S4E115AI RECAP🎙️with Coach Bobby “Raehan” Umar

¡Hola!

Hi, I'm John Maxwell. When the top companies in the world are looking for trainers, speakers, and coaches, there's one name that stands above the rest, and that's Maxwell Leadership. Our certified team members have gotten proven results for companies all over the globe, and our reputation, I'm proud to say, is second to none. Some of our members have risen to the top of their profession, including the one you're going to meet today. I proudly introduce you to my friend, Bob Fabien Zinga.

Welcome to the Leadership Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ, where we help you lead with purpose and succeed with impact. If you're ready to grow into the kind of leader others want to follow, this podcast is for you. If you're determined to elevate your success and leave a lasting legacy, this podcast is for you. As my mentor, Dr. John C. Maxwell reminds us, everything rises and falls on leadership. Our goal is simple: to inspire you, challenge you, and equip you with insights that can transform the trajectory of your leadership journey. Welcome aboard to another episode of the Leadership and Success Podcast with Coach BZ.

And also, with your background, you, you mentioned earlier you've got an MBA in market Marketing and Entrepreneurship, I believe, from McGill University, right? So you do teach personal brand like, like you just say. So you teach that personal brand is a promise. What are the essential components of a strong personal brand, and where do most leaders start wrong, in your opinion?

Yeah, I think that, you know, the, the personal brand piece is the promise. What, what do you promise to deliver to people, uh, so that they can always get that from you? So, you know, for me, when I promise heart. I promise humor. I promise accessibility. I promise— one of my well-known brands is responsiveness. When people email me or message me on LinkedIn or text me, I respond very quickly. They're like, "Oh, okay, there's Bob. He'll respond right away." So, I'm usually pretty good at that. And so, that's part of my brand. That promise that people can expect from me. For me, that's a big part of it. Now, I think that in terms of, you know, and why is that important? Well, if you know what your brand is—

Now, you mentioned Diversity earlier. So I know you are a proud South Asian leader, Ifeavor, and you mentioned your children and advocate for diversity. What cultural leadership lessons have shaped you most?

Well, I think one of the things that has been helpful for me, and this is kind of what I talked about in my fourth TEDx Talk, which is the more diverse our experiences are, the more likely and diverse our mind and our mindset is. So you see a lot of people who lack diversity because they've only known that one group of people they've hung out with. But as soon as they leave their country or they travel somewhere or immerse themselves in another culture, they become more open to experiences. So I think for me, like, the thing that helped me the most to become more diverse and inclusive was experiencing all the different things. I grew up in a small town and I was pretty naive and innocent back then, but as soon as I went to a big city for my university college experience, I started to see other people and how they lived and what they saw. And I ate my first bagel and I was like, wow, bagel, this is cool. I just started learning different things about different types of foods. And so I think that to me, the biggest aspect to building diversity is diversity of experience. Go out there and have as many diverse experiences as you have, you can.

Wow, that is really a masterclass in emotional intelligence. I think this is worth the price of admission right there. Thank you so much for sharing that. So last question I'm going to ask in this this first segment before we move over to the second segment where I mainly focus on leadership is, uh, how do we— actually, first, a quote from, from Oprah, Oprah Winfrey. She's interviewed thousands and thousands of people on, on her show, you know, from president of countries, kings, and all the way to just the common guy. But she said that, uh, something that touched me, she said even when she speaks to people who are really incredible people like Barack Obama or Nelson Mandela, she's talked to them. At the end of the show, all of them, they come back and they say, how did I do? Was I okay?

Right.

So everybody wants like a sense of validation, no matter who they are, no matter how much money they have, no matter how popular they are. It's almost like this essential human need. So I guess my question for you is, how do we build workplaces where people feel seen, they feel heard, they feel safe, and they feel valued?

