The New Generation Leader - Your Tools for Winning in the Digital World

Aaron Baker never got a memo saying his job had changed. Between co-chairing the rvatech/Data + AI Summit and fielding a steady stream of "who should we put on this?" requests at CapTech, he went from doing the work to handing it out, and part of him still wonders if that counts as cheating. The two Aarons get into how a network becomes influence, why a handoff takes more than one conversation, an...

Bryan Powell was inside Wells Fargo when the fraud broke, watching leaders point to a word painted across the cafeteria wall that turned out to mean nothing. Bryan and Aaron get into what actually happens inside a high-performing team that looks aligned on paper, why the qualitative side of leadership gets dismissed as fluff until it isn't, and how Bryan's own shift from a command-and-control "whi...

Adrianna Muñoz's conflict story starts on the floor of a supply closet, a few shifts off orientation in an inner city Chicago ER. A patient started yelling the moment she walked in. Adrianna ran, hid, and called her mentor in tears. The mentor sent her back in: "You need to go stick up for yourself." Ten years of intentional reps later, Adrianna is an ER nurse, keynote speaker, and founder of Ogde...

Coach Chilton hands Ted a dossier on every player on his first day. She never asked to build one. She did it anyway, because process and detail are how she leads. Ted is the opposite: relational, high energy, always chasing the story behind the stat. In this episode of Lasso Leadership, we walk through what's actually in Chilton's dossier, the line she says about her players that names one of the...

Leadership is built on consistency, presence, and the small actions you do when no one’s watching. Your true impact often lives in the details you repeat every day, not the grand gestures. You never find out what you did for someone else. There's no report, and the moments that end up mattering most to the people you lead are almost never the ones that felt important while you were in them. That g...

Phil Martelli Jr. just finished his first year as head men's basketball coach at VCU. The team won the Atlantic 10, made the NCAA tournament, and beat North Carolina along the way. His kids cut down two championship nets in two seasons, once at Bryant in the America East and once at VCU. He sat down to talk through what it actually takes to build a program at that pace. The conversation runs throu...

Will didn't set out to become Richmond's leading voice on artificial intelligence. A chance encounter during a Chamber RVA trip to DC, a conversation with Senator Mark Warner fresh off a meeting with Sam Altman, and a community ready for a catalyst moment changed everything. Will shares the origin story of AI Ready RVA and why he believes Richmond is at a turning point. From raking leaves as a kid...

Mack Garrison didn't plan to become an entrepreneur. He decided the day before launching Dash Studio. What started as a single CNN project with his co-worker turned into a nearly 10-year journey building one of the leading animation and motion design agencies in the Southeast. Mack shares how Dash Studio has thrived on a foundation of creativity and community. With 84% of their work coming through...

Cory Nichols knows something most leaders miss: the debt stacking up in your organization isn't just financial. As a financial advisor turned entrepreneur, Cory breaks down how avoidance — whether in finances or leadership — creates compounding problems that become harder to solve over time. In this conversation, Cory introduces the concept of "leadership debt" and shares his philosophy on getting...

What happens when you stop drifting in your learning—and start paying attention on purpose? In this year-end review episode of The New Generation Leader Podcast , Aaron reflects on one simple but transformative habit: tracking what he read in 2025. What started as a sobering realization — he only read 6 books in all of 2024! — turned into an unexpected journey through 61 books , spanning leadershi...

In a world where AI is rapidly automating everything from emails to artwork, what does it mean to stay fully human? In this rich and timely conversation, Micah Voraritskul unpacks the themes of his new book Human is the New Vinyl . From handwritten thank you notes to Blackwing pencils and vinyl records, this episode challenges leaders, creatives, and students to rethink their relationship with inn...

Hey friends, it's been a while. Last spring, our team decided to launch a company podcast, which we launched in June. We're eight episodes in with our ninth scheduled to release soon. Follow along at LeadersRisingNetwork.com/Podcast . When we launched the podcast, I honestly thought I would shut down the New Generation Leader podcast for a bit. But after the summer, I realized I had more guests I...

