VaynerX's Claude Silver on Building a Business with Heart
The chief heart officer of VaynerX believes the health of any organization comes from its culture.
Claude Silver is the chief heart officer at VaynerX, the New York-headquartered media and communications holding company founded by prolific American entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, and when Inc. Arabia asked her to describe what her job title actually means, she replied by likening her role to that of the pulse of the enterprise. “While Vaynerchuk drives the vision and direction of the business, my focus is on the people who bring that vision to life,” Silver explains. “My job is to ensure they know that they’re not just cogs in a machine – they’re vital to our heartbeat. It’s my responsibility to make sure every person knows they belong here, that they are valued, seen, and held, not just as professionals, but as the full human beings they are.”
According to Silver, what lies at the heart of her role is connection – connection between people, between dreams and execution, between the individual and the collective whole. “I believe that the health of any organization comes from its culture, and culture is built from the ground up, one interaction at a time,” she adds. “That’s why I spend so much time making sure that positivity, trust, and emotional safety aren’t just ideals we talk about – they’re the reality we live in every day.” With that premise in mind, we asked Silver to share how the rest of us how we can go about building a business with heart – here’s what she told us.
Listen like you mean it. “I’m talking about deep listening, the kind that goes beyond just hearing the words someone is saying. It’s about paying attention to the spaces between the words, to the emotions behind them. When people feel truly heard, they feel valued. And when they feel valued, they show up differently. They’re more engaged, more willing to take risks, more likely to bring their full selves to the table. So, listen. Not just with your ears, but with your heart.”
Create space for vulnerability. “We live in a world that often equates vulnerability with weakness, but I believe it’s the opposite. Vulnerability is strength. It’s the glue that binds us to one another, and it’s what makes an organization feel like a community rather than just a place to work. As a leader, you have to model this. Be willing to say, ‘I don’t know,’ or ‘I’m struggling with this,’ when it’s true. When you do that, you give everyone else permission to be real too. And in that space of authenticity, that’s where connection happens, and connection is the foundation of heart.”
Lead with empathy, not ego. “Leadership is not about power; it’s about service. It’s about showing up for others, putting their needs before your own, and creating an environment where people feel cared for. Ask yourself, ‘What does my team need from me?’ and be willing to give it, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. Heart-centered leadership isn’t always easy, but it’s the most meaningful kind of leadership there is. It’s about being the kind of person who others trust not just because of your title, but because of how you make them feel. At the end of the day, building an organization with heart isn’t about grand gestures or strategies – it’s about the small, everyday actions that let people know they matter. It’s about showing up with love, again and again, even when it’s hard. And trust me, when you do that, people will follow you anywhere, because they know your leadership is grounded in something real."
Claude Silver is a speaker at the upcoming Grow Conference organized by Dubai-based coaching platform Stories, with the event set to offer "life-changing access to the best minds in the world focused on purpose and mental health." More information on why-stories.com/conference.
