In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange sits down with Izzy Gentry—crisis strategist, founder of Made To Walk, and expert in nonprofit and corporate crisis management. Izzy shares actionable insights on preventing burnout, prioritizing mental health, and building resilient teams in high-stakes environments. Discover how reframing resource allocation, investing in training, and embracing pre-mortem thinking can transform your leadership approach. Whether you’re a business leader, nonpro...
Jul 02, 2025•55 min•Season 2Ep. 98
In this episode, Mike Roberts of ERA Group shares his unique perspective on running efficient, high-margin business units. With over 20 years of top-tier P&L management experience, Mike reveals why so many business owners and c-suite executives overlook impactful savings in non-core areas. His insights are a must-listen for leaders looking to drive profitability and efficiency without sacrificing focus on their core mission. Whether you’re a business leader, nonprofit executive, or aspiring ...
Jun 25, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 97
In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange sits down with Bart McCollum—business leader, operator, investor, and co-author of "You Before Me." Bart shares his insights on transforming teams through servant leadership and behavioral psychology, revealing how clarity and trust can unlock traction at every level of a business. Whether you’re a founder, executive, or aspiring entrepreneur, you’ll discover practical strategies for building great, enduring companies and empowering your team to ...
Jun 18, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 96
Welcome to another episode of "How Leaders Think" with Kenny Lange! In this conversation, Kenny sits down with LaRhonda Hamilton—criminal justice professor, US Army veteran, and passionate community advocate—to discuss the real challenges of work-life balance, setting boundaries, and prioritizing what matters most as a leader. LaRhonda shares her journey of learning to say "no," the importance of self-care, and how leaders can avoid burnout while still making a meaningful impact. Whether you're ...
Jun 11, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 95
In this episode of "How Leaders Think," Colton Stawser shares his unique perspective on leadership, change, and building organizations that make a real difference. We dive into the challenges of nonprofit leadership, the importance of identity, and how to create lasting impact in your community. Whether you’re a nonprofit executive, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, Colton’s insights will help you navigate change and lead with purpose. Other places to find the “How Leaders Think” podcast: * Appl...
Jun 04, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 94
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Cindee Williams, founder of Lead My Life, for an inspiring deep-dive into the power of business identity and purpose-driven leadership. Cindee shares her entrepreneurial journey, from launching a business with a rusty pressure washer to helping midlife women and legacy entrepreneurs rediscover who they are, whom they serve, and why their work matters. Together, they discuss the importance of clarity, resilience through the gri...
May 28, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 93
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Jay Owen, CEO and founder of Business Builders, for a forward-thinking conversation about the impact of AI on leadership, creativity, and the future of work. Jay shares his perspective on how leaders can leverage AI to enhance efficiency, fuel innovation, and navigate rapid technological change. Together, they dive into the realities of adopting AI in agency and ministry contexts, overcoming fears of job loss, and the importan...
May 21, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 92
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think" Kenny Lange sits down with Casey Muze, a music behavior cognitive specialist and founder of Avenue Speak, for an inspiring conversation on the power of being present as a leader. In this insightful episode, they dive into how music therapy—especially drumming—can improve mental health, foster resilience, and create meaningful connection in both individual and organizational settings. Casey shares practical examples from his work with neurodivergent youth...
May 14, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 91
On today’s episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Chris Barnes, fractional integrator and executive coach at Wolf’s Edge Integrators, for a transformative conversation on leadership development. Together, they unpack why many leaders struggle to move beyond being high-performing individual contributors and how organizations can shift from a culture of training to true development. Chris shares practical insights on escaping the “reactive” mindset, building conscious leadershi...
May 07, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 90
In today’s episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Ian McCoog, author of "Leadership Bites: An Approachable Handbook for Emerging Leaders," for a practical and thoughtful conversation on leadership theory in the modern workplace. Together, they explore the balance between getting results and valuing people, the evolution from transactional to transformational leadership, and the real-world challenges emerging leaders face in standing out without burning out. Ian shares insight...
