Episode 4: Risk, Grit & The American Dream

Episode 6: When Risk takes Flight

In this episode of The Calculated Collective, we sit down with a leader whose story is shaped by discipline, service, mentorship, and purpose. From his childhood experiences to his time in the Air Force and now leading a collegiate flight program, this conversation explores how the people and moments that shape us often influence the way we lead others. We talk about the lessons learned through military service, the responsibility that comes with guiding students into high-pressure careers, and why investing in the next generation matters far beyond the classroom or cockpit. He shares perspectives on leadership, resilience, accountability, community impact, and the importance of helping young people see what they’re capable of before they fully believe it themselves. This episode is about more than aviation. It’s about direction, purpose, and the ripple effect of mentorship, discipline, and showing up for others.

Episode 5: Realignment

We’ve had some really good conversations so far. But if we’re being honest, we’ve only scratched the surface. This episode is about what we’ve learned, what we didn’t expect, and where this is all starting to go. The more we’ve talked with people, the more we’ve realized that risk isn’t just a business conversation. It’s something we all carry in different ways. So we’re widening the lens. More voices. More perspectives. More real conversations about the decisions people make and the ripple effect those decisions have. This is where it starts to go deeper.

Episode 4: Risk, Grit & The American Dream

Success rarely comes from a single moment. More often, it is built through years of hard work, rejection, and the courage to keep going. In this episode, we sit down with Raul De La Torre, owner and CEO of ServiceMaster Rapid Response who knows that journey well. His story is one of determination, opportunity, and the willingness to start wherever you have to in order to build something better. This conversation explores the risks people take, the setbacks they face, and the persistence it takes to keep moving forward.

Episode 3: Where Education Takes a Risk

In this episode, Where Education Takes a Risk, we sit down with the team at Learning Lab in Wichita, Kansas, to explore what it means to rethink education through an innovative, learner-focused approach. We talk about the risks involved in trying something different, the responsibility that comes with it, and the potential rewards when students are given new ways to grow and succeed. It is a thoughtful conversation about innovation, opportunity, and what can happen when communities are willing to look at education from a new perspective.

Episode 2: The Relationship between Risk & Reward

On this episode, we sit down with Jason Ingermanson of JRI Hospitality to explore his journey from a farm kid to the founder of multiple successful businesses. Jason shares how early work ethic, responsibility, and community shaped the way he approaches entrepreneurship today. We talk through how he makes decisions, weighs risk, and manages growth across several ventures without losing sight of people and culture. The conversation highlights leadership, trust, and the importance of building teams that feel ownership in what they are creating. This episode offers a real look at what it takes to grow intentionally while staying rooted in values that matter.