Leaders in the Arena

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Jedd Medefind , President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), a global movement uniting over 300 organizations, churches, and leaders to care for vulnerable children and families. Drawing on decades of leadership across government, nonprofit, and global networks, Jedd will explore how leaders engage complex challenges—like foster care, ad...

Institutions matter. The way they are built, renewed, and led shapes communities for generations. Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Corey B. Holstege , a transformation leader who has guided major enterprises such as Shaw Industries and The Home Depot through complex operational and digital change. Drawing on his experience leading large-scale transformation initiatives, Corey will...

Values-based leadership begins with integrity and is sustained through faithful stewardship of people, culture, and responsibility. At its best, leadership is not just about results, but about how leaders care for what has been entrusted to them and create environments where others can grow. Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Carter Helm , an experienced leader known for his focus o...

What does it mean to lead with humility and integrity in a world that often rewards self-promotion and short-term results? Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Covenant College student Ian Fanning ’26 as we explore how humility and integrity shape servant leaders who act with character while building trust and stewarding responsibility well. Leaders who embrace humility and integrity...

​​ What does it take to lead with courage and steward responsibility well when the stakes are real? Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Covenant College student Eric Sonnenschein ’27 as we explore how courage and stewardship shape leaders who act with conviction while faithfully caring for what has been entrusted to them. This episode explores key characteristics of servant leadershi...

Leadership is not static—it evolves as responsibility deepens and people depend on you. Listen to this episode of Leaders in the Arena for a thoughtful conversation with John Plating , Director of the Center for Calling & Career at Covenant College and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. Drawing on decades of leading complex organizations, educating others, and serving in high-stakes environments,...

What does it take to lead not just organizations—but cultures? In this episode of Leaders in the Arena , hear a conversation with Don Sweeney , retired Ernst & Young partner and leader in the firm’s healthcare consulting practice. During a period of rapid growth and disruption, Don helped lead the Quest Leadership Program , an initiative designed to shift EY’s culture from technical expertise...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Patrick Miles , Senior Project Lead on Chick-fil-A’s Innovation Services team. Drawing from his experience equipping innovation within a high-performing enterprise, Patrick will explore how leaders cultivate thoughtful experimentation, ask better questions, and ensure innovation strengthens rather than distracts from institutional purpose. This ses...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Scott Quatro , leadership scholar, educator, and consultant, as he explores what servant leadership looks like in today’s complex organizational environments. Drawing on his work with executives and his research on leadership and management, Scott offers practical insight into how leaders can lead with humility, purpose, and a genuine commitment to...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a special conversation with Brad Voyles , President of Covenant College , as he shares the vision shaping Covenant’s next chapter. At the heart of Covenant’s strategy is a bold commitment to send out builders—graduates formed in faith, courage, and calling, prepared to serve the church and the world as participants in Christ’s work of making all things new. Under Pres...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Brent Beshore , Founder and CEO of Permanent Equity , joined by David Caines, Chief Operating Officer of Kenco Group , as they explore a distinct approach to investment and leadership built on long-term commitment, cultural alignment, and stewardship. Unlike traditional private equity models focused on short-term exits, Permanent Equity partners wi...

Leadership in times of disruption requires more than adopting new tools—it requires courage, discernment, and a commitment to people. Listen in to Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Greg Bagby , an experienced educational leader and advocate for thoughtful AI integration. Drawing on decades of work in education and instructional technology, Greg explores how leaders can navigate uncertai...

In this episode of Leaders in the Arena, hosted by Jenny Whitener, listen to a conversation with the co-founder of The 10 Project and leader with The Brock Center, Rodger Piersant, as he shares insights on leadership as service and civic stewardship. We will explore how leaders can lead with others-first principles, character, and long-term purpose in business and community life. Leaders in the Ar...

What does it mean to faithfully lead at the intersection of faith and work? In this episode of Leaders in the Arena, host Jenny Whitener sits down with Jonathan Ingraham, Executive Director of Faith Co-op, to discuss leadership, stewardship, and how Christian faith shapes our daily work—not as something separate, but as central to our calling. Whether you’re a student, professional, or organizatio...

