Unapologetic Leadership

What are you building today that will still matter after you are gone? For Colby Boone, that question became very real when he inherited part of 50 acres of family land in North Carolina. What began as a responsibility to care for a piece of property quickly became something much bigger. Colby discovered more than 100 family members buried on the land. He began digging into deeds, family history,...

You can grow the business, hit the numbers, build the team, and still wonder: Is this actually making my life better? For founders and business owners, it is easy to spend so much time optimizing for revenue, efficiency, productivity, and growth that you forget to ask what you are really building toward. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with entrepreneur and sales...

What do you do when the way things have always been done is no longer working?  For business owners and leaders, that question can show up everywhere. A process keeps breaking down. People are frustrated. Responsibility is unclear. You know something needs to change, but changing it may create resistance, uncomfortable conversations, or even more pressure on you. In this episode of Unapologetic Le...

As AI and technology change how we work, communicate, and build businesses, something surprisingly human may become even more valuable: Real connection. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Amanda Collett, CEO of Conference Badge, for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, relationships, burnout, ambition, and what it really means to build a su...

The Truth About Federal Contracts, Readiness, Faith, with Dr. Lori Smith Winning a federal contract can change your business. But what happens when you finally win the opportunity you have been chasing... and discover your business was not actually ready for it? The pressure rises. Cash flow gets tighter. Deadlines become unforgiving. And the weaknesses you could work around when the business was...

Running a business puts your reputation on the line every day. A difficult customer. A prospect who says no. Someone who doesn’t communicate clearly. A deal you desperately want to close. A relationship that may or may not ever lead to business. In those moments, it can be tempting to focus on the transaction. But people remember how you made them feel long after they forget what you sold them. In...

What if the solution to one of our biggest problems is already sitting inside the mind of a student who has never been asked what they think? In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Karen N. Marshall, CEO of Innovative STEM Solutions, to explore why authentic STEM education is about far more than science. It’s about teaching students how to think critically, ask bett...

What happens when life knocks you all the way to the bottom? For Efren Barriga, becoming a felon, filing for bankruptcy, and watching doors close could have defined the rest of his life. Instead, he decided there was only one direction left to go: up. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Efren to unpack his remarkable journey from rock bottom to SpaceX, where he g...

In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Southwest Florida real estate professional Cristine Ernsdorff to discuss integrity, transparency, trust, and the non-negotiable values that guide how she leads and serves her clients. Cristine explains why pressure doesn’t have to change your standards. By deciding in advance how you will conduct yourself, you can avoid sacrifi...

AI can transform your sales team, but adding more tools doesn’t automatically create better results. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with sales strategist Monika Owczarek to discuss building consistent, AI powered revenue systems that actually work. Monika shares how leaders can identify gaps in their sales process, learn from top performers, and use AI and automa...

Why do talented leaders sometimes get stuck while others continue moving up? In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cori Dunham sits down with customer success leadership consultant Beverly Hathorn to uncover what it really takes to gain visibility, increase your impact, and prepare yourself for the next level. Beverly shares why simply doing your job well isn’t always enough to advance. If y...

What happens when doing the right thing could cost you professionally? In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Doug Sandridge, Senior Vice President at Fulcrum Energy Capital Funds, for a powerful conversation about integrity, lifelong learning, authentic leadership, family, energy, and the decisions that ultimately define your legacy. One of Doug’s most important le...

What if leadership has nothing to do with age and everything to do with the courage to take action? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Arya Upadhyay, a 16-year-old researcher, inventor, founder, and electrical and computer engineering student whose work is already making an impact on some of the world's biggest challenges. A high school graduate a...

What if your greatest competitive advantage isn't your talent... but your discipline? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Victor Bergonzoli, Co-Founder and CEO of SportsEdTV, to discuss the principles that create lasting success in business, leadership, health, and life. From building one of the world's leading free sports education platforms...

Can your Christian faith become your greatest competitive advantage in business? In this thought-provoking episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham welcomes entrepreneur, innovation consultant, and POSE Fitness Founder Andrew Grove for an inspiring conversation about integrating faith, family, entrepreneurship, and innovation in a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence. To...

What does it really mean to lead with integrity when dishonesty, distraction, and short-term thinking seem to dominate today's world? In this thought-provoking episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with entrepreneur, professor, author, and business consultant Melih (Mel) Arat to explore why ethical leadership isn't just a moral choice, it's a competitive advantag...

What would it take for you to walk away from a successful six-figure career and trust that God has something even greater waiting on the other side? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Dr. Melissa Hill, former federal chemist, CEO, transition coach, and founder of CREME Consultants, to explore what it really means to leave comfort behind and pursue your...

What separates great leaders from those who simply manage people? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with legendary coach, keynote speaker, and bestselling author Jim Johnson to explore the leadership principles that create extraordinary teams, lasting influence, and unforgettable moments. Jim shares the remarkable story behind one of the most inspirational...

What if the greatest leaders aren't the loudest in the room, but the ones courageous enough to serve others with faith, empathy, and purpose? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham welcomes Dr. Valencia Hicks-Harris, affectionately known as Dr. V, Founder and CEO of Empower All Inc., educator, researcher, speaker, and nonprofit leader, for a powerful conversation ab...

What separates leaders who build extraordinary companies from those who never move beyond a great idea? In this thought-provoking episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Boris A. Zhukov, applied economist, TEDx speaker, CEO of LetYouKnow, inventor, and former Assistant Professor at Ball State University, to explore the mindset required to innovate, lead through uncertainty,...

What do wealth management, leadership, and rugby have in common? More than you might think. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Russ Lazaruk, Managing Director at NCP Capital Partners, to explore why the strongest portfolios and the strongest organizations are both built on trust, empathy, and meaningful relationships. With more than 35 years of experience in wea...

What if the greatest measure of success isn't the company you build, but the life you create? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Robert Imbeault, Founder and CEO of Backboard.io, serial entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, and former co-founder of Canadian SaaS unicorn Assent Compliance, to explore what happens when you redefine success bey...

Will AI replace great leaders? Not if leadership remains human. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Abbas Alimorad, executive leader, board member, AI and strategy advisor, and project management expert, to explore why the future of leadership isn't about choosing between technology and people. It's about mastering both. Drawing from more than 20 years...

What's the secret to building high-performing teams that deliver results without burning people out? In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Jill Trotta, Managing Director of One Guard Inspections, a Repairify company, to explore what it really means to lead people instead of simply managing numbers. With more than 30 years in the automotive and mobility industr...

In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Dr. Kimberly Terry, consultant, nonprofit leader, and humanitarian, to discuss what it means to lead with compassion, humility, and faith. Dr. Terry shares her journey from corporate America to building a mission-driven consulting business and nonprofit organization serving women and children in Sierra Leone. Together...