The Leadership Podcast

Andy Moye is a former U.S. Naval flight officer, CEO, board member, and author of "From Bunker Hill to the Boardroom: Battle-Tested Leadership for Today's Executives." Andy shares lessons from military and business leadership, including why empathy requires understanding people, why strong individual contributors don't always become effective leaders, and how adaptability requires humility, judgment, and time to think. We also discuss AI's role in leadership, the importance of forming independent opinions, and why empowering teams doesn't mean abandoning accountability. The conversation centers on Andy's principles: People first, mission always. As technology changes how we work, leadership still depends on human judgment, purpose, and putting people first. Find episode 537 on The Leadership Podcast, on YouTube @theleadershippodcast, or wherever you get your podcasts! Watch this Episode on YouTube | Andy Moye on The More You Control, the Less You Lead Key Moments Why military leadership experience can translate into valuable business leadership skills. Why empathy is essential to understanding team morale, individual strengths, and performance. How leaders develop adaptive intelligence by letting go of ego and learning to navigate change. Why making time for strategic thinking helps leaders anticipate what's coming. How transparency, vulnerability, and clear priorities help leaders guide teams through difficult decisions. Why leaders should develop their own thinking before using AI as a tool or thought partner. How to empower teams while recognizing the responsibilities that only a leader can fulfill. Why purpose should guide organizational decisions and give people a reason to contribute. Why putting people first remains essential as technology changes the nature of work. The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "You never let your position be so close to your ego that when your position goes, your ego goes with it." "It's that leader's duty to understand how the team is feeling" "You can't have self bias if you never had a thought to begin with." "The leader's job is to know what are the most important things that only you can do versus the other things you should empower teams." "It's always about people, even in combat, even in missions, even in transition." "Always keep people in the forefront of everything you're doing." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! These are the books mentioned in this episode Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/andymoye Website | www.glidepathhealth.com

Simon Bowen is the founder of the Models Method, helping Fortune 500 companies, government organizations, and leaders simplify complexity, sharpen strategic thinking, and create competitive advantage. Leaders are often asked to solve problems like declining sales, poor performance, or stalled growth. But what if the problem being presented isn't the real problem? Simon calls the deeper, often unspoken issue the "ache." We explore why leaders need to look beyond symptoms, how organizational systems and culture influence performance, and why succession planning often transfers responsibilities without preserving the thinking that made an organization successful. We also discuss how visual models clarify complex ideas, why customers value how a company thinks, and how AI is changing the value of expertise. As AI takes over more repeatable thinking, human judgment, empathy, character, and accountability become increasingly important. At the heart of the conversation is a simple but challenging idea: Before solving a problem, make sure you understand what's really causing it. Find episode 535 on The Leadership Podcast, on YouTube @theleadershippodcast, or wherever you get your podcasts! Watch this Episode on YouTube | Simon Bowen on The Problem Beneath the Problem Key Moments Why leaders need to look beneath the stated problem to find the underlying ache. Why succession requires transferring judgment and wisdom, not just responsibilities. How the environment shapes behavior and performance. Why an organization's way of thinking is part of the value it offers customers. How AI makes human judgment, empathy, and accountability more important. How visual models help leaders make complexity easier to understand and navigate. The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "Great leaders operate below the surface, not one level down, but two levels down." "Why gets you heard, but how gets you chosen." "If it's not codified… It would collapse." "As soon as context has slipped away, meaning has slipped away." "People have to be able to believe in your thinking to be able to buy from you." "The environment always wins." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Simon Bowen Website | www.modelsmethod.com Simon Bowen LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm

Matt Edelman is Chairman, CEO, and President of Super League, a company operating at the intersection of gaming, advertising, and technology. Matt describes his leadership philosophy as a "benevolent monarchy," balancing the responsibility to make tough decisions with genuine care for the people affected by them. Authority matters, but so do humility, trust, and honest communication. We discuss what experienced leaders can learn from younger generations, particularly when it comes to technology, digital communities, and new ways of working. Matt also shares how gaming and AI can change the way organizations approach learning, onboarding, collaboration, and employee development. One of the more interesting themes is the notion that leaders don't need to know more than the people they lead. Matt's experience working with brands in Roblox and the gaming industry reinforces the importance of trusting people who know things we don't. Ultimately, our conversation comes back to a fundamental leadership challenge: How do you maintain high standards, make difficult decisions, and give people the autonomy and opportunity to do their best work? Find episode 535 on The Leadership Podcast, on YouTube @theleadershippodcast, or wherever you get your podcasts! Watch this Episode on YouTube | Key Moments How Gen Z and Gen Alpha experience community through participation, conversation, and shared digital spaces. Why transparency, information sharing, and keeping your word build trust with younger employees. How leaders can learn from younger colleagues by admitting what they don't know. Using hands-on AI projects to help employees build skills and take on new responsibilities. Why Matt believes business is moving away from autocratic leadership toward a balance of authority and compassion. Why difficult leadership decisions require brutal honesty and clear communication. Setting clear expectations while trusting employees to manage their work. How gaming offers insights into authenticity, personal agency, and different levels of commitment. What Matt's work with brands in Roblox and gaming teaches leaders about trusting specialized expertise. Applying gaming principles to employee onboarding, recognition, rewards, and career progression. Matt's Challenge: Spend 30 minutes learning a new game from someone you know to build a stronger connection. The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "I have learned over the course of my career that actually not knowing is a wonderful place to sort of be comfortable." "That relationship where you're giving somebody who works for you, the ability to help you be stronger, is a relationship that is going to endure the test of time." "The age of autocracy in business is probably coming to an end. That doesn't mean that a business has to function democratically." "At the heart of leadership needs to be compassion." "The trick is brutal honesty." "As a leader, other people need to know what you expect from them" "People in virtual worlds are their most authentic selves." "When you practice something, you get better at it." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Matt Edelman Website | www.superleague.com Matt Edelman LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/mattedelman

George Couros, author of "The Innovator's Mindset," and "Forward, Together," is an internationally recognized speaker on innovation and leadership. George explores why lasting change depends less on persuasion and more on participation. He discusses the importance of listening to skeptics, encouraging disagreement, and building trust so people feel comfortable challenging ideas. At its core, the conversation asks a simple question: Is leadership about getting people to follow your vision, or creating the conditions for them to shape it and take ownership? Key Moments -Adapting innovation to the realities and resources of an organization. -Giving students the freedom to pursue their own ideas and take an active role in learning. -The distinction between buy-in and ownership, and the value of involving people in shaping a shared vision. -Inviting skeptical families into the process and incorporating their feedback into educational change. -The limits of data and evidence when people lack an emotional connection to change. -Building trust that allows people to challenge ideas and try unfamiliar approaches. -The difference between debate, which focuses on winning, and discussion, which seeks the best solution, including George's experience publicly criticizing Dave Burgess. -Measuring leadership success by how much better others become, while allowing people to contribute their strengths to a shared direction. The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "It's not about your idea or my idea. It's about the best idea. It doesn't matter where it comes from." "Debate is focused on winners and losers. Discussion is focused on finding the best solutions." "If people do not feel an emotional connection to it, that's when you lose them." "When I make everyone else better because of my leadership, I win." "Leadership is not something you bestow upon yourself. It's something that others bestow upon you." "People love it when their fingerprints are on the solution." "There's nothing I've ever asked anybody to do, ever, that you don't see me doing." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! These are the books mentioned in this episode The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros Forward, Together by George Couros How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | www.theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | www.selfreliantleadership.com Website | www.georgecouros.com LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/georgecourosim

