In this power-packed episode of The WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu go beyond surface-level leadership trends and dive headfirst into a conversation that challenges how most organizations approach development.

Too often, leaders are handed tools without a method, or methods without measures. Rob boldly claims: “Both matter if we’re serious about building trust and developing whole leaders.” This episode unveils the revolutionary WiLD methodology—a transformative approach that reshapes how we think, interact, and assess in leadership.

With insights on psychological safety, strategic vulnerability, and the necessity of aligning learning and performance, Rob and Sabeth dissect the foundational shift needed in leadership development. They unpack why seeing people whole isn't a nice-to-have—it's a non-negotiable for building organizations where trust can actually grow.

Watch this episode here.

In this episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Dr. Alexis Fink—organizational psychologist, people analytics pioneer, and trusted leader—for a conversation that’s as grounded as it is visionary.

Dr. Fink opens up about her recent transition out of a senior role as Meta VP of Analytics and Workforce Strategy—not as a retirement from the work she loves, but a graduation into the next chapter of her calling. Together, we explore how to prepare successors without holding too tightly, how trust and measurement create clarity in chaos, and why the science of work and workers must evolve to meet the fear and fragmentation facing organizations today.

With over 30 years in I/O Psychology and as the outgoing President of SIOP Society for Industrial Organization Psychology, Dr. Fink shares what it takes to build a legacy that outlives your tenure—one rooted in integrity, clarity, and compassion. Whether you’re a founder, an HR leader, or just trying to lead with intention through uncertainty, this conversation is for you.

🔗 Listen to: The Evolution of Leadership Development here: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xi7h8-15bbbd2

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

In this WiLD Conversation podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with coach and HR leader Sam Willing for an honest and courageous dialogue on what truly erodes trust in leadership: the inability to regulate ourselves in high-pressure moments.

Sam opens up about her own transformative journey through grief, healing, and nervous system work, and how it reshaped her understanding of emotional maturity in leadership. Together, they explore what Bowen Theory calls “self-differentiation”—the ability to remain emotionally steady while staying connected to others—and how it’s at the heart of trust, consistency, and psychological safety in organizations.

Through vivid examples, including “The Tale of Two CEOs,” Rob and Sam unpack why it’s not just about skills and culture-building strategies. If a leader lacks the capacity to self-regulate when it matters most, even the best intentions can fall flat. The conversation ends with a raw look at loneliness, imperfection, and identity in entrepreneurial leadership.

Leadership Takeaways:

🔗 Connect with Sam Willing:https://www.samwilling.com/

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

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

What if the future of your organization depends on something you’re too busy to notice?

We often think about leadership in terms of speed—making things happen, hitting targets, and pushing forward. But real, sustainable leadership isn’t just about performance. It’s about process. And process needs us to stop, reflect, and lead with intention.

In this episode, Dr. Rob McKenna and Dr. Mark L Vincent dive into why slowing down isn’t just a leadership discipline—it’s the key to long-term trust, succession, and continuity. Leaders who fail to cultivate trust don’t just risk losing people; they risk losing everything they’ve built.

✔️ Why trust is the ultimate leadership currency

If you want to build something that outlasts you, this conversation is where it starts.

Connect with Mark Vincent .

Download the State of Trust at Work Report.

Connect with WiLD Leaders to begin measuring and building trust today.

In this episode Dr. Rob McKenna and Daniel Edds take a deep dive into the unseen forces shaping our organizations—culture, trust, and the systems that define them. Dan shares from decades of experiences highlighting a hard truth: the systems we create (or fail to create) dictate the experience of every person in an organization.

🔹 Leadership Takeaways:

This episode challenges us to reflect on the systems we build and the invisible forces shaping the way our teams operate.

Listen to: The Evolution of Leadership Development here: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xi7h8-15bbbd2

For more on Leveraging the Genetics of Leadership: Cracking the Code of Sustainable Team Performance by Dan Edds click here: https://a.co/d/96Pbm0d

At WiLD Leaders, we’ve spent years developing whole leaders—leaders who are both courageous and sacrificial—because we knew that leadership development couldn’t be a one-off event. It had to be a system. A rhythm. Something embedded into the very fabric of an organization. What we found along the way? Trust was the game changer. It wasn’t just a byproduct of good leadership; it was the leading indicator of whether teams and organizations would succeed.

Imagine an organization where every person could say, I trust you—not because you’re perfect, but because you’re working it out. That kind of trust begins within us, grows in the patterns between us, and is sustained by the conditions we create around us.

Let’s do this. And let’s do this together. 

Download the State of Trust at Work report here.

Learn more about the WiLD Trust Index.

Schedule a time to meet with a WiLD Team member today.

Trust isn’t just built between people—it begins within us. In this episode of WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu unpack the critical connection between trust, self-awareness, and worthiness.

According to the Relate Project research 41% of young adults don’t feel worthy of love. What does that mean for leadership, relationships, and the way we build trust? Trustworthiness isn’t something we declare or demand—it’s something we live into. It’s about reliability, consistency, and truth-telling, not just in our words but in our actions.

In this conversation, Rob and Sabeth explore:

Trust isn’t just about believing in someone else—it’s about knowing ourselves well enough to lead with integrity. Whether you’re leading a team, navigating relationships, or just trying to find solid ground, this episode challenges you to look inward first.

WiLD Leaders is excited to announce our State of Trust at Work report—an in-depth look at the data, insights, and actions that can help leaders like you cultivate trust in your sphere of influence.

Be the first to receive it upon release.

→ Sign Up to receive the report.

#WiLDConversation #TrustworthyLeadership #SelfWorth #LeadershipMatters

In this episode of The WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Dr. Arthur Satterwhite III to discuss why process is everything—whether you’re leading a team, launching a product, or rebuilding trust. Dr. Satterwhite shares his research from The Relate Project, unpacking what leaders must understand about relational trust, adolescent culture, and the phases we often overlook when trying to create lasting impact.

Drawing from his own leadership journey, he challenges us to consider:

From business strategy to leadership development, this episode is a wake-up call for leaders who want to stop short-changing their impact and start leading with intentionality.

Key Leadership Takeaways:

Do you change your actions, or do you shift your mindset? Research suggests it’s both.

In this compelling conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna and Wiley Cortez dive into the tension between thought and action. Wiley shares his personal journey from gang life to leadership, highlighting the power of alignment, prioritizing relationships over transactions, and the rhythms of consistency that build trusted relationships.

Leadership isn’t just about vision—it’s about reliability, commitment, and the choices we make along the way. Tune in as we break down what it truly takes to lead yourself and your team toward meaningful impact.

Leadership Takeaways:

#Leadership #Trust #Alignment #MindsetShift #Consistency #LeadWithAction #Reliability #RelationalLeadership

Many leaders see conflict as a problem to avoid rather than a resource to steward. But what if conflict isn’t inherently bad? What if it’s simply the energy in the gap between differences—a natural outcome of diversity?

In this episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Nate Regier from Next Element to explore:

Leaders today are running low on energy. But what if the key to energized, resilient leadership isn’t about avoiding conflict—but learning how to harness it?

Join Rob and Nate for a deep dive into the art and science of leading with trust, navigating conflict with wisdom, and transforming organizational dynamics for the better.

#Leadership #ConflictResolution #WiLDConversations #CompassionateAccountability #EnergyManagement #OrganizationalHealth