Calling
Character
Communication
Confidence
Conflict Management
Influence
Relationship with God
Resilience
Servant Leadership
Supervising People
Wellness
April 9, 2024

Ep 137: Exploring the Gifts of Failure and Risk with Ryan Leak

Contributor
Lori Hermann
Lori Hermann
Executive Producer
|
Global Leadership Network
Ryan Leak
Ryan Leak
CEO, Best-Selling Author
|
The Ryan Leak Group

In this episode, Ryan Leak shares how chasing failure has taken him much farther in his life than safety and security. Global Leadership Podcast team member Lori Hermann explores Ryan’s upbringing, the significant events that have defined his leadership, and how <i>following </i>through change can be just as challenging as leading through change.

SUMMARY

CEO, executive coach and bestselling author Ryan Leak shares how chasing failure has taken him much farther in his life than safety and security. Global Leadership Podcast team member Lori Hermann explores Ryan’s upbringing, the significant events that have defined his leadership, and how following through change can be just as challenging as leading through change.

 

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Exploring Ryan’s backstory.

  • Growing up in different worlds, what was Ryan’s biggest challenge?

  • What was Ryan’s journey to becoming a pastor?

  • What does Ryan see as being the biggest issue in leadership today?

  • What advice would he give to leaders who are going through change?

  • How can vulnerability enhance a leader’s effectiveness?

  • What has chasing failure taught Ryan?

 

LISTEN

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

 

STANDOUTS AND TAKEAWAYS

  • If you want to be a speaker, don’t wait: start writing right now. Behave as if you are going on the stage tomorrow.

  • Every industry is going through change, but every industry thinks they are the only industry going through change.

  • Leading through change is hard, but following through change might actually be harder.

  • When leading through change, leaders should acknowledge that the ripple effect of new policies, approaches, etc., is much larger than they can see.

  • There is a significant impact when leaders make themselves available to those they are leading, even though most people will not actually take the opportunity.

  • Whenever possible, leaders should not make decisions in a vacuum.

  • Change is easier when there’s care at a high level.

  • Sometimes a leader needs to wait to create change until they have enough relational equity with their organization.

  • It’s important that leaders are able to talk about the behind the scenes: failures, stumbles, etc. Being vulnerable makes us human and builds trust.

  • When you make it about others—trying to add value to them—it takes the pressure off.

  • “There is no amount of money in the world that can hold your hand when you have to put one of your babies in the ground.” – T.D. Jakes

 

LINKS MENTIONED

Team Building
,
Conflict Management
,
Leadership Development
,
May 20, 2026

Ep 208: Leading When the Plan Falls Apart with Craig Groeschel

In this episode, David Ashcraft talks with Craig Groeschel, founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, about how leaders can respond when leadership does not go as planned. Craig reflects on failed ideas, organizational pivots, team conflict, and the ongoing discipline of letting go as leadership expands. He also shares how humility, preparation, prayerfulness, candor and trust have shaped the way he leads through uncertainty.

Leading Organizations
Leading Others
Calling
,
Relationship with God
,
Resilience
,
May 13, 2026

Ep 207: Leading Through Leadership Hijacks with Edgar Sandoval

In this episode, GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talks with Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, about navigating what David calls “leadership hijacks”: unexpected events that reshape both leadership and life.

Leading Yourself
Leading Organizations
Emotional Intelligence
,
Confidence
,
Calling
,
May 6, 2026

Ep 206: When Leadership Gets Hijacked: Reclaiming Your Focus, Identity, and Definition of Success (with David Ashcraft)

In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with David Ashcraft to unpack the internal and external “hijacks” that pull leaders off course. They explore how even confident leaders can fall into comparison traps, how self-doubt often disguises itself in different ways, and why defining success based on others’ metrics leads to frustration.

Leading Yourself
Leading Organizations

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