Leadership Unlocked: How Leaders Win in the Era of AI

Leadership Unlocked is a leadership podcast about the moments that shape how real leaders grow. Hosted by executive coach & strategist Dusty Holcomb, it features real stories and honest conversations with CEOs, founders, and senior leaders navigating real-world challenges and growth.Each episode delivers real-world leadership insights, stories from leaders in the field, and practical tools for high-performing teams—making it a must-listen for anyone serious about leadership development.Whether you're leading a company, a team, or yourself, you'll walk away with something you can use right now.New episodes weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts or visit ArcqusGroup.com/podcast to learn more.

Leadership Unlocked: How Leaders Win in the Era of AI is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 80 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Leadership Unlocked: How Leaders Win in the Era of AI, a business show with 80 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #80

  You Built a Successful Business. Why Are You Still Trapped in It? | Forrest Derr - E80

  Sep 30, 202647 minS1

  Dusty sits down with Forrest for a practical conversation about scaling founder-led businesses, developing leaders, and building the systems that allow owners to finally get out of the middle of everything. Drawing from more than 25 years in operations and his experience with EOS, Forrest explains his “techability chart” framework for mapping an organisation’s technology stack, eliminating unnecessary duplication, identifying security risks, and uncovering opportunities for better integration and automation. He also reflects on the early mentor who deliberately gave him room to make mistakes, shaping his belief that leaders should create clear decision-making guardrails rather than demanding perfection. From there, Forrest explores the power of net weaving, why founders often become bottlenecks in the businesses they created, and how designing roles around the company’s future rather than its past can unlock the next stage of growth. Along the way, he shares lessons on coaching, delegation, planning, and why 80% can often be good enough when the outcome matters more than doing something exactly your way. Ultimately, the conversation is a reminder that scalable leadership comes from creating clarity, investing in people, and building systems that allow others to make decisions, grow, and succeed without everything flowing through the founder. Key Timestamps: (00:47) – What Is a Techability Chart? (07:34) – How Forrest Got Started (09:57) – Allowing People to Make Mistakes (16:32) – Solution Selling (19:09) – NetWeaving (25:13) – Taking Time to Think (28:35) – Challenges Faced by Founders (35:38) – Mentorship and Coaching (38:50) – Rapid-Fire Questions Key Topics Discussed: Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership Mentions: Website: https://fractionatorhq.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forrestkderr/ Mentions: Who's Your Mike?: A No-Bullshit Guide to the People You'll Meet on Your Entrepreneurial Journey by Kurt Wilkin The Science of Scaling: Grow Your Business Bigger and Faster Than You Think Possible by Dr. Benjamin Hardy & Blake Erickson Modern Problems. Ancient Wisdom: Ancient Intelligence explores the timeless principles that can help leaders better understand themselves, our world, and how we lead in the era of AI: https://ancientintelligencebook.com/ More of Leadership Unlocked: Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/ Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com (00:00) - 76 - Forrest Derr (01:00) - What is a Techability Chart? (07:34) - How Forrest Got Started (09:55) - Allowing People to Make Mistakes (16:29) - Solution Selling (19:07) - Netweaving (25:07) - Taking Time to Think (28:30) - Challenges Faced by Founders (35:32) - Mentorship & Coaching (38:43) - Rapid-Fire Questions

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  Episode #79

  You’re Not Supposed to Be a Technician—But You Need to Know THIS to Lead AI - E79

  Sep 23, 202628 minS1

  Dusty goes solo to confront the “qualification lie”—the belief that leaders need deep technical expertise to lead effectively in the age of AI. Drawing from his lifelong “magnificent obsession” with leadership, nearly three decades of experience, and his own hesitation to enter the AI conversation, he explains how treating AI assistants like people—providing clear roles, expectations, context, measurement, coaching, and feedback—revealed that AI is fundamentally a leadership opportunity. Dusty breaks down three lies that keep experienced leaders on the sidelines: that they aren't technical enough, their experience is outdated, or someone else is better positioned to lead. Through a practical “qualification inventory,” he challenges leaders to identify the judgment, discernment, trust, and wisdom they've already earned through difficult leadership experiences. The central message is simple: what you think disqualifies you may actually be the qualification. AI is the fulcrum, but leadership remains the lever. Key Timestamps: (00:00) – You Don’t Need to Be Technical to Lead AI (02:39) – Am I Still Relevant? (5:54) – Lead and Coach Your AI (9:53) – Building AI Assistants (12:45) – Three Lies Leaders Tell Themselves (17:29) – Qualification Inventory Key Topics Discussed: Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership Modern Problems. Ancient Wisdom: Ancient Intelligence explores the timeless principles that can help leaders better understand themselves, our world, and how we lead in the era of AI: https://ancientintelligencebook.com/ More of Leadership Unlocked: Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/ Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com (00:00) - 79 - Why You Don't Need to Be Technical to Lead AI (02:38) - Am I Still Relevant? (05:53) - Lead & Coach Your AI (09:52) - Building AI Assistants (12:44) - 3 Lies Leaders Tell Themselves (17:28) - Qualification Inventory (22:36) - Conclusion

