A tariff crisis that nearly shut the doors, hard conversations with people he cares about, and a relentless focus on positivity—this entrepreneur has seen it all and refused to give up. In this episode, you’ll hear how he leads with integrity, imagination, and resilience as he builds a family-centered business in an uncertain world.

In this episode, Kevin and Bill McHenry discuss:

• Positivity as a leadership “superpower”
• Transition from corporate career to entrepreneurship
• Family involvement in business and team culture
• Communication, integrity, and difficult conversations
• Imagination, curiosity, and resilience in modern leadership

Key Takeaways:

• Positivity is not accidental; it’s a practiced discipline that shapes how leaders show up for their teams and customers.
• Enjoying your work isn’t a luxury—when you hate what you do, the stress spills over into your home and relationships.
• Honest, proactive communication paired with integrity makes even bad news easier to receive and preserves trust.
• Self-awareness and personal “centering” practices are essential; leaders need reliable ways to step back, reset, and think clearly.
• Imagination and resilience go hand in hand: big problems can be solved “one bite at a time” if you refuse to give up and stay curious.

"Anyone that's successful, if they tell you that they didn't have a tough time, they're lying to you." - Bill McHenry

About Bill McHenry:

Bill McHenry is an innovative leader in the world of sales and marketing with over 40 years of extensive corporate and entrepreneurial experience. He is a creative, energetic problem solver, successfully launching hundreds of items, multiple brands, and the fast-growing Widgeteer business. As the founder and President of Widgeteer, Bill continuously strives to find fresh and original housewares ideas across the kitchen and tabletop categories. As the company has grown, he has focused on creating a lean, customer-service-oriented organization that delivers quality goods from the best factories in the world’s hottest manufacturing hubs.

Throughout his noteworthy career, Bill has served in key capacities for a number of varied and high-profile companies, including Carnation, a division of Nestle Corporation, 3M, and North American Philips in upper executive positions in sales, marketing, and business development sectors. In October 2023, Bill was appointed to the IHA Board of Directors. As a director, Bill helps provide high-level oversight of IHA activities, strategy, and performance. His extensive knowledge of sales, marketing, and business development is a strong asset to the IHA board.

Bill is a graduate of Alma College and served as President of the Alumni Board from 2016-2018. His commitment to the students and College earned him recognition as Advisory Board Ambassador of the year in 2016 and the Smith Distinguished Service Award in 2020. Bill is very active in his community and serves on the National Board for Gift of Adoption. Currently, Bill resides with his wife Nancy in Oakwood Hills, Illinois. They have 2 successful boys, the cutest little granddaughter, and just recently welcomed another beautiful granddaughter into their family.

Connect with Bill McHenry:

Website: www.widgeteerinc.com 

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

A former substance abuser and two-time cancer survivor, Sir Charles Cary transformed his life into a masterclass on purpose, resilience, and leadership. In this episode, he shares how trusting yourself, serving others, and redefining success can help you overcome life’s “cancers” and lead with impact.

In this episode, Kevin and Charles Cary discuss:

• Superpower of people and authentic creativity
• Journey from addiction to transformation and leadership
• Battling cancer and reshaping life perspective
• Trusting yourself as a leader and reading the room
• Redefining success beyond money and living a multi-passion life

Key Takeaways:

• The ability to genuinely love, understand, and connect with people can be a powerful superpower in life and leadership.
• Real transformation often begins when you recognize that you are the change that needs to happen.
• Life’s toughest challenges—like addiction and serious illness—can become catalysts for purpose, clarity, and service to others.
• Effective leadership requires trusting yourself, reading the room, and focusing on what your audience or team truly needs, not just what you want to deliver.
• Success is more than money; it includes fulfillment, diversified gifts, and a quality of life aligned with who you really are.

"I know that success is more than money. Success is achievement. Success is a quality of life." - Charles Cary

About Charles Cary:

Charles Cary is a Harlem-raised kid who fell into many of the trappings of the world and overcame substance abuse in addition to cancer.

Connect with Charles Cary:

Website: https://sircharlescary.com/ | https://sircharlescarymusic.com/ 

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

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

In a world where AI, cloud systems, and constant disruption redefine how we work, how do leaders stay human, calm, and effective? In this episode, a CIO shares hard-won lessons on digital transformation, culture change, and the everyday habits that keep leaders grounded under pressure.

In this episode, Kevin and Alan Schomaker discuss:

• Bridging technology expertise and people-centered leadership
• Cultural change in digital transformation and ERP migration
• Communication skills in an AI-driven world
• Balancing technology with human connection and focus
• Personal leadership philosophy, crisis leadership, and continuous growth

Key Takeaways:

• Technical change is the easy part; the real challenge is leading the cultural shift that new systems demand.
• Clear, simple communication, especially around processes and expectations, is now a core leadership skill, not a “nice to have.”
• Leaders must intentionally create boundaries with technology to protect focus, presence, and genuine human connection.
• Small daily practices like deep breathing, walking, and quiet thinking time can reset the brain and prevent overwhelm.
• Continuous reading, reflection, and refining a personal ethos are essential for anyone who wants to grow into a resilient, effective leader.

"Don't rely on technology to solve all your problems. It's a great tool, but it's a tool like anything else." - Alan Schomaker

About Alan Schomaker:

Alan is a technology and operations executive and Chief Information Officer with more than 25 years of experience leading digital transformation, enterprise system modernization, and cybersecurity governance. As CIO of Loyola University New Orleans, he leads enterprise IT strategy supporting 4,500 students and 1,200 faculty and staff.

Connect with Alan Schomaker:

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

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

Discover how one physician-turned-entrepreneur scaled her impact from individual patients to millions of lives—without losing the human heart of medicine.

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Archana Dubey discuss:

• Connection and empathy as a leadership superpower
• Journey from physician to global healthcare and AI innovator
• Building and funding responsible AI startups in healthcare
• Imagination, creativity, and freeing time for deep thinking
• Future skills, communication, and leadership in global health teams

Key Takeaways:

• Deep, authentic connection grounded in empathy is a powerful asset in leadership, medicine, and innovation, enabling stronger teams and more human-centered solutions.
• Scaling impact in healthcare often requires moving beyond one-on-one clinical care into roles that shape systems, benefits, technologies, and entire populations.
• The success of early-stage ventures hinges less on the idea and more on the team’s humility, customer obsession, and willingness to pivot based on real-world feedback.
• AI is a double-edged sword; used thoughtfully, it can free humans from repetitive work, create time for imagination and creativity, and ultimately make us more fully human.
• Future healthcare leaders must combine a hunger for growth, continuous learning, soft skills like empathy and communication, and the discipline to use technology as a tool—not a substitute—for human presence.

"Imagination is where new ideas come from. Iteration is where you keep doing the same old, same old in a different way." - Dr. Archana Dubey

About Dr. Archana Dubey:

Dr. Archana Dubey is the CEO and Founding Partner of Arches Ventures, where she helps AI‑driven and digital health companies sharpen their products and go-to-market strategy. A mission-driven physician leader with over 30 years of experience, she blends deep clinical expertise with a track record of scaling innovation across healthcare and technology.

Previously, she served as Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare and has held leadership roles with companies including AliveCor, HP, HPE, Google, Qualcomm, and Tesla. Board-certified in Internal and Family Medicine, she trained at Columbia University and USC, practiced at Stanford and UC Davis, and has taught at Stanford’s School of Medicine and Graduate School of Business.

Her core strengths are in go-to-market strategy, product positioning, and aligning teams around customer needs to bring meaningful healthcare innovations to market.

Connect with Dr. Archana Dubey:

Website: archesaccelerator.com 

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

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

In a time when colleges are closing and careers are constantly evolving, this conversation dives into what leadership in higher education must become: deeply human, radically student-centered, and courageously adaptive. Discover how aligning passion, purpose, and curriculum can transform both institutions and individual lives.

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Benjamin Rifkin discuss:

• Leadership as listening and human connection
• Nonlinear career paths and finding your true vocation
• Helping students choose majors and careers they love
• Redesigning higher education for future relevance
• Building trust, dignity, and respect across all roles

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership begins with deep listening and helping people align their strengths and passions with organizational goals, so they see themselves as meaningful contributors.
• Career paths are rarely linear; experimenting, changing direction, and abandoning ill-fitting plans can lead to more authentic and fulfilling work.
• Outside a few regulated professions, the choice of major matters less than developing transferable skills, experiences, and the ability to learn and act professionally.
• Higher education must pivot from legacy structures built for a growing student population to curricula that explicitly prepare students for meaningful, adaptable careers.
• Treating every person, from faculty to custodians, with dignity, trust, and recognition not only builds loyalty and performance, but it also models the very leadership we claim to teach.

"Lead from where you are and recognize that everyone, everyone around you, is a human being worthy of respect, dignity, who makes a contribution to your organization." - Dr. Benjamin Rifkin

About Dr. Benjamin Rifkin:

Benjamin Rifkin earned his bachelor’s and first master’s degrees in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University before working in Moscow as a translator and interpreter. He later earned a second master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literature from the University of Michigan and received an honorary doctorate from Middlebury College for his contributions to language education and intercultural understanding.

