S4:60 (AI RECAP)🎙️ LIVE with LTG Gwen Bingham, USA (Ret.) (Multi Tracks Audio)

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Welcome to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If you need to develop into a better leader, this podcast is for you. If you want to achieve a greater level of success, this podcast is for you. His mentor, Dr. John C. Maxwell, said it best: everything rises and falls on leadership. We hope to inspire you today and provide you with an insight that has the potential to positively impact the trajectory of your life. Welcome to the Leadership and Success Podcast.

Imagine gaining the leadership skills that could redefine your career. Join Coach BZ on the Leadership and Success Podcast, where each episode delivers practical insights from world-class speakers, military leaders, and industry experts. We dive deep into what matters most: building resilient teams, leading through uncertainty, and navigating complexity with clarity and confidence. Every conversation is crafted for aspiring leaders like you who are ready to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact. Don't miss our powerful live sessions and recent highlights. Michelle Hayward on building diverse, high-performing technical teams. Anne Leslie on leading through global complexity and cybersecurity risk. Ron Carpenter, AI, exploring faith, resilience, and AI-powered leadership. Colonel Michelle G.I. Gardner-Ince on commanding influence from the battlefield to the boardroom. Chris Robinson on shifting from drift to drive in life and leadership. And Coach Enrique Acosta Gonzalez on mentorship, legacy, and heart-centered leadership. Ready to level up your leadership journey? Tune in on Spotify, Apple, Audible Podcasts, YouTube Live, and LinkedIn Live. Join the movement toward leadership excellence. Listen now and start transforming your success.

Hello everyone, this is Coach Bizy coming to you from the San Francisco Bay Area. We're going to start with our moment of gratitude. This is where I ask you to close your eyes for less than a minute and put yourself in a happy place and think about some things that you are grateful for. What are you grateful for today? And for me, I am so grateful that I'm able to see another day today, Sunday. I'm able to see another day, August 24th, 2025. I'm still here, I'm still breathing, and what a wonderful day this is going to be. All right, please type in the comment whatever you were grateful for. Please share with the community. And also, if you believe somebody in your network might benefit from this podcast, go ahead and tag them. I appreciate that. And also let us know where you are coming from. Okay. Where are you joining us from? What city? What state? And if you are outside of the USA, what country? And while you listen to the 10-minute recap of the conversation that General Gwen Bidham had with Lakisha Gunter on her Raw Podcast, please go ahead and type in your insight as you hear it. Think about one thing that you're going to be able to put into practice this week. Okay, which leadership insight are you going to put in practice this week? All right, that's it. Let me play a quick teaser from the podcast that Lakeisha Gunter created. And then after that, you're going to hear a 10-minute breakdown of the hour-long conversation. And please make sure to listen to the full podcast. All right.

I think it's really important, Lakeisha. One, from the subtle racism, racist remark from the professor, I learned what the sting of racism felt like and how I would never let anybody under my charge be made to feel as if they were inferior and could not achieve. With the commanding officer who told me, "I can just about assure you, you'll never ever be a battalion commander," I learned not to play God with people's lives and careers. Who am I to say what somebody can and cannot do or can or cannot become? Because the way I see it, if you can conceive it, believe it, work hard, If you persevere, you can achieve all that which you dare to dream. And so those two instances combined really made me the leader that I am and took forth into my more senior years because I wanted to make sure, one, that people felt welcome and included in the commands that I held, in the units and organizations that I ran and was responsible for. And two, I believe in treating everybody with dignity and respect because I believe that everyone should and can contribute to the team.

Welcome to our conversation on resilient leadership, where we dive into, um, the powerful lessons from Lieutenant General Gwen Bingham and how her journey inspires both military and tech leaders.

I'm really excited about this discussion. There's so much depth in her story, from family foundations to making hard decisions, right?

Absolutely. What really strikes me is her early life, the way she credits her upbringing in Troy, Alabama, and Texas, where values of family and faith built the core of her leadership. Yeah, it's like, um, her mother instilled the Golden Rule, and her father, dubbed the Old Sarge, showed her the power of connecting with people.

Yep, that idea of the people gene is so interesting, isn't it? It really sets the stage for how she later influenced every aspect of her leadership style.

Exactly. And then there's her approach, you know, to failures. Remember when she talked about facing adversity? Like that professor's remark about people like her not doing well in education, or the general officer doubting her command potential. Um, instead of letting it break her, she turned those setbacks into, uh, fuel for growth.

Mm-hmm. And that's where her resilient mindset shines. Rather than playing the victim, she uses those moments as stepping stones. It's inspiring how she, um, transforms criticism into personal growth, don't you think?

Definitely. It's almost like she's saying, "I learned never to let anyone undermine my charge." It's a reminder that failures aren't anchors; they can actually be energy to propel you forward.

Mm, but I sometimes wonder if that perspective risks downplaying valid feedback. I mean, isn't it important to, uh, critically assess where we went wrong rather than just turning it into fuel?

That's a really good point. While her approach is, uh, energizing and empowering, it's also crucial to balance that with humility, correcting our mistakes without deflecting accountability.

Right.

Well said. Shifting gears a little, the concept of servant leadership in her story really caught my attention, especially how she walked the floor, greeted her teams, and even shared her direct cell number.

Indeed, that's such a tangible demonstration of people-first leadership. It's like she built a culture where trust was the currency. I mean, imagine having a leader who's so accessible that even a misstep can be addressed immediately. Almost like watering the delicate flowers of relationships.

Yeah, right. And that makes a significant difference both in military settings and in, say, tech startups. It's that open-door policy that transforms compliance into commitment.

Exactly. And speaking of commitment, Her message about competence and confidence really resonates. She stressed that every start, whether a new team or a new mission, requires building competence from scratch and maintaining that poised confidence.

Mm-hmm, and that's a powerful reminder for anyone in transition. Whether you're stepping into a tech role or a new military command, preparation builds competence and in turn fosters confidence.

Right. It's almost like, um, if you don't have all the answers, just owning that gap with honesty builds respect. You have to be willing to say, "I don't know," which in many fields, especially tech, is crucial for learning agility.

Yep. And that idea transitions perfectly into her bold decision-making moments. Her story about, um, reassigning senior leaders who didn't quite fit the mission really illustrates that sometimes tough decisions are necessary.

Absolutely. Picture this: after a 90-day assessment, she reallocated 5 senior civilians, each a square peg in a round hole. That takes guts. In any leadership role, disruptive changes often are the, uh, the catalyst for long-term success.

I gotta say, I admire that boldness, but sometimes I'm curious about the balance between being decisive and managing the personal impact on people. Do you think such actions might risk alienating loyal team members?

That's a valid challenge. It's a delicate balance. While, um, decisiveness is crucial, ensuring transparent communication and offering support during transitions helps mitigate fallout. It's not just about shaking up the status quo; it's about guided transformation.

Exactly. And that naturally brings us to the power of relationships, which she likens to watering flowers. Nurturing mentors, allies, and advocates clearly had a huge impact on her trajectory.

Yeah, her metaphor is so vivid. Relationships, when cared for, blossom into long-standing bonds that not only support our growth but also amplify our leadership influence. It's about, you know, never just reaching out when you need something but really consistently investing in those connections.

Absolutely. And that lesson holds true across different fields. In the military, the bond with shipmates can be life-saving. And in tech, networks often open doors to opportunities.

Yup. And another really compelling part of her journey is, um, the emphasis on representation, being one of the few women to reach a 3-star rank, and her blueprint for underrepresented leaders.

Right. This is so crucial. It's not just about breaking barriers, but also showing others that they can follow a similar path. Her advice, like, "Before you open your mouth, people will see you," really instills a sense of professionalism and self-respect.

