Episodes
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In this episode of WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna Rob and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with Matt Hangen, President and CEO of Water4, an organization radically reshaping how the world tackles the global water crisis.
Moving past traditional, short-lived charity models, Matt shares how Water4 operates as a nonprofit that wholly owns for-profit water businesses in Africa.
By using donations as catalytic startup capital and shifting the paradigm from "beneficiaries of charity" to "valued customers," Water4 empowers local entrepreneurs to build, scale, and maintain piped-water systems.
The conversation dives deep into the "chemistry of trust," the necessity of human agency, and what happens when leaders stop viewing mistakes as fatal and start viewing individuals through the lens of inherent dignity and potential.
Key Takeaways1. The Failure of the "Communal Hand Pump" (The Charity Trap)The Problem: Traditional international aid often relies on drilling a communal hand pump in a village, expecting a volunteer committee to maintain it. When it inevitably breaks due to social friction or lack of funds, another NGO simply rolls in to drill anotherâleaving villages full of "broken carcasses" of aid.The Reality: 30% to 60% of traditional water projects are broken. True sustainability requires shifting away from Western-dependent aid toward market-based solutions.2. Dignity Through Pricing & OwnershipShifting the Model: Water4 charges a market rate ($1.25 per 1,000 liters) and requires a $100 deposit for home water meters.The Psychological Shift: Charging money isn't cruel; it's the ultimate form of dignity. When people pay for a service, they transition from passive recipients of charity to active heroes of their own families. Communities that struggled to raise $300 for hand pump maintenance are now delivering bags containing $10,000 in cash to get reliable, piped systems installed.3. Unlocking Human Agency via "Time"The Real Need: The primary crisis of water isn't just healthâit's time. Women and girls spend up to 70,000 hours of their lives simply hauling water.The Economic Ripple Effect: When piped water arrives at a doorstep, it unlocks hours of free time. This single shift sparks local cottage industries: grandmothers boiling water to sell rice, young men opening motorcycle-washing bays, and the creation of hair salons and construction businesses.4. The Customer Promise: The 3 Pillars of TrustTo build unbreakable trust with their market, Matt and his team rely on a simple, non-negotiable equation:
Always Safe: Testing water quality weekly (far exceeding national standards) so no one ever gets sick.Always On: A strict 24-hour repair promise, requiring teams to work late into the night if systems fail.Easy to Buy: Providing three distinct ways to pay (text, agents, or digital centers), allowing users to trust the utility so deeply they even use it as an inflation hedge.5. Leadership: When Vices Masquerade as VirtuesOn a personal level, Matt opened up about the internal work required to lead a high-stakes organization:
Grandiosity vs. Resilience: Leaders often view strategic mistakes as fatal because of a hidden pride. Learning to say, "Of course it didn't work out flawlessly, nobody is more surprised than me that it's working," defuses toxic pressure.The False Masks: Leaders must constantly audit their motives because over-control easily masquerades as prudence, and fear easily masquerades as responsibility.For more info about Water4: https://www.water4.org/
For more about WiLD Leaders: https://www.wildleaders.org/
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What happens when a corporate culture prioritizes operational checklists over human character? In this dynamic episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with Benj Miller, serial entrepreneur, leadership architect, and co-founder of System and Soul. Together, they unpack a foundational leadership paradox: the constant tension between human being and human doing.
Moving past traditional, box-checking corporate frameworks, this conversation reveals why organizational performance and human empathy are not opposites, but oxygen for one another. Benj opens up about his own humbling entrepreneurial failures, the distinct evolutionary leap required to move from a "renegade founder" to a "renegade leader," and how to implement an intentional strategy for your organizational culture. Tune in to discover how to scale your business operations without losing your humanity.