Well, part of it starts from the culture. I mean, building a culture, particularly though from leadership that trickles down. If the leader makes himself accessible, is willing to express vulnerability, to show they're human, and create spaces where people can share their ideas and thoughts without a fear of being rejected or a fear of failure, then that to me is an important piece. The second thing is creating strong communication channels with the team members so they feel open to talking about the things they need to without being prejudged. And then ultimately having a safe space for those who don't feel comfortable talking in public. Is there someone they can talk to, whether it's your boss or—

You ever get that feeling that you're just going through the motions as a leader? Well, today we're going to break down a way to lead that's less about just giving orders and way more about making real connections. This is all based on the incredible insights from leadership coach Bobby Umar. So let's jump right in. So Bobby Umar kicks things off with this quote that, wow, it really hits home for a lot of us. Right? It's that feeling of being adrift, like you've got the title, maybe you've got the office, but you're missing that spark, that why. And honestly, it's kind of a quiet crisis happening in offices and boardrooms all over the place. So does that sound familiar at all? That whole lost, stuck, unfulfilled thing? Because, you know, the first step to actually finding a new path is being honest enough to say, hey, maybe I'm on the wrong one right now. Okay, so the big question is, how do you actually make that change? Well, what's great about Bobby's story is that he's not some guru who just had it all figured out from the get-go. Nope. His story is about someone who went through this exact same journey himself. I mean, look at this path—it was anything but a straight line. We're talking about going from being an aerospace engineer—literally rocket science—to a theater producer. Then a corporate marketer for huge brands like Dove, and now a world-renowned leadership coach. This isn't just some fun trivia, you guys. This wild background is exactly what makes him so relatable. And this quote, this really gets to the heart of that internal struggle. Even with all that incredible, diverse experience, he said he felt like a jack of all trades, master of none. He just felt lost over and over. But here's the thing. That feeling wasn't a failure. It was actually the fuel that pushed him to search for something deeper, something more real. So what was the turning point? It wasn't about jumping to another new career. The answer was actually to look inward. Instead of always chasing the next what, the next job, the next title, he stopped and really focused on his why. He took the time to figure out his core purpose, his non-negotiables. And this is the key takeaway from his story. Right here. Simply put, you can't lead anyone else effectively if you don't even know who you are and what you stand for. It's the absolute foundation for everything else. Because when you're clear on your own direction, your team can finally feel confident following you. Alright, so once you have that clarity, what's next? Well, after Bobby found his, he stumbled upon this incredibly powerful tool—one that, honestly, a lot of leaders are afraid of. But it's the key that unlocks a whole new level of influence. And that tool is vulnerability. He tells this amazing story. He's at a live event, up on stage, and he decides to share the real stuff. About his dark days, about feeling totally directionless after college. And what happened? Not judgment, not awkward silence, a standing ovation. People connected with the real person, not just some polished speaker. This really boils it down to two different ways of leading, doesn't it? On one hand, you've got the performer—always polished, trying to be perfect, but also kinda distant. And on the other, the teacher, who is real, honest, and all about connecting. And at the end of the day, people don't remember the perfect performance; they remember what felt real. And look, this isn't just some fluffy, feel-good idea. It has a direct, practical payoff. It's like a chain reaction: vulnerability builds trust, trust builds influence. Influence builds strong teams, and those teams, they're the ones that accomplish the mission. When you, as a leader, show it's okay to be human, you create a safe space for your team to be human too, and that is where real trust is born. Okay, this all leads us to another huge concept: your personal brand. And hang on, before you think about logos and taglines, that's not what we're talking about here. For a leader, your brand is something way, way deeper. So what is it? Your personal brand is your promise, simple as that. It's what people can count on from you day in and day out. It's the promise you deliver with your actions, not just your words. It's all about consistency, which is what builds that rock-solid security and trust. So here are some examples from Bobbi's own brand promise: heart and generosity, humor and humanity, being accessible, being present, not perfect. So take a second and think— what words would define your promise? Notice how all of these are about how he makes other people feel. Because that's what it comes down to. Your brand is the emotional footprint you leave on people. So what's the biggest mistake leaders make with this? They craft their brand all by themselves. In a vacuum. They think they know how they come across. But they never ask. They think branding is about promoting yourself. But really, it's about self-awareness. You can't know what your brand actually is until you get the guts to ask people, "Hey, what's it really like to be on the other side of me?" Okay, so if your brand is your promise, how do you actually deliver on that promise every single day? Well, you lead with heart. And that really boils down to one crucial thing: empathy. And Bobby has this super simple but incredibly powerful 3-step framework for empathy. Step 1: Understand what they're feeling. Just name it. Step 2: Understand why they feel that way. Get curious, not judgmental. And Step 3: Ask how you can support those feelings. Notice it doesn't say fix their problem. It's about support. This little framework, it's an absolute game changer. And the result of leading this way? Let's be clear, this isn't just a soft skill. It's a massive strategic advantage. If you can do those 3 things consistently, your team will thrive. You build loyalty, you build psychological safety, and you get a team that is motivated, resilient, and ready to go the extra mile for the mission and for you. All right, so let's bring this all home. This whole journey of becoming an authentic leader, it really comes back to you. It's about how you decide to define your own success and your own path. And this piece of advice is so, so important because let's face it, society, our companies, even our families—they all have ideas about what we "should" be doing. Real leadership takes courage. The courage to tune out all that noise and listen to what your soul, your gut, is actually telling you. And listen, that path is not a straight line, and it's definitely not static. Great leadership means you are never done. It's a constant commitment to learning and evolving. It's about getting feedback, especially the tough stuff, and having the humility to change. As the saying goes, adapt or die. It's a process, not a destination. So we're going to leave you with this final thought, this final challenge. People don't need more content. They are drowning in it. They need connection. Leading with your heart, speaking your truth, being vulnerable, all the things we talked about, they're all just ways to connect. So my question to you is, how will you connect today? What's one small, real thing you can do, because that's where it all starts.

