When brain injury strikes, it doesn’t just impact the injured—it shakes the lives of everyone around them. In this moving episode of Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions, host Kiley Como speaks with Sherry Grote, a caregiver, corporate leader, and creator of the Harmony Hero Framework, about what it means to lead, love, and live through crisis with clarity and compassion.
From Crisis to Calling
Sherry’s husband suffered a traumatic brainstem stroke—an injury that turned her world upside down. As a wife, mother, and high-powered professional, she suddenly found herself juggling caregiving, parenting two young children, and holding down a career. But instead of giving up, she created a framework to help herself—and now others—find harmony in the chaos.
The Harmony Hero Framework is more than a catchy name. It’s a practical set of principles that help caregiver-leaders develop emotional intelligence, resilience, and boundary-setting skills.
Sherry teaches that leadership, whether at home or in the workplace, starts with empathy—and ends with celebrating progress over perfection.
Leading with Empathy in a “Perfect” World
So many leadership trainings focus on goals, productivity, and strategy. What sets Sherry’s work apart is the emotional depth. She doesn’t just help professionals hit targets—she helps them lead while also dealing with grief, stress, and caregiving.
Her message is clear: Empathy is not a weakness—it’s your superpower.
Caregivers often carry the silent burden of doing everything for everyone. But as Sherry notes, learning to ask for help—and letting others in—is often the breakthrough moment that allows healing and connection to begin.
A Duct Tape Lesson in Empathy
One of the most powerful stories in this episode comes from Sherry’s own home. Her kids didn’t understand why their father, once active and adventurous, had become frustrated and angry. So, Sherry duct-taped their arms to their sides and told them to go about their day—just like their dad had to. Brush your teeth. Make a sandwich. Tie your shoes.
What followed wasn’t just frustration—it was empathy. That moment opened the door for her kids to connect with their father in new ways, playing math games together and finding joy in small wins. That’s the unexpected beauty Sherry talks about—when love and patience bloom in the most unlikely places.
From the C-Suite to the Care Room
Caregiving isn’t just personal. It affects the workplace too. Sherry challenges corporate leaders to recognize and support the 73 million caregivers in America. Simple policies—like flexible schedules, grace when needed, and acknowledgment of caregiving responsibilities—can go a long way.
As she puts it: “If you give caregivers just 5% of grace, they’ll give you 180% back.”
Sherry now speaks across the country, mentoring other leaders and caregivers, working with HR departments, and writing a book to expand her message: Harmony doesn’t mean perfection. It means staying grounded when life’s storms hit.
What’s the One Thing She Wants You to Remember?
“You can do it. It may be hard, but you can do it. And if you need someone to walk alongside you, I’ll be that person.”
Whether you’re a caregiver trying to hold it all together, or a leader managing both a team and a household crisis, Sherry’s message is clear: you don’t have to choose between being strong and being human.
For more on the Harmony Hero Framework, visit TheHarmonyHero.com or connect with Sherry on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.
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