Unapologetic Leadership

In a noisy, distracted world, authentic leadership matters more than ever. Hosted by Cory Dunham —entrepreneur, business leader, and follower of Jesus—this podcast is real talk for real leaders who want to live and lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. From overcoming fear mindsets to leading with love, Cory shares personal stories, faith-driven values, and practical tools that help you grow as a leader in your workplace, family, and community. Each episode offers actionable takeaways, mindset shifts, and sometimes guest insights—so you can lead without burnout, build trust, create alignment, and anchor yourself in what truly matters. Whether you’re a boss, teacher, parent, entrepreneur, career professional, or single mom, this show will help you lead yourself and others in a way that’s bold, authentic, and sustainable. Because leadership isn’t a title—it’s a way of living. Subscribe and join a community of leaders who are done with surf

Unapologetic Leadership is a business podcast hosted by Cory Dunham, with 61 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Cory Dunham hosts Unapologetic Leadership, a business show with 61 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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  Unapologetic Leadership

  Sales Team Enablement, AI Tools and The Real Cost of Implementation, with Monika Owczarek

  Aug 19, 202629 min

  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 automation strategically instead of overwhelming teams with tools they barely use. They also explore the real cost of AI implementation, why AI still requires training and oversight, how founders can transition from founder led sales to scalable sales teams, and why authenticity and listening remain essential leadership skills. About Monika Owczarek Monika is the Founder & CEO of Strattik Sales Consulting, specializing in AI powered revenue systems, B2B sales infrastructure, go to market strategy, RevOps, and scaling technology companies. Her experience spans PE backed companies, Fortune 500 environments, unicorns, and VC backed startups, including work supporting clients such as Google, Rolls Royce, Johnson & Johnson, and Pinterest. She has led global sales teams, built enablement programs from the ground up, and coached hundreds of sales representatives and leaders through structured onboarding and methodology. Monika helps companies solve the sales problems that create chaos and stall growth, from demos that confuse buyers and inconsistent discovery processes to unreliable CRM data, technical sales challenges, and missing playbooks. She is an Executive Member and Steering Committee participant at Pavilion, a keynote speaker on sales, leadership, and AI, and a past university lecturer. Connect with Monika LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-owc/

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  Unapologetic Leadership

  How Customer Success Leaders Gain Visibility and Get Promoted, with Beverly Hathorn

  Aug 13, 202640 min

  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 you want to become a director, start thinking, acting, and leading like one before the title arrives. She also explores the importance of personal development, creating psychologically safe teams, developing others, and replacing a scarcity mindset with an abundance mindset. Her advice is simple: Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. When opportunity arrives, make sure you’re already prepared to step into it. About Beverly Hathorn Beverly Hathorn partners with Customer Success Managers and leaders who are ready to move from reactive firefighting to confident, strategic leadership, where their work is visible, their voice carries weight, and their next step becomes clear. Connect with Bev Website: https://www.beverlyhathornconsulting.com/ Email: beverly@beverlyhathornconsulting.com Phone: 770-367-9914

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  Unapologetic Leadership

  No Regrets Leadership by Taking the High Road: From Senior VP in Oil and Gas, Doug Sandridge

  Aug 7, 202636 min

  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 leadership principles is simple: take the high road. He shares a defining moment when senior leaders pressured him to write an inaccurate negative employee evaluation. Knowing that refusing could potentially hurt his own career, Doug still chose not to compromise his integrity. Looking back, he explains why he has never regretted doing the right thing, even when it was difficult or personally costly. Doug and Cory also explore lifelong learning, family priorities, authenticity, and the importance of thinking beyond immediate results. Doug shares lessons from returning to graduate school around age 50 and from his advocacy work involving energy and Native American communities. One particularly powerful idea is the importance of considering how the decisions we make today could affect people seven generations from now. Whether you’re leading a company, a team, a family, or yourself, this episode challenges you to consider a bigger question when making difficult decisions: Will I be proud of this choice when I look back years from now? Because careers change and titles disappear, but your integrity becomes part of the legacy you leave behind. About Doug Sandridge Doug is the Senior Vice President at Fulcrum Energy Capital Funds and has more than 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. A seasoned land executive and entrepreneur, he specializes in land management, regulatory compliance, stakeholder relations, and public education. At Fulcrum Energy Capital Funds, Doug helps oversee land operations and strategy for the private equity firm investing in upstream and midstream assets across North America. His work focuses on leