EP212 - Why Traditional Leadership Fails: Eric Pfeiffer's Bold Insights

Join Tyler Dickerhoof and Eric Pfeiffer as they delve into the transformative journey of leadership through personal growth and authenticity. Discover how embracing vulnerability and doing the hard work can lead to profound insights and stronger connections. Eric shares his experiences and the lessons learned from his own path, offering valuable takeaways for leaders at any stage. Don't miss this engaging conversation that challenges conventional leadership norms and inspires a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we dive into the incredible journey of Leslie Paterson, a world champion triathlete turned Oscar-nominated filmmaker. Discover how her passion for storytelling and resilience has shaped her career, and learn about the powerful stories she brings to life through her films. Don't miss this inspiring conversation filled with insights on overcoming obstacles and finding purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Tyler Dickerhoof interviews Faisal Hoque—entrepreneur, author, and technologist—on the critical challenges and responsibilities leaders face in the age of artificial intelligence. Hoque outlines the risks of outsourcing human thinking to AI, including the erosion of critical thinking, the loss of authentic human interaction, and the societal consequences of mass automation. Faisal emphasizes that while AI can improve efficiency, it should be used to enhance human capacity—not replace it. Drawing from his latest book, Transcend: Unlocking the Power of Humanity in the Age of AI, Hoque presents a clear argument that organizations must remain grounded in purpose to avoid becoming generic and disconnected from their customers and teams. The conversation explores the psychological, economic, and geopolitical implications of rapid AI adoption. Hoque explains the need for leaders to think beyond technology by focusing on empathy, creativity, and self-awareness—traits that AI cannot replicate. He introduces the OPEN framework, a decision-making tool for aligning technology with organizational purpose, and warns that without intentional leadership, society risks becoming more isolated, less productive, and more dependent on systems that erode human autonomy. Both underscores the importance of maintaining human-centered leadership as AI continues to reshape the workplace and redefine productivity. Follow Faisal: https://faisalhoque.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/faisalhoque/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeczE474RaubqetQFon0Rfg The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:25 Do you often use AI? 03:07 It comes down to identifying what's real and not 05:00 The dangers of depending too much on AI 09:20 The effects of ChatGPT on how we think 12:12 How authentic can AI get? 18:27 Can you fully replace manpower with AI? 23:35 What's causing the loneliness epidemic? 26:31 It all starts with the younger generation 31:20 The fine balance between technology and manpower 34:36 Using technology to create more human connection 39:58 Enhancing the need for empathy 42:55 We need to be more human 45:01 Conscious use and sharing of information 48:18 Would you willingly hand over your freedom of choice? 50:08 The evolution of human workforce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, Tyler Dickerhoof sits down with former Accenture Partner, CIO, and author of Spheres of Influence, Brad Englert, for an eye-opening conversation on trust, leadership, and building relationships that actually last. Across his 22-year career at Accenture and through his time leading massive transformations in higher education, Brad saw one truth repeat itself: relationships aren’t soft skills—they’re strategy. In a world obsessed with speed, hustle, and hierarchy, Brad makes a compelling case for slowing down, connecting deeply, and leading with intention. He shares how learning to say “whoa” instead of “yes” saved his marriage, preserved his energy, and ultimately made him a more respected leader. From bomb threats to burnout, vendor funerals to Winnebago leadership tours, Brad unpacks the principles that helped him create trust-rich environments in companies with over 70,000 people. Together, they explore why most leadership training skips the stuff that matters most, how fire-drill cultures kill innovation, and what it really takes to empower people to lead themselves. If you’ve ever felt overworked, undervalued, or unsure how to scale your impact without sacrificing your values—this episode is your blueprint. Follow Brad:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradenglert https://bradenglert.com/ https://instagram.com/bradenglertauthor https://www.facebook.com/BradEnglertAdvisory/ https://x.com/EnglertBrad The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction  01:25 Why relationships are the real key to success 04:15 “Don’t say no—say whoa” 08:17 How to be a better boss (and human) 09:58 Trust is built in the small moments, not just in crises 14:20 Are You Willing to Get in the Foxhole With Your Team? 16:18 How COVID reinforced the power of real relationships 19:23 Good work doesn’t require an office 24:39 How to build trust that lasts decades 28:14 Saying yes to everything is a leadership mistake 30:04 Hero culture is not a sustainable work culture 34:40 Why slowing down is the smartest leadership move 40:26 Why Gen Z doesn’t trust leadership 42:35 The funeral of a vendor who didn’t listen 44:48 The best leaders make themselves replaceable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, host Tyler Dickerhoof sits down with Andrew Miller, founder of Tulip Valley Farms and self-proclaimed “Chief Color Officer”—a title made even more remarkable by the fact that Andrew is colorblind. From Air Force intelligence officer to Amazon leader to pioneering tulip farmer, Andrew’s story