Key TakeawaysThe Integration Paradox: Organizations must focus heavily on both the visible (operational systems, metrics, results) and the invisible (thinking, wellness, and human fulfillment). True organizational health only happens when the system and soul are deeply integrated.Transitioning from Founder to Leader: A "renegade founder" relies on raw energy to get an idea off the ground, but often ends up trapped in an exhausting prison of their own making. Scaled growth requires maturing into a "renegade leader" who can embrace boundaries, listen to trusted advisors, and implement a roadmap.The True Markers of Leadership Effectiveness: A leader's real-world effectiveness comes down to just two attributes: being inwardly sound (self-aware, principled, and holistically healthy) and others-focused.Vulnerability Proves Safety: High-performance cultures require safety and vulnerability, but they don't happen in a linear, comfortable order. Leaders must step out and be vulnerable first to actively prove that psychological safety exists.Clarity is Kindness: Workplace culture cannot simply be delegated away to a VP of Culture. True alignment and trust are built when leaders provide functional, clear job descriptions and explicit accountability metrics rather than superficial office perks. -
Missing episodes?
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What if the challenges we label as engagement problems, culture problems, leadership problems, or performance problems are actually trust problems at their core?
In this episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcat, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with trust expert and researcher David Horsager to explore why trust remains the foundational driver behind organizational health, leadership influence, team performance, and human connection.
David shares the story of how a late-night realization transformed his career and led to the development of the Eight Pillars of Trust, a framework now used by leaders and organizations around the world. Together, they discuss the relationship between trust and leadership development, why trust can be measured, the practical behaviors that build credibility, and what it means to cultivate trust in an age shaped by AI, uncertainty, and increasing skepticism.
The conversation moves beyond theory into the deeply personal, touching on family, humility, continual learning, vulnerability, and the responsibility leaders carry to become more trustworthy themselves.
This episode is a powerful reminder that trust is the leading indicator behind every outcome that matters.
Key TakeawaysWhy most organizational challenges are trust challenges in disguise.The origin and application of David Horsager's Eight Pillars of Trust.How trust can be measured, developed, and strengthened intentionally.The connection between leadership development, culture, and trust.Why personal trust is becoming increasingly important in the age of AI.The role of humility and continual learning in trustworthy leadership.Practical ways leaders can build trust within teams and organizations. -
What does it take to lead in environments where trust, security, and uncertainty collide?
In this episode of WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with global security strategist and author Christopher Stitt for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership inside complex systems, the paradox of vulnerability, and why trust is never static.
Drawing from his experience in global security and insights from his book Scaling Pyramids, Chris unpacks the realities of leading within bureaucracy and challenges the assumption that organizational systems automatically create trust.
Together, Rob and Chris explore how the hidden âmetaâ of an organizationâthe unspoken rules, assumptions, and narratives shaping cultureâoften determines whether teams operate from fear, transparency, or authentic collaboration. Using everything from Dungeons & Dragons analogies to real-world security leadership examples, this conversation dives deep into the tension between protection and growth, control and vulnerability, structure and humanity.
Key topics include:
Why leadership begins with willingness, not titleThe hidden âmetaâ shaping organizational cultureThe dangers of overprotecting teams and organizationsThe âsheep dogâ mentality in security and leadershipWhat it means to truly âown the bureaucracyâWhether you lead a business, a team, a nonprofit, or a family, this episode offers a compelling framework for understanding how trust is built, broken, and restored in todayâs rapidly changing world.
Listen now and join the conversation on leadership, security, and the human side of performance.
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In an industry where "box-checking" can often replace "soul-shaping," trust remains the invisible engine of successful healthcare organizations. This episode explores why trust isn't a light switch you can simply flip on, but a living process of maintenance, recovery, and truth-telling. We dive into the hidden costs of low-trust environments, where employees spend more time appearing trustworthy than actually being it, and how leaders can shift from managing assumptions to building authentic alignment.
Key Leader Takeaways:
Trust is a Process, Not a Switch: It isn't binary (on/off). It requires daily "maintenance and recovery" rather than a one-time achievement.The Cost of "Invisible Assumptions": In low-trust environments, staff waste cognitive energy managing perceptions instead of performing.The "Quiet Exit" of Trust: Customers and patients rarely protest when trust is lost; they simply stop showing up.Vulnerability over Perfection: Trust is built by being honest about where work still needs to be done, not by projecting a flawless image.Soul-Shaping vs. Box-Checking: Real organizational health comes from fostering courage and job clarity, not just completing compliance checklists. -
In this soulful episode, Rob sits down with long-time peer and "architect of hope," Dr. Matt Russell, Executive Director of Iconoclast Artists & projectCURATE. Together, they deconstruct the traditional myths of leadership, moving past "performative vulnerability" toward something much more rugged: Wild Trust.
Sharing a powerful excerpt from his book, Whole Leaders Wild Trust, Rob sets the stage for a discussion on why trust isn't a byproduct of perfection, but rather a result of courageous systems and the "presence of repair" in the face of human brokenness.
Key Takeaways:
The Architectâs Role: Leadership isn't just about dreaming; it's about building the "scaffolding" that allows others to find hope.Beyond Performance: Distinguishing between "performative vulnerability" and "sacrificial courage" that actually costs a leader something.The Trust Paradox: Why vulnerability isn't the foundation of trust, but an inherently unsafe act that requires a foundation of courageous systems to survive.The Power of Repair: Understanding that trust is forged not when things go right, but when we navigate what went wrong with self-awareness and love. -
Why are more than 8,000 college students gathering every week at Reed Auditorium at Texas A&M?
In a cultural moment marked by perpetual stimulation without satisfaction, they arenât showing up for more noise, they're showing up for something real. For leaders who are awake.
In this episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with Brian McCormack to explore the growing hunger for truth, trust, and transcendence among the next generation.
Together, they unpack the high-stakes reality of leading in a time where truth moves at lightspeed and authenticity is often questioned. They discuss why college campuses are becoming epicenters of both cultural disruption and spiritual awakening, and what it means to lead in the midst of it.
This conversation invites leaders to move beyond performance and into presence, embracing brokenness, owning limitations, and stepping into what Brian calls ferocious intentionality: a disciplined, awake, and deeply purposeful way of stewarding time.
The fight for this generation may not be about attention,it may be about the minutes.
Key TakeawaysThe Campus as the Epicenter: Why movements, both cultural and spiritual, are igniting among students, and what leaders must recognizeThe AI Truth Crisis: Leading in a world where reality feels increasingly unstablePerpetual Stimulation vs. Satisfaction: Understanding the deeper hunger driving students toward meaning and the supernaturalLeading from Brokenness: Why trust begins with the courage to say, âI may fail youâFighting for the Minutes: Practicing ferocious intentionality in a world designed to keep us distracted and asleep -
How Mark Whitacre Went from FBI Informant to Culture Leader: Lessons on Trust, Purpose, and Repair
In this powerful episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, Mark Whitacre once known as âThe Informantâ at the center of the largest price-fixing case in U.S. history, shares the deeper story rarely told: the long, costly, and redemptive journey of rebuilding a life.
Hosted by Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu, Mark reflects on what it means to move from public failure to purposeful leadership. Now serving as Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated, he brings a unique lens shaped by his PhD in biochemistry, his corporate rise and fall, and his ongoing commitment to helping leaders and organizations flourish from the inside out.
This conversation goes beyond headlines and into the heart of trust, identity, and restoration. It invites us to consider a deeper question: What does it really take to repair whatâs been broken in ourselves and in the cultures we lead?
Grounded in a faith-informed perspective and aligned with the WiLD Leaders commitment to whole and intentional leadership, this episode offers a compelling exploration of humility, resilience, and the long-haul proposition of becoming trustworthy again.
Leadership Insights:
The Anatomy of Restoration Trust is not a switch, it's a process. Mark unpacks how trust is rebuilt over time through consistent action, humility, and a willingness to be formed, not just forgiven. Leading with Care and Culture At Coca-Cola Consolidated, leadership isnât just about performance metrics, itâs about people. Mark shares how a care-first, faith-rooted approach reshapes organizational culture from the inside out. The Urgency vs. Patience Paradox Leaders often feel the pressure to move fast, but personal growth, healing, and reintegration require time. This tension is where much of the real work of leadership development happens. Whistleblowing and Beyond Mark offers honest insight into the internal transformation required to move from public scandal to a life marked by integrity, consistency, and purpose.To connect with Mark email: [email protected]
To learn more about Mark : www.markwhitacre.com
The Investigation Discovery (ID) Channel Documentary with the 3 real FBI agents: https://www.markwhitacre.com/discovery.html
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In this WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. John Blakey joins Dr.Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu to challenge one of leadershipâs most common assumptions: if trust is the most important currency in leadership, why arenât organizations measuring it?