A professor of Russian, Rifkin has held faculty and leadership positions at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Temple University, The College of New Jersey, Ithaca College, Hofstra University, and now serves as University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fairleigh Dickinson University. His research focuses on language proficiency, compassion in education, and student success. He has authored textbooks, published numerous scholarly works, and is a recognized leader in world language education, earning multiple awards for his teaching, research, service, and leadership, including the 2020 Wilga Rivers Award from ACTFL.

Connect with Dr. Benjamin Rifkin:

Website: https://www.fdu.edu/profiles/benjamin-rifkin/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-rifkin-phd/ 

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

A department chair who never planned on academic leadership becomes a VP, shaping how an entire college defines success, belonging, and legacy. In this conversation, she opens up about leading with empathy, elevating students beyond the metrics, and why curiosity and kindness might be a leader’s greatest tools.

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Loretta Ovueraye discuss:

• Defining moments in an academic leadership journey
• Developing leaders without fear or hierarchy
• Rethinking student success beyond traditional metrics
• Inclusion, belonging, and institutional culture
• Legacy, curiosity, and STEM storytelling for children

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership grounded in empathy, kindness, and curiosity can transform systems without sacrificing humanity.
• Developing leaders often starts with dismantling the myth that authority requires volume, control, or performance.
• Student success is not only about grades and degrees; resilience, persistence, and experiential learning are equally powerful wins.
• A culture of belonging is built by design—through structures, spaces, and practices that help everyone “find their people.”
• Legacy can be lived out in simple, creative ways, like stories that fuel children’s curiosity and show them they can innovate inside real-world constraints.

"You can still engage and promote action while being human." - Dr. Loretta Ovueraye

About Dr. Loretta Ovueraye:

Dr. Loretta Ovueraye has been vice president of Academic Affairs at Seminole State College of Florida since 2023. Dr. Ovueraye has over 20 years of experience serving in the Florida College System (FCS) as a faculty member, department chairperson, program director, dean of faculty, and more. Before joining Seminole State in June 2023, she served as vice provost of workforce programs and professional learning at Miami Dade College.

Her personal educational journey has taken her around the world, from earning her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Edo State University in Nigeria to earning a master’s degree in environmental science from Imperial College, University of London, and her Ed.D. in higher education administration from Northeastern University.

As vice president of academic affairs, Dr. Ovueraye is responsible for the delivery of academic programs, courses, and services. Seminole State offers over 200 degrees, certificates, and programs, including 11 bachelor’s degrees.

Connect with Dr. Loretta Ovueraye:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loretta-ovueraye-a3404541/ 

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

In a world obsessed with talent and polished résumés, this conversation dives into why tenacity and authenticity are what actually move lives, teams, and organizations forward. Discover how leaders who are real, resilient, and people-focused go farther than those who rely on ability alone.

In this episode, Kevin and Phillip Bogolub discuss:

• Talent vs. tenacity in real-world success
• Ability as competence and practiced skill
• Authenticity and trust in leadership and communication
• Navigating layoffs, honesty, and difficult conversations
• Integrating the four pillars: talent, tenacity, ability, and authenticity

Key Takeaways:

• Tenacity often takes people farther than raw talent, because consistent effort shows up every day, whereas talent may only show up once.
• Ability is less about having a gift and more about how competently that gift is developed, practiced, and used to create real impact.
• Authentic leaders build trust by showing up human, honest, and consistent—people follow those they believe are genuinely for them.
• The real power is not in choosing between talent, tenacity, ability, and authenticity, but in understanding how they work together and when each needs to lead.
• You can train skills and sharpen abilities, but without tenacity and authenticity, even the most gifted person will struggle to sustain influence or success.

"You don't want to do something just because it's an ability. You want to do it because it's making a difference, and you know you could feel it, and you can see it." - Phillip Bogolub

About Phillip Bogolub:

Today’s co-host is a creative visionary — a film producer and founder of Light Pipe Media LLC, and the mind behind the philosophy of ‘AJANOI.’ He blends art, music, and deep reflection to challenge how we see ourselves and the world around us. He’s my friend and a friend of the show.

Connect with Phillip Bogolub:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bogolubrecords   

Website: https://www.lightpipe.media/ 

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

Talent might get you in the room, but only tenacity keeps you there when everything falls apart. In this episode, Kevin Neal and Phillip Bogolub unpack the tension between natural gifting and relentless persistence—and what that means for purpose-driven leadership.

