In this episode #4 of the AP Leadership Podcast, Al Pilong sits down with Dr. Kevin Omilusik to explore success and failure in leadership.

They discuss the discipline of listening, why leaders don’t need to have all the answers, and how trust accelerates performance. Drawing from The Speed of Trust and unexpected lessons from the movies, this conversation offers practical insight for leaders navigating complex healthcare environments.

Leadership is a team sport — and trust is the foundation.

In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, Al Pilong sits down with Kent Riddle, President & CEO of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, to explore what makes leadership succeed — and why it so often fails.

Kent shares his deeply personal journey into healthcare leadership after his wife survived a traumatic brain injury and received life-changing rehabilitation care. What began as board service turned into 15 years of CEO leadership — and sustained double-digit growth built on culture.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Common leadership failures — including narcissism and ego
• The importance of psychological safety
• Why leaders must expect more from their teams
• Servant leadership in practice
• Why culture drives performance and financial strength
• Favorite leadership thinkers including John Maxwell and Simon Sinek

Mary Free Bed has grown 10% annually for over a decade — not by leading with finance, but by leading with mission.

If you’re a healthcare executive, organizational leader, or aspiring CEO, this episode offers practical insight and grounded wisdom.

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In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, host Al Pilong sits down with Ed Ness, President & CEO of Munson Healthcare, for a thoughtful and personal conversation on leadership, authenticity, and accountability.

Al and Ed reflect on their years working together and explore what it takes to lead effectively over time — especially in complex, high-pressure environments like healthcare and mission-driven organizations.

They discuss:

• Why authentic leadership matters more than adopting a leadership “style”

• How leaders can balance empathy with accountability

• The importance of culture fit for long-term leadership success

• Why holding people accountable is one of the hardest — and most important — responsibilities of leadership

• How leaders can empower others without needing to be the smartest person in the room

The conversation also takes a fun and practical turn as they explore leadership lessons from Ted Lasso, including curiosity over judgment, humility without weakness, and empowering people to grow into their potential.

This episode is for leaders who want to lead with integrity, build strong cultures, and develop people in a way that creates lasting impact.

🎙️ About the show:
The AP Leadership Podcast features conversations with leaders about what it takes to lead well — especially when leadership is hard and leadership matters.#Leadership
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In this episode we discussed the following topics:Most important Qualities for a leader Why leaders fail Why leaders succeedThe most common challenges you have worked on with leadersMost important leadership advice you’ve received or that you followHow bravery and confidence play into good leadership? AP Leadership Podcast is a series of conversations with leaders on leading hosted by Al Pilong, CEO of AP Leadership Partners, an executive coaching practice that supports leaders in finding solutions for the myriads of challenges they face every day. We hope you find fresh inspiration and ideas to propel you forward in your leadership journey. Thanks for listening! We are fortunate to be sponsored by CxO Coaching, where I also serve as a coach and advisor. CxO Coaching is focused on empowering leaders and driving results with expertly matched C-level executives, coaching high-powered leaders. 🔸 Follow AP Leadership Partners: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ap-leadership-partners/ 🔸 Learn more about CxO Coaching and book your free consultation: https://www.cxocoaching.io/ 🔸 Follow CxO Coaching on Socials: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cxocoaching/ Instagram: Instagram X: https://x.com/CXOcoaching #APLeadershipPodcast #APLeadershipPartners #CxOCoaching #Leadership #Podcast #Leading #Insights #Coaching #LeadershipAdvice #BusinessInsights