In this compelling WiLD Conversation, global executive, former CEO of Korn Ferry, board director, and growth strategist Ana Dutra joins Rob McKenna to dive deep into the essential, yet paradoxical, foundations of effective leadership: vulnerability, trust, and purpose. Drawing on three decades of experience transforming organizations and leading Korn Ferry's $500M+ consulting business, Ana shares her hard-won wisdom on aligning personal values with professional impact. This conversation offers a powerful perspective on how authentic self-awareness anchors leaders and builds high-performing, high-trust cultures.

This special episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast features Jeffrey Hunter, the visionary CEO, Founder, and Chairperson of Storyteller Overland. Dr. Rob McKenna is a proud owner of a Storyteller Stealth, giving listeners an intimate look at his personal "mode" and setting the stage for a deeply personal and insightful discussion. Jeffrey shares the origin story of Storyteller Overland, born from a desire to meet unmet needs in the van life community with high-quality, scalable production, allowing adventurers to "focus on the life aspects of van life" with confidence and a "circle of trust."

This conversation offers invaluable lessons for leaders striving to build a thriving business rooted in trust, purpose, and a truly wild spirit of adventure.

From Building Systems to Cultivating People: A Path to Trust and Growth

In this episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, host Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Josh Wylie, President of Villara Building Systems, to reveal a leadership metaphor that reshapes how we think about influence: the builder and the gardener.

Great leaders must be both. Builders focus on visible structures—systems, strategies, and profits. Gardeners nurture what is unseen—the trust, relationships, and culture that make growth sustainable. Wylie shares how Villara Building Systems, a national leader in its industry, has built its mission around “building people, building trust, and building dreams.”

From leveraging the WiLD Trust Index to creating an in-house coaching program, Wylie demonstrates how leaders can systematize trust and invest in people holistically. This conversation is a blueprint for leading organizations with integrity, intentionality, and a relentless commitment to human flourishing.

Patrick Lencioni, one of the most influential voices in organizational health together with Dr. Rob McKenna, dive deep to explore the heart of effective leadership—redefining success, reframing identity, and uncovering the surprising role of brokenness in shaping whole leaders.

This episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcast begins lightheartedly with pet peeves, but quickly moves into transformative insights on humility, trust, and the sacrificial nature of leadership.

Key Takeaways for Leaders:

For more on The Table Group visit:  https://www.tablegroup.com/

For more on The Working Genius visit: https://www.workinggenius.com/

For more on the WiLD Trust Index visit: https://www.wildleaders.org/wild-trust-index

For more on WiLD Leaders Inc. visit: https://www.wildleaders.org/

In this unmissable episode of The WiLD Conversation podcast, hosts Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu are joined by the legendary Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School and the pioneering mind behind the globally transformative concept of psychological safety.

With candor and clarity, Dr. Edmondson challenges long-held beliefs about leadership, trust, and failure. She reframes trust not as something earned over time, but as a deliberate choice—a bold act that inspires others to rise to the occasion. And she cuts through misconceptions about psychological safety, revealing it not as comfort or kindness, but as the courage to foster learning, candor, and intelligent risk-taking.

This conversation is a masterclass for leaders who want to build environments where people are safe to speak up, take smart risks, and grow together.

→ Trust Is a Choice, Not a Prize:

→ Psychological Safety ≠ Comfort:

→ Vulnerability Is Strength:

→ Discernment Over Permission:

What really drives high performance? In this episode, global speaker and leadership strategist Jamie Crosbie joins Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu on the WiLD Conversation Podcast to challenge the metrics-only mindset and champion the human algorithm—where trust, courage, and clarity fuel sustainable success.

Jamie reminds us: “If outcomes are king, then trust is the crown.” Together, they unpack how courageous leadership, emotional intelligence, and reframing failure can transform feedback into fuel—and cultivate cultures where people thrive, not just perform.

If you’re leading in high-pressure spaces, this one’s for you.

Leadership Takeaways:

🔹 Lead with Metrics and Meaning

🔹 Courage Builds Trust

🔹 Failure Fuels Growth

🔹 Self-Awareness > Strategy Alone

🔹 Find Your People

In this powerful episode of The WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with Jose Rodriguez, CEO of Rescue a Generation, to explore what it truly takes to build and rebuild trust—in ourselves, our teams, and the next generation of leaders.