is anything but ordinary. He opens up about leaving the corporate world after a values clash, and how his desire to return to community and raise six kids in his hometown led him to revive a historic tulip farm. Together, they explore how seeing things differently—literally and metaphorically—has shaped Andrew’s leadership, purpose, and innovative approach to agritourism. If you’ve ever felt out of place in traditional systems or craved a deeper connection to your work and your roots, this conversation will plant something powerful in you. Follow Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-miller-actual https://tulipvalley.com/about/ https://www.instagram.com/gringomiller The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction 1:19 Color Blind Being A Chief Color Officer 5:40 Different Perspectives As A Strength 7:03 Career Journeys Before Tulip Farming 14:04 Challenges Faced As A Tulip Farmer 16:45 Education On Revenue & Agriculture 27:36 Complications Experienced In Farming 32:26 Leading & Sustaining Employees 38:41 Ensuring Efficiency In Farming & Revenue Creation 48:25 Next Vision For Tulip Farming 53:15 Get To Know Andrew Miller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, Tyler Dickerhoof welcomes former Nike executive and author of Worthy Wins: Pointing Your Life Toward What Matters Most, John Olinger, for a powerful conversation on purpose, loss, and redefining success. As Nike’s Global Brand Director for Kobe Bryant, John led one of the most emotional campaigns in the company’s history following Kobe’s tragic death. But behind the dream job and high-level wins was a deeper tension—between achievement and alignment, performance and people, career and calling. John opens up about what Kobe’s legacy taught him, why most leaders are chasing empty goals, and how personal tragedy forced him to reassess everything. From boardrooms to burnout, he shares how ambition can quietly wreck relationships—and how small, consistent actions can build a life that actually matters. Together, they unpack the cost of climbing the wrong ladder, the trap of tying identity to success, and the power of taking a pause before it’s too late. If you're feeling stretched, stuck, or unsure what really counts—this conversation is a reset. Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnolinger/ https://www.john-olinger.com/ The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:25 Why the dream job isn’t always the dream 03:18 How a tribute to Kobe became a life-altering moment 07:53 Climbing the right ladder starts with the right building 13:42 What Kobe’s post-NBA life revealed about true wins 18:27 The true cost of chasing the wrong wins 21:39 If it’s worth it, it’s worthy 25:04 How to know when it’s time to leave a great job 29:38 What makes someone a great leader? 35:39 How personal struggles affect workplace performance 38:24 Two ways personal chaos shows up at work 43:40 What do you want your corporate obituary to say? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, host Tyler Dickerhoof welcomes former UNC head coach, bestselling author, and leadership coach Matt Doherty for a raw and riveting conversation about failure, identity, emotional intelligence—and what it really takes to lead at the highest level. Matt opens up about the meteoric rise and public unraveling of his coaching career—from AP Coach of the Year to an unceremonious exit at the University of North Carolina. He unpacks the crushing weight of public scrutiny, the trauma of losing his dream job, and the deeply personal journey that followed: a leadership awakening forged through pain, introspection, and radical accountability. Through his signature storytelling and unfiltered honesty, Matt reveals the brutal gap between being a great tactician and being a great leader. He shares the hard lessons he learned the hard way—why high performers often fail as leaders, how culture will always outlast strategy, and what happens when you don’t mine for the truth inside your organization. From the emotional blindspots that wrecked his staff culture to the power of 360 reviews, Matt offers a masterclass in self-awareness and organizational transformation. Together, they explore why knowing yourself is the first step to leading others, how to turn trauma into a leadership tool, and why the most dangerous thing a CEO can do is stop asking real questions. If you've ever felt the sting of failure, the weight of being in charge, or the hunger to lead with more clarity and compassion—this episode will shake you up, build you back, and remind you that rebounding isn’t just possible—it’s the whole point. Follow Matt: https://www.dohertycoaching.com/ https://www.instagram.com/coachmattdoherty/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmattdoherty/ https://twitter.com/DohertyMatt The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:17 From Notre Dame to UNC: The Journey and Fallout 04:28 How One Misstep Turned Into Public Shaming 06:33 What Coaching Basketball and Running a Business Have in Common 10:03 Why Talent Alone Won’t Save a Broken Culture 15:08 How Great Players Handle Feedback Differently 20:04 Don’t Confuse Competence With Leadership 27:44 Every Leader Needs a Truth Teller 32:14 Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor—It’s a Red Flag 38:05 Learn How to Get Lazy 40:57 The Hard Truth About High-Speed Leadership 43:59 The Best Leaders Serve—Not Score Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, host Tyler Dickerhoof sits down with serial entrepreneur, marketing agency founder, and former Division 1 soccer recruit Lindsey Huettner for an unfiltered, energizing conversation about leadership, business, identity—and the high-stakes human side of running a company. Lindsey opens up about her journey from turning down a D1 soccer scholarship for love, to rebuilding her life and launching a successful creative agency from a Starbucks