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

Sean Patton: Transformational Leadership Beyond Titles and Tactics

A former US Army Special Forces commander unpacks why character, clarity, and real connection—not titles—separate average managers from transformational leaders. This conversation dives into self-leadership, hard feedback, and what it really takes to build high-trust, high-performance teams in a changing world. In this episode, Kevin and Sean Patton discuss: * Superpower of listening and aligning personal and organizational vision * Leadership lessons from West Point and Army Special Forces * Failing in business, self-work, and reinventing as an executive coach * Moving from solopreneurship to a feedback-rich team culture * Character, clarity, connection, and the future of leadership at work KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Leadership is fundamentally about who you become—your character and integrity—rather than any title, rank, or role you hold. * People rarely resist change as much as they resist ambiguity; clear communication and expectations are core responsibilities of a leader. * High-performing organizations stagnate when leaders avoid hard feedback and rely on vague directives that let everyone off the hook. * Deep, non-transactional relationships at work unlock engagement, retention, and performance in ways metrics alone never can. * In a rapidly changing landscape, everyone must think more like a leader and entrepreneur, continually asking, “What am I capable of—and what are we capable of together?” "If you're the type of person who's going to show up to an organization, and you say, okay, tell me what I need to do, and then expect someone to say, here's your steps one through 15, go do them, you're gonna be out of a job in five years." - Sean Patton About Sean Patton: Sean Patton is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Commander, Executive Coach with Novus Global, and sought-after leadership speaker and trainer. He is the author of A Warrior’s Mindset and the host of the No Limit Leadership podcast. Sean empowers leaders and teams to move beyond high performance to create transformational results. Connect with Sean Patton: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanpattonpresents/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanpattonpresents/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZDjyqEs9_q6wt3BRhKdZUg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZDjyqEs9_q6wt3BRhKdZUg]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanpattonspeaks/ [https://www.facebook.com/seanpattonspeaks/]  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]

Maximos Lih: Emboldening Your Voice in Rooms That Make You Small

Stepping into your true voice often requires letting old versions of yourself die. In this episode, leadership coach Maximos Lih unpacks how identity, culture, and courage intersect so leaders can stop playing small in rooms where they were meant to lead. In this episode, Kevin and Maximos Lih discuss: * Navigating multiple identities and cultures as a leader * Transitions as “resurrection moments” in career and life * Disengagement, anxiety, and the real cost of poor leadership * Building influence, allies, and psychological safety in the room * Creating culture through self-awareness, conflict, and curiosity Key Takeaways: * Leadership grounded in self-awareness frees people from self-consciousness, making it possible to truly serve others instead of performing for approval. * Major transitions demand an identity shift; clinging to who you used to be can block you from stepping into your next level of purpose and impact. * Disengagement is one of the most expensive costs in any organization, often fueled by anxious leaders who never address their own fears, biases, or blind spots. * Influence scales through people, not performance; building allies and relationships before the meeting creates the safety to speak boldly in the room. * Culture always takes its cues from leadership—what leaders actually model and resource will shape whether conflict sharpens people or quietly burns everything down. "If you find yourself being the only person in the room, and it's a challenge to be bold, find a way to recruit one other person to be on your team, and it's your team that will actually generate the success." - Maximos Lih About Maximos Lih: Maximos Lih is an Executive Coach and founder of Emboldened LLC, where he helps small teams scale without losing their edge, and leaders grow with purpose and trust. His leadership philosophy was shaped by his grandfather—a self-taught orphan who became a four-star general—who taught him that true greatness is measured by how you make people feel. After immigrating to the U.S. and graduating from UC Berkeley, Maximos joined Google, where he specialized in recruiting top engineering talent before moving to Google Ventures. There, he guided hundreds of founders through rapid growth, witnessing companies like Uber and Flatiron Health scale at remarkable speed. Today, he draws on those experiences to coach the next generation of leaders in building mission-driven, high-performing teams. Connect with Maximos Lih: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maximoslih [http://linkedin.com/in/maximoslih]  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]

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]