The Front Lines of Leadership: Stories to Inspire the Rising Generation of Leaders | Hosted by Jackson Taylor

Ep. 12: Leadership Lessons From A Retired Army Major General | Matthew Van Wagenen - U.S. Army

In this episode, we sit down with retired U.S. Army Major General Matthew Van Wagenen, who capped a 35-year military career as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Intelligence at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) — a role overseeing 45,000 Allied personnel across three continents. Matthew shares hard-won lessons from 19 years stationed in Europe, combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Georgia, and his time leading deterrence operations across NATO's Eastern Flank. We dig into what it takes to lead at massive scale under high-stakes pressure, how he builds trust across diverse international stakeholders, and what business leaders can learn from military-grade change management and technology integration. Whether you're leading a team of five or five thousand, Matthew's insights on transformational, people-first leadership offer a masterclass in navigating complexity, uncertainty, and high-tension environments.

Ep. 11: Lead to Build an Elite Team & Culture | Mike McInelly - Lumio Dental, Founder & CEO

In this episode, Mike McInelly—entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of Lumio Dental—shares how he leads from the front and builds leaders along the way. Mike opens up about his approach to developing the dentists across his platform, helping them grow into stronger leaders within their own offices. At the heart of it all is a deep commitment to team: Mike doesn't talk about employees, he talks about teammates, and that mindset shapes everything from how he coaches to how he scales. A conversation about leadership, culture, and what it really means to build people up.

Ep. 10: Leadership in College Athletics | Amy Folan - Central Michigan University

Amy Folan is proof that bold leadership can elevate an athletics department to extraordinary new heights. Since taking the helm at Central Michigan University in 2020, Amy has launched a $25 million fundraising campaign, secured a $5 million health partnership, and delivered the department's best-ever fundraising year. All while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the student-athlete experience. In this episode, Amy shares her journey from compliance professional to athletics director, the leadership philosophy that drives her decisions, and what she's learned about building culture and leading change at the highest level. A conversation worth hearing for anyone passionate about leadership and college athletics.

Ep. 9: "Living a Life That Inspires Hope In Others" | Byrd Baggett - TrueGrowth Leadership

In this episode of Front Lines of Leadership, we sit down with Byrd Baggett, founder of TrueGrowth Leadership and a lifelong champion of authentic leadership. Byrd shares what it truly means to lead from the inside out — how embracing who you really are isn't just a personal philosophy, but a competitive edge that transforms teams, cultures, and the people you lead. From his life purpose of inspiring hope in others to the practical principles behind TrueGrowth, this is a conversation for any leader ready to stop playing a role and start making a real impact.

Ep. 8: $0 to $225M - Building and Leading Elite Sales Teams | Kyle Spackman

In this episode of Front Lines of Leadership, we sit down with Kyle Spackman, a digital health executive who helped take Sword Health from $0 to $225 million in revenue. Kyle shares what it really takes to build and lead elite sales teams in one of the most competitive spaces in healthcare — from hiring and culture to the commercial strategies that drive results at scale.