In this powerful episode of The WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with Jose Rodriguez, CEO of Rescue a Generation, to explore what it truly takes to build and rebuild trust—in ourselves, our teams, and the next generation of leaders. From his courageous journey out of gang life to launching a thriving nonprofit that empowers urban youth across Southern California, Jose offers a raw and hopeful perspective on how trust isn’t earned it’s a daily, intentional choice. Tog...
Jul 03, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 53
In this illuminating WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with Chris Shaffer, WiLD Leaders Strategic Development Architect and former Microsoft director. Chris Shaffer unpacks the profound shift in how we understand and cultivate trust in today's complex world. Moving beyond mere information, they delve into how real trust is "worked out" through vulnerability, conflict, and genuine relationship. Discover why measuring trust isn't just about assessment, but about ignitin...
Jun 24, 2025•55 min•Ep. 52
In this episode of The WiLD Conversation podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman of WD-40—a leader who transformed a household product into a global brand and one of the most admired workplace cultures in business. Drawing from his 35-year journey at WD-40, including 25 years as CEO, Garry challenges conventional leadership norms and emphasizes the non-negotiable role of humanity in business. Key Leadership Takeaways: Culture is Strategy, Not a “Nice-to-Have”...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 51
What if the key to trust wasn’t just character—but competence, clarity, and accountability? In this compelling episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with longtime friend and fellow leadership practitioner Alex Shootman, CEO of Alkami Technology and author of Done Right: How Tomorrow’s Top Leaders Get Stuff Done. What unfolds is not just a sharp exchange between two seasoned leaders—but a deeply honest conversation between old friends who have walked through leadersh...
Jun 03, 2025•35 min•Ep. 50
Guests: Dr. Rob McKenna & Sam Willing Host: A WiLD Conversation Podcast Topics Covered: The personal journey that shaped Sam’s leadership lens Why emotional and nervous system regulation matters for leaders The silent damage caused by misaligned executives What the WiLD Trust Report reveals about organizational trust How fear, pressure, and identity confusion derail even well-intentioned CEOs What it takes to move from aspirational to actualized culture Signs it’s time to make the hard call—...
May 27, 2025•45 min•Ep. 49
In this powerful episode of The WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Stephen M. R. Covey, best-selling author of The Speed of Trust, to explore the transformative power of trust in leadership, relationships, and organizational life. In a world marked by declining institutional confidence, Covey argues that trust isn’t just a value—it’s a measurable, learnable competency that multiplies performance and accelerates impact. Listeners are invited into a conversation that challenges the ...
May 20, 2025•53 min•Ep. 48
In this deeply personal and profoundly insightful episode of The WiLD Conversation podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Alec Hill—President Emeritus of InterVarsity, legal scholar, mentor, and cancer survivor—to explore the paradoxes of leadership across decades of both adversity and grace. From the dark corners of a broken legal system to the life-giving mission of global relief and development, Alec shares how life, leadership, and trust have evolved through personal failure, painful season...
May 06, 2025•52 min•Ep. 47
In this powerful episode of The WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Phil Goodman, founder of Talent Realized, to explore how truly life-giving workplaces don’t just transform organizations—they change lives far beyond the office. Phil shares his journey from doubting founder to trusted advisor, and what it means to build cultures where trust, clarity, and meaningful connection take root. Together, they unpack what happens when leaders slow down, lean into conflict with composure, a...
May 01, 2025•41 min•Ep. 46
In this power-packed episode of The WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu go beyond surface-level leadership trends and dive headfirst into a conversation that challenges how most organizations approach development. Too often, leaders are handed tools without a method, or methods without measures. Rob boldly claims: “Both matter if we’re serious about building trust and developing whole leaders.” This episode unveils the revolutionary WiLD methodology—a transformative approach tha...
Apr 22, 2025•38 min•Ep. 45
In this episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Dr. Alexis Fink—organizational psychologist, people analytics pioneer, and trusted leader—for a conversation that’s as grounded as it is visionary. Dr. Fink opens up about her recent transition out of a senior role as Meta VP of Analytics and Workforce Strategy—not as a retirement from the work she loves, but a graduation into the next chapter of her calling. Together, we explore how to prepare successors without ho...