Drawing from his research, executive coaching experience, and his recent Harvard Business Review article, Blakey argues that trust must move beyond inspirational language and become a measurable strategic asset. Leaders cannot build cultures of trust by intuition alone; they must develop the courage to expose blind spots, measure what matters, and intentionally cultivate the habits that create trust over time.
Together, the conversation explores:
Why trust is the foundation beneath performance and cultureThe difference between talking about trust and operationalizing itHow measurement builds self-awareness, shared language, and strategic alignmentWhy leaders consistently overestimate their own trustworthinessThe role of kindness, courage, and behavioral habits in trusted leadershipBlakey also shares the pivotal career moment that sparked his lifeâs work, being told by a CEO that he was âtoo niceâ to succeed in corporate leadership, and how that challenge ultimately led him to prove that leaders who rely on the power of trust can outperform those who rely on power itself.
For leaders navigating a moment when trust is eroding across institutions, this episode offers a clear call to action:
Stop treating trust like a feeling and start treating it like the leadership system it truly is.
For more on the WiLD Trust Index: https://www.wildleaders.org/wild-trust-index
For more on The Trusted Executive: https://trustedexecutive.com/
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What happens to leadership when "failure is not an option" transitions from a cliché to a literal reality? In this episode of the WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with Nick Lavery, US Army Special Forces Warrant Officer, Green Beret, and the first above-the-knee amputee to return to combat in US military history.
Nick deconstructs the chemistry of high-stakes trust, the critical distinction between leadership and management, and why true confidence isn't found in a mirror, it's forged in competence and preparation. Whether you are leading a detachment in a hotspot or a team in a boardroom, this conversation explores how to navigate the "paradox of vulnerability" and what it means to extract positive value from our most difficult crucibles.
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In this deeply reflective and practical WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna welcomes Randy Conley, Vice President and Trust Practice Leader at The Ken Blanchard Companies, into a conversation that moves beyond trust as a concept and into trust as a relational, moral, and courageous practice.
Together, they explore a reality many leaders experience but few name: trust is often broken not by malice, but by silence, misaligned expectations, and unresolved wounds. At the heart of rebuilding trust, Randy and Rob surface a powerful and often overlooked leadership disciplineâforgiveness.
In a cultural moment marked by polarization, cancellation, and quick judgments, this episode challenges leaders to consider a different path. One grounded in humility, confession, and the willingness to acknowledge brokenness, not as weakness, but as the starting point for wholeness. Randy reframes forgiveness as a personal choice rather than a transactional outcome, reminding leaders that unforgiveness quietly erodes the very trust they hope to protect.
The conversation also dives into the real-world complexity of leadership: trust dilemmas, competing loyalties, unspoken expectations, and the tension between accountability and compassion. Rather than offering simplistic answers, Randy offers grounded wisdom, research-backed insight, and practical behaviors leaders can begin applying immediately.
This episode ultimately invites leaders to ask a deeper question: Is it possible to move toward wholenessâpersonally, relationally, or organizationallyâwithout forgiveness? And if trust always requires risk, are we willing to go first?