For sure. It's a call out to build your craft, maintain authenticity, and let others see your true potential. That message is vital for both women and minority leaders in traditionally male-dominated fields, like the military or tech.

Absolutely. And it's refreshing to see her reinforcing the idea that leadership isn't solely about titles. Even beyond the uniform, she remains engaged with nonprofits, corporate boards, and mentorship.

Yeah, she perfectly encapsulates that leadership is, um, not defined by rank. The legacy you build is in the difference you make, whether you're on the battlefield or in the boardroom.

Mm-hmm. It's like she's saying your service doesn't end when you retire. Instead, it morphs into a lifelong commitment to uplift others.

Exactly. And I love how she positions resilience not as a natural innate trait, but as a choice. Every setback is an opportunity, and every relationship becomes a chance to water the flowers in your network.

Yup. And that resonates in an era where constant change, both in tech and military operations, demands us to adapt and lead with authenticity. How do you see these lessons applying today in our fast-paced world?

Well, in our current landscape, whether you're dealing with cybersecurity challenges or innovative tech deployments, grounding decisions in servant leadership and authenticity is key. It's like, um, ensuring that every strategic move is made with both competence and compassion.

Yes, and that brings in another aspect, the balance between decisions made on data and intuition. Her coaching notes remind us that if you don't know something, say so and then learn. That honesty builds trust, which is, after all, the currency we've been talking about.

Right. Also, her discussion on continuous learning is spot on. Every new role, every new challenge forces you to, uh, hit the reset button and rebuild your competence. Confidence, then, Naturally follows if you are honest about your current state, and that's refreshing in any leadership context.

Absolutely. I mean, think about it. Technology cycles move nearly as fast as military operations. Leaders need to be agile, adaptable, and above all, committed to lifelong learning.

Exactly. And that brings us to the hope for the next generation, a truly uplifting pillar of her conversation. She believes our youth are, um, watching and worthy of our mentorship. It's about investing in people rather than just in tasks or technologies.

Mm-hmm.

That's an important reminder. We must remember that every interaction, every mentoring opportunity helps mold future leaders who will then carry forward these values.

And in that sense, her legacy is not just the position she occupied but the impact she has had on individuals over decades. It's a blueprint for, um, making leadership about service and impact rather than just personal advancement.

Totally. It also reaffirms for me that resilient leadership is an evolving, lifelong journey, challenging yet deeply rewarding.

Absolutely. So, whether it's adopting family values as a foundation, turning adversity into growth opportunities, or making bold, sometimes tough decisions, Gwen Bingham's insights offer a timeless guide for any leader striving to create meaningful change.

Yep, I agree. Her ethos of servant leadership combined with relentless resilience really offers both inspiration and practical advice for leaders in any field. It's, um, a call to lead with both heart and mind.

Indeed. And as we wrap up, it's fair to say that while her journey is extraordinary, The core lessons can be adapted to any environment—military, tech, or beyond. It's all about making a, a positive difference and lifting others as you rise.

Right on. Absolutely. And I think every aspiring leader should take a moment to reflect on which of her lessons resonates the most with their own journey. Maybe it's the value of relationships, honest leadership, or the courage to make hard decisions.

For sure. It's like she challenges us to be brave in our vulnerability, to own our setbacks and use them as stepping stones towards greater impact.

And that's a powerful call to action for our listeners. So maybe as you look at your own leadership path, consider who are you watering today and how are you preparing yourself for tomorrow's challenges?

Exactly. As we close, Remember that loyalty, service, and authenticity are not just buzzwords; they're the core of resilient leadership that inspires lasting legacies.

Well said. Thanks for such an engaging discussion on these timeless lessons. I'm sure many will leave inspired to lead with heart, honesty, and relentless resilience.

Thanks for joining in. Until next time, keep nurturing those relationships and making your mark as a leader.

