Why Your People Come Before Your Strategy: Glen Gunderson
“PUT THE HUMAN AT THE CENTER AND YOU'LL LEAD DIFFERENTLY.”
Episode Description
In this episode of Leadership Matters, Glen Gunderson, President and CEO of YMCA of the North, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for a wide-ranging conversation on purpose-driven leadership, whole person well-being, and building community in a divided world. Glenn shares the defining moments and crucibles that shaped his leadership journey, why vulnerability took him a decade to embrace, and how the Y is evolving from swim and gym to a force for whole community well-being. He reflects on leading across six generations, the role of AI in advancing social impact, the decline of third places, and why he believes love and service will ultimately win out. If you lead with purpose, this one is for you.
Chapters
- 00:00 Intro: Meet Glen Gunderson
- 00:34 Defining Moments and the Role of Mentors
- 02:25 Feeling the Pull Away From His Values
- 03:16 Joining Lifetime in Its Early Growth Years
- 04:24 Learning to Embrace Vulnerability as a Leader
- 06:04 Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
- 07:03 Focusing on Well-Being Alongside the Financials
- 09:21 Leading Across Six Generations
- 11:43 How the Y Is Thinking About AI
- 13:43 From Swim and Gym to Whole Person Well-Being
- 14:03 Building a Community Well-Being Network
- 16:24 The Decline of Third Places
- 18:48 Bringing Generations and Backgrounds Together
- 20:04 How His Leadership Style Has Evolved
- 21:16 Servant Leadership and "First Team"
- 23:38 Defining His Evolving Purpose
- 24:38 What Leadership Requires Differently Today
- 26:00 Bill George, True North, and Authentic Leadership
- 27:38 Learning to Trust Younger Leaders' Instincts
- 28:56 What Keeps Him Up at Night
- 31:47 The Barriers to Coming Together as a Society
- 33:38 Turning Down the Y's CEO Search at First
- 35:31 The Daughter Who Changed His Mind
- 37:53 Early Challenges Stepping Into the CEO Role
- 40:11 Building the Right Leadership Team
- 41:52 What He Wants to Invest in Now
- 42:33 Cultivating Mentors Across Every Decade
- 44:57 His Personal Pillars of Well-Being
- 47:22 How He Manages Stress
More In The Series
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