Leadership Takeaways Forgiveness and Vulnerability Are Core Leadership Choices Trust cannot be rebuilt without forgiveness, and forgiveness always requires vulnerability. Leaders do not wait for certainty, acknowledgment, or apologyâthey choose courage, go first, and create space for trust to begin again. Trust Grows Through Clarity, Not Assumptions Many breaches of trust are rooted in unspoken expectations rather than intentional harm. Healthy leaders make the implicit explicit, communicate early when commitments change, and practice dependability by doing what they say they will do. Trust Is Sustained Through Consistent Behavior Over Time Trust is not a destination but a journey shaped by daily actions. Moments of forgiveness matter, but trust is maintained through ownership, follow-through, and reliabilityâespecially when the path forward is complex.Wholeness Emerges When Leaders Name Brokenness Honestly Leaders do not lead from perfection but from humility. Confessing culturesâwhere mistakes are acknowledged and learned fromâcreate healthier organizations and transform cracks into pathways for growth, restoration, and trust. -
In this episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Jeff Schiefelbein, managing partner of Undivided Life, for a courageous conversation about what it truly means to live and lead without fragmentation. Together they unpack why so many leaders feel divided between who they are and who they think they must be to succeedâand what it costs them, their families, and their organizations.
Jeff shares candid stories about integrating faith, family, and vocation, including the moment an ordinary phone call about his miniature donkeys awakened a colleague to the weight of her own divided life. From fears of looking weak, to cultural narratives that glorify âmy truth,â to workplaces that unintentionally reward pretendingâthis conversation goes straight to the heart of the human condition.
Rob and Jeff explore why leaders long for wholeness but struggle to live it, why calling is always communal, and why transformation cannot happen in isolation. They challenge the myth of the âself-madeâ leader and offer a compelling vision for integrated, human-centered leadershipâleadership formed through real relationships, honest self-awareness, and shared development across the people we actually do life with.
Top Leadership Takeaways1. Wholeness > Image ManagementMost leaders know instantly that âwholenessâ is right, but fear looking weak, uncommitted, or different. Fearânot lack of desireâis the real barrier.
2. Divided Leadership Creates False SuccessWhen leaders fake strengths, mute their values, or hide their commitments at home, they advance under false pretensesâand eventually feel trapped by the very role they earned.
3. Integration Requires Courageous PresenceJeff: âEverywhere I go, the more I show up as meânot who the moment wants me to beâthe more people thank me for it.â Authenticity isnât performance; itâs presence.
4. Calling Is Never AutonomousContrary to the âlive your truthâ narrative, calling unfolds with the people who share our lives. The myth of the isolated, self-directed leader is both naĂŻve and harmful.
5. Culture Changes Through People, Not ProgramsBreakthrough performance happens when organizations unlock individual potential with coaching, trust, and relational developmentânot just metrics or quarterly targets.
6. A Whole Leader Is a Better LeaderFaith, family, self-awareness, and leadership arenât separate lanes. Integrated leaders take wiser risks, steward energy better, and create environments where others can thrive.
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In this powerful conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Ron Carucci dive into the hidden forces that shape honesty, trust, and character inside organizations. Ronâco-founder of Navalent, bestselling author of To Be Honest, and one of the most unflinchingly candid voices in leadershipâreveals what 30 years of research and experience have uncovered: honesty isnât just a virtue. Itâs a muscle. And organizations are either strengthening it⊠or eroding it every day.
Together, Rob and Ron revisit the early days of their collaboration, exploring what it really takes to lead alongside others with authenticity, speed, and grace. They reflect on the messy, beautiful realities of partnership, the tension between pace and presence, the power of emerging leaders, and the organizational conditions that predict whether people will tell the truthâor hide it.
Ron breaks down the four conditions that scientifically predict honesty and trustworthiness on a team, including accountability with dignity, sayâdo alignment, cross-functional integrity, and true transparency in decision-making. Through candid stories, personal reflection, and practical insights, this episode challenges leaders to examine not just who they areâbut the environments they create.
This is a masterclass in leading with integrity in complex times, delivered with the honesty, humor, and clarity that only Ron Carucci can bring.
Leadership Takeaways1. Honesty Is Not a Trait â Itâs a Trained MuscleLeaders must practice honesty daily. Our brains are wired for truth, but our environments often pull us toward fear, self-protection, or silence.
2. Your Organization Is Shaping Honesty More Than You RealizeThere are four conditions that predict truth-telling or deception. Leaders either reinforce or erode integrity by the systems they tolerate.
