Leadovation

About Nathan Whittacre: CEO of Stimulus Technologies, Nathan Whittacre, is a visionary leader who has spent his three-decade career at the forefront of technological innovation and entrepreneurship. He is a trusted advisor, mentor, and thought leader in the technology field, and the author of The CEO’s Digital Survival Guide: A Practical Handbook to Navigating the Future. Stimulus Technologies is focused on providing the best technology to businesses, including IT services, Internet, and VoIP. Nathan’s passion lies in helping people better their lives through technology, cybersecurity, and intentional culture.   In this episode, Dean Newlund and Nathan Whittacre discuss: * The evolving role of AI in business and society * Balancing human connection with technological efficiency * Leadership strategies in the age of digital transformation * The impact of AI adoption on workforce roles and subject matter expertise * Ethical and practical considerations of AI in sensitive industries like healthcare   Key Takeaways: * While large enterprises like credit card companies have used AI for over a decade in areas such as fraud detection, most small and mid-sized businesses are still on the lower ramp of adoption, only beginning to see incremental ROI as vendors embed AI into everyday systems to ease mundane tasks. * Nathan’s company experimented with replacing its outsourced after-hours call center with an AI agent, and although some customers were initially skeptical, the AI delivered faster and more accurate support than humans, ultimately providing a better overall customer experience. * Leaders must resist the temptation to outsource or automate the very elements that make their company unique, instead focusing on strategically using AI to streamline non-core processes like ticket entry or document reviews while ensuring core functions remain human-driven. * In healthcare and other sensitive industries, the future of AI adoption will rely heavily on HIPAA-compliant or private, specialized models designed for specific diagnostic support—such as radiology scans—since public large language models are not sufficient to meet strict security and compliance needs.   "I like referring to your ChatGPTs, or Grok, or some of these language models that we’re using, are just really smart interns, very excited and smart interns.” — Nathan Whittacre   Connect with Nathan Whittacre:   Website: https://www.stimulustech.com/ [https://www.stimulustech.com/] Book: The CEO’s Digital Survival Guide: A Practical Handbook to Navigating the Future: https://www.amazon.com/CEOs-Digital-Survival-Guide-Navigating/dp/1642256307 [https://www.amazon.com/CEOs-Digital-Survival-Guide-Navigating/dp/1642256307] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanwhittacre/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanwhittacre/] & https://www.linkedin.com/company/stimulus-technologies [https://www.linkedin.com/company/stimulus-technologies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nwhittacre [https://www.facebook.com/nwhittacre]   See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I]   Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw] Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/] The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/] X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund [https://twitter.com/deannewlund] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ [https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/] Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com [dean.newlund@mfileadership.com] Phone: 1-800-926-7370   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/]You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

About Eric Recker: Dr. Eric Recker is a dentist, husband, father, keynote speaker, Elite Success Coach, author, pilot, mountain climber, and recovering triathlete. In the second half of life, he’s dedicated to helping others close the gap to their best selves and master the art of living in the moment—what he calls #WINtheNOW.   In this episode, Dean Newlund and Eric Recker discuss: * Why clarity of purpose must come before achievement * Using small daily actions to build lasting resilience * Embracing challenges as opportunities for personal growth * Staying present and practicing gratitude in everyday life * Applying the mountain-climbing metaphor to life’s mental and emotional obstacles   Key Takeaways: * Achievements feel richer and more sustainable when pursued with a clearly defined and deeply personal “why” rather than chasing goals for the sake of appearance, status, or external validation. * Keeping a daily log of both small wins and the lessons learned from setbacks can train the brain to focus on the positive, build gratitude, and create a more balanced and resilient mindset over time. * Incorporating simple “micro-resilience” practices—like a two-minute power pose, short mindful walks, or intentional deep breathing—can quickly shift energy and mindset, helping you recover focus throughout the day. * Exploring new interests through small, low-risk experiments instead of waiting for the “perfect” passion to reveal itself allows you to discover what truly excites you and prevents years of feeling stuck in uncertainty.   "If you don’t know why you’re climbing the mountain, you’re not going to find the answer at the top.” — Eric Recker   Connect with Eric Recker:   Website: https://ericrecker.com [https://ericrecker.com] Book: The False Sense of Urgency and How to #WINtheNOW: https://ericrecker.com/book-info/ [https://ericrecker.com/book-info/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-recker-583849278/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-recker-583849278/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.recker.1 [https://www.facebook.com/eric.recker.1] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docrecker/ [https://www.instagram.com/docrecker/]     See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I]   Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw] Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/] The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/] X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund [https://twitter.com/deannewlund] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ [https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/] Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com [dean.newlund@mfileadership.com] Phone: 1-800-926-7370   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/]You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