Bouchra Danwra, CEO of DHOW Marcom Agency and global communication strategist, believes meaningful progress begins when we look beyond titles, achievements, and generational differences. Through her You Are What's Next initiative, Bouchra brings young graduates and CEOs together to challenge conventional definitions of success, share perspectives, and discover common ground. In this conversation, she explores the power of curiosity, honest dialogue, and questioning traditional career paths. She reminds leaders that wisdom flows both ways between generations—and that while we cannot always choose where we begin, we can take ownership of what comes next. Key Moments -How a question from her graduating children inspired Bouchra to create You Are What's Next -Why there is no universal answer to what comes next, and why honest conversations can help people find their own way -How removing titles and achievements from introductions helps leaders connect with young graduates as people -Why meaningful communication depends on genuine curiosity and the flow of conversation, not simply cultural differences -The hopes, fears, worries, and dreams that connect people across generations and backgrounds -Why real human stories offer something that polished content and online interactions cannot replace -Why slowing down creates space for creativity, reflection, and new ideas -How Bouchra turned the challenges of her upbringing into motivation to shape her own life -The "standalone kingdom" idea: accepting that you cannot choose where you start, but you can choose where you go -The butterfly theory: why following the same path as everyone else can make it harder to stand out, and why choosing a different direction matters

Carlos Gutierrez, the 35th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and former chairman and CEO of Kellogg, discusses his career spanning global business, public policy, international trade, and leadership in both the private and public sectors. In his book, "Sheer Will: Learning to Lead When There Is No Path," he reflects on the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership. His path to the CEO's office and eventually to government was not planned as a straight line. It was shaped by a simple principle he learned from his father: there is no substitute for results. In this conversation, we explore the less visible work of leadership: building trust, developing relationships, making difficult decisions, and understanding that leadership is shaped by every person a leader encounters. His experience in business and government reinforced the importance of humility, adaptability, and understanding the environment in which leadership takes place. For Carlos, ambition is most useful when it is connected to something larger than the individual. The conversation ultimately returns to a fundamental question: what is the real work of a leader? Carlos's answer is not simply delivering results. It is earning the trust of people, making the difficult decisions when necessary, and creating an environment where others can succeed. Key Moments Why Carlos focused on doing the job in front of him well rather than planning for the CEO's office The leadership lessons Carlos learned from his father: results, tough decisions, and accountability How becoming a refugee shaped Carlos's view of failure, opportunity, and perspective What Carlos learned from watching his father handle failure with grace and honor Why trust does not mean leaders always make decisions people will like Why humanity and courage are essential to leadership Everyone you touch in a company is a potential advocate How Carlos experienced the difference between business and government leadership The "warehouse of trust" leaders build over time Why ambition works best when it serves something bigger than yourself What failure taught Carlos about opportunity, risk, and recognizing luck Why developing talent remains essential in an age of AI The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "There's no substitute for results." "In order to be a good business person, you have to be an honorable person." "People see in leaders things that leaders don't see in themselves." "We don't understand how transparent we are to others that see us." "Leadership is about trust. People have to trust the leader." "Everybody is involved in politics." "Everyone you touch in a company is a potential advocate." "People are going to talk about you. What do you want them to say about you?" "Build up a warehouse of trust." "Believing in something bigger than yourself is essential for any leader." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! These are the books mentioned in this episode Sheer Will: Learning to Lead When There Is No Path by Carlos Gutierrez Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-gutierrez/