Welcome to our podcast conversation on leadership that energizes from the heart. I'm especially drawn from Bobby Rayhan Uma's insights on leading with authenticity and purpose.

I'm pumped to jump in. His journey from an aerospace engineer to a global thought leader is just fascinating, right?

Exactly. It's like his path isn't linear at all. Yeah, absolutely. Starting with designing aircraft for Bombardier, then doing theater directing for a 150-member company, and later diving into corporate campaigns with Kraft and Unilever. It's wild.

And that kind of diversity really sets the stage for what he calls heart-based leadership.

True indeed. His core message is that leaders who truly elevate the human spirit operate by leading with heartfelt authenticity and genuine connection. It's all about aligning your personal brand with who you really are.

Speaking of personal brand, his take was, you know, not just a superficial image. It's like it's a promise, what people always experience from you, right?

Yes. The idea is that your brand is um, your promise. It's built on heart, humor, humanity, and being accessible. It's not just about image, but about, yeah, consistency in your values and identity.

And what really struck me were his points on vulnerability. I mean, many think vulnerability is a weakness, but he flips that notion completely. Absolutely.

Um, vulnerability as he defines it is not oversharing, but rather sharing, yeah, your human truth with purpose. For example, he recounted sharing his dark days post-college, which, um, resonated deeply with his audience. Mm-hmm.

When he said that we all go through terrible days, it's pretty powerful. But don't you think at times there's a risk, like, a leader being too vulnerable might, um, undermine their authority? That's a fair concern.

However, Bobby emphasizes that vulnerability isn't about, um, bearing your soul without purpose. It's about strategically opening the door so others can, yeah, find strength in shared experiences. Yeah, right. The balance is key. Enough honesty to build trust without crossing into oversharing.

Mm-hmm. And then there's his discussion on thought leadership. I love that he defined it as being known before, during and after you're in the room. That's like a pretty holistic view.

Exactly. Thought leadership, as Bobby lays out, revolves around influence, subject matter expertise, and brand voice through storytelling. It's not, um, about having a million followers. Absolutely. It's about the depth and consistency of your message.

I mean, that approach resonates particularly with both high-tech leaders and military officers who need credibility that's built on genuine connection. Right.

Whether you're, say, a naval officer or a tech engineer, aligning your inner values with how you lead is, um, essential. He throws in a lot of coaching prompts too, like asking, "Where in your leadership this week can you intentionally respond with compassion instead of command?" That's so true.

