Isaac Abbs returns for week two and the conversation leans hard into the human side of senior leadership: how an introvert survives a job that demands constant presence, how you build buy in like a coach building a locker room, and how you create real moments of recognition when your team is the one taking the calls and absorbing the heat. Along the way, Isaac shares what he has learned about getting comfortable being uncomfortable, why delivery matters more than content when you are on stage, and why storytelling is the skill that makes the message land. 

It is also a Tucson flavored episode in the best way: Isaac’s path from California to Maine to the University of Arizona, a love letter to Fourth Avenue, and an extremely specific answer to the best sandwich question that will make every Tucson listener nod instantly. The wrap up lands with a leadership gut punch that comes up again and again on this show: the question people almost never ask leaders, even though it might be the one that matters most. 

Topics Discussed

1. Introversion in extroverted leadership roles, and building the muscle to show up anyway 
2. Practice as the real unlock for public speaking and high visibility leadership 
3. Coaching mindset in IT leadership: vision, mission, trust, and buy in 
4. Defining wins in IT when the impact is often on everyone else, not you 
5. Creating intentional celebration rhythms: strategic plan reviews, win stories, and acknowledging the grind 
6. Customer service as a frontline reality, and why recognition needs to be specific and frequent 
7. Changing perspective on AI: from caution to strategic momentum, and the risk of falling behind 
8. Tucson culture check: Fourth Avenue, Bison Witches, and the U of A tournament memory lane 
9. The underrated power of storytelling in leadership communication 
10. The question leaders wish people asked more often: How are you doing, and meaning it

Connect with Isaac Abbs
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-abbs

Connect with Ryan
@Ryan_A_Gray
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
[email protected]

Voiceover by Chris Dechter

Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!

This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!