Apr 15, 2025•39 min•Ep. 44
In this WiLD Conversation podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with coach and HR leader Sam Willing for an honest and courageous dialogue on what truly erodes trust in leadership: the inability to regulate ourselves in high-pressure moments. Sam opens up about her own transformative journey through grief, healing, and nervous system work, and how it reshaped her understanding of emotional maturity in leadership. Together, they explore what Bowen Theory calls “self-differentiation”—the ability to r...
Apr 08, 2025•43 min•Ep. 43
What if the future of your organization depends on something you’re too busy to notice? We often think about leadership in terms of speed—making things happen, hitting targets, and pushing forward. But real, sustainable leadership isn’t just about performance. It’s about process. And process needs us to stop, reflect, and lead with intention. In this episode, Dr. Rob McKenna and Dr. Mark L Vincent dive into why slowing down isn’t just a leadership discipline—it’s the key to long-term trust, succ...
Apr 01, 2025•41 min•Ep. 42
In this episode Dr. Rob McKenna and Daniel Edds take a deep dive into the unseen forces shaping our organizations—culture, trust, and the systems that define them. Dan shares from decades of experiences highlighting a hard truth: the systems we create (or fail to create) dictate the experience of every person in an organization. 🔹 Leadership Takeaways: Culture Exists, Whether You Define It or Not – Every organization has a culture. The question is whether it’s intentional or accidental. Systems...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 41
At WiLD Leaders, we’ve spent years developing whole leaders—leaders who are both courageous and sacrificial—because we knew that leadership development couldn’t be a one-off event. It had to be a system. A rhythm. Something embedded into the very fabric of an organization. What we found along the way? Trust was the game changer. It wasn’t just a byproduct of good leadership; it was the leading indicator of whether teams and organizations would succeed. The State of Trust at Work Report—What Ever...
Mar 21, 2025•22 min•Ep. 40
Trust isn’t just built between people—it begins within us. In this episode of WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu unpack the critical connection between trust, self-awareness, and worthiness. According to the Relate Project research 41% of young adults don’t feel worthy of love. What does that mean for leadership, relationships, and the way we build trust? Trustworthiness isn’t something we declare or demand—it’s something we live into. It’s about reliability, consistenc...
Mar 11, 2025•24 min•Ep. 39
In this episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Dr. Arthur Satterwhite III to discuss why process is everything—whether you’re leading a team, launching a product, or rebuilding trust. Dr. Satterwhite shares his research from The Relate Project, unpacking what leaders must understand about relational trust, adolescent culture, and the phases we often overlook when trying to create lasting impact. Drawing from his own leadership journey, he challenges us to consid...
Mar 04, 2025•40 min•Ep. 38
Do you change your actions, or do you shift your mindset? Research suggests it’s both. In this compelling conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Wiley Cortez dive into the tension between thought and action. Wiley shares his personal journey from gang life to leadership, highlighting the power of alignment, prioritizing relationships over transactions, and the rhythms of consistency that build trusted relationships. Leadership isn’t just about vision—it’s about reliability, commitment, and the choice...
Feb 26, 2025•41 min•Ep. 37
Many leaders see conflict as a problem to avoid rather than a resource to steward. But what if conflict isn’t inherently bad? What if it’s simply the energy in the gap between differences—a natural outcome of diversity? In this episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Nate Regier from Next Element to explore: Why conflict and trust are deeply interconnected. How the most effective leaders manage the energy of conflict rather than suppress it. Why composure in lead...
Feb 18, 2025•43 min•Ep. 36
In this weeks WiLD Conversation podcast episode, we explore the deep need for community—why we seek it, how we build it, and what it means for leadership. From childhood experiences with unconventional communities to forging lifelong bonds through intentional gatherings, we uncover the undeniable influence of being surrounded by people who challenge, support, and sustain us. Whether leading an organization, raising a family, or navigating life’s transitions, true community brings us closer to wh...
Feb 11, 2025•23 min•Ep. 35
In a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), trust is often the first casualty in our fight against bad actors. But what if trust wasn’t so easily broken? What if, instead, we made trust a hard target—one that is fortified, resilient, and deeply embedded in our leadership and teams? In this episode, we explore how resilient leaders build trust systematically, just as we design security frameworks to guard against external threats. True resilience begins at the...