In this episode of Leaders in the Arena, we sat down with Pat Rayner to explore leadership through a distinctly Christian lens—one rooted not in status or authority, but in calling, character, and responsibility. Pat shares his personal leadership journey, reflecting on the moments and mentors that shaped his approach to leading with humility and conviction. Together, we'll unpack the turning...

A special pre-Brock forum episode with Newt Crenshaw, president of Young Life. In this episode, Newt Crenshaw draws on decades of leadership experience across both corporate and ministry contexts, to examine the challenges and responsibilities of leading with integrity, humility, and courage in a rapidly changing world. He shares practical insights on authentic Christian leadership in practice, re...

At the heart of innovation and community growth lies a mindset: “Yes, And.” Rather than seeing constraints as limitations, “Yes, And” invites possibility, collaboration, and co-creation across sectors and perspectives. Under Bridgett Massengill’s direction, Thrive’s recent Tri-State Summit adopted “Yes, And” as its theme to unite business, civic, and community leaders toward shared progress. Thriv...

Healthcare marketing is undergoing a seismic shift, powered by AI and emerging digital technologies. From real-time personalization to predictive patient engagement, these tools are reshaping how providers connect with communities and build trust. In this episode of ⁠⁠Leaders in the Arena⁠⁠, hear from Danny Fell, Health Systems Practice Lead at Unlock Health, for a conversation on the practical wa...

In a world where design increasingly underpins competitive differentiation, innovation, and market relevance, how can leaders embed inclusive design in ventures so that business value, culture, and community impact move forward together? In this episode of ⁠⁠Leaders in the Arena⁠⁠, hear a compelling conversation with Dr. Tiffany Bussey, a visionary in advancing minority entrepreneurship and inclus...

How do you grow from an individual contributor to a confident owner and culture-builder? In this episode of ⁠⁠Leaders in the Arena⁠⁠, Caroline Lewis shares her path from Director of Operations to CEO/Owner at Lawson House, and the lessons she learned leading a creative services firm through growth, team development, and client impact. We’ll unpack the mindset shifts, operating rhythms, and people...

In today’s complex business environment, design is no longer just about aesthetics—it is a critical driver of value, innovation, and culture. In this episode of ⁠⁠Leaders in the Arena⁠⁠, join Strat Parrott, a thought leader in integrating design with business strategy to create distinctive solutions for clients. With a proven record of helping organizations bridge design and business, Strat offers...

In this episode of ⁠⁠ Leaders in the Arena ⁠⁠ , we’re joined by Charlie Ursell, Managing Director at Tidal Strategies. Charlie is a seasoned transformation leader with deep expertise in strategic collaboration, co-design, and unlocking group intelligence to drive innovation and lasting impact. This session focuses on one of the most timely and critical topics facing leaders today: how to harness g...

The most effective leaders inspire trust, navigate change with confidence, and equip their teams with the tools to succeed. The Future Ready Leadership Collection by Bridge Innovate offers four integrated tracks of leadership development—Leadership & Change, Innovation & Customer Experience, Teaming, and Strategy—this leadership accelerator approach combines Activate Skills sessions with a...

True transformation goes beyond launching new initiatives—it requires a culture that supports and sustains change. In this episode of ⁠⁠Leaders in the Arena⁠⁠, we’re joined by Kevin O’Meara, Executive Vice President, Supply Chain and Enterprise Strategy at Shaw Industries and a seasoned executive with deep experience leading complex, enterprise-wide change. Kevin shares insights from his work at S...

In today’s fast-paced business environment, leadership demands more than functional expertise—it requires a broad, cross-disciplinary perspective. In this episode of ⁠⁠Leaders in the Arena⁠⁠, hear from two retired senior executives from Unum—Tom White and Wendy Gibson—for a dynamic 30-minute conversation on how leadership development must evolve to meet today’s challenges. Tom and Wendy explore ho...