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  Episode #77

  AI Didn't Create Your Leadership Gap—It Just Made It Urgent - E77

  Sep 9, 202631 minS1

  Dusty goes solo to make the case that the leaders who thrive in the age of AI will not be the ones chasing every new tool, but the ones who apply timeless leadership principles with greater focus and intention. Prompted by a CEO’s candid fear that she may not be “good enough” in this new era, Dusty introduces the central argument behind his upcoming book, Ancient Intelligence : AI is the fulcrum, leadership is the lever, and leaders are the ones capable of moving the world. He exposes how unfocused AI adoption creates diffusion rather than progress, with organizations investing in licenses, pilots, and experimentation without defining the outcomes those investments are meant to produce. Drawing from his own tendency to chase “purple squirrels” inside AI tools, he explains why leaders need boundaries, charters, and predetermined definitions of success to keep extraordinary technological capability pointed at problems that actually matter. Dusty then identifies three hidden costs of unfocused AI leadership—poor return on invested capital, wasted return on invested time, and the opportunities organizations never discover because their leaders are either distracted by AI or too far removed from it to understand what has become possible. Through a practical three-column audit, he challenges leaders to measure what their AI investments have produced, identify where their time could create greater leadership leverage, and name new opportunities that technology now makes possible. The message is ultimately one of confidence rather than fear: AI has not made decades of leadership experience obsolete; it has made clarity, focus, alignment, judgment, and disciplined execution more urgent than ever. Key Timestamps: (4:33) – Consequences of Diffused AI Strategies (7:04) – Stay on Course (7:55) – You Don’t Need to Be on the Bleeding Edge (13:55) – Human Leadership Is Focused (15:32) – Three Costs of Unfocused Leadership (21:53) – Leadership Cost Wearing a Tech Costume (26:25) – Compounding Leadership Impact Key Topics Discussed: Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership Mentions: https://ancientintelligencebook.com Episode 62 Episode 66 More of Leadership Unlocked: Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/ Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com (00:00) - Ancient Intelligence Book (04:33) - Consequences of Diffused AI Strategies (07:03) - Stay on Course (07:55) - You Don't Need to Be on the Bleeding Edge (13:55) - Human Leadership Is Focused (15:31) - 3 Costs of Unfocused Leadership (21:52) - Leadership Cost Wearing a Tech Costume (26:25) - Compounding Leadership Impact

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  Episode #74

  He Went From Leading 7 People to 80—Now His Team Solves Problems Without Him | Rodney Binger - E74

  Aug 19, 202640 minS1

  Stepping into a larger leadership role can expose gaps in confidence, clarity, and execution—even for experienced operators. Rodney Binger shares how intentionally sharpening his leadership capabilities transformed the way he leads more than 80 people across MotorWorks, helping him move from leading in fear to leading with confidence, clarity, and purpose. From establishing rules of engagement and having candid conversations to using OKRs, future-back planning, and consistent follow-up, Rodney discovered that effective leadership becomes more powerful when it is turned into a repeatable operating system. The result has been stronger accountability, greater psychological safety, a team that solves problems without him, new leaders emerging throughout the organization, and significant financial gains. This conversation explores how leaders can codify how they lead, align their teams around a shared direction, and create the compound effect that comes from making better leadership decisions consistently. Key Timestamps: (00:00) – Vision to Victory (05:39) – Transparency and Clarity (08:42) – Stretching as a Leader (10:38) – OKRs: Objectives and Key Results (14:50) – Highlights from Accelerator Program (16:52) – Rules of Engagement (25:25) – Return on Investment in Leadership Training (30:48) – Connecting Leadership Dots (35:50) – Book Recommendation: Extreme Ownership Key Topics Discussed: Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership Mentions: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-binger-946aa5a4/ Mentions: Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead And Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin More of Leadership Unlocked: Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/ Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com (00:00) - Vision to Victory (05:40) - Transparency & Clarity (08:42) - Stretching as a Leader (10:39) - OKR: Objectives & Key Results (14:50) - Highlights from Acceleraor Program (16:52) - Rules of Engagement (25:25) - Return on Investing in Leadership Training (30:44) - Connecting Leadership Dots (35:46) - Book Recommendation: Extreme Ownership

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  Episode #73

  How Great Leaders Balance Empathy with High Standards | Marcel Schwantes - E73

  Aug 11, 202642 minS1

  Marcel Schwantes’ journey into human-centered leadership began with a toxic workplace that pushed his body to its breaking point and ultimately led him to discover the power of servant leadership. In this conversation, Marcel and Dusty explore why caring about people is not a soft alternative to accountability, but the foundation for creating high-performing teams, strong cultures, and sustainable business results. They unpack the difference between management and leadership, the importance of values, authenticity, and self-leadership, and why great leaders must be willing to have hard conversations while still treating people with dignity and care. As AI accelerates the pace of change, Marcel argues that leaders have an even greater responsibility to provide clarity, reduce uncertainty, and explain the meaning behind how work is changing. The technology may evolve rapidly, but the fundamentals of leadership remain deeply human: serve others, create clarity, protect your people, and help them do their best work. Key Timestamps: (00:56) - Toxic Work Environments (07:13) - Humane Leadership (13:39) - The Effects of a Leadership Vacuum (19:18) - How to Be Frank While Caring for Your People (25:01) - Human Leadership in the Age of AI (32:13) - Rapid Fire Questions Key Topics Discussed: Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Leadership Mentions: Website: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/ Podcast: https://www.marcelschwantes.com/podcast-page/ Substack: https://substack.com/@marcelschwantes Mentions: Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss by Marcel Schwantes Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? (And How to Fix It) by Thomas Chamorro-Premuzic More of Leadership Unlocked: Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/ Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com (00:00) - Marcel Schwantes (00:55) - Toxic Work Environments (07:13) - Human Leadership (13:36) - The Effects of a Leadership Vacuum (19:11) - How to Be Frank While Caring for Your People (24:58) - Human Leadership in the Age of AI (32:08) - Rapid Fire Questions

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