High performance isn't about pushing harder. It's about knowing when to recover so you can perform when the moment matters most. The leaders who sustain excellence over years aren't simply working longer hours. They're building systems that allow them to stay sharp, adaptable, and ready under pressure.

In this conversation, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with David Walden, Director at Stanton Chase and former Chief People Officer, to explore what executive leadership can learn from elite athletics. Drawing on his experience coaching championship swimmers and advising CEOs, boards, and executive teams, David explains why recovery isn't something leaders earn after burnout. It's part of the performance process itself.

Together, they unpack how elite performers prepare for long seasons instead of isolated moments, why focusing on deliverables creates stronger teams than measuring hours worked, and how leaders can build trust through communication rather than control.

Amy and David discuss why modern leadership requires a shift from traditional management toward adaptable, people-centered leadership. As AI, new technologies, and constant change reshape today's workplace, leaders must become more curious, more patient, and more willing to evolve alongside their teams.

If you're leading a team, navigating organizational change, or simply trying to perform at a high level without sacrificing your health, this conversation offers practical insights you can apply immediately.

• Why sustainable high performance depends on recovery, not constant intensity.

• Why focusing on deliverables produces better outcomes than measuring hours worked.

• Practical ways to use micro breaks to improve executive performance.

• Why flexibility creates stronger leadership during organizational change.

• How curiosity and continuous learning have become essential leadership skills in the AI era.

• Why recovery supports better decision-making under pressure.

• What "Moment Ready" leadership looks like inside today's rapidly changing workplace.

David Walden is a Director at Stanton Chase specializing in executive search and leadership advisory. A former Chief People Officer and collegiate swimming coach, he brings decades of experience helping organizations build sustainable leadership while applying lessons from elite athletic performance to executive teams.

Website: https://www.stantonchase.com/consultant/david-walden

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjwalden/

RocketReach: https://rocketreach.co/david-walden-email_4384024

Website: https://www.dramyathey.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dramyathey

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramyathey

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