In this episode, Kevin and Phillip Bogolub discuss:

• Defining talent as natural, God-given gifting
• How leaders choose what to do with their talents
• Tenacity as not giving up on an uncertain path
• Learning through failure, faith, and long journeys
• Leadership as influence, collaboration, and continual growth

• Natural talent is a starting point, not a finish line. Without intentional growth, even strong gifting stalls eventually.
• Tenacity is the daily choice to keep going when the path is unclear, the outcome is unknown, and comfort would be easier.
• Failures and missteps become fuel for wisdom when they are treated as learning experiences rather than final verdicts.
• Money, titles, and credentials are empty without a meaningful journey; the process of becoming matters more than the “piece of paper” at the end.
• Purpose-driven leadership is built through collaboration, faith, and a willingness to adapt, not by trying to do everything alone.

"I don't think you ever become a master of anything. I think you become.. you're at the most, you become just a practicer." - Phillip Bogolub

About Phillip Bogolub:

Today’s co-host is a creative visionary — a film producer and founder of Light Pipe Media LLC, and the mind behind the philosophy of ‘AJANOI.’ He blends art, music, and deep reflection to challenge how we see ourselves and the world around us. He’s my friend and a friend of the show.

Connect with Phillip Bogolub:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bogolubrecords   

Website: https://www.lightpipe.media/ 

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

A former US Army Special Forces commander unpacks why character, clarity, and real connection—not titles—separate average managers from transformational leaders. This conversation dives into self-leadership, hard feedback, and what it really takes to build high-trust, high-performance teams in a changing world.

In this episode, Kevin and Sean Patton discuss:

• Superpower of listening and aligning personal and organizational vision
• Leadership lessons from West Point and Army Special Forces
• Failing in business, self-work, and reinventing as an executive coach
• Moving from solopreneurship to a feedback-rich team culture
• Character, clarity, connection, and the future of leadership at work

• Leadership is fundamentally about who you become—your character and integrity—rather than any title, rank, or role you hold.
• People rarely resist change as much as they resist ambiguity; clear communication and expectations are core responsibilities of a leader.
• High-performing organizations stagnate when leaders avoid hard feedback and rely on vague directives that let everyone off the hook.
• Deep, non-transactional relationships at work unlock engagement, retention, and performance in ways metrics alone never can.
• In a rapidly changing landscape, everyone must think more like a leader and entrepreneur, continually asking, “What am I capable of—and what are we capable of together?”

"If you're the type of person who's going to show up to an organization, and you say, okay, tell me what I need to do, and then expect someone to say, here's your steps one through 15, go do them, you're gonna be out of a job in five years." - Sean Patton

About Sean Patton:

Sean Patton is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Commander, Executive Coach with Novus Global, and sought-after leadership speaker and trainer. He is the author of A Warrior’s Mindset and the host of the No Limit Leadership podcast. Sean empowers leaders and teams to move beyond high performance to create transformational results.

Connect with Sean Patton:

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZDjyqEs9_q6wt3BRhKdZUg 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanpattonspeaks/ 

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 

Stepping into your true voice often requires letting old versions of yourself die. In this episode, leadership coach Maximos Lih unpacks how identity, culture, and courage intersect so leaders can stop playing small in rooms where they were meant to lead.

In this episode, Kevin and Maximos Lih discuss:

• Navigating multiple identities and cultures as a leader
• Transitions as “resurrection moments” in career and life
• Disengagement, anxiety, and the real cost of poor leadership
• Building influence, allies, and psychological safety in the room
• Creating culture through self-awareness, conflict, and curiosity

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership grounded in self-awareness frees people from self-consciousness, making it possible to truly serve others instead of performing for approval.
• Major transitions demand an identity shift; clinging to who you used to be can block you from stepping into your next level of purpose and impact.
• Disengagement is one of the most expensive costs in any organization, often fueled by anxious leaders who never address their own fears, biases, or blind spots.
• Influence scales through people, not performance; building allies and relationships before the meeting creates the safety to speak boldly in the room.
• Culture always takes its cues from leadership—what leaders actually model and resource will shape whether conflict sharpens people or quietly burns everything down.

"If you find yourself being the only person in the room, and it's a challenge to be bold, find a way to recruit one other person to be on your team, and it's your team that will actually generate the success." - Maximos Lih

About Maximos Lih:

Maximos Lih is an Executive Coach and founder of Emboldened LLC, where he helps small teams scale without losing their edge, and leaders grow with purpose and trust. His leadership philosophy was shaped by his grandfather—a self-taught orphan who became a four-star general—who taught him that true greatness is measured by how you make people feel. After immigrating to the U.S. and graduating from UC Berkeley, Maximos joined Google, where he specialized in recruiting top engineering talent before moving to Google Ventures. There, he guided hundreds of founders through rapid growth, witnessing companies like Uber and Flatiron Health scale at remarkable speed. Today, he draws on those experiences to coach the next generation of leaders in building mission-driven, high-performing teams.

Connect with Maximos Lih:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maximoslih 

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS 

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63