Sit down with Sophie Hudson for an extraordinary exploration of leadership, personal growth, and the power of human connection. Sophie is a "pure delight" - which sets the stage for an inspiring dialogue about leadership, relationships, and finding one's true potential. Sophie Hudson is an author, podcast host, and former educator, and she shares profound insights into modern leadership, challengi...

In this inspiring episode of the New Generation Leader podcast, we explore powerful leadership insights through the lens of March sports championships. Key takeaways include: 🏀 Leadership Lessons from Unexpected Moments: How the George Washington Women's Basketball team demonstrated resilience after a sudden coaching change The importance of team unity during organizational transitions Strategies...

The gymnastics program Danna Durante is building at UNC Chapel Hill is truly impressive. Danna and her daughter, Sami, who is also a coach on the staff, dive into how they coach a team of gymnasts through the ups and downs of a meet, a season, and prepare them for a life beyond the gym. It's a wide-ranging conversation with leadership lessons that any of us can apply, whether we're in the gym, in...

Anna and Dan lead one of the most impressive teams I have ever met. They lead with passion and from the heart, and their staff's dedication to their shared mission is evident. They are committed, and their drive to lead with both the head and the heart is unmatched. We regularly discuss their business challenges, the transitions their team experiences, and the hardships they overcome. Despite all...

Patricia Bradby Moore has leveraged her natural people skills to navigate a diverse career path. From the music industry to the tech world, Patricia shares her insights on the power of building meaningful connections in the digital age. Patricia has turned her gift for networking into a platform to guide others - from young professionals to corporate teams - to overcome networking anxiety and maxi...

In this captivating episode, Aaron sits down with Rachel Anderson, the visionary behind The Human Centric Leader, to uncover the transformative impact of prioritizing people over profits. Dive deep into Rachel's journey, exploring how her experiences shaped a revolutionary approach to leadership that delivers both business success and employee fulfillment. Discover the eye-opening statistics that...

Leadership expert Barry Labov shares game-changing insights from his new book "The Power of Differentiation." Dive into the transformative power of celebrating what makes you and your team uniquely remarkable. Uncover the secrets to winning hearts, minds, and market share by fostering a culture of vulnerability, authenticity, and mutual respect. Barry's hard-earned wisdom will inspire you to redef...

Dr. Ryan Hall shares his authentic approach to leadership and fundraising, emphasizing the importance of building genuine relationships, embracing change, and passionately investing in the development of student-athletes at Rice University. His insights inspire listeners to lead with purpose, adaptability, and a commitment to empowering those around them. ———————– ================= Lead Local  Pre...

Banks walk a delicate tightrope today: they need to be engaging to attract and retain customers across generations, but also maintain a fortress-like security to combat fraud. National Exchange Bank and Trust cracked the code on increasing engagement, building a strong customer base, and keeping customers' wallets safe. Tammy Pitts and Tami Christian of National Exchange Bank and Trust join Dr. To...

Jeff is an incredible dad, a great guy to coach basketball with, and now a published author. He's wrapped up a successful Kickstarter campaign for his new book, A Buffalo Out of Water . And now it's time to share the story with the world. After Jeff and his wife, Whitney became the proud parents of two great kids, a rare genetic syndrome led them to continue building their family through adoption....

Navigating change is not a choice; it's all around us. Chris Barras joins the show to discuss transformation at both personal and community levels as we experience change. Chris' experiences in Richmond come from observing transformation over the past 18 years. Watching communities change has given Chris a peak into leading change in corporate settings. Chris covers finding purpose and meaning in...

Dr. Danny Avula shares his inspiring leadership journey from his roots as an immigrant child from India to top roles in public health and social services in Virginia. Danny dives into how experiences like moving to an underserved community influenced his approach to serving communities. Avula also reflects on key lessons like listening to lived experiences and adapting to technology. Listen in for...

Dive into Greg Burton's journey in sports leadership, revealing key traits of effective leaders and the impact of VCU's Center for Sports Leadership. Why it matters : Burton's insights offer a unique perspective on leadership, emphasizing authenticity, resilience, and the power of empowering others, alongside the success of VCU's program in shaping future leaders. The big picture : Through memorab...