3. SayâDo Alignment Builds (or Destroys) Trust InstantlyIf what you claim as a leader doesnât match what people observe, you institutionalize duplicity.
4. Accountability Must Preserve DignityWhen people feel seen and respected for their contributions, they are four times more likely to tell the truth.
5. Transparency in Decision-Making Reduces Underground ConversationsIf a room feels like orchestrated theater, people will seek truth elsewhereâusually in hushed corners.
6. The Seams of Your Organization Predict IntegrityCross-functional tensions are where the truth fractures first. Healthy seams = healthy trust.
For more on Ron's work click the links below:
www.navalent.com
www.tobehonest.net
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In this compelling WiLD Conversation, global executive, former CEO of Korn Ferry, board director, and growth strategist Ana Dutra joins Rob McKenna to dive deep into the essential, yet paradoxical, foundations of effective leadership: vulnerability, trust, and purpose. Drawing on three decades of experience transforming organizations and leading Korn Ferry's $500M+ consulting business, Ana shares her hard-won wisdom on aligning personal values with professional impact. This conversation offers a powerful perspective on how authentic self-awareness anchors leaders and builds high-performing, high-trust cultures.
Leadership Takeaways:Vulnerability is Your Anchor in the Storm: The foundational risk in leadership is the "openness to being hurt," yet this vulnerability is necessary for personal and professional growth. When purpose is excavated and shared, it acts as an anchor, creating stability and trustworthiness in the face of uncertainty.Diagnose the Three Flavors of Trust: Do not accept "I don't trust them" at face value. Dig deeper, as trust issues often fall into three distinct buckets: Competence (can they do the job?), Character (are they honest?), or Loyalty (are they committed to me/us?). Micromanagement is often a loud symptom of one of these underlying trust deficits.Beware the "High Potential" Trap: While agility is crucial, leaders must move past the vilification of "high professionals" (deep experts). A team made only of high-agility people (High Potentials) can breed boredom and instability. True success requires valuing both the "Hypo" (who excels everywhere) and the "Deep Expert" (who anchors core functions).Board Service is About Mindset, Not Status: Serving on a board requires a mindset focused on partnership, not auditing. Directors must prioritize being the "best partner" for the management team and come to the table to "give back" and "pay it forward," rather than viewing the role as a career capstone or personal status symbol. -
This special episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast features Jeffrey Hunter, the visionary CEO, Founder, and Chairperson of Storyteller Overland. Dr. Rob McKenna is a proud owner of a Storyteller Stealth, giving listeners an intimate look at his personal "mode" and setting the stage for a deeply personal and insightful discussion. Jeffrey shares the origin story of Storyteller Overland, born from a desire to meet unmet needs in the van life community with high-quality, scalable production, allowing adventurers to "focus on the life aspects of van life" with confidence and a "circle of trust."
Key Leadership Takeaways:Inspiring a "Live Free" Movement: At its core, Storyteller Overland is on a mission against a "broken timeline"âthe tendency to defer dreams and adventures. Jeffreyâs leadership aims to empower people to "take the next step" and embrace a new version of themselves, confident in the gear and supported by a community that helps them explore farther and "not keep breaking their timeline." This mission-driven approach defines not only their product but their entire organizational purpose.Trust as the Governing Physics of Business: Jeffrey emphasizes that trust is not just a soft skill but the "governing physics" of enduring success, both within the organization and with its community. He advocates for measuring trust to create pathways for change and intentionally fostering authenticity, integrity, and commitment to shared values among a diverse team.Quantifying the Vibe: As Storyteller Overland scaled rapidly, Jeffrey and his team realized the need to "quantify the vibe." This means identifying measurable metrics for subjective feelings like community, confidence, and happiness to ensure that rapid growth doesn't sacrifice the core culture and values. Leaders must continually ensure the "vibe" is structurally, endemically, and consistently true.Product as a Vehicle for Purpose: The "mode" is intentionally designed not as conspicuous consumption, but as a "vehicle" for accessing and connecting with passions, people, and places. Jeffrey's personal journey of seeking permission to live a more adventurous life translated into products that help others "unlock the person they're wanting to go and do and be and become," making the product an extension of a greater mission.Continuous Improvement in All Aspects: From product design to personal leadership, Jeffrey champions continuous improvement. This includes not only refining vehicles but also continually working on personal growth and leadership capacity, recognizing that a relationship, whether with a team or a customer, is "not one and done."This conversation offers invaluable lessons for leaders striving to build a thriving business rooted in trust, purpose, and a truly wild spirit of adventure.