Humans have always formed tribes. At work, those tribes emerge around far more than shared goals. They form around who we trust, where we feel we belong, what we believe, and what we stand to gain or lose. Those workplace tribes can strengthen an organization or quietly work against it. Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford examine what leaders can do to shape the conditions that influence behavior, looking beyond individual performance to the environment, incentives, and norms people respond to. They also explore four ways leaders affect the people and systems around them: subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication. That same environment determines whether people speak up, take risks, and challenge one another, or stay quiet out of fear. Jim and Jan explore psychological safety, the tension between developing people and getting mission-critical work done, and why leadership requires continually balancing priorities that are often in conflict. Ultimately, much of it comes back to belonging. Where people feel they belong shapes whom they trust, what they are willing to say, how they behave, and what they are willing to do for the group. Find episode 531 on The Leadership Podcast, on YouTube @theleadershippodcast, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Moments - Why tribalism hasn't disappeared, even as the reasons for belonging have changed - How culture and incentives shape the behavior leaders see - Creating a tribe without creating an "us vs. them" culture - What high school can teach us about tribalism - The four approaches to leadership: subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication - What Morgan Housel's Same as Ever says about human behavior - Why fear is such a powerful force in organizations - What psychological safety looks like in practice - The tension between developing people and doing the work that matters most - Why leadership is a continuing journey of balance - The value of having someone who can challenge your thinking - Why belonging can be more powerful than truth The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "Leadership by subtraction is, in a sense, bullying." "Leadership by division is, for us to thrive, you have to lose." "Leadership by addition is, how do we bring everybody together?" "Leadership by multiplication is, how do I create the next set of leaders?" "Fear is probably the biggest emotion that we have to deal with in the work world." "People don't want the truth, they want to belong." "The art of leadership, not just the science." "Leadership is the constant ability to balance competing priorities, competing needs, competing interests." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! These are the books mentioned in this episode Same as Ever by Morgan Housel Influenced from Above by Brian Ahern Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com

Ron Johnson is the creator of the Apple Store, a sought-after speaker, board member, and the author of Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius. He spent much of his career in retail, including leadership roles at Target, Apple, and J.C. Penney. Ron discusses the thinking behind the Apple Store and what he learned working alongside Steve Jobs. One of the most revealing moments came when the team was six months into designing the first store and realized the concept was all wrong. Jobs agreed to start over, even though it meant delaying the launch. The conversation explores what that experience taught Ron about vision, intuition, and the willingness to rethink an idea when circumstances change. He also reflects on his experience at J.C. Penney, where he moved too quickly, relied too heavily on his own conviction, and did not bring the team along. Throughout the conversation, Ron returns to a theme that runs through his career: bold leadership requires conviction, but it also requires the humility to listen, adapt, and recognize when a better path has appeared. Key Moments The three-hour conversation with Steve Jobs that defined the Apple Store vision How Ron learned to lead through big ideas instead of constant direction Why the first Apple Store had to be completely rethought The courage to hit rewind after six months of work Why Apple designed its stores like a five-star hotel What J.C. Penney taught Ron about compromising on a vision Why intuition matters, and why sometimes you need to count to ten What happens when nobody pushes back on the leader Why kindness is different from being nice How kindness creates an environment where people can do their best Bringing your best and most authentic self to work The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "You gotta bring people along, listen really attentively to other people's ideas." "The highest form of kindness is telling the truth." "Kindness is a choice you make at work." "Kindness enables people to be their best because they're working in an environment of love and not fear." "If you get one chance in life, bring your best self to work every day." "Don't just do things because you think that's what people would expect you to do." "I've always done well by pursuing what I intuitively believe is the right way to solve a problem and not relying on what others do." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! These are the books mentioned in this episode Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius by Ron Johnson Excellence Wins by Horst Schulze Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Website | www.ronjohnsonshopsdifferent.com LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/shopdifferent

