed eight universal elements of wisdom: resilience, kindness, positivity, spirituality, humility, tolerance, creativity, and curiosity.
Together, she and Tim unpack how these elements can reshape how leaders build culture, navigate uncertainty, and find meaning amid rapid technological change — including the rise of AI. This is a powerful reminder that wisdom isn’t about intelligence or age, but about how we learn, connect, and grow through experience.
✅ Key Takeaways
Wisdom is measurable. It’s built through reflection, resilience, and lived experience — not just intelligence.
AI can’t replace humanity. Technology offers knowledge, but only humans bring empathy, kindness, and perspective.
Soft skills are strategic skills. Traits like humility, curiosity, and kindness directly enhance performance and connection.
Adversity builds growth. Life’s hardest challenges often become the catalysts for meaning and resilience.
Faith over fear. Approaching uncertainty with faith creates creativity, calm, and confidence in both work and life.
Episode Links & Resources
Connect with Laura here:
Website: https://lauragabayan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauragabayan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commonwisdombook
X/Twitter: x.com/Laura_Gabayan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l.gabayan/
Podcast Highlights
Please note: This highlight is generated by a computer and may contain errors.
Introduction — Redefining Wisdom in Modern Leadership
What if the secret to better leadership and fulfillment wasn’t found in corporate strategy, but in timeless human wisdom? That’s the question Tim Borys explores with Dr. Laura Gabayan, emergency physician, researcher, and author of The Common Wisdom.
After chronic illness halted her medical career, Dr. Gabayan began a research journey interviewing 60 “wise individuals” across North America — leading to the discovery of eight essential elements of wisdom.
From Illness to Insight — A Personal Transformation
In 2013, Dr. Gabayan’s health began to decline, forcing her to step back from emergency medicine. Instead of giving in, she redirected her analytical training toward understanding what makes life meaningful.
Her project evolved into a decade-long study and ultimately her book, The Common Wisdom. Through her interviews, she discovered that wisdom wasn’t abstract — it was built on consistent emotional and behavioral traits that could be observed and learned.
“Things don’t happen to you; they happen for you.”
The Eight Elements of Wisdom
Dr. Gabayan identified eight recurring traits shared by the most grounded, fulfilled individuals:
Resilience
Kindness
Positivity
Spirituality
Humility
Tolerance
Creativity
Curiosity
Resilience topped the list — each person she interviewed had faced immense hardship yet found peace through perspective and purpose.
Wisdom vs. Intelligence — Why AI Can’t Replace Humanity
Dr. Gabayan draws a distinction between knowledge and wisdom: knowledge can be programmed, but wisdom must be lived. Artificial Intelligence may process information, but it lacks empathy, humility, and intuition — the very qualities that define human connection.
“AI gives you knowledge. But it will never, ever give you wisdom.”
Tim and Laura discuss how these human traits form the foundation of effective leadership, especially in an era of automation and uncertainty.
The Role of Connection in Leadership
Four of the eight wisdom elements are grounded in human connection. Dr. Gabayan emphasizes that successful organizations are built on relationships — leaders who show kindness, humility, curiosity, and tolerance foster engagement and trust.
“Businesses thrive when leaders treat people with kindness and curiosity — that’s where real innovation begins.”
Humility and the Myth of Soft Skills
In corporate culture, qualities like empathy and kindness are often labeled “soft skills.” Dr. Gabayan challenges that notion, explaining that humility and compassion are core competencies for leadership success.
“Kindness isn’t weakness — it’s confidence. It shows strength and emotional intelligence.”
From Reflection to Growth — Why Journaling Matters
After publishing her book, Dr. Gabayan created The Common Wisdom Journal to help readers apply the eight elements in daily life. She also developed the Wisdom IQ Test — a free online tool that helps individuals assess their strengths across the elements and track personal growth.
Through journaling and reflection, she says, people can transform pain into perspective and build resilience intentionally.
Wisdom in Business and Beyond
When asked how leaders can apply these lessons at work, Dr. Gabayan stresses the importance of human connection, faith, and joy:
“Give people meaning and purpose, and it will come back tenfold.”
Her advice for leaders? Create space for curiosity, celebrate kindness, and replace fear with faith.
“Live in faith, not fear. That’s where true wisdom begins.”
