On Culture: Prof Paul J. Zak Talks the Neuroscience of Trust
- Myste Wylde
- Sep 19
- 2 min read
Dear Culturati Insider,
On Wednesday night at Seminary of the Southwest, Dr. Paul J. Zak joined Rev. Steven Tomlinson, PhD, for a conversation on trust, connection, and courage with our advisory boards and early bird registrants. (Early bird tickets for Culturati: Summit 2C26 are now sold out.) Paul is a pioneering neuroscientist and professor, best known for discovering the role of oxytocin in trust. He’s the author of The Moral Molecule, Trust Factor, Immersion, and The Little Book of Happiness. His TED talk on trust has received over a million views. Steven, as many of you know, is a playwright, priest, and professor whose gift is translating complex ideas into lived wisdom.
Paul’s research is striking. His lab has shown that when someone places trust in us, our brain releases oxytocin, a neurochemical that signals safety and belonging. That release makes us more likely to take a risk or act generously in return. This proves that trust is not an abstract value, but a biological process that is both measurable and reciprocal.
Leaders influence this constantly through the signals we send in the workplace. In high-trust orgs, employees report more energy, deeper engagement, stronger productivity, and less burnout. And the effect goes deeper. Trust fuels connection, and connection sustains both individual flourishing and collective success. Leaders who cultivate trust are shaping the conditions for people to thrive throughout their lives.
This is a responsibility we take seriously, and neuroscience helps us hold ourselves accountable. Trust is biological. Therefore, it can be measured, strengthened, and work can be designed with in mind. As we prepare for Culturati: Summit 2C26, our working theme is Courageous Leadership & Trust. We’ll be curating more research and stories in the months ahead, and we welcome your perspective as we shape this together.
For those who want to begin applying Paul’s work now, he’s developed Six—a free app that measures thriving and offers practical ways to strengthen trust in daily life and at work. You can download it at the QR code below.
In trust,
Myste Wylde, COO
P.S. I'll be at Harvard's SHINE Summit in Cambridge next week. Let me know if you'll be there too!
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