From his courageous journey out of gang life to launching a thriving nonprofit that empowers urban youth across Southern California, Jose offers a raw and hopeful perspective on how trust isn’t earned it’s a daily, intentional choice.

Together, they unpack why vulnerability is the secret ingredient in leadership, how asking better questions, especially with Gen Z, can transform disengagement into deep ownership, and why the only way up is through trust. Whether you’re leading a team, mentoring young people, or working to rebuild broken relationships, this conversation will leave you inspired to lead with radical ownership, consistent action, and the kind of trust that changes lives.

💡 Key Leadership Takeaways:

1. Trust Is a Practiced Choice, Not a Trait Trustworthy leadership isn’t something you have—it’s something you do, daily. Jose’s story reveals that choosing trust, especially when it’s risky, is what transforms both leaders and teams.

“Trust is not a trait. It's a practiced and powerful choice.”

2. Beliefs Drive Behaviors: Change doesn't start with commands—it starts with beliefs. Great leaders get curious about what’s underneath the surface.

“If you want to change the behavior, you’ve got to find out what the belief is.”

3. Ask Better Questions: Young leaders don’t need more answers—they need to be seen and heard. Meaningful questions open doors to engagement, trust, and breakthrough.

“We live in an answer culture. But asking the right question can change everything.”

4. Repairing Trust Requires Ownership and Small Steps: Trust breaks in moments, but it’s rebuilt in tiny, consistent acts of ownership, honesty, and repair.

“Every broken commitment is actually a cry for help.”

🔗 Learn more about Rescue a Generation: https://www.rescueageneration.com/

🔗 Learn more about WiLD: https://www.wildleaders.org/

🔗 Download the State of Trust At Work report : https://info.wildleaders.org/state-of-trust-report-registration-0

In this illuminating WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu sit down with Chris Shaffer, WiLD Leaders Strategic Development Architect and former Microsoft director. Chris Shaffer unpacks the profound shift in how we understand and cultivate trust in today's complex world.

Moving beyond mere information, they delve into how real trust is "worked out" through vulnerability, conflict, and genuine relationship. Discover why measuring trust isn't just about assessment, but about igniting critical conversations and empowering leaders to address hidden challenges at scale. This episode is a must-listen for any leader ready to move from the "unconscious incompetent" to the "unconscious competent" in building a culture where trust isn't just a buzzword, but a tangible, measurable foundation for success.

In this episode of The WiLD Conversation podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman of WD-40—a leader who transformed a household product into a global brand and one of the most admired workplace cultures in business.

Drawing from his 35-year journey at WD-40, including 25 years as CEO, Garry challenges conventional leadership norms and emphasizes the non-negotiable role of humanity in business.

Culture is Strategy, Not a “Nice-to-Have”

The Power of a “Dumb-Ass” Mindset

Intentional Self-Awareness Is Essential

Tough-Minded and Tender-Hearted Leadership

Measure the Data but Feel the Reality

Belonging is a Shared Responsibility

Fear is the Enemy of Trust and Learning

Purpose Beyond Profit Is Fuel

What if the key to trust wasn’t just character—but competence, clarity, and accountability?

In this compelling episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with longtime friend and fellow leadership practitioner Alex Shootman, CEO of Alkami Technology and author of Done Right: How Tomorrow’s Top Leaders Get Stuff Done. What unfolds is not just a sharp exchange between two seasoned leaders—but a deeply honest conversation between old friends who have walked through leadership’s messiness, pressure, and purpose together.

With decades of experience leading turnarounds and scaling high-performing software organizations, Alex shares how he grounds his leadership in four non-delegable CEO responsibilities—and how a “No-Blame Bias” has shaped the way he builds trust, manages growth, and drives both results and culture.

Drawing from a leadership framework that values both getting it done and doing it right, Alex unpacks how clear accountability, relentless transparency, and trust as a managed business function are essential to long-term success. He reminds us that in every high-performing team, trust is breaking all the time—so we must be intentional about building it all the time.

Whether you're a CEO, an emerging leader, or someone navigating the tension between results and values, this episode offers not only practical wisdom—but a refreshing window into what happens when sharp minds, shared values, and leaders-in-process come together in authentic conversation.