The Leadership Vision Podcast

Fail Faster, Grow Stronger: Deb Dixson’s Playbook for Teams that Thrive Without You


Listen Later

Send us a text

Pioneering technology executive and Leadership Vision advisor Deb Dixson joins Nathan to unpack how leaders move teams from dependence on one person to interdependence—through mission clarity (“we sell lettuce”), Strengths-based roles, and a culture where fast, safe learning is encouraged. Drawing on her 30+ years as a CISO, CIO, and executive coach, Deb shares stories of building resilient teams, empowering others to lead, and offering timeless guidance for leaders navigating change.

Deb also wrote the forward to Unfolded, and we are so grateful for her continued investment in our team.

What we discuss

  • From hero to builder: Why great leaders aim to make themselves unnecessary—and how Deb did it.
  • Mission clarity: Connecting daily work to the outcome (“we sell lettuce”) so everyone sees how they serve the customer.
  • Strengths in action: Placing people where they’re wired to excel; using a common language to handle conflict and change.
  • Safe failure → faster learning: Celebrating responsible experiments, shortening feedback loops, and avoiding “death-march” projects.
  • Finding the gaps: Spotting unowned work and empowering people to own it (including Deb’s CISO origin story).

Resources & Links

  • Leadership Vision Consulting – services, podcast, newsletter: https://www.leadershipvisionconsulting.com
  • Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane (Brian & Dr. Linda Schubring)
  • CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder)
  • Dale Carnegie training
  • Connect with us on social & subscribe to the podcast

🎉 Unfolded is a National Bestseller!
#1 in Business & #5 Overall on USA Today
#17 on Publisher’s Weekly Nonfiction
📘 Grab your copy + get the FREE Reflection Guide!

Support the show

-
Read the full blog post here!

CONTACT US

ABOUT
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Leadership Vision PodcastBy Nathan Freeburg, Linda Schubring, Brian Schubring

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

29 ratings


More shows like The Leadership Vision Podcast

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,139 Listeners

Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

Coaching for Leaders

1,471 Listeners

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

8,814 Listeners

A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

A Bit of Optimism

2,210 Listeners

We Can Do Hard Things by Treat Media and Glennon Doyle

We Can Do Hard Things

41,570 Listeners

All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN Podcasts

All There Is with Anderson Cooper

10,557 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,941 Listeners