About Andrea Liebross: Andrea is the go-to expert for high-achieving women entrepreneurs. She helps bold, ambitious women shift from thinking small and feeling overwhelmed to gaining the clarity, confidence, and freedom they crave—in both business and life. As a strategic business coach and life balance architect, Andrea believes the secret sauce to achieving big results comes down to two critical ingredients: solid systems and a powerful, expansive mindset. Andrea is an accomplished speaker, the author of the bestselling She Thinks Big: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Guide to Moving Past the Messy Middle and Into the Extraordinary, and the host of the She Thinks Big Podcast.   In this episode, Dean Newlund and Andrea Liebross discuss: * Evolving expectations of modern CEOs and their mindset shifts * Emotional alignment and the role of joy in leadership effectiveness * Transitioning from operational execution to strategic vision * Embracing uncertainty as a necessary element of growth * The influence of clarity, belief, and intentionality in decision-making   Key Takeaways: * Andrea Liebross presents the TRUST framework as a mindset tool for big thinkers, encouraging leaders to explore their thought options, identify the real problem, embrace uncertainty, secure the right support, and move from passive learning to taking massive action. * Many small business CEOs experience burnout from juggling every role, making it critical to shift into true leadership through intentional delegation and alignment with both business goals and personal values. * Long-term leadership success comes from saying unapologetic yeses to opportunities that foster growth and firm noes to distractions, helping leaders conserve their time, energy, and clarity of purpose. * When faced with chaos or transition, leaders gain power by creating clarity—separating facts from internal narratives—so they can make grounded decisions driven by belief rather than fear.   "Joy comes from believing that you're capable and deserving of the success, not just hustling for it.” — Andrea Liebross   Connect with Andrea Liebross:  Website: https://andrealiebross.com/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://andrealiebross.com/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1754657122291715%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw29G2FFzsfARFNwgpbdgLV3&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1754657122304224&usg=AOvVaw3kTJ5tEiqimpVhkSX5v24g] Book: She Thinks Big: https://www.andrealiebross.com/books [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.andrealiebross.com/books%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1754657122291960%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1PDvVKkDQ_Gta9XHkx22Nu&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1754657122304429&usg=AOvVaw1c-BOMsYUpffZicPtw1Ypl] Show: She Thinks Big Podcast: https://www.andrealiebross.com/podcast [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.andrealiebross.com/podcast%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1754657122292247%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1cJceowWfnWiQpX3bTVb64&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1754657122304566&usg=AOvVaw0CEMDzq4wMnz2WUB_d8_A5] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-liebross/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-liebross/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1754657122292527%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1FRvCEErthbqjnpluQg5Xl&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1754657122304707&usg=AOvVaw2pHh9VOHCbSsxDq1yHhdXs] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrealiebrosscoaching/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.facebook.com/andrealiebrosscoaching/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1754657122292825%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3Gi9mSpxkpQU0RIe_Yr9qt&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1754657122304833&usg=AOvVaw2PIri5gBYPmR5zuRrExK5k] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrea.liebross.coaching/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.instagram.com/andrea.liebross.coaching/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1754657122293121%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0EYt79QLPzCRjPqhkcbFEI&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1754657122304978&usg=AOvVaw3YjlTEAOmutIL233d0cyoT] See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I]   Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw] Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/] The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/] X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund [https://twitter.com/deannewlund] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ [https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/] Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com [dean.newlund@mfileadership.com] Phone: 1-800-926-7370   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/]You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

