Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World

There is no Episode 13. There is no 19th Story. There is no Miss Zarves. Look it up. You are in for a treat. Support the show •••••••••• About Exceptionally Good: https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about More from Exceptionally Good: 📧 ryan@exceptionallygood.org Work with Ryan:   https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services Exceptionally Good on Substack: https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood Prod...

It’s who you know…. And, see, I know you.  And you know people. You know inspiring leaders who would make excellent guests for the Exceptionally Good podcast.  Leaders on a mission for a better world.  They are exceptionally good not because they were born with it or heroic.  But because they are just regular humans like you and me — and they are driven to contribute to good in the world.  You kno...

Ever had your barn burn down and then see the moon? What happens when you realize those you put in place to lead are the wrong people? How should you use critique to make you and your org stronger? All the way from Doncaster, England, Andy Sprakes and Gwyn Ap Hari detail their journey as co-founders of XP Trust, a group of innovative and successful “free schools” in the UK. We discuss their unique...

Hey, good people, happy new year!  As we look ahead into 2025, I am recruiting a new batch of exceptionally good leaders to host on the show. In particular, I'm looking for leaders in the realm of healthcare, rescue services, social services and more. We have a solid batch of education leaders in the first season because I started with friends who I knew were brilliant, admirable, and willing...

How do you go from a town hall lashing, go up for a vote of no confidence and turn it around?  What’s a leader to do when faced with a moment of crisis?  Have you ever wondered how to know it is the right time to step down?  In this transcript, Derek Pierce, the founding leader of Casco Bay High School, shares his extensive journey in educational leadership. Derek discusses his early influences, e...

How does your self-talk provide a barometer for your own alignment and integrity in a situation? How do you build trust in order to give growth-producing feedback? How do you keep your fire fueled despite the challenges of leading for systemic change?  In this episode, Shyla Kinhal, the Director of Literacy for Evanston Skokie School District, shares her extensive career journey and expertise in l...

How does a pink tie turn leadership into a sunrise? How is change leadership like operating a elevator in a hotel? How does a school leader on Chicago’s Southside pull a school up from a nosedive to a top 10% school? What do you do when you realize that the reason your organization is faltering is you?  You become the sunrise.   In this episode, we feature Matthew King, co-founder of the national...

What do you do when you get the report on the brutal truth and know you can’t solve it alone? How do you lead by staying close to the problem you are leading to solve? When do you know it is the right time NOT to seek that next larger, high position, but to focus on joy? In this episode, Ryan interviews Gia Truong, a leading figure in education and social equity, who shares her journey from being...

How do you get into that hard conversation by reframing it on what matters most? What happens when you are invited to an opportunity and you just can’t turn it down? How do you lead with a community by becoming of the community? In this episode, Ryan speaks with Roel Vivit, a seasoned educational leader with over two decades of experience in Chicago. Roel shares his inspiring career journey from c...

Where do you feel it in your body when you are out of integrity with yourself? When do you find yourself “wearing the mask” and what would happen if you drop it? Are you growing?  Or are you decaying?  Join us in today's episode with Kemi Akinsanya-Rose, the COO of Cambium Learning Group and a pioneer in leadership and education. Kemi shares her extensive leadership journey, spanning high-lev...

What do an English software salesman, a child of refugees, a head of a call center, and a Hollywood writer all have in common?  They all went on to use their many many talents and skills for exceptional social good.  Coming next week, tune into a new podcast series called Exceptionally Good — where I interview leaders to learn about their origin stories, their guiding principles, and the lessons t...