Feb 04, 2025•15 min•Ep. 34
Sacrificial leadership isn’t about giving up everything—it’s about thoughtfully considering the personal costs necessary to live in alignment with your values and serve those around you. In this episode, we unpack what it means to lead sacrificially without losing yourself, explore the tension between self-preservation and selflessness, and discuss how true sacrifice often involves letting go of what we hold most tightly. Through practical insights and relatable examples, we’ll challenge you to ...
Jan 28, 2025•25 min•Ep. 33
In this episode of The WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna dives deep into a timeless question: Are leaders born or made? Sharing insights from years of research, Dr. McKenna unpacks the interplay between personality traits and growth mindsets, exploring what truly shapes effective leaders. From the impact of the Big Five personality traits (like conscientiousness and extraversion) to the groundbreaking work of Carol Dweck on mindsets, this episode challenges listeners to rethink how they view le...
Jan 21, 2025•26 min•Ep. 32
In this inspiring episode of the WiLD Leaders podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Tami Heim, CEO of Christian Leadership Alliance and former President of Borders Inc., to explore the unshakable importance of trust in leadership—especially during moments of crisis. Tami reflects on her leadership journey through disruptive times, offering insights into building trust, embracing collaboration, and navigating the highs and lows of achievement. Listeners will hear how she turned challenges into ...
Jan 14, 2025•59 min•Ep. 31
How do we balance the tension between being fully present in the moment and making meaningful progress? In this episode, Dr. McKenna dives into the paradox that shapes much of our personal and professional lives. Drawing from psychological insights, including Bandura's Social Learning Theory, he explores the challenges of living in the duality of stopping and going. You'll gain practical tools for identifying your default tendencies, embracing tension, and leading with intention. Whether you're ...
Jan 07, 2025•20 min•Ep. 30
What if the key to building trust isn’t about eliminating your insecurities, but showing up predictably and intentionally? In this episode, we explore how leaders overcome self-doubt, set clear operational rhythms, and create trust-filled business relationships that drive growth. You’ll hear from Dr. Rob McKenna and CEO of One Accors, Nick Anderson, how self-awareness can help you step into your leadership identity with confidence—even when the doubts creep in. By creating rhythms of predictabil...
Dec 17, 2024•48 min•Ep. 29
Trust is the foundation of every thriving team and successful organization, but it doesn’t emerge by chance. Building trust requires intentional effort—measuring it, understanding it, and aligning it with both personal and operational factors. In this episode, we explore how trust works on two essential levels: 1️⃣ The inside-out, where psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and personal growth foster connection and confidence. 2️⃣ The outside-in, where systems, leadership strategies, and...
Dec 10, 2024•12 min•Ep. 28
In a culture that celebrates vulnerability as a solution to relational and personal challenges, we often overlook its nuanced application. Vulnerability is powerful, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. For leaders, parents, and those in safety and security roles, balancing openness and safety is an ongoing tension. In this episode, we explore the courage required to be vulnerable, the risks of being misunderstood, and why true vulnerability demands humility, thoughtfulness, and discernmen...
Dec 03, 2024•21 min•Ep. 27
In this episode, Dr. McKenna and Erik Antons, dive deep into the transformative power of governance and strategic leadership within organizations. Why do so many departments excel tactically yet struggle at the strategic level? How does trust, integrity, and connection shape our effectiveness not only in the workplace but also in life? They explore these themes, touching on operational procedures, the art of meaningful human connection, and even the psychology of security and physiological needs...
Nov 26, 2024•51 min•Ep. 26
In this insightful episode Dr. Rob McKenna, CEO of WiLD Leaders and creator of the WiLD Trust Platform explores the importance of intentionality, alignment, and the transformational power of finding your sweet spot in life and leadership. There are few moments as exhilarating as being in your sweet spot—when your purpose aligns seamlessly with your actions. These moments are not free from pressure, but they bring clarity, efficiency, and joy. They don’t happen by accident; they’re the result of ...
Nov 19, 2024•28 min•Ep. 25
In this episode, Dr. Rob McKenna, CEO of WiLD Leaders, and Dr. Gavriel Schneider, founder of Risk 2 Solution, dive into essential qualities of leadership—trust, risk intelligence, and adaptability. They explore the foundational skills leaders need for effective decision-making, emphasizing that trust and resilience are built, not assumed. Dr. Schneider shares insights on balancing risk with strategy and discusses how leaders can avoid the traps of panic and inaction. Dr. McKenna adds that great ...
Nov 12, 2024•49 min•Ep. 24
