The Leadership Foundry Podcast

In this episode, co-founders Brandon Smith and Randy Hain share six key trends they're seeing across organizations, leadership teams, and in their executive coaching engagements—and, more importantly, what leaders can do about them. From the growing influence of AI and its impact on critical thinking, talent development, and Gen Z entering the workforce, to the increasing importance of cultivating...

What does it really look like to lead the next generation well? In this episode of The Leadership Foundry Podcast, co-host Brandon Smith sits down with Scott Doyne, author of 𝘕𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘴: 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 , to unpack the realities facing young professionals today. From the pressures of comparison fueled by social media to the uncertainty of navigating early...

Brandon and Randy are back with a new podcast conversation to celebrate the release of Randy's new book, 𝘈 𝘋𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦. Together, they unpack how rethinking leadership, business relationships, and time management can help you move from simply surviving to truly thriving—both professionally and personally. Through shared insights, real-...

"The power dynamic has changed. People choose to follow leaders." Today's leaders aren't followed because they sit at the top of an org chart — they're followed because they've earned credibility, trust and influence. What will you do with the influence you've been given? In today's Refocus episode of The Leadership Foundry Podcast, our guest Shane Jackson challenges leaders with this question and...

Your job as a leader is to hold your team accountable. But how you do this determines everything. Get it right, and you build a culture grounded in trust.
Get it wrong, and you risk losing the team altogether. In this Refocus edition of The Leadership Foundry Podcast, Brandon and Randy explore the tension between radical acceptance and accountability — and how to strike the right balance. 

In a fluid environment, leadership flexibility comes from a greater willingness to get uncomfortable. In this Refocus Edition of The Leadership Foundry Podcast, Kevin Eikenberry challenges a common assumption: flexibility isn't about reacting faster, it's about letting go of what feels familiar. The leaders who adapt best are those most willing to stretch, listen, and adjust. Staying effective in...

"Respect the risk taken by those who advocate for you." Nurturing career advocates requires trust, credibility, and a track record of consistency. This Refocus episode of The Leadership Foundry Podcast with co-hosts Randy and Brandon is an invitation to step back and ask: Have I done the work to earn the right to be advocated for? If you're thinking about your next move—or wondering why doors aren...

What will 2026 demand from leaders? On today's podcast, Brandon and Randy break down their biggest predictions for the year ahead—and the shifts every leader should be preparing for now. They cover: AI, managing budgets and cutting costs, acquisitions, self-care, personal branding and leading with integrity. If you want a clear view of what's coming, with practical guidance for navigating disrupti...

As we enter the holiday season full swing, we're bringing back this listener favorite featuring Frank Blake, former chairman and CEO of The Home Depot. In this episode, Frank breaks down the servant-leadership principle that still shapes some of the most respected cultures in the world. Watch the full podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xGlt6svZ6M&t

With four in five managers reporting difficulty leading Gen Z employees, the question isn't why —it's how . How can leaders close the gap and foster authentic engagement and communication across generations? We're excited to welcome back friend of the show and best-selling author, Tim Elmore, as he shares practical guidance from his new book, The Future Begins with Z: Nine Strategies to Lead Gener...

With any equation, remove a key element, and the outcome changes — often not in the way you want. On today's Leadership Foundry Podcast, Brandon Smith and Randy Hain dive into the pitfalls teams face when the balance between compassion, empathy, and accountability is off — and why leaders must be actively involved, engaging and conversing with their teams, so everyone feels connected, supported, a...

The world feels tense right now — from politics to rapid changes in technology. But what about your workplace? Without a strong, intentional culture, external chaos can spill inside, turning your organization into yet another source of stress. When you invest in a healthy workplace culture, you create stability, trust, and countless benefits that help your team stay grounded, connected, and ready...

Many workplace challenges stem from unspoken assumptions. Through our coaching conversations, we often see questions like: What really makes someone a high performer? What's the right way to operate as a team? Categories of assumptions include those around the way we work, our communication style, people and their roles. On today's Leadership Foundry Podcast, Brandon and Randy are back on the mics...

Time is our most finite resource, and in today's fast-paced world, everything feels urgent. As leaders, the real challenge isn't just managing our schedules—it's protecting and preserving our time so we can focus on what truly drives impact, both in the office and at home. To help us achieve this goal, Brandon and Randy share their top five best practices to reclaim your time. 

"The best leaders have incredible self-belief without self-absorption." The key to this balance is self-awareness. Les Csorba, author of the newly released book, 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 : 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 , joins Brandon Smith on today's Leadership Foundry Podcast to share his findings in detail, highlighting how self-awareness has become a crisis with many leaders believing they are more self-a...

There's a lot to gain from being in the office—especially when it comes to finding and nurturing career advocates. But what makes someone a great advocate, and why does it matter so much? Brandon and Randy return to the mics to unpack these insights and more. 

We're excited to have returning guest, Jennifer Kahnweiler , back on the show today to share about the updated Third Edition of her book, The Introverted Leader . She and Brandon discuss how introverts can stand out and harness their unique strengths as leaders—along with tips for non-introverts to recognize and support those same qualities, maximizing impact across the organization.

Are you bringing enough positivity to work? Consider giving feedback at a ratio of five positive to every one negative (5 to 1).

Co-host, Brandon Smith, is joined by returning guest Shane Jackson—a seasoned executive, trusted voice in leadership, and author of the brand-new book,  This is The Thing . In this episode, Shane breaks down what so many leaders tend to overcomplicate: purpose. He challenges us to stop chasing vague ideals and instead focus on uncovering our unique gifts, talents, and strengths—so we can show up w...

If you are not spending time to intentionally connect with your colleagues to strengthen trust and alignment, this is a must! Here's your Leadership Intention for the week: Challenge yourself to reach out to one of your peers and schedule some one-on-one time to learn more about them, their team and how you can better collaborate. Pro Tip: Consider inviting them to coffee or lunch "off campus" to...

When everything is urgent, nothing is urgent. For this week's "Leadership Intention" - what are the three priorities you need to communicate to your team on Monday?

In a fluid environment, how do we remain flexible leaders? Kevin Eikenberry returns to share insights from his new book, Flexible Leadership . Listen in as he and co-host Brandon Smith discuss critical thinking, engaging in better one-on-one conversations, regular examination of our leadership style, and more.

Who can you intentionally recognize and celebrate? Here's your "Leadership Intention for the Week" (with a bonus tip on how to make sure this actually gets done)!

Brandon tackles a leadership challenge he continues to encounter in various organizations: striking the balance between compassion and accountability. He explores how leaders can offer grace and empathy without losing sight of performance, standards, and the mission at hand.

It's time for our first "Leadership Intention for the Week!" Your mission, if you choose to accept it: be intentional to set (or maintain) a boundary this week.