Practical Guidance for Leaders. And then his framework around heart-based leadership with empathy over ego really hit home. Isn't it interesting how he outlines empathy in 3 parts?

Yes, it's like, can I understand their feelings, why they feel that way, and then how can I support them? This framework is both simple and profound in building trust and loyalty, which is key for mission success.

It's almost poetic when you think about it. And he even tied in biblical verses like Colossians 3:12 and Proverbs to underscore the spiritual and ethical side of leadership.

Right. For instance, he references, um, "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility," which really complements his idea that true leadership isn't about authority, but about character.

Yeah, absolutely. And then there's the "speak with truth" part. He really advocates for honest communication, clear feedback, and transparency as fundamental to a leader's credibility. Yup!

He argues that truth, when spoken with love, helps in building an environment where growth is natural. It's like saying, "Be real and teach, rather than perform for appearances." Mm, very spot on. That's what I love about his perspective. It's actionable, I also found his TEDx coaching insights refreshing.

He outlines 5 challenges like mindset, message, mapping, mastery, and momentum. It's almost like he's giving a blueprint to accelerate leadership growth.

Totally. His framework simplifies the process of landing a TEDx Talk. But more broadly, it shows that anyone, even— yeah, even a 10-year-old, could potentially share a transformative idea if given the proper support and approach.

Yeah, right. Now, if I might respectfully challenge one point. At times, I wonder if emphasizing personal branding so heavily might lead some leaders to focus too much on image rather than, um, substance. What do you think?

That's a solid critique. I'd say Bobby is aware of that risk. His idea isn't to be a self-promoter. Instead, he stresses self-awareness, where the brand is purely an extension of your true identity and values. Mm-hmm, that's a good point, Casey. It's about authenticity. Not vanity. For sure.

And that ties back to his final wisdom. Define your own version of success and follow a path aligned with your soul, not societal expectations.

Exactly, man. And his final note on legacy about family and making people feel valued really brings all these elements together, don't you think?

Yeah, absolutely. It's inspiring how his story transitions seamlessly from being lost to becoming fulfilled. And how he helps leaders do the same. The blend of vulnerability, purpose, and truth really makes his message stand out.

Definitely. It's like he asks leaders to, yeah, listen more, question their motives, and be responsive to their teams. Instead of just commanding, they're encouraged to offer support and authentic connection.

And that really shifts the focus from traditional leadership that relies on authority to one that builds real human connections and trust. It's a practical masterclass, isn't it?

Precisely. And you know, his emphasis on 'guard your heart' from Proverbs is a reminder that our inner state profoundly shapes our decision-making and leadership style. Mm-hmm. Exactly. When you lead with a centered heart, your influence radiates authenticity.

So to wrap this up, Bobby's approach isn't just about strategies for success. It's, um, a call for leaders to be real, to be empathetic, and to truly connect on a human level.

Yep, it's like his mantra: Lead with heart, build with purpose, speak with truth. And that's the kind of leadership that can truly transform teams, organizations, and even communities.

Right. I guess the big takeaway here is that leadership is both an inward and outward journey. A blend of inner purpose and actions that shape those around us. Exactly so.

When leaders invest in their inner clarity and authenticity, they create a ripple effect of trust, collaboration, and, um, genuine connection. Absolutely. It's a transformative approach that speaks volumes in both military and corporate worlds.

I'm walking away with so many actionable insights. From crafting a personal brand as your promise, to using vulnerability as a strength, and never forgetting the importance of empathy.

Same here! And remember, as Bobby puts it, always ask, "Where can I better support my team by leading with truth and heart?" That question can redefine your leadership every single day.

Yeah, indeed. Thanks for the engaging chat today. Talking about leadership that's deeply, um, rooted in authenticity is truly inspiring. Thank you.

And let these lessons spark a change in how we lead. Lead with heart, build with purpose, speak with truth. That's our takeaway for today.

Wow. That, that is really, really awesome. And earlier you said with your coaching practice, you start with developing the brand and then thought leadership. So you've helped thousands grow their digital voice. What does thought leadership really mean, especially on social media?

