In this compelling episode of Bound for Greatness, host Scott Garvis is joined by leadership strategist and founder of Certantum Strategies, Greg Caprara, to unpack the overlooked challenges faced by mid-level leaders in high-stakes environments. Drawing from his upcoming book, Surviving Your CEO: How to Decode, Navigate, and Build Influence in the Chaos of Leadership, Greg shares a powerful roadmap for those caught in the middle, assistant coaches, associate athletic directors, deputy leaders, who are tasked with translating vision into action while navigating executive dysfunction.

Greg and Scott dive deep into:

• Why most leadership books fail the people behind the scenes

• The emotional traps of “managing up” and how to avoid taking it personally

• How to reframe conversations to align with core motivations and values

• Building sustainable influence with chaotic, unclear, or dominant leaders

• The transferable power of storytelling, fundraising, and emotional intelligence in athletics and beyond

Whether you’re a coach, athletic administrator, or educator trying to lead with purpose amid the noise, this episode is filled with hard-earned wisdom, actionable strategies, and a much-needed reminder: you don’t have to be the CEO to lead with impact.