The Leader Fast Lane

In this episode, I talk with Billy Breedlove, Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction at the Texas Tech University System, to explore the leadership principles that have shaped his 35-year career. Billy shares why he believes servant leadership, trust, and strong relationships are the foundation of high-performing teams, explains the difference between pursuing success and pursuing significance, and reflects on the lasting influence of mentors, family, and character in developing leaders who leave an enduring impact. 

Derek McIntire, COO of TCP Software, joins me in this episode. Derek is an exceptional leader of a highly successful business and shares best practices on engaging with AI/LLMs, leading with vision, qualities he most values in leaders, and the impact Angelo State University has had on him.

In this episode, I am joined by General (ret.) David Hill, Executive Director of the Society of American Military Engineers, and the former Commandant of the United States Army War College.

In our conversation, General Hill shares why:

• Leadership is never about yourself—it's about the mission and the people entrusted to you.
• Humility means taking responsibility when things go wrong and giving credit when they go right.
• Kindness and high standards are not opposites—they reinforce one another.
• Optimism isn't wishful thinking; it's a leader's responsibility during uncertainty.

In this episode of Leader Fast Lane, I sit down with Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec for a candid conversation about leadership in one of higher education's most complex environments. Drawing on more than four decades at Texas Tech—as professor, dean, provost, and president—Dr. Schovanec shares practical insights on making difficult decisions, leading through uncertainty, balancing competing stakeholder interests, and keeping an institution focused on its mission. The conversation explores the importance of humility, empathy, strategic thinking, and maintaining hope during times of significant change, offering leadership lessons that apply well beyond higher education.

In this episode, I talk with an old colleague, Jesse Rudy, who is the Founder & CEO of Redeem International, a Christian non-profit dedicated to protecting some of the world's most vulnerable widows and orphans from violent abuse and exploitation. 

Jesse is a leader I greatly admire. Listen as he shares about the risks of conflating your profession with your identity, how to deal with anxiety and stress in a healthy, sustainable way, and how to prepare yourself to have difficult conversations.

In this episode, I talk with Mike Millegan, an exceptional leader of four decades across several sectors. An alumnus of Angelo State University, Mike considers his time at ASU as formative and foundational to his remarkable career success.

In this episode, I talk with Cole Johnson, Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Operations Officer for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Some highlights include:

6:28 - Seek to improve yourself and other opportunities will come; say "yes" 

11:48 - "Brains are sexy": be a lifelong learner

20:54 - Collaboration and competition are needed to achieve big things

32:14 - Make decisions based on values and information on hand, and be willing to pivot if need to

40:00 - Trust your people, and verify with grace

46:58 - For emerging leaders, a strong work ethic and a sense of others-focus are key

In this episode, I talk with Dennis Mikula, Jr., CEO of the Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA). Dennis is an accomplished people-focused leader and world-class connector. In the episode, he shares:

5:37 - Leadership is more about people than operations

7:02 - His motto: People First. Purpose Always. Team Over All

11:51 - How to balance tradition and innovation/change

18:57 - How to maintain professional accountability without creating fear

24:06 - Leaders in new roles should focus in listening & relationship-building

35:24 - The importance of constructive conflict

37:41 - The difference between networking and relationship-building

In this episode, I had a delightful conversation with Amanda McAfee, President and CEO of the Lubbock Area United Way. Amanda is an amazing leader that builds value-driven teams, leads effective community collaboration, and raises up new leaders. Listen in as she talks about:

2:22 - Saying "yes" to opportunities as a young leader & learner

8:37 - Letting the journey take you where it takes you

15:00 - Why it is important to surround yourself with wise people

19:24 - Leading with an abundance - as opposed to scarcity - mindset

24:29 - Building team culture and enjoying the fruits of a healthy team

32:14 - How to build a coalition of diverse constituents

41:11 - Avoiding burnout: take off the superhero cape

49:22 - It's ok to fail, as failure is learning

In this episode, I talk with Steve Sosland, Founder & President of Second Mountain Coaching and former Vice Chancellor for Leader & Culture Development at the Texas Tech University System. Steve has decades of experience leading others and training up leaders. There's a lot here for leaders of all stripes. Steve shares:

5:00 - about his Army Ranger experience and what it taught him about leadership

12:21 - his goal to train people for their next role before they are promoted

18:04 - what a values-based culture looks like day-by-day

24:43 - about knowledge hoarders versus knowledge sharers

28:02 - how to build a values culture

44:36 - how "yet" is a powerful word that gives us permission to grow

49:02 - how we have a choice in how we respond to others.