About Ben Katt: Ben Katt is a transformation coach, meditation teacher, and storyteller. He is the author of THE WAY HOME: Discovering the Hero’s Journey to Wholeness at Midlife. Ben is a former ordained minister and leader at the On Being Project, and he currently provides end-of-life care as a volunteer hospice chaplain and teaches meditation in prisons as the founder of the WITHIN Project. He lives in Milwaukee, WI, with his wife and three children.   In this episode, Dean Newlund and Ben Katt discuss: * The hero’s journey as a framework for transformation * Spiritual practices for everyday life * Burnout and inner alignment * The power of listening to inner whispers * Societal disruption as a collective call to change   Key Takeaways: * Ben Katt's moment of clarity came during a routine jog when he suddenly realized his high-performing life had become unsustainable, prompting a deeper spiritual reckoning that revealed he was losing connection with his own heart. * The hero’s journey, adapted from Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, offers a universal but highly personal structure for individuals to navigate uncertainty, confront their shadows, and emerge with renewed purpose and clarity. * Simple, accessible practices like inward-focused journaling, meditation, gratitude, and even subtracting distractions are powerful tools for fostering self-awareness, healing burnout, and reconnecting with authentic desire. * Those who face material hardship often live closer to life’s raw truths and may possess deeper spiritual insight and joy, challenging the assumption that inner work is a luxury reserved for the privileged. "Joy is happiness that's not contingent on something else. It's that stable sense of contentedness that you carry through, no matter what adversity you're facing.” — Ben Katt   Connect with Ben Katt:   Website: https://www.benjaminkatt.com/ [https://www.benjaminkatt.com/] Book: The Way Home: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Home-Discovering-Journey-Wholeness/dp/1250910447 [https://www.amazon.com/Way-Home-Discovering-Journey-Wholeness/dp/1250910447] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akabenkatt/ [https://www.instagram.com/akabenkatt/] Substack: https://benkatt.substack.com/ [https://benkatt.substack.com/] See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I]   Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw] Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/] The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/] X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund [https://twitter.com/deannewlund] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ [https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/] Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com [dean.newlund@mfileadership.com] Phone: 1-800-926-7370   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/]You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

About Kelly McDonald: Kelly McDonald is an acclaimed speaker who specializes in consumer trends and changing demographics. She is the president of McDonald Marketing and has authored four bestselling books on the customer experience, leadership, and marketing -- all from the standpoint of working with people "not like you".  Her book, How to Work With and Lead People Not Like You has been on two bestseller lists.   In this episode, Dean Newlund and Kelly McDonald discuss: * Working with people different from ourselves * Trust and psychological safety in teams * The evolution of DEI language * The role of communication in collaboration * Human connection in a post-COVID workplace   Key Takeaways: * Vulnerability-based trust, which must be deliberately earned and reciprocated, is essential for teams to navigate differences effectively and unlock higher performance through deeper collaboration. * Using clear, direct, and jargon-free language builds credibility and psychological safety within teams, enabling faster decision-making and stronger alignment across diverse perspectives. * Although working with people who are different from us is inherently more challenging, those efforts consistently yield statistically better business outcomes, creativity, and engagement. * As terms like DEI become politically charged, forward-thinking organizations are embracing timeless, inclusive language like “belonging” and “community” to maintain commitment while reducing friction.   "Trust and vulnerability absolutely have to be earned, and they have to be cultivated, and they have to be reciprocated.” — Kelly McDonald   Connect with Kelly McDonald:  Website: https://www.mcdonaldmarketing.com/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.mcdonaldmarketing.com/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753706738336947%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw2H56_v7Dcm5jypJnE638T7&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753706738345262&usg=AOvVaw1e9PYYWXi8dM5LDPCnjXHd] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellycmcdonald/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kellycmcdonald/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753706738337178%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3iJVy18uH4xPtC23eY8BoR&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753706738345871&usg=AOvVaw3IBa6w8UoMmKNIFdF5vP3F] Book: How to Work With and Lead People Not Like You: https://www.amazon.com/How-Work-Lead-People-Like/dp/1119369959 [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.amazon.com/How-Work-Lead-People-Like/dp/1119369959%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753706738337398%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1s6Xh6tlysjJDKpcHR3vLM&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753706738345972&usg=AOvVaw3Kcn1pflAA1-f2bblkQPtA] X (Twitter): https://x.com/kellycmcdonald [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://x.com/kellycmcdonald%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753706738337546%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw12lm7LHFs7N_xhakK_fGNo&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753706738346067&usg=AOvVaw0cYXNX1fYlbR8d6BW6ECuC] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellycmcdonald [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.facebook.com/kellycmcdonald%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753706738337687%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw01q-42uk3OHsLKtuUXof1a&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753706738346155&usg=AOvVaw3EUw7K8I4UJuk6y57UVK3W] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly.mcdonald_speaker/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.instagram.com/kelly.mcdonald_speaker/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753706738337849%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw17iDiH2pMY6kUCI5Jc--VU&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753706738346239&usg=AOvVaw1bNPL0rlwgAFPgQk8taVOA]         See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I]   Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw] Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/] The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ [https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/] X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund [https://twitter.com/deannewlund] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ [https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/] Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com [dean.newlund@mfileadership.com] Phone: 1-800-926-7370   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/]You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.