All right everybody, this is Coach Bizy. I am back and thank you so much for watching today. So that's going to do it for our discussion today and I will encourage you guys to please go to the article related to this podcast. It is in the notes and, uh, read the entire article, listen to the full podcast. Actually, why don't I just share my screen and show you? So you will see this article, The Power of Resilient Leadership: Lessons from Lieutenant General Grant Binham for Inspiring Military and Tech Leaders. And you can read all of that, and towards the bottom I have all kinds of links to where you will find the full podcast with Lakisha Gunter. It's on Apple Podcast, on Acast. You will find it on Spotify and Amazon Audible as well. And I also have a link to one of my articles, which I will be turning into a book soon, The Ten Commandments of Resilient Leadership. When I see high-ranking African-American Officers, male or female, it really takes me back to the resilience, the grit, right, of what African Americans have endured in this country since 1619, right, when the first African slaves were brought into this country, Port Comfort in Virginia, which later became the United States of America. But Anyway, I think more than ever before, we need to develop those leadership skills and be resilient. And one of the things I talk about here, I believe, is the Sixth Commandment when I talk about embracing the impossible, right? And build antifragile cultures. I think that is so important in 2025 and in the area we live in today. That's another article I think you should read and it might encourage you just know how to build that mental toughness, you know, say don't take no for an answer and still be willing to serve with an open hand and help And even when you are being persecuted, mistreated, or discriminated against because of your race, your accent, your gender, your sexual orientation, but you still want to come back and add value to your country and to your neighbors. So I think that is something to think about. But anyway, thanks so much for being with me today, and let me Also remind you— hold on, actually let me do it this way. All right, let me also remind everyone here that— just a second. All right, so I am also going to remind everyone to please sign up for Darren Daily. Darren Hardy, my mentor, he has this Darren Daily where every morning around 5:30 Pacific time, he sends you an email with a short video, 3 to 5 minutes, and just to kind of get you started on your day. It's going to inspire you and remind you of a leadership principle. Darren Hardy has been mentoring me for about 20 years now. He was the publisher of Success Magazine where he really met the top leaders around the world across industry and also the bestselling author of The Compound Effect. But anyway, if you would go to bit.ly/DarrenDailyBiz and sign up, it is completely free and you're going to be receiving an email every day from Darren Hardy, my mentor, and he's going to be mentoring you every day. And if you listen to what he says and put it in practice every single day, I believe your life will be better than it was prior to this mentorship. So I encourage you guys to do that. So now I'm going to check and see if there are any questions on LinkedIn or YouTube. Let me see. I don't see anything on LinkedIn. Let me check YouTube. Yeah, nothing on YouTube either. Okay, this is it. And I'm going to be back here tomorrow. Tomorrow I will have an interview with a colonel. And, um, I want for you guys, uh, to be here. It's going to be live on LinkedIn and YouTube. It's going to be with Colonel Fred Stein. He's a retired, uh, colonel, uh, US Army. So that is going, going to be, uh, right here on the, uh, Leadership and Success, um, podcast. I believe, um, we are going to be meeting, uh, tomorrow at, uh, 10 AM Pacific time, okay, 10 AM Pacific time, uh, tomorrow, so 1 PM Eastern time. I hope to see you there. All right, uh, thanks again, uh, uh, for, um, being here with, with me. Again, uh, like the post, uh, subscribe to the, uh, podcast, follow me, and, uh, repost this, uh, episode into your feed to increase the reach and also tag people you think might benefit from what you are learning here on the Leadership and Success Podcast. All right, until tomorrow, this is Coach Bizzy saying goodbye. Bye everybody, this is Coach Bizzy. Thanks for watching. Until next time, don't forget to like, comment, and share.

Thank you for listening to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach Beezy. If you like what you heard, please subscribe to our channels and come back for more wisdom nuggets on how you may develop into a better leader and achieve greater levels of success. Leadership is the most critical skill. The world will always need leaders to lead others, deploy the next disruptive technology, or execute a business strategy. You may as well decide on counting yourself among the 21st century leaders. See you right here next time on the Leadership and Success Podcast with Coach BZ.