Built to Deliver Podcast

How does a practicing physician assistant caring for patients at the start of the HIV epidemic end up leading a major public research university with over 25,000 students? In this episode of the Built to Deliver podcast, we sit down with Dr. Rick Muma, President of Wichita State University (WSU) in Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Muma shares his non-traditional journey from clinical healthcare into higher ed...

“We are choosing to be a human-first organization. In an age where technology can talk to technology, true higher education is fundamentally about one human being connecting with another to advance democracy and unlock human potential.” Dr. Daniel Phelan How do educational leaders protect the soul of higher education while navigating seismic technological shifts and unprecedented social isolation?...

How do institutional leaders bridge the gap between ambitious long-term vision and real-world execution when external disruptions hit without warning? Whether you are guiding a major university system through technological shifts like AI or aligning a school district around annual performance goals, complex organizational systems rarely move along a predictable line. In this episode of the Built t...

How do leaders make high-stakes decisions in environments that are constantly shifting? Whether you are trying to align an entire school district around a new strategy or simply trying to schedule a complex calendar day, human behavior and organizational systems rarely follow a predictable line. In this episode of Built to Deliver , we sit down with Debrah Meloso , an expert in experimental econom...

How do you tackle deep-rooted, systemic urban segregation? In Gothenburg, Sweden, the answer isn’t found in a new curriculum or heavier standardized testing. Instead, it lies in an inspiring, award-shortlisted working model: School as an Arena ( Skola som arena ) . In this episode, we sit down with David Geiser Mellkvist , Deputy Principal at Gamlestaden school in Gothenburg, Sweden. David shares...

“Everything that we do, we should first ask: should I do it, or should I outsource and delegate this task to an AI agent? Then, it is about telling that group of agents what we need and validating the outcomes. It’s not just about incorporating AI tools; it’s about changing how we think and how we envision our value.” — Javier Scher Javier Scher is the Senior Vice President of Technology and the H...

“Artificial intelligence doesn't replace knowledge, it boosts it. But if you execute a task simply for the sake of checking a box, then yes, you become easily replaceable.” — Rafa Mendez Rafa Méndez is the co-founder of Estoko Logistics, a company that automates warehousing and logistics deployment for B2B operations while reducing the overall carbon footprint of logistics operations. Awarded as t...

“Each of us, even when it feels like our role in life goes unnoticed or is insignificant, possesses an impressive potential. We are like an atomic bomb with the power to change everything around us. It is truly vital that we discover our mission.” — Josemaría Madrid Josemaría Madrid is the General Director of Arenales Educational Network, a non-profit educational foundation that has mastered the a...

“Most organizational change theory stops where you’re basically the leader who can see, trying to get more people to blindly trust you. Real alignment happens when your team starts to develop eyesight. When you pool different perspectives from across the organization, you expose hidden blind spots and converge organically on the exact problems that need to be solved.” — Ted Fujimoto Ted Fujimoto i...

“Ten years ago, I was looking for a new direction because I wanted more meaning in my professional life, and I couldn’t think of a better place than a university for a meaningful path. Today, whether managing 300 professors or coaching master’s students on their leadership tracks, I find meaning in building real human capacity.” — Ariel Urcola Ariel Urcola is the Director of Executive Education at...

“We cannot control who walks through our classroom doors every morning, but we must control our internal capacity to deliver for them. When external conditions are unstable, our commitment to educational quality has to be stronger than ever.” — Lotta Lekander Lotta Lekander is the Director of Primary Education for Northeast Gothenburg, Sweden, where she orchestrates the educational architecture an...

Welcome back to the Built to Deliver podcast, also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major podcasting platforms. Today, I’m thrilled to share our inaugural conversation with Dr. Antonio Corrales Antonio is the operational engine, co-founder and co-creator of Built to Deliver’s core frameworks. In this episode, we talk about Antonio’s personal and professional journey and how...