How Leaders Think with Kenny Lange

What separates top performers from everyone else? In this episode, Kenny Lange sits down with Dre Baldwin, founder of Work On Your Game®, former professional basketball player, 4x TEDx speaker, and author of 43 books. Dre shares how discipline, personal initiative, and relentless execution helped him go from an overlooked Division III athlete to a successful entrepreneur and thought leader. They e...

What if we've been thinking about business all wrong? In this episode, Kenny Lange sits down with Neal Foard, founder of Storyfire®, to explore why the word "business" may have distanced us from the people we serve—and why thinking like a tradesman changes everything. Neal shares lessons from decades creating campaigns for brands like Toyota, Budweiser, Lexus, and Sony, revealing how storytelling,...

What does it take to move from being a high performer to becoming a leader who develops others? In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange sits down with Michael Neuendorff, President of Bay Area Executive Coach, to discuss why today's leaders must move beyond command-and-control leadership and embrace a coaching mindset. They explore leadership blind spots, the dangers of the advice trap,...

AI is changing the way leaders think, work, hire, create, and make decisions. In this episode of How Leaders Think , Kenny Lange talks with Jay Owen, CEO and Founder of Business Builders, about why leaders cannot afford to ignore AI and how it can become a tool for creativity, productivity, and better stewardship. Jay shares how AI is already reshaping marketing agencies, workplace expectations, h...

In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange sits down with Esther Stewart, founder of CottnOwl Agency, to talk about the overwhelming noise in online marketing and why so many founders are burning out chasing the latest strategy. Esther shares her perspective on high-ticket client acquisition, simplifying offers, building authentic relationships, and how AI is reshaping marketing and sales....

In this episode of “How Leaders Think,” Kenny Lange sits down with Adam Steck, Chief Servant Officer of Southwest Steel Buildings, to talk about leadership development, lean culture, and building people instead of just building products. Adam shares how Toyota lean principles transformed the way his company empowers employees, develops leaders, and creates long-term culture. This conversation expl...

What if the pressure you’re facing is actually preparing you for your future calling? In this episode of “How Leaders Think,” Kenny Lange sits down with Art Serna to explore identity, purpose, leadership, and what it means to build something that outlives you. Art shares his journey through business leadership, faith, burnout, and rediscovering a deeper sense of calling beyond hustle culture and e...

In a world flooded with content, the leaders who win are the ones who communicate clearly. In this episode, Sally Mildren breaks down why simplicity isn’t dumbing things down—it’s respecting how people actually think. Drawing from neuroscience and real-world marketing strategy, she explains how leaders can cut through the noise, connect with the right audience, and build trust that lasts. If you’v...

What if the key to better leadership isn’t leading others—but leading yourself first? In this episode, Dr. Vance Cooper shares how self-assessment, discipline, and accountability unlock true leadership potential. From building a daily system that keeps you consistent to understanding your unique wiring, Vance challenges leaders to stop copying others and start discovering who they really are. If y...

AI is changing the way we work—but most leaders are thinking about it the wrong way. In this episode, Maximos Lih breaks down why AI isn’t just a tool problem—it’s a systems problem. From agentic AI to decision mapping, he shares practical ways leaders can rethink workflows, avoid costly mistakes, and actually use AI to scale their organizations effectively. If you’re trying to implement AI in you...

What does it actually take to lead in today’s multi-generational workplace? In this episode, Reed Nyffeler shares how leadership has evolved—and why many leaders struggle when they try to lead others the same way they were led. From understanding generational mindsets to embracing servant leadership, Reed breaks down practical ways to develop people and build stronger teams. If you want to grow as...

Most nonprofits rely on events to raise money—but what if that’s not the most effective strategy? In this episode, Aaron Glaeske shares a powerful shift in thinking: moving from event-based fundraising to program-driven impact. Drawing from his experience leading an education foundation, he explains how connecting dollars to real outcomes changes how donors engage and give. If you're a leader tryi...

What does it really take to find product-market fit—and keep it as your business grows? In this conversation, Ryan Hogan shares lessons from scaling companies, evolving business models, and learning to listen to the market without losing direction. He breaks down why services must be productized to scale, how AI is creating both opportunity and distraction, and why critical thinking is becoming on...