Watch on YouTube : https://youtu.be/Bohg3Lo75bAFor more on the WiLD Trust Index visit : https://www.wildleaders.org/wild-trust-index For more on Storyteller Overland visit : https://www.storytelleroverland.com/ -
From Building Systems to Cultivating People: A Path to Trust and Growth
In this episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, host Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Josh Wylie, President of Villara Building Systems, to reveal a leadership metaphor that reshapes how we think about influence: the builder and the gardener.
Great leaders must be both. Builders focus on visible structuresâsystems, strategies, and profits. Gardeners nurture what is unseenâthe trust, relationships, and culture that make growth sustainable. Wylie shares how Villara Building Systems, a national leader in its industry, has built its mission around âbuilding people, building trust, and building dreams.â
From leveraging the WiLD Trust Index to creating an in-house coaching program, Wylie demonstrates how leaders can systematize trust and invest in people holistically. This conversation is a blueprint for leading organizations with integrity, intentionality, and a relentless commitment to human flourishing.
Leadership TakeawaysBe Both a Builder and a Gardener Success requires more than structures and systems. Leaders must also cultivate the âinvisibleâ work of trust, culture, and relationships.Systematize Trust Trust isnât a buzzwordâitâs a discipline. Measure it, track it, and reinforce it with accountability, clear expectations, and consistent feedback.Invest in the Whole Person Villaraâs in-house coaching program is proof that when employees grow personally and professionally, loyalty, ownership, and performance follow.Lead with Vulnerability In moments of pressure, honestyâeven about uncertaintyâbuilds trust and calms fear. Vulnerability creates credibility.Empower People to Own Their Plans Donât just give answers. Ask better questions. When team members design their own development and commitments, their motivation and accountability multiply. -
Patrick Lencioni, one of the most influential voices in organizational health together with Dr. Rob McKenna, dive deep to explore the heart of effective leadershipâredefining success, reframing identity, and uncovering the surprising role of brokenness in shaping whole leaders.
This episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcast begins lightheartedly with pet peeves, but quickly moves into transformative insights on humility, trust, and the sacrificial nature of leadership.
Key Takeaways for Leaders:
Reframe Success from Performance to WholenessSuccess isnât about endless striving or achievement. Lencioni challenges the idea that high performance equals health, showing instead that true leadership comes from peace and wholeness, not fear or insecurity.Embrace Vulnerability as the Foundation of TrustVulnerability isnât trendy, itâs courageous. Trust is forged when leaders risk openness, admit mistakes, and allow others to see their imperfections. This creates authentic connection and psychological safety.Know Your Working Genius and Acknowledge WeaknessesLeaders donât need to excel at everything. Lencioniâs Working Genius model helps identify where joy and energy come from while encouraging teams to complement each otherâs strengths. Admitting what youâre not good at isnât weaknessâitâs humility and wisdom.Leadership is a Sacrificial ActLeadership isnât about recognition or power. Itâs about serviceâchoosing difficulty and even suffering on behalf of others. Great leaders embrace this sacrificial posture for the sake of those they lead.For more on The Table Group visit: https://www.tablegroup.com/
For more on The Working Genius visit: https://www.workinggenius.com/
For more on the WiLD Trust Index visit: https://www.wildleaders.org/wild-trust-index
For more on WiLD Leaders Inc. visit: https://www.wildleaders.org/
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In this unmissable episode of The WiLD Conversation podcast, hosts Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu are joined by the legendary Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School and the pioneering mind behind the globally transformative concept of psychological safety.
With candor and clarity, Dr. Edmondson challenges long-held beliefs about leadership, trust, and failure. She reframes trust not as something earned over time, but as a deliberate choiceâa bold act that inspires others to rise to the occasion. And she cuts through misconceptions about psychological safety, revealing it not as comfort or kindness, but as the courage to foster learning, candor, and intelligent risk-taking.
This conversation is a masterclass for leaders who want to build environments where people are safe to speak up, take smart risks, and grow together.
Leadership Takeawaysâ Trust Is a Choice, Not a Prize: Amy offers a compelling reframe: trust isnât a passive result of consistency, it's an active decision to believe in people before theyâve proven themselves. That kind of leadership invites others to show up more fully.
â Psychological Safety â Comfort: Psychological safety isnât about being âniceâ or avoiding discomfort, it's about creating the conditions for learning, candor, and accountability, even when the stakes are high.
â Vulnerability Is Strength: Leaders who admit mistakes and ask questions set the tone for growth. Vulnerability isnât weakness; itâs a strategic signal of trustworthiness and courage.
â Discernment Over Permission: Failure isnât always bad. Amy unpacks the difference between basic, complex, and intelligent failures, encouraging leaders to cultivate a culture that learns from risk without lowering standards.
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What really drives high performance? In this episode, global speaker and leadership strategist Jamie Crosbie joins Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu on the WiLD Conversation Podcast to challenge the metrics-only mindset and champion the human algorithmâwhere trust, courage, and clarity fuel sustainable success.
Jamie reminds us: âIf outcomes are king, then trust is the crown.â Together, they unpack how courageous leadership, emotional intelligence, and reframing failure can transform feedback into fuelâand cultivate cultures where people thrive, not just perform.
If youâre leading in high-pressure spaces, this oneâs for you.
Leadership Takeaways:
đč Lead with Metrics and Meaning Performance soars when goals are clear and people feel valued. Donât skip the "why."
đč Courage Builds Trust Vulnerability isnât weaknessâitâs leadership. Own your limits, invite honesty, and watch trust grow.
đč Failure Fuels Growth Ditch the fear. Normalize failure as feedback. Try asking: âWhat did you fail at today?â
đč Self-Awareness > Strategy Alone Even the best plan falls flat without emotional intelligence. Start within to lead well.
đč Find Your People Leadership isnât a solo act. Build your circleâmentors, coaches, truth-tellers. No one peaks alone.
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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 trustâin 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 isnât earned itâs a daily, intentional choice.
Together, they unpack why vulnerability is the secret ingredient in leadership, how asking better questions, especially with Gen Z, can transform disengagement into deep ownership, and why the only way up is through trust. Whether youâre leading a team, mentoring young people, or working to rebuild broken relationships, this conversation will leave you inspired to lead with radical ownership, consistent action, and the kind of trust that changes lives.
đĄ Key Leadership Takeaways:
1. Trust Is a Practiced Choice, Not a Trait Trustworthy leadership isnât something you haveâitâs something you do, daily. Joseâs story reveals that choosing trust, especially when itâs risky, is what transforms both leaders and teams.
âTrust is not a trait. It's a practiced and powerful choice.â
2. Beliefs Drive Behaviors: Change doesn't start with commandsâit starts with beliefs. Great leaders get curious about whatâs underneath the surface.
âIf you want to change the behavior, youâve got to find out what the belief is.â
3. Ask Better Questions: Young leaders donât need more answersâthey need to be seen and heard. Meaningful questions open doors to engagement, trust, and breakthrough.
âWe live in an answer culture. But asking the right question can change everything.â
4. Repairing Trust Requires Ownership and Small Steps: Trust breaks in moments, but itâs rebuilt in tiny, consistent acts of ownership, honesty, and repair.
âEvery broken commitment is actually a cry for help.â
đ Learn more about Rescue a Generation: https://www.rescueageneration.com/
đ Learn more about WiLD: https://www.wildleaders.org/
đ Download the State of Trust At Work report : https://info.wildleaders.org/state-of-trust-report-registration-0
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