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Namatai Kwekweza has endured arrest, intimidation, and imprisonment for standing up for democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe. Yet her leadership lessons extend far beyond activism, offering powerful insights on courage, community, reading, and developing the inner resilience needed to lead through uncertainty. This conversation is a compelling reminder that extraordinary leadership begins with ordinary people who choose to keep moving forward despite fear. 

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What does it take to lead one of the nation's premier academic health institutions? In this episode of Leader Fast Lane, TTUHSC President Dr. Lori Rice-Spearman shares lessons from her journey as a first-generation college student to becoming the first female president in the Texas Tech University System. We discuss trust, influence without authority, embracing failure as a catalyst for innovation, and why the simple discipline of listening may be the most powerful leadership skill of all.

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In this episode, I talk with Billy Breedlove, Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction at the Texas Tech University System, to explore the leadership principles that have shaped his 35-year career. Billy shares why he believes servant leadership, trust, and strong relationships are the foundation of high-performing teams, explains the difference between pursuing success and pursuing significance, and reflects on the lasting influence of mentors, family, and character in developing leaders who leave an enduring impact. 

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Derek McIntire, COO of TCP Software, joins me in this episode. Derek is an exceptional leader of a highly successful business and shares best practices on engaging with AI/LLMs, leading with vision, qualities he most values in leaders, and the impact Angelo State University has had on him.

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In this episode, I am joined by General (ret.) David Hill, Executive Director of the Society of American Military Engineers, and the former Commandant of the United States Army War College.

In our conversation, General Hill shares why:

• Leadership is never about yourself—it's about the mission and the people entrusted to you.
• Humility means taking responsibility when things go wrong and giving credit when they go right.
• Kindness and high standards are not opposites—they reinforce one another.
• Optimism isn't wishful thinking; it's a leader's responsibility during uncertainty.

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In this episode of Leader Fast Lane, I sit down with Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec for a candid conversation about leadership in one of higher education's most complex environments. Drawing on more than four decades at Texas Tech—as professor, dean, provost, and president—Dr. Schovanec shares practical insights on making difficult decisions, leading through uncertainty, balancing competing stakeholder interests, and keeping an institution focused on its mission. The conversation explores the importance of humility, empathy, strategic thinking, and maintaining hope during times of significant change, offering leadership lessons that apply well beyond higher education.

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In this episode, I talk with an old colleague, Jesse Rudy, who is the Founder & CEO of Redeem International, a Christian non-profit dedicated to protecting some of the world's most vulnerable widows and orphans from violent abuse and exploitation. 

Jesse is a leader I greatly admire. Listen as he shares about the risks of conflating your profession with your identity, how to deal with anxiety and stress in a healthy, sustainable way, and how to prepare yourself to have difficult conversations.

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In this episode, I talk with Mike Millegan, an exceptional leader of four decades across several sectors. An alumnus of Angelo State University, Mike considers his time at ASU as formative and foundational to his remarkable career success.

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In this episode, I talk with Cole Johnson, Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Operations Officer for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Some highlights include:

6:28 - Seek to improve yourself and other opportunities will come; say "yes" 

11:48 - "Brains are sexy": be a lifelong learner

20:54 - Collaboration and competition are needed to achieve big things

32:14 - Make decisions based on values and information on hand, and be willing to pivot if need to

40:00 - Trust your people, and verify with grace

46:58 - For emerging leaders, a strong work ethic and a sense of others-focus are key

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In this episode, I talk with Dennis Mikula, Jr., CEO of the Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA). Dennis is an accomplished people-focused leader and world-class connector. In the episode, he shares:

5:37 - Leadership is more about people than operations

7:02 - His motto: People First. Purpose Always. Team Over All

11:51 - How to balance tradition and innovation/change

18:57 - How to maintain professional accountability without creating fear

24:06 - Leaders in new roles should focus in listening & relationship-building

35:24 - The importance of constructive conflict

37:41 - The difference between networking and relationship-building