Apr 30, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 89
On today’s episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Dr. Michael Brabant, founder of Candor and Coherence, for a deep dive into leadership from the inside out. Together, they explore how prevailing definitions of success and productivity often emphasize external achievement—at the expense of true fulfillment. Dr. Brabant candidly shares strategies for helping leaders move from the “shallows” of surface-level influence into the “depths” of authentic self-alignment, unveiling the ...
Apr 23, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 88
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange engages in an insightful conversation with Dr. Laura Gallaher, CEO and co-founder of Gallaher Edge, about the transformative power of radical self-acceptance and self-improvement for high achievers. Dive into this captivating discussion as they explore how self-judgment differs from self-improvement, and the importance of nurturing self-acceptance to accelerate personal and professional growth. With practical advice on taking credit for even...
Apr 16, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 87
In today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange welcomes Jennifer Cresswell, founder and principal of Thoughtgro, for an insightful conversation on leading through uncertainty and making proactive decisions in times of change. They explore the importance of choosing a path, the distinction between urgent and important tasks, and how leaders can instill confidence by managing uncertainty. Jennifer shares her expertise on problem-solving, defining your legacy, and the power of intelligent f...
Apr 09, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 86
Kenny Lange engages in a transformative conversation with Jon Sabes, an entrepreneur and author, about the intersection of mindset, health, and prosperity. They dive into Jon's pioneering work in the longevity and financial services industries, discussing the powerful mindset shifts necessary for achieving dreams through good health and financial prosperity. Jon shares insights from his book, "Healthy Wealthy Longevity," emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, resilience, and personal age...
Apr 02, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 85
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Dawn Franks, President and CEO of Dawn Frank's Strategic Solutions, for an insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of philanthropy and nonprofit funding. They delve into the critical importance of nonprofits distinguishing themselves in a crowded field, the impact of political shifts on funding sources, and the art of effective scenario planning. Dawn shares her wealth of knowledge from 40 years in the nonprofit sect...
Mar 26, 2025•49 min•Season 2Ep. 84
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange engages in an insightful conversation with Tara Landes, founder and consultant, delving into the nuances of effective feedback in leadership. Tara, with her extensive experience as the secret weapon behind numerous small businesses, shares her compelling insights on transforming feedback into collaborative advice. Discover the art of receiving feedback with gratitude, the significant distinction between feedback and advice, and how leaders c...
Mar 19, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 83
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange welcomes David Kolbe, CEO and Chief Visionary of Colby Corp, for an engaging conversation on understanding human performance through instinctive strengths. Dive into the concept of conative strengths and learn how they play a crucial role in driving personal and professional success. David shares invaluable insights on how tapping into your natural instincts can lead to greater efficiency and fulfillment. Explore the three parts of the mind—...
Mar 12, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 82
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange engages with Marcelo Calbucci, author and founder, to explore the innovative PRFAQ framework that brings strategic clarity to organizations. Dive into this episode as they uncover how to effectively write press releases and FAQs to align teams, optimize strategic decisions, and enhance project success. Marcelo sheds light on Amazon's unique meeting culture, the significance of maintaining alignment, and the art of navigating visionary strate...
Mar 05, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 81
Through personal stories and expert insights, Kenny explores the impact of emotional intelligence (EQ) and the Enneagram as transformative tools for self-awareness and leadership success. Discover practical strategies for overcoming personal and professional challenges, understanding internal and external competencies, and fostering growth within teams and organizations. Other places to find the “How Leaders Think” podcast: * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-thin...
Feb 26, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 80
In this unique episode of 'How Leaders Think' podcast, host Kenny Lange dives deep into the vital topic of creating organizational alignment. Kenny introduces a new series aimed at tackling client questions and practical teachings. This episode focuses on clarifying organizational roles and responsibilities, exploring Dr. Timothy Clark's four stages of psychological safety, and detailing essential functions such as sales, marketing, operations, and leadership roles. Discover proven strategies fo...
