What if your greatest leadership power isn’t in having all the answers, but in asking better questions? In this conversation with Erica Kemp, Vice President of Branch Administration at Global Credit Union, we explore how intentional presence, trust, and curiosity create powerful leadership cultures, especially across dispersed teams. Erica shares how she balances courage with care, empowers experimentation within safe … Read More
Are you waving this leadership red flag?
If you find a leader who thinks they can maximize their potential without correction and encouragement from others, run. And if YOU are that leader, it’s time to stop holding yourself back. Because your blind spots are, by definition, things you will never be able to see on your own. No amount of self awareness will ever reveal your blind … Read More
How Ownership Transforms a Team with Monique Love
When Monique Love joined Alaska Auto Rental, she thought she was signing up for a short-term gig. And then she forgot to leave. In this episode, I sit down with Monique Love, Operations Director at Alaska Auto Rental and a lifelong champion of servant leadership. We talk about her unexpected journey from running Frostbite Foods to guiding a rapidly evolving, … Read More
The pain is absolutely necessary
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but the pain is necessary. Think about the most meaningful, positive changes you’ve made in your life. Now imagine you have two buckets in which to collect these important inflection points. One bucket is labeled “I did it because it just seemed like a good idea.” The other bucket … Read More
Building Teams That Thrive Without You with Nickole Conley
When I was installing a car stereo in Nickole Conley’s car 25 years ago I had absolutely no clue I’d eventually find myself interviewing her for my leadership podcast. Because what was a podcast? But here we are. Today Nickole is the Interim Chief Human Resources Officer for the University of Alaska System after an eclectic career path at the … Read More
I just can’t do this
A friend recently sent me some songs and asked me to play drums on them. Along the way he sent a few reference tracks, finished songs from popular artists that could illustrate the mood he wanted me to capture. I listened to one of them and then told him: I can’t do that. I offered alternative approaches I could effectively … Read More
Thanksgiving Leadership Huddle Remix
I have a special treat for you today. Because this episode premieres on the day before Thanksgiving, I didn’t want to release a brand new interview that might get short shrift as people are heading into the holiday weekend. So, I’m doing a Leadership Huddle remix episode and sharing clips from 5 interviews from earlier this year. Maybe you … Read More
Be the same person every day
Here’s a suggestion you never knew you needed: Be the same person every day. You can change and grow over time, but your people need you to lead with a consistent demeanor day-to-day. Don’t be a fun uncle/aunt one day and a strict parent the next. Don’t rally the troops around a great idea only to completely shift gears in … Read More
From Control to Connection with Donnie Hayes
Donnie Hayes thought was going to be a dentist, but his friends knew better. Instead Donnie went on to become a Parks Director, now the Director of Parks and Recreation for Missouri City, Texas, and his whole world changed for the better. In this conversation we explore what leadership looks like when joy and service are at its core. Donnie … Read More
I do Only Fans every day
I want to tell you a short story about something I do every single morning. I like to take hot showers as soon as I wake up, but doing so pumps a lot of moisture into the air. So I need to run the fan in my bathroom for a while to pull that wet air out of the house. … Read More
The Power of Courage and Connection with Megan Baldino
It started with a cabin in Fairbanks and ended with a corporate boardroom in Houston—but the story in between could fill a book. And some of it actually did. In this episode, I talk with Megan Baldino, now Vice President of Operations Communications at CenterPoint Energy, about her journey from journalist to corporate leader, and how taking bold leaps shaped … Read More
It’s time to make COMPARISON a super power
Comparison gets a bad rap. And I think it’s because we’re thinking about comparison all wrong. The problem most of us have with comparison isn’t really about comparison at all. Without comparison we literally can’t know what better looks like. Our problem with comparison lies in what we compare ourselves to. And why. We’ve convinced ourselves that, “comparison is the … Read More
Engineering Authentic Leadership with Bill Schnabel
How in the world was Bill Schnabel supposed to know that when he first arrived in Fairbanks with a truck, a dog, and no plan, he would be teaching a class at University of Alaska Fairbanks within 24 hours? As Dean of the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, Bill brings a performer’s energy to leadership, blending humility, humor, and … Read More
The truth was bad, but the lie was worse
So there I am. Minding my own business. Just listening to the new White Reaper album. Bothering absolutely no one. And then it happened… The end of the song “Blink” hits me with the lyric, “the truth was bad, but the lie was worse,” and I had to sit down and write about it. And because I’m feeling generous today, … Read More
What Music Can Teach Us About Curiosity, Listening, and Leadership with Stephen J. Kohler
This episode almost didn’t happen. Technology conspired against me, but the show must go on, so I pressed some buttons, turned some dials, and figured it out. Stephen J Kohler is the author of The Leadership Anthem and founder of Audira Labs, where he helps leaders unlock their potential through the lens of music. In our conversation, we explored how … Read More
Are you a Leadership Frankenstein?
I don’t know why I didn’t see this sooner. I record my podcast using a Shure SM7B microphone. The Shure SM7B is an incredibly popular microphone for podcasters and I think most people use it because most people use it. It looks like a professional broadcast microphone, it sounds great, and, oh by the way, you’re going to see one … Read More