Legendary NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz shares how leading Mission Control through the most high-stakes moments in space exploration shaped a philosophy of leadership rooted in being tough and competent. In conversation with Professor Christopher Myers, Kranz reflects on directing missions across NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs—including Apollo 11 and the crisis of Apollo 13—and what those moments reveal about decision-making under extreme pressure. He explores how trust, shared identity, and uncompromising standards enable teams to perform when failure is not an option, offering timeless lessons for leaders navigating uncertainty, complexity, and high-stakes moments in any organization.