Feb 19, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 79
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange welcomes Todd Holzman, CEO and founder of Holzman Leadership, for a profound conversation on the transformative power of candor. Delve into Todd's impressive background, from coaching top executives at IBM to teaching world leaders at Harvard, as he passionately discusses why candor should resonate with leaders today. Explore the delicate balance between caring deeply and challenging directly, and learn why candor isn't just about truth-tell...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 78
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think" Kenny Lange sits down with Dawson Barksdale, Chief Encouragement Officer and founder of Local. Dawson dives deep into the world of venture capital, sharing his personal journey and insights on what it takes to successfully navigate this complex landscape. They discuss the pivotal steps for founders considering VC money, the importance of aligning with the right partners, and how to maintain a clear vision amidst challenges. Dawson also sheds light on the...
Feb 05, 2025•49 min•Season 2Ep. 77
Kenny Lange sits down with Alec Broadfoot, CEO and Founder of Vision Spark, for an in-depth exploration of leadership dynamics and the critical role of hiring the right people. In this insightful discussion, they unpack the law of the lid and its implications for organizational growth, the nuances of cultivating a strong second-in-command, and the indispensable traits of effective leaders. Alec shares his extensive experience in matching top talent with entrepreneurial firms, including the impac...
Jan 29, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 76
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think" Kenny Lange sits down with Carter Severns, SVP of Marketing for Delivery Solutions, for an open conversation about the importance of building rapport and relationships in effective leadership. In this insightful episode, they delve into strategies for genuine connection within teams, the impact of transparent communication, and why likability plays a crucial role in a leader's effectiveness. Carter shares his journey from being mentored early in his care...
Jan 22, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 75
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Peter Monfre, President of Clarity Marketing Support, Inc., for an insightful discussion on the parallels between music leadership and business. In this engaging episode, they delve into the dynamics of running high-performing teams, the impact of maintaining high standards, and the importance of surrounding oneself with experts. Peter shares stories from his remarkable career, including lessons from his father’s dedication to...
Jan 15, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 74
Kenny Lange sits down with Evan Cox, principal of Evan Cox Consulting, to delve into the dual impact of nonprofit fundraising. In this insightful interview, they discuss shifting from transaction-based to relationship-focused donor engagement, framing fundraising as an act of service, and aligning campaign messages with donors' personal aspirations. Evan shares his experiences and strategies for creating meaningful connections that go beyond financial contributions, emphasizing the importance of...
Jan 08, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 73
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange chats with Melissa Winebarger, the first Executive Director of Beyond Business, about seamlessly integrating faith into the workplace. In this compelling interview, Melissa shares her transition from Jasper, a midstream oil and gas company with a unique faith-based culture, to leading a nonprofit. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of fostering a work environment where employees feel seen, heard, and valued, the impact of ethical leade...
Jan 01, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 72
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think" Kenny Lange dives deep with Chris Young, president of the Good Place Institute, for an insightful conversation on integrating faith into organizational leadership. They explore the metaphor of snorkeling vs. scuba diving as it relates to life's challenges and the importance of inward soundness and being others-focused in leadership. Chris sheds light on the different waves within the faith at work movement and emphasizes holistic integration of faith in ...
Dec 25, 2024•53 min•Season 2Ep. 71
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think," Kenny Lange sits down with Katie Allred, founder of ChurchCommunications.com, to delve into the transformative role of AI in ministry and leadership. In this insightful conversation, they unravel the practical applications of AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for churches, from organizing information to enhancing communication strategies. Katie shares how AI can empower leaders to overcome project intimidation, streamline administrative tasks, and focus ...
Dec 18, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 70
On today's episode of "How Leaders Think" Kenny Lange sits down with Alex Dzierbicki to delve into the heart of economic equity and values-driven business leadership. In this thought-provoking episode, they explore the often misunderstood relationship between virtues and profits, challenging the traditional "shareholder theory" mindset. Alex shares compelling insights on balancing purpose with performance, the importance of infinite versus finite pursuits, and the costs of a profit-driven world....
Dec 11, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 69
