In this episode, I’m joined by Jimmy Casas—best-selling author, leadership coach, and former award-winning principal. Jimmy and I dive into his incredible journey from bar manager to one of the most recognized school leaders in the country. We unpack the power of origin stories, the traps of superhero leadership, and why leaders must know who they want to be in order to lead effectively.

Jimmy shares how Culturize became the game-changing book it is today, why so many school leaders fall into “fixer” mode, and how coaching has changed the game for him and countless leaders. We also talk about the evolving landscape of school leadership, the importance of building leadership capacity, and his belief that culture is caused—by adults, not students.

Whether you're early in your leadership journey or a seasoned veteran, this conversation is packed with practical insights, authentic reflection, and coaching wisdom that will inspire and equip you to lead with clarity and purpose.

🔗 Connect with Jimmy Casas: https://www.jimmycasas.com

📘 Learn more about Culturize and Words on the Wall

📣 Book Jimmy to speak or coach your team

👤 About Jimmy Casas

Jimmy Casas served twenty-two years as a school leader. He is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and leadership coach who has dedicated his career to building better school culture and stronger school leaders. Under Jimmy’s leadership, Bettendorf High School was named one of the best high schools in the country three times by Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. He was the 2012 Iowa Principal of the Year and the runner-up NASSP 2013 National Principal of the Year. In 2014, he was invited to the White House to speak on the Future Ready Pledge, and in 2015, he received the Bammy Award for National Principal of the Year.

Check out Darrin as a guest on Jimmy's podcast The Interview Chair