table. She shares the gritty truth about entrepreneurship: the financial shell games, the emotional toll of managing people, and the turning point that came when she stopped leading like a boss and started leading like a human. From learning to pay herself first to firing with empathy (and not firing during COVID), Lindsey pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to grow a values-driven business—and how embracing vulnerability changed everything. Together, they explore the cost of ignoring your instincts, the messy middle of leadership evolution, and why building a business that fits your life—not the other way around—might be the boldest thing you can do. If you’ve ever questioned your management style, struggled with delegation, or wondered whether it’s possible to lead with both strength and softness—this episode will show you that it absolutely is. Follow Lindsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyhuettner https://www.instagram.com/lindseyloufromkalamazoo/ The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:55 How 'Letters from Lindsay' started in the pandemic 03:11 Mastering the financial shell game as a founder 06:54 What no one tells you about starting a business 10:06 “I never laid anyone off—even during COVID” 13:10 From soccer star to soccer mom 17:05 How to lead with compassion without losing clarity 22:08 You don’t get to have a bad day as a founder 27:06 The double standard in leadership styles 30:30 From divorce to entrepreneurship 35:18 “How Starbucks helped me build my network” 40:53 Priorities shift when life gets busy 43:27 What COVID taught us about work and life 47:17 The power of delegation in leadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, host Tyler Dickerhoof chats down with Joanna Lohman—former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer player, author, speaker, and faculty member of Limitless Minds—for an honest and deeply moving conversation about identity, failure, and the quiet power of showing up as your authentic self. Joanna shares her raw journey from chasing greatness as the next Mia Hamm to redefining success on her own terms—after getting cut from teams, losing every championship she played in, and earning just $15,000 a year as a pro athlete. Together, they unpack what it means to lead from the shadows, the overlooked value of role players in teams and organizations, and why impact doesn’t require the spotlight. Joanna opens up about navigating life as a queer athlete, building resilience through adversity, and the transformative moment that made her realize she didn’t need to be the greatest to be great. They also dive into what real authenticity looks like in leadership, how to meet the demands of the moment without losing yourself, and why letting go of comparison might just be the most liberating decision you’ll ever make. If you’ve ever felt like you were on the outside looking in—or like your contributions didn’t count—this episode will remind you just how powerful your role really is. Follow Joanna: https://joannalohman.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalohman/ https://www.instagram.com/joannalohman15/ https://www.facebook.com/joanna.lohman The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:16 “Impact” as the word of the year 10:26 Too many leaders make it about themselves 13:20 Why some players feel completely worthless 16:25 You don’t have to be the star to be the leader 19:49 Authenticity starts with defiance 23:44 Toxic Authenticity vs. Healthy Authenticity 27:56 Gen Z isn’t the problem 32:57 The small moments that shape a confident kid 36:42 Own how you feel beautiful 42:16 Pushing against societal expectations 50:37 Trans Rights, Women’s Sports & the Search for Fairness 1:01:40 Does inclusion come at the cost of opportunity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, Tyler sits down with Scott Danner—CEO, entrepreneur, performance coach, and host of The High Performance Life—for a raw and powerful conversation about breaking out of the boxes life puts us in. From leaving a stable Fortune 500 career to building a company that redefined his industry, Scott opens up about the cost of playing small and what it really takes to pursue purpose over comfort. Together, they unpack what it means to live with a winning mentality—not just in business, but in marriage, parenting, and leadership. Scott shares why your inner circle might be holding you back, how to know when it’s time to leap, and why mentorship is the real shortcut to success. They also discuss the danger of “possession without purpose” and how creating generational wealth starts with a mindset shift, not just a business plan. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unfulfilled, or called to something more, this conversation will give you the clarity, courage, and practical wisdom to take the next step. Follow Scott: https://scottdanner.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_zYDRBiJmLuVlwcCi3qzQ https://www.linkedin.com/company/scott-danner-freedom-street https://www.instagram.com/scottwdanner/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/authorscottdanner The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Why energy matters in the room you're in 05:05 Leaving a 15-year career to pursue a bigger purpose 08:00 Choosing regret vs. choosing risk 15:01 Why your circle might be holding you back 17:09 What if your parents don’t get your dream? 24:00 Build your business like you’ll sell it one day 25:31 Generational businesses can become toxic 27:42 College is no longer the golden ticket 35:18 Are you holding back without realizing it? 37:15 How a winning mentality transforms relationships 41:01 Teach kids the power of winning, not just playing 43:44 Losing can be a win 46:37 Embrace risk for growth 49:35 How to overcome fear and take the next step forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices