Imagining Bridges to Better Leadership

Adria Chea: Balancing Faith, Family, and Leadership in Higher Education

When leadership is rooted in faith, authenticity, and a clear sense of boundaries, it doesn’t just build careers—it changes lives. In this episode, you’ll hear how one leader moved from corporate to higher ed, learned to say no, and now champions students who never thought college was possible. In this episode, Kevin and Adria Chea discuss: * Superpower of authenticity and self-awareness * Corporate vs. higher education leadership * Balancing career, family, faith, and boundaries * Relationship building, communication, and trust * Purpose-driven work and supporting first-gen and foster students Key Takeaways: * Authenticity is a leadership superpower; knowing who you are and refusing to shrink yourself to fit others’ expectations creates a more grounded, impactful life. * Higher education leadership isn’t just about hitting goals—it’s about changing lives, leading with heart, and recognizing the long-term impact on students and communities. * Clear priorities and healthy boundaries, including the willingness to say no and truly take time off, are essential to avoid becoming a “public success but private failure.” * Not every opportunity is the right one; ignoring your gut and taking roles for image or approval can lead to misalignment that ultimately forces you to course-correct. * You don’t have to be perfect to lead well—treating mistakes as learning experiences and giving yourself grace is crucial for growth. "Always take the meeting. Don't say no because you think you're not qualified to be in the room." - Adria Chea About Adria Chea: Adria Chea has worked professionally in various Corporate Executive Sales and Management industries for nearly 20 years. Adria has been the Director of Advancement Operations at La Sierra University since May 2023, managing the department's daily tasks, ensuring the needs are successfully addressed, and implementing the fundraising for La Sierra University, making sure to develop and cultivate healthy relationships with our existing donors, future donors, friends of the University community leaders, alumni, current students, faculty, and staff. Adria is the former Chief Operating Officer for The Mousai Group, a CEO advisory firm that expands leaders' thinking toward new possibilities for complex problems. As the COO, Adria oversaw the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the Mousai Group business. Adria has her MBA in Business Administration and a BS in Applied Management from Grand Canyon University. She is a proud wife, mom, and "Momager" to her son in her personal life. She resides in Southern California with her husband, Alvin Chea, a professional Recording Artist with the ten-time Grammy-winning Acapella Gospel-Jazz group Take 6. Adria manages and quietly studies the entertainment industry from the wings, gleaning career pointers as she helps manage her husband and son's acting/voice-over careers. Adria has presided over several local Ministries and is a Board member for Extreme Mobility Camps for the Blind. Connect with Adria Chea: Website: https://lasierra.edu/ [https://lasierra.edu/]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriachea [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriachea] Connect with Kevin Neal: Website: https://drkdneal.com [https://drkdneal.com]  Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS [https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS]  https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS [https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS] Email: coachkd63@gmail.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63]

Lisha Dunlap: Stop Selling College and Start Sharing Stories

What happens when you stop “selling” college and start telling real stories instead? In this episode, we explore how authenticity, people-first leadership, and intentional communication can transform higher education marketing and the lives it touches. In this episode, Kevin and Lisha Dunlap discuss: * Authenticity, self-awareness, and personal growth * Storytelling vs. traditional advertising in education * Audience-specific and platform-specific marketing strategies * The difference between bosses and true leaders * Nonlinear career paths and community impact (100+ Women Who Care) Key Takeaways: * Embracing who you truly are without apology creates the confidence needed to serve both yourself and others better. * Storytelling provides prospective students with an experience they can see themselves in, which is far more powerful than a list of features or benefits. * Effective marketing shows deep respect for the audience by speaking to them where they are, in their language, and on the platforms they actually use. * Real leadership is collaborative and human; it’s about valuing people’s strengths, not standing above them or leading through fear and control. * A winding, nonlinear career can still align perfectly in hindsight when guided by a consistent passion—like giving people a voice and telling meaningful stories. "So my philosophy is to just be a leader that makes people's lives better, because 40 to 50 hours a week is a long time to impact someone." - Lisha Dunlap About Lisha Dunlap: Lisha Dunlap is the Director of PR & Marketing at Gateway Community College in Phoenix, AZ. She began her education at a community college in Kansas, earning an A.A. in Business from Cowley County Community College. She then transferred to Washburn University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Military Studies. Dunlap is an experienced public relations professional, marketer, writer, editor, social media expert, communications specialist, photographer, reputation manager, and passionate storyteller with more than 20 years of experience in the related fields. Connect with Lisha Dunlap: Website: http://www.gatewaycc.edu/ [http://www.gatewaycc.edu/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatewaycc [https://www.facebook.com/gatewaycc]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaycc/ [https://www.instagram.com/gatewaycc/]  Connect with Kevin Neal: Website: https://drkdneal.com [https://drkdneal.com]  Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS [https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS]  https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS [https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS] Email: coachkd63@gmail.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63]

Phillip Bogolub: Turning Fear into Fuel for Leadership

What if fear isn’t your enemy as a leader, but your greatest teacher? In this episode, we explore how to transform fear from a paralyzing force into a powerful guide that protects you, sharpens your decisions, and fuels courageous leadership. In this episode, Kevin and Phillip Bogolub discuss: * Fear as protective instinct vs. paralyzing force * Using fear as constructive energy in leadership and business * Faith, uncertainty, and moving forward despite risk * Every day metaphors for fear (heaters, dentists, childhood learning) * Redefining success, regret, and learning from missteps Key Takeaways: * Fear is always present, but it doesn’t have to lead; it can sit in the passenger seat as a protective guide instead of driving your decisions. * The same survival instinct that keeps you from “walking into traffic” can also be redirected into constructive energy that fuels creativity, persistence, and leadership growth. * Most of what we fear never actually happens, and recognizing this helps leaders move from worst-case thinking toward balanced, opportunity-focused decisions. * Progress in leadership, business, and life rarely happens without uncertainty; embracing that “blank canvas” and trusting the process is essential for long-term success. * If every time you got “burned” you stopped trying, you’d never walk, eat, or build anything meaningful—wisdom comes from using painful experiences as instruction, not as a permanent stop sign. "If you stopped yourself on everything you feared you'd never get, you'd be in a closet sucking your thumb all day." - Phillip Bogolub About Phillip Bogolub: Today’s co-host is a creative visionary — founder of Bogolub Records, film producer with Light Pipe Media, and the mind behind the philosophy of ‘AJANOI.’ He blends art, music, and deep reflection to challenge how we see ourselves and the world around us. He’s my friend and a friend of the show. Connect with Phillip Bogolub: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bogolubrecords [http://linkedin.com/in/bogolubrecords]  Website: https://www.lightpipe.media/ [https://www.lightpipe.media/]  Connect with Kevin Neal: Website: https://drkdneal.com [https://drkdneal.com]  Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS [https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS]  https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS [https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS] Email: coachkd63@gmail.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63]

David Homan: Orchestrating Connection Beyond Transactional Networking

In a world obsessed with transactions and quick wins, what would happen if we rebuilt our networks around trust, generosity, and imagination? In this episode, discover a radically human approach to connection that turns relationships into lasting community, opportunity, and impact. In this episode, Kevin and David Homan discuss: * Superpower of being a “super connector.” * Curiosity, vulnerability, and diversity as pillars of connection * From transactional networking to an orchestrated community * Personal journey, setbacks, and self-work behind the methodology * Building Soar and scaling trust-driven, privacy-first relationships with tech Key Takeaways: * Real connection starts when you are more curious about others than they are about themselves, and are willing to respond with genuine vulnerability. * Moving from “Can you help me?” to “If I help you, will you help someone next to me?” transforms linear networking into a three-dimensional community. * Generosity and gratitude are not soft skills; they are the engines of trust, reputation, and long-term relationship value. * Diversity in a network—across background, culture, geography, and perspective—is not just moral; it’s strategic and exponentially increases opportunity. * Technology can either extract value from your relationships or protect and amplify them; building systems where your data is yours changes how connection and community scale. "We don't understand what's missing in connection until the right person at the right moment is there." - David Homan About David Homan: David Homan is the founder and CEO of Orchestrated Connecting, a global community of connectors; Orchestrated Opportunities, an impact-focused advisory firm; and SOAR CONNECT, a start-up focused on the strength of authentic relationships. He hosts a podcast called Orchestrated, focused on developing relationship value, is an active classical composer, and is a proud father of two.  From middle-class beginnings as the son of a college professor father and nonprofit-focused mother, he has built a network reaching into the most private and incredible circles globally while maintaining a code of purposeful community building called Orchestrated Connecting. Connect with David Homan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_connection_orchestrator/ [https://www.instagram.com/the_connection_orchestrator/]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrhoman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrhoman/]  Connect with Kevin Neal: Website: https://drkdneal.com [https://drkdneal.com]  Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS [https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS]  https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS [https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS] Email: coachkd63@gmail.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63]

Chris Caldwell: Leading at the Intersection of Tribal Sovereignty and Higher Education

What happens when leadership is grounded in 10,000 years of Indigenous knowledge and lived experience? In this episode, you’ll hear how one tribal college president uses curiosity, culture, and community to redefine what it means to lead for both people and place. In this episode, Kevin and Chris Caldwell discuss: * Curiosity and seeking context as a leadership “superpower.” * Leadership rooted in indigenous sovereignty and tribal colleges * Merging culture, language, and identity with higher education * Navigating unique challenges: underinvestment, inequity, and the pandemic’s impact * Developing future leaders through values-based, community-grounded mentorship and planning Key Takeaways: * Curiosity paired with a deep commitment to understanding context can shape wiser, more grounded leadership decisions. * Tribal colleges serve as powerful expressions of sovereignty, tasked with delivering high-quality education while preserving and advancing language, culture, and identity. * Connecting classroom learning to land, community, and tribal enterprises creates a living, applied education that forms leaders who serve both people and place. * Underinvestment and inequity in tribal communities require leaders to advocate relentlessly for resources while simultaneously building internal capacity and partnerships. * Intentional succession planning, cross-functional strategic teams, and values-based professional development are essential to preparing future generations of leaders. "It makes it a little easier to talk about contemporary issues or even things from the past when you're looking up at trees in the sky instead of in the square room walls of a classroom." - Chris Caldwell About Chris Caldwell: Dr. Chris Caldwell, President of the College of Menominee Nation and a proud CMN alumnus, has led the college since 2020, advancing initiatives rooted in Menominee values and hands-on learning. With nearly 30 years of experience in sustainable forestry and environmental studies, he recently earned a Ph.D. from UW-Madison, focusing on Indigenous sustainability. Connect with Chris Caldwell: Website: https://www.menominee.edu/ [https://www.menominee.edu/]    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-caldwell-a80914122/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-caldwell-a80914122/]  Connect with Kevin Neal: Website: https://drkdneal.com [https://drkdneal.com]  Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS [https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS]  https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS [https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS] Email: coachkd63@gmail.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63]