Geoffrey Cain is an award-winning investigative journalist and bestselling author. A former correspondent for The Economist and TIME, he has spent more than 15 years covering technology, geopolitics, and global business. His latest book is "Steve Jobs in Exile." Geoffrey explores the lesser-known years after Steve Jobs was pushed out of Apple, and how that period changed the way he approached leadership. Jobs had the vision and creativity, but he had to learn how to connect those ideas with people, markets, and the realities of building a business. The conversation examines why leaders need people who will disagree with them, what Jobs learned from Pixar and NeXT, and why infrastructure and trust matter as much as vision. Geoffrey also discusses the role of adversity in developing leaders, and what the emerging AI revolution might teach us about navigating uncertainty and limits. At the center of the conversation is a simple leadership lesson: knowing when to stay the course is important, but so is recognizing when the path needs to change. Find episode 529 on The Leadership Podcast, on YouTube @theleadershippodcast, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Moments [04:47] What Steve Jobs' wilderness years revealed about leadership [08:25] The difference between having a vision and building a business [09:09] Why the original Macintosh was a commercial failure [12:00] What Jobs learned about solving real customer problems [13:30] Knowing when to stay the course and when to change direction [14:28] Why leaders need people who will disagree with them [19:05] The value of cross-directional thinking [20:32] What Pixar and NeXT taught Jobs about trust and boundaries [23:14] Why infrastructure matters as much as vision [26:06] How adversity shapes leaders [29:28] The opportunities and risks of AI [34:57] Working within limits without losing the vision The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "If you find yourself agreeing with yourself too much, that's the red flag right there." "You need to select people who are willing to push back on you and push back hard." "The risk and the shadow of that ambition and that passion is that it's hard to see when something isn't going to work." "Build it and they will come is no way to run a business when there are investors on the line." "Leadership is not just about the leader. Leadership is about the people who you're leading." "There's a huge difference between a leader who never has to go through those hard times and the one who does have to face it." "That's not failure, that's learning. That's learning where the wall is." "If there's a wall in front of you, look around the corner. Maybe there's another door somewhere." "Sometimes a vision just turns out not to be all that. And that's when it's time to think different and try something new." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! These are the books mentioned in this episode Steve Jobs in Exile by Geoffrey Cain Samsung: The Perfect Police State by Geoffrey Cain Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Website | www.geoffreycain.net LinkedIn |www.linkedin.com/in/gcain X | @geoffrey_cain

Shawn Achor is one of the world's leading experts on the connection between happiness and success. His research on mindset has appeared in Harvard Business Review, his TED Talk has been viewed more than 25 million times, and he is the New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. His latest book is The Power of Beliefs: How Strengthening Seven Core Beliefs Predicts Greater Success and a Better Life. Shawn explores how our beliefs shape not only how we experience the present, but what happens next. He explains why positive statements alone often fail to create change—and how pairing a belief with evidence and an "if-then" qualifier can turn it into something actionable. He walks through seven core beliefs, including that our behavior matters, we matter, we are not alone, our work is meaningful, and there is something to be grateful for. The conversation also explores FOMO, social connection, team cohesion, burnout, and the negative expectations leaders can unintentionally create. Shawn explains how reframing stress as meaningful can change its effects and why the beliefs circulating within a team can influence both well-being and performance. Throughout, Shawn returns to a central idea: beliefs are not simply reflections of our circumstances; they can help shape what becomes possible. He offers practical ways leaders can strengthen productive beliefs in themselves and in the people around them. Key Moments Why positive belief statements don't always move people forward How "if then" statements connect belief to action The four forces working against our beliefs The seven core beliefs Shawn wants people to strengthen Why "my behavior doesn't matter" and "I'm alone" are so damaging Why social connection predicts happiness and success Why people need to pursue solutions with one another How doing something together cut burnout in half Why FOMO is connected to fantasy What social cohesion has to do with performance How leaders can unintentionally create nocebos Why finding meaning in stress changes its effects Why success doesn't guarantee happiness The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company. Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country's warfighters and firefighters. Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com Memorable Quotes "If the brain is positive, outcomes improve dramatically." "The beliefs we hold can predict what happens next in our lives." "When you believe your behavior doesn't matter, you stop moving forward." "When you believe you're alone, you stop believing your actions will work." "We often compare our real lives to fantasies we create about other people's lives." "Doing positive things together can reduce burnout and improve outcomes." "You can change the effects of stress by changing what you believe the stress means." "Success doesn't guarantee happiness. A positive brain leads to better outcomes." "We can strengthen the belief that we matter by looking for evidence that we do." Explore the full archive at www.theleadershippodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts! These are the books mentioned in this episode The Power of Beliefs by Shawn Achor The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor Big Potential by Shawn Achor Influence by Robert Cialdini Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Website | www.shawnachor.com LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/shawnachor Instagram | www.instagram.com/shawnachor Facebook | www.facebook.com/shawnachor TED | www.ted.com/speakers/shawn_achor