WiLD Conversation

By WiLD LeadersBusiness Careers

WiLD Conversation episodes

March 11, 2025 Becoming Trustworthy—The Connection We Are All Missing with Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu
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:
🔹 How our sense of self-worth impacts our ability to trust others
🔹 Why distrust thrives in the shadows—and how to bring it into the light
🔹 The role of failure in becoming trustworthy
🔹 Why trust must be built before it can be earned
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
24 min
March 04, 2025Process is King: Why Leaders Fail Without It with Dr. Arthur Satterwhite
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:
Are we intentional about every phase of the leadership process?
Are we bringing the right people in at the right time?
Are we building trust strategically instead of assuming it will happen?
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:
🚀 Process isn’t a barrier—it’s the path to sustainable success.
🤝 Trust isn’t automatic—there’s a process to rebuilding and maintaining it.
💡 Overlooking key phases in leadership or strategy can undermine everything.
40 min
February 26, 2025 Lead with Action & Alignment: The Pathway to Trust and Transformation with Wiley Cortez
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:
✅ Alignment matters—Develop yourself as a leader alongside your team.
✅ Trust is built on consistency—Reliability is one of the most powerful drivers of trust.
✅ Commit to your vision—Be specific, be clear, and stay the course.
✅ Relationships over transactions—Leadership is about people, not just results.
#Leadership #Trust #Alignment #MindsetShift #Consistency #LeadWithAction #Reliability #RelationalLeadership
42 min
February 18, 2025Conflict, Trust, and the Energy Between: How Leaders Steward the Tension with Dr. Nate Regier
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:
Why conflict and trust are deeply interconnected.
How the most effective leaders manage the energy of conflict rather than suppress it.
Why composure in leadership is more than self-control—it’s a form of compassionate accountability.
The critical intersection between people and process—and why separating them is a mistake.
The power of research-backed leadership development that balances qualitative insights with objective data.
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 Takeaways:
Conflict is Inevitable—How You Steward It Matters. It’s not about whether conflict is good or bad, but how you manage the energy in the gap between differences.
Trust and Conflict Are Two Sides of the Same Coin. Healthy teams don’t avoid conflict—they build trust through compassionate accountability and honest dialogue.
Composure is Leadership Currency. Leaders who remain steady in high-conflict situations create stability and psychological safety for their teams.
People and Process Must Work Together. The best organizations don’t separate operational excellence from human connection—they embrace the paradox.
Measurement Brings Clarity. Balancing qualitative and quantitative insights helps leaders see the truth, make intelligent mistakes, and ask better questions.
#Leadership #ConflictResolution #WiLDConversations #CompassionateAccountability #EnergyManagement #OrganizationalHealth
44 min
February 11, 2025 The Courage to Connect: Breaking Barriers & Building Whole Community
In this weeks WiLD Conversation podcast episode, we explore the deep need for community—why we seek it, how we build it, and what it means for leadership. From childhood experiences with unconventional communities to forging lifelong bonds through intentional gatherings, we uncover the undeniable influence of being surrounded by people who challenge, support, and sustain us. Whether leading an organization, raising a family, or navigating life’s transitions, true community brings us closer to wholeness. Leaders thrive not in isolation but within intentional relationships that encourage growth, vulnerability, and trust.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Community is about commonality, purpose, and shared experiences—leaders must foster environments where people feel a sense of belonging.
✅ The best communities allow people to be as close to their whole selves as possible, cultivating trust, vulnerability, and deep connection.
✅ Great leadership is built within strong communities—without them, leaders risk isolation and stagnation.
✅ Building community requires courage, intention, and the willingness to invite others in, even when it’s difficult.
Our Strategic Support Assessment (SSA) in our WiLD Toolkit builds your strategic network of support in real time. This includes mentors, role models, those who provide you with feedback, emotional support, and even those who may open a door when you are looking for a new opportunity. In addition, the SSA allows you to build a core group of individuals who will serve as your personal advisory board.

Want to learn more? Connect with a WiLD Team member today to explore how the SSA can help you strengthen your support system and navigate your leadership journey with greater confidence.
#Leadership #CommunityMatters #WholeLeaders #IntentionalLiving #Trust #ResilientLeadership #Belonging #WiLDConversation #Strategic #Support
24 min
February 04, 2025 Making Trust a Hard Target
In a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), trust is often the first casualty in our fight against bad actors. But what if trust wasn’t so easily broken? What if, instead, we made trust a hard target—one that is fortified, resilient, and deeply embedded in our leadership and teams?
In this episode, we explore how resilient leaders build trust systematically, just as we design security frameworks to guard against external threats. True resilience begins at the individual level, requiring vulnerability, self-awareness, and the courage to share our learning with others.
When trust is strong, communication thrives, collaboration strengthens, and our organizations shift from chaotic jungles to fortified strongholds.
Join us as we uncover the methodologies that move teams from surviving to thriving, and learn how making trust a hard target can transform your leadership, your team, and your mission.

15 min
January 28, 2025The Sacred Trade-Off: 10 Keys to Sacrifice, Self-Preservation, and Leadership Wholeness
Sacrificial leadership isn’t about giving up everything—it’s about thoughtfully considering the personal costs necessary to live in alignment with your values and serve those around you. In this episode, we unpack what it means to lead sacrificially without losing yourself, explore the tension between self-preservation and selflessness, and discuss how true sacrifice often involves letting go of what we hold most tightly.
Through practical insights and relatable examples, we’ll challenge you to identify your "sacrificial line" and embrace the uncomfortable yet transformational moments that build trust, deepen relationships, and foster authentic leadership.
Leadership Takeaways
Sacrifice Isn’t All or Nothing
True leadership recognizes the balance between self-preservation and sacrificial moments—it’s not about giving everything up, but about making thoughtful, meaningful choices for the benefit of others.
Awareness is Key
To lead sacrificially, you must first identify what you hold most tightly—be it pride, comfort, control, or something deeply personal—and consider the cost of letting it go.
Sacrifice is Relational
True sacrifice happens in the context of relationships. Whether in the workplace, with family, or friends, leadership often requires putting someone else’s needs above your own.
Sacrifice Requires Courage
Sacrificial leadership invites vulnerability, humility, and the courage to act on the quiet nudges we often ignore—like putting down your phone or truly listening to someone else’s story.
For more on WiLD Leaders visit: https://www.wildleaders.org/
Let's connect to explore how you can use the WiLD Trust Index to measure and build trust in your own organization.
Click here for more on the WiLD Trust Index: https://www.wildleaders.org/wild-trust-index
#Leadership #Sacrifice #PersonalGrowth #AuthenticLeadership #RelationalLeadership #GrowthMindset #SelfAwareness #WiLD #Podcast #BuildingTrust #WiLDTrustPlatform
26 min
January 21, 2025Nature vs. Nurture: Personality, Change, and Trust
In this episode of The WiLD Conversation, Dr. Rob McKenna dives deep into a timeless question: Are leaders born or made? Sharing insights from years of research, Dr. McKenna unpacks the interplay between personality traits and growth mindsets, exploring what truly shapes effective leaders. From the impact of the Big Five personality traits (like conscientiousness and extraversion) to the groundbreaking work of Carol Dweck on mindsets, this episode challenges listeners to rethink how they view leadership potential in themselves and others.
Key leadership takeaways include:
Balancing Nature and Nurture: While personality traits like neuroticism or openness are stable over time, the right environment and mindset can still drive meaningful change.
The Role of Language in Growth: How we speak to others can influence their belief in their ability to grow, shaping their potential and performance.
Whole Leader Development: True leadership development requires understanding the dynamic tension between who people are and who they can become.
Join Dr. McKenna for an inspiring conversation that offers a more complete perspective on leadership and human potential.
#LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthMindset #BornOrMade #PersonalityTraits #WiLDConversation
27 min
January 14, 2025Trust in Crisis: Lessons in Leadership with Tami Heim
In this inspiring episode of the WiLD Leaders podcast, Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Tami Heim, CEO of Christian Leadership Alliance and former President of Borders Inc., to explore the unshakable importance of trust in leadership—especially during moments of crisis. Tami reflects on her leadership journey through disruptive times, offering insights into building trust, embracing collaboration, and navigating the highs and lows of achievement.
Listeners will hear how she turned challenges into opportunities, including managing through the rise of e-commerce giants, leading under pressure, and creating systems that drove lasting change. Tami shares her commitment to lifelong learning, the value of mentoring relationships, and why pausing to reflect on the "why" behind decisions often leads to the best outcomes.
Key Leadership Takeaways
Trust is Tested in Crisis: Trust is cultivated over time but is truly revealed and refined when challenges arise.
Fail Forward: Embrace mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow, and reflect on both successes and failures for continued improvement.
Collaborative Leadership: Empowering others to contribute, innovate, and adapt often leads to greater outcomes than working alone.
Focus and Flexibility: Knowing when to pivot and prioritize can be the difference between surviving and thriving in turbulent times.
The Power of Reflection: Leaders must take time to think critically and deeply about their decisions to ensure they align with long-term goals.
1 hr
January 07, 2025Navigating Life's Competing Demands: The Paradox of Presence and Progress
How do we balance the tension between being fully present in the moment and making meaningful progress?
In this episode, Dr. McKenna dives into the paradox that shapes much of our personal and professional lives. Drawing from psychological insights, including Bandura's Social Learning Theory, he explores the challenges of living in the duality of stopping and going.
You'll gain practical tools for identifying your default tendencies, embracing tension, and leading with intention. Whether you're a doer or someone who values being present, this episode will inspire you to reimagine how these forces can coexist in harmony.
Listener Takeaways
Understand Your Defaults: Learn to recognize whether your natural inclination is towards action or presence and how to leverage this awareness.
Practical Tools: Discover strategies to intentionally pause and reflect without losing momentum in your personal or professional life.
Leadership Insights: Explore how leaders can foster organizational cultures that embrace both progress and presence, driving holistic growth.
Environmental Impact: Uncover how external factors shape our behaviors and perceptions, and how to respond thoughtfully.
Mindset Shifts: Embrace the paradox and shift from "either/or" to "both/and" thinking for greater clarity and balance.
20 min