Activating Greatness: A Leadership Podcast

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with Michael Dixon of UNeMed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to explore what it takes to lead with intentionality, build culture by design, and create environments where people and performance thrive. Michael shares how leaders must consistently choose culture over chaos, why accountability and trust are built through clear expectations and ownership, and how empowering people to grow in areas where they are energized drives both engagement and results. From hiring the right people to avoiding leadership fads and maintaining alignment over time, this conversation delivers practical insight into building sustainable, high-performing teams. If you are focused on building culture, strengthening trust, and leading with clarity, this episode is a blueprint for intentional leadership.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with Joe Crandall, CEO of Red Leviathan and Executive Chairman of Greencastle Associates Consulting, to explore what it really takes to build high-performing organizations rooted in accountability, trust, and clear expectations. Drawing from his experience as a Navy SEAL and business leader, Joe breaks down why most leaders avoid tough people decisions, how to ensure you have the right people in the right seats, and why radical candor is essential to building strong culture. This conversation challenges leaders to stop tolerating underperformance, define what “right” looks like, and invest in people and systems that drive execution. If you are focused on building culture, strengthening trust, and leading with clarity, this episode delivers practical, no-nonsense leadership insights.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with Laura London, Founder of Calocedrus and former McKinsey leader, to explore the critical shift from high achievement to sustained high performance. Laura breaks down why so many driven leaders operate from urgency and fear, how that impacts decision-making, culture, and burnout, and what it takes to lead with awareness, intentional pacing, and clarity. The conversation dives into nervous system regulation, protecting attention in an AI-driven world, and creating environments where both people and performance can thrive. If you are focused on building culture, strengthening trust, and leading with greater consistency and impact, this episode offers a powerful and practical leadership framework for today’s environment.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with Toni Burkard, Business Enablement Lead at Pfizer CentreOne, to explore what it truly takes to build high-performing teams through trust, mentorship, and intentional leadership. Toni shares her journey leading in a traditionally male-dominated industry and how investing in people, fostering authentic relationships, and creating environments rooted in trust drive both culture and performance. From coaching future leaders to building teams that support and elevate one another, this conversation highlights why great teams are built with purpose, not by accident. If you are focused on building culture, strengthening trust, and leading teams that consistently perform, this episode delivers actionable leadership insights.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with Carolina Alarco, Co-Founder of Latinos in Bio, to explore how leadership development, representation, and intentional investment in people are shaping the future of the biotechnology industry. Carolina shares how Latinos in Bio was built to close the gap in access and advancement, and why building leadership pipelines is essential to driving better decisions, stronger culture, and long-term industry impact. This conversation highlights the importance of visibility, mentorship, and trust in creating opportunity at scale. If you are focused on building culture, developing leaders, and creating meaningful impact within your organization, this episode delivers a powerful perspective on what it takes to lead and grow in today’s environment.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with Jesse Hernandez, construction leader and founder of Depth Builder, to explore what it really takes to build culture, earn trust, and drive performance in today’s workforce. Jesse shares his journey from execution-focused leadership to a people-first approach that prioritizes communication, accountability, and trust across teams. The conversation challenges traditional leadership thinking, emphasizing that sustainable results come from investing in people, not just processes. If you are looking to build stronger teams, improve culture, and create lasting impact in your organization, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode of the Activating Greatness Podcast, host Alec McChesney sits down with Matt Taylor Head of HR at Endpoint Clinical, to explore one of the most important leadership questions of the AI era: how technology impacts people decisions. Matt explains why AI doesn’t fix weak leadership — it simply scales it — and why organizations must build clear expectations, strong judgment, and honest conversations before relying on technology. The discussion dives into leadership accountability, HR strategy, building culture and trust, and how companies can integrate AI responsibly while still prioritizing people and performance. For leaders navigating the future of work, this episode offers practical insight into why human judgment remains the most important leadership capability.

In this episode of the Activating Greatness Podcast, host Alec McChesney sits down with Terri Fleener, a senior human resources leader known for helping organizations connect people strategy to real business results. The conversation explores how HR can move beyond traditional administrative roles to become a true driver of leadership, culture, and performance. Terri shares insights on navigating instability in the workplace, understanding the “cost of the unknown” when organizations lose strong employees, and how leaders can build culture and trust while still delivering results. For executives, HR professionals, and team leaders, this episode offers a powerful perspective on how thoughtful people leadership strengthens organizations from the inside out.

In this episode of the Activating Greatness Podcast, host Alec McChesney sits down with Jeremy Maskel, APR Chief Communications Officer for Omaha Public Schools, to explore how communication shapes leadership, accountability, and execution. Jeremy explains why teams often leave the same meeting with completely different interpretations of what was said and how leaders can prevent that disconnect by communicating with clarity and intention. Drawing from concepts like the ladder of storytelling and targeted communication strategies, Jeremy shares how leaders can align diverse personalities and communication styles to build culture, strengthen trust, and ensure teams are moving toward the same goals. For leaders responsible for driving alignment across organizations, this conversation offers practical insight into why communication is one of the most powerful leadership tools.

In this episode of the Activating Greatness Podcast, host Alec McChesney sits down with former NFL quarterback Kellen Mond to explore how authenticity shapes leadership, relationships, and long-term success. Drawing from his experiences in college football, the NFL, and his transition into the art and mentorship world, Kellen shares powerful lessons about building trust, creating genuine connections, and leading through presence and character. The conversation highlights how leaders create the atmosphere around them, why authenticity is the foundation for strong teams, and how building culture and trust ultimately drives performance both on and off the field.

In this episode of Activating Greatness: A Leadership Podcast, host Alec McChesney sits down with Jason Nickles of Modern Woodmen of America to explore what it takes to lead meaningful change inside a legacy organization. Jason shares how leaders can modernize systems, culture, and operations while preserving the mission and identity that made the organization successful in the first place. The conversation dives into change management, aligning teams across the United States, and why building culture and trust are essential for organizations navigating transformation. For leaders guiding teams through modernization, this episode offers practical insight into how thoughtful leadership can drive progress without losing the values that matter most.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, host Alec McChesney sits down with Michelle Dauphinais, Vice President and Head of Distribution at John Hancock, to explore how curiosity and a deep understanding of human behavior shape effective leadership. Michelle shares how asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and meeting people where they are allows leaders to build trust, improve decision quality, and empower teams across sales, analytics, and operations. Drawing from more than three decades at John Hancock, she explains why curiosity is a leadership discipline, how healthy tension improves outcomes, and why great leaders focus on solving problems rather than controlling people. This conversation offers practical insights on building culture, strengthening accountability, and leading complex teams in high-performance organizations.

In this episode of the Activating Greatness Podcast, host Alec McChesney sits down with Jon Stenberg, CEO and President of Citizens Inc., to explore what modern leadership really requires in complex organizations. Jon shares his philosophy of keeping leadership teams “appropriately annoyed” — pushing leaders to think critically, challenge assumptions, and avoid complacency. The conversation dives into decision-making, accountability, and why leaders must balance the concept of “good enough” with the pursuit of excellence. Drawing from his experience leading Citizens Inc., Jon explains how clarity, healthy tension, and disciplined thinking create stronger teams and better outcomes in today’s fast-changing business environment.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with José Suquet, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group, to explore what it takes to lead across 22 countries while staying anchored in one clear set of values. With more than two decades at the helm, José shares how he navigated Hurricane Katrina, the financial crisis, COVID, acquisitions, and global expansion — all while building a culture rooted in financial strength, leadership development, and trust.You can find the Spanish Transcript here: Spanish Transcript.From instituting peak leadership programs to protecting company values during rapid growth, José explains why investing in people is the ultimate competitive advantage. This conversation is a masterclass in long-term thinking, succession planning, community impact, and leading with consistency in complex environments. If you care about sustainable growth, culture alignment, and resilient leadership, this episode delivers.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Addison Watson, Chief Partnership Officer & General Counsel at ClickFunnels, shares why relationships are the ultimate competitive advantage in an AI-driven world. With over $1 billion in transactions completed, Addison explains why knowledge alone is no longer enough—and how leaders can make themselves indispensable by building real, trusted human connections. From overdelivering in business to showing up intentionally in person, Addison breaks down how authenticity, presence, and strategic relationship-building separate replaceable professionals from irreplaceable leaders. If you’re wondering how to thrive as AI reshapes the workplace, this episode is your blueprint.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with Matt Ulliman, co-founder of Ulliman Schutte, to explore why construction projects don’t fail in the field first — they fail in alignment. Matt shares how structured partnering sessions create clarity, accountability, and trust across owners, designers, and contractors before pressure hits. If you lead complex projects and care about communication, conflict resolution, and execution, this conversation is a masterclass in building alignment that lasts.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with Tony Greco to explore what it really takes to build alignment, accountability, and connection across remote and globally distributed teams. Drawing from his leadership experience at Wyndham Hotels and the United States Golf Association, Tony shares how intentional communication structures, predictable cadences, and clear expectations replace the “watercooler moments” that remote teams lose. His perspective is practical, disciplined and deeply human.

What if the way most companies lead, hire, and scale is fundamentally broken? In this episode of Activating Greatness, host Alec McChesney sits down with Parry Headrick, Founder and CEO of Crackle PR, to challenge hustle culture, outdated agency models, and leadership practices that burn out great people. Parry shares how building a values-driven, fully remote PR firm—with no hourly billing, no time tracking, and no tolerance for toxic clients—has led to exceptional retention, stronger partnerships, and sustained growth. The conversation explores why earned media matters more than ever in the age of AI, how trust and credibility are built through truth-telling, and why leaders must be willing to protect their teams even when it costs revenue in the short term. This episode is a candid look at modern leadership, ethical growth, and what it really means to build a business that works for people, not against them.

Why do so many well-intentioned leaders accidentally micromanage? In this episode of Activating Greatness, host Alec McChesney sits down with Jason Casarella, Chief Commercial Officer at CRC Cognitive Research Corporation, to break down the real difference between coaching and micromanaging—and why that distinction determines whether teams thrive or stall. Drawing on decades of experience leading commercial teams in high-pressure, regulated environments, Jason shares how situational leadership, role clarity, and trust-based accountability create empowered, high-performing teams. This conversation explores why micromanagement often stems from fear or pressure, how leaders can develop decision-makers instead of dependency, and why progress beats perfection when building sustainable performance. If your team feels busy but stuck, this episode offers practical insight into restoring momentum through clear expectations, disciplined cadence, and leadership by design.

What happens when growth, private equity pressure, and mission collide? In this episode of Activating Greatness, host Alec McChesney sits down with Julie Blasingim, CEO of Univo IRB, to explore what it truly means to lead with purpose while building and scaling a company in the life sciences industry. Julie shares how she built Univo from the ground up with a patient-first mission, why people must come before strategy, and how leaders can protect culture, trust, and clarity as complexity increases. The conversation dives into intentional hiring, storytelling as a leadership tool, saying no to growth opportunities that don’t align, and why success isn’t defined by size but by being the best at what you do. This episode is a powerful look at purpose-driven leadership, culture building, and leading under pressure without losing the soul of the organization.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec sits down with Harry Barnick of the Third Bridge Group to explore what real leadership looks like during periods of intense change. Harry shares his firsthand experience navigating turnover at the leadership level, building a new team, relocating, and adapting to new cultures—and the lessons he learned along the way.

 In this episode of Activating Greatness, host Alec McChesney sits down with Ryan Payne, Director of Leadership & Development at Velocity Advisory Group, to unpack how culture is built through everyday conversations—and how leaders can improve performance by getting intentional about the micro-moments that shape trust. Ryan draws on 13 years at GEICO leading teams as large as 250 people and shares practical, repeatable approaches to developing leaders, reducing turnover, strengthening engagement, and rebuilding momentum during challenging periods. You’ll hear why “energy” is a learnable leadership behavior, how to create connection in remote and distributed teams, what it looks like to lead with emotional awareness, and how small habits like consistent check-ins can drive measurable results in service, execution, and culture. 

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Joe Witte, Executive Coach and Senior Advisor at Velocity Advisory Group, explores the role of momentum in leadership and why effective management doesn’t have to be complicated. Joe shares how leaders can build, lose, and rebuild momentum through clarity, systems, vulnerability, and servant leadership. Drawing from experience in business, military service, and executive coaching, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders navigating complexity and driving sustainable performance

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Dan Silvert, Co-Founder of Velocity Advisory Group, shares why relationships are the true driver of culture, accountability, and sustainable growth. Drawing on decades of executive coaching experience, Dan explains how trust, connection, and everyday interactions shape performance — especially during periods of change and uncertainty.

In this episode of Activating Greatness, Alec McChesney sits down with leadership and culture expert, Velocity Advisory Group President Brooke Page-Thompson, to explore what it truly means for leaders to bring their whole selves to work. Brooke shares practical insights on emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and how authenticity can transform team performance and workplace culture.

In this episode, Velocity Advisory Group CEO Dave Fechtman shares what it takes to lead at the highest level. Dave breaks down how CEOs and executive teams create alignment, navigate uncertainty, and sustain organizational momentum. He offers practical insights on strategy, culture, and leadership clarity — and reveals the habits that help senior leaders thrive in complex environments.