Les McKeown, Founder and CEO of Predictable Success, joins Kenny Lange to reveal the hidden patterns behind organizational growth. Drawing from his experience launching over 40 companies and advising global organizations, Les shares actionable insights on achieving sustainable success and leading teams through every stage of growth. Whether you’re a business leader, nonprofit executive, or aspirin...

On today's episode of "How Leaders Think", host Kenny Lange is joined by Scott Ritzheimer, CEO of Scale Architects, for a deep dive into optimizing leadership styles in nonprofit organizations. They discuss common challenges nonprofits face, such as chronic underfunding and the need to break out of early struggling phases. Scott emphasizes the importance of utilizing the unique strengths of vision...

Conflict isn’t just blowups—it’s the quiet moments where people stop speaking up, innovation stalls, and trust erodes. In this episode, Kenny Lange sits down with Dr. Jen Fry to unpack how leaders can turn conflict into a leadership advantage by building cultures of clarity, accountability, and repair. They talk sunk cost fallacy, moving fast without fear, and why mistakes can become the strongest...

Trust isn’t “soft”—it’s measurable, and it directly impacts revenue, reputation, and retention. In this episode, Kenny Lange sits down with Kim Bohr, President & COO at SparkEffect, to unpack why well-intended leaders unintentionally erode trust through small daily actions. Kim explains SparkEffect Trust Elasticity™, how psychological safety strengthens teams during disruption, and why alignme...

What does it take to pivot when things are going well—but the world (and your work) is changing fast? In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange talks with Dr. Sharon Spano, founder of Spano & Company, about strategic planning that actually gets implemented, leading through uncertainty, and building the ability to adapt without drifting. They unpack why long-range planning still matters...

Are you a high achiever drifting toward burnout? In this Looking Back episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange and Julie K. Rhodes explore how Sabbath, humility, and God’s unconditional love create sustainable leadership. If you’re driven, responsible, and carrying significant pressure, this conversation may completely change how you think about success. Chronic Grace: Prayers, Saints, and Thorns...

What happens when leadership becomes performance instead of presence? In this episode of How Leaders Think , Kenny Lange sits down with leadership strategist and author Kristina Holle to explore how survival patterns, identity, and burnout quietly shape the way leaders show up. Kristina unpacks the shift from performative leadership to embodied authenticity—and why wholeness, self-regulation, and...

What if the biggest threat to your leadership isn’t your strategy — but your need for control? In this episode of How Leaders Think , Kenny Lange talks with Randy Griffin , Chair at C12 North Texas , about the two “operating systems” leaders live from: fear and faith. They unpack why high-achieving Christian leaders can get results while quietly losing margin, peace, and joy — and how Jesus invite...

In this episode of How Leaders Think , Kenny Lange sits down with Preston Zeller (Founder of Psalmlog) to talk about how grief reshapes your priorities, relationships, and leadership. They unpack the “race to victimhood,” why pain can fuel either growth or entitlement , and what forgiveness actually looks like when life hits hard. Then they pivot into AI + biblical guidance —how to build responsib...

Most leaders say “people first,” but few build the systems to actually live it. In this episode, Kenny Lange sits down with Janelle Miller Moravek, Executive Director of Youth & Family Counseling, to unpack what it really looks like to care for your team so they can deliver great work—especially in high-demand, high-burnout environments. Janelle shares why middle management is the “secret sauc...

What happens to trust when AI can generate “smart-sounding” narratives at scale? Kenny sits down with Shane Gring (Founder of Certainly) to unpack why authority is shifting, why attention is becoming a commodity, and how leaders can stand out with a real point of view—not just polished content. They break down the difference between a course and a certification, what “high-integrity” credentialing...

In Part 3 of The Inner Loop Series, Kenny Lange closes the loop with Accountable—the reinforcement stage that helps transformation actually stick. You’ll learn why most change efforts drift (even with strong intentions), and how to build feedback loops that sustain growth without shame, micromanagement, or control. Kenny breaks accountability down at three levels—personal, team, and organizational...