Well, I like, I like to use a quote, quote for personal branding, which is, you know, personal brand is what they say when you're not in the room. Thought leadership branding is what they say before you enter the room, when you're in the room, and after you've left the room. And that's because as a thought leader, you are known, right? You have followers, you have influence, you have subject matter expertise. And when we think about the biggest thought leaders out there, they typically have 3 main criteria. Number 1,. They have either— they have connections, friends, a broad range of connections, deep connections, followers. That's what we call influence. Now, you can be an influencer but not a thought leader, and we know many of those on Instagram. The second piece is subject matter expertise. You're creating ideas, you're crafting innovative ideas, you're writing books, you're writing songs, you're crafting things. That's called subject matter expertise. Now, many subject matter experts out there may not have very much influence, But when you combine those two, that's where it becomes pretty big. Then the third piece is really knowing your brand voice. You spend time with storytelling, active listening, communication skills, work on speaking. You're doing videos, you're speaking.

All right everyone, thank you so much for watching the Leadership and Success Podcast. Today was the artificial intelligence recap of the hour-long leadership conversation I had with Coach Bobby. That was season 4 Episode 115. And this is Season 4, Episode 115 AI Recap. So thanks for watching. Please let us know where you are joining us from, what city, what state. And if you are outside of the United States, which country, since our podcast has now gone global. And also let us know what you are grateful for today, because we always want to spend what we call a moment of gratitude every time we meet. So every day we do this on the Leadership and Success Podcast. So let's go ahead and let's get ready for our moment of gratitude. So if you would maybe close your eyes, put yourself in your happy place, take a deep breath and think about one thing you are grateful for right now. I think today I am really grateful for grace, for favor. I am grateful for that thing that is beyond me that really keeps me in the path I should follow. Something, someone watching over me. No matter what the difficulties might be right now, what the challenges I might be facing, I know that I am going to be just fine because I am guided, I am loved. There is a that, I don't know, you could call it divinity, the grace of God, the blessing, but there is that unction, that predisposition, that favor, that grace that guides me and that lets me know everything will be just fine. So I am very, very, very grateful for that. I call it grace, I call it favor. Having favor before men, people who don't even know me, who just met me, and all of a sudden they love me and it's as if I've known them my entire life. And I am just grateful for that. Okay, so let us know what you are grateful for. Type it in the comment. And now we are going to do our Wheel of Name, right? We're doing the 21-day grateful challenge. We started on Thanksgiving 2025. And I first did this about 4 years ago when I was challenged and I've been doing this every single year, usually starting on Thanksgiving Day. So today is day 17 of 21. So we are almost done. So basically the challenge is every day I need to be grateful for one thing on social media, which I am now doing. So today I am grateful for favor and each day that you are grateful for, something, you need to select a member of your network and challenge them to accept the 21-day challenge so that in the next 21 days, they also will be grateful on LinkedIn and then challenge a member of their network every single day. So again, today we did the AI Recap Season 4, Episode 115 with Coach Bob Fabien Zinga. You can follow him on LinkedIn. You can also follow him on his website, willian.com. So let me go to the wheel of names right now. So I am going to randomly select a member of my network and see who we are going to challenge today to accept the 21 grateful day Here we go. It looks like we have got both and we first connected September 6th. So let's go to our owner, Master Dave, and I am challenging you today to accept this challenge where you are going to be grateful every single day for the next 21 days on LinkedIn. And each day you are going to select a member of your 7,000 followers. So just select one of them each day and challenge them to do the same. So I really do hope you are going to accept the challenge, my valuable network on LinkedIn. Okay, this is it for today. I am going to be back tomorrow. And tomorrow we are going to have the AI recap of the leadership conversation I had with Chaplain Commander Adrienne Townsend Benton, US Navy. She's an educator, a minister, and leadership architect. It's going to be a recap of the discussion we had about clarity, courage, and calling. And also she wrote a bestselling book, A Greater Force Than Failure, and I want to make sure everybody reads this. So that's going to be tomorrow morning, and I believe she might be our surprise guest tomorrow. So that's going to be so wonderful to talk to her again, just to give us a couple of minutes recap of the hour-long discussion we had. And then on Monday, I'm going to have the 10-minute recap from the conversation I had with John Keith., uh, from NASA, NSA, and National Security Council strategist, uh, space, cyber, and national power. And, uh, we talked about the strategies in the arena, and, uh, this is going to be really a wonderful, uh, recap of the conversation. That's for Monday. And then on Tuesday morning, I am going to have two interviews. First with Professor Stefano Pantoni, global authority on decision-making and analytics, AI thought leader. We're going to be talking about accountability in the age of AI. And make sure to purchase his bestselling book, Decision-Driven Analytics. It's from Wharton College. So that's going to be a very interesting and stimulating conversation. And on the same day, I will also be speaking to the one and only Kwame Christian. He really doesn't need any introduction. He's a world-renowned strategist, transformational and visionary CEO, serial bestselling author. I believe he's the number one strategy keynote speaker. Yeah. More people really sought after him than anybody else on the subject. He's written the book Finding Confidence in Conflict and his latest book, again, both instant bestseller, How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race. So we're going to be talking about negotiation as a leadership Superpowers. That's going to be Tuesday. And then on Wednesday, I am really, really grateful. I am honored and privileged. We are going to have a legend on the Leadership Success Podcast. General Stanley A. McChrystal, U.S. Army retired, is a legendary servant leader, 4-star warrior scholar, serial bestselling author. We're gonna be talking about character and command. He's written several bestselling books. The last 3, Team of Teams, leaders and on character. So that's going to be on Wednesday. And I believe I have already lined up the person we're going to be talking to on first day. Let me get that. It's going to be Professor Jeff. Okay. And Professor Jeff is a retired Master, Senior Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force. If you can believe this, he's going to be here on the first day. He's an educator, a mentor, and transformational servant leader. So he has an EdD, so a doctorate in education. And we're gonna be talking from senior master surgeon to Professor Jeff. Quite an inspiring story. That's going to be for the first day next week. Okay, so that's it for now, and I hope to see you tomorrow, and especially for the live interview we will have on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday. And until tomorrow, have a wonderful evening. See you tomorrow. Bye for now. Wow, that is really, really awesome. And earlier you said with your coaching practice, you start with developing the brand and then thought leadership. So you've helped thousands. Wow, that is really, really powerful. So let me ask you, what do you think is the greatest lesson you have ever learned? Lesson in life, in leadership, in general?

The greatest lesson I've ever learned?

Wow.

You know, it's funny, I think about this a lot because, you know, my son is about to graduate university, high school and go to university. And same, and, you know, years ago, I wrote this article called the edge of the bed advice, which is basically imagine the last day that your child is going to be in your home, and they're about to leave and go off on their own for the first time. What would you tell them? What would you tell them? And, you know, what, what advice? Obviously, you, you, there's so many things you want to say, but you can't tell them everything, right? Because they gotta get some sleep before they head out to college the next day. And so I think that, uh, you know, there's a, and there's a bunch of things that come to my mind, right? Uh, but I'll start with one thing, which is one of the things I tell my kids every day before they go to school. Even when they were little, I would say have a good day, I love you, learn lots, make people feel good. And the reason I say that is because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how smart you are— and my kids are pretty smart— doesn't matter how creative and talented you are— my kids are pretty creative and talented— doesn't matter how fast you are, how strong you are, at the end of the day, if you treat people like crap, that's what's going to follow you. If you make them feel heard empowered, supported, loved, held, whatever it might be. That to me is a thing that makes a big difference. So if you're going to get out there in the world, that's the number one thing that you can do for yourself. And so for me, that, that's the message I have for most people that I would say. And then I think the other one I'm going to say is from my father. My dad, when I was growing up, would always say, there is no tomorrow.

Thank you for tuning in to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If today's episode added value to your leadership journey, be sure to subscribe, share, and join us again for more wisdom nuggets on how to lead better and achieve greater success. Remember, leadership is the most critical skill of our time. The world will always need leaders to inspire others, drive innovation, and execute meaningful strategy. So why not count yourself among the bold leaders shaping the 21st century. Until next time, stay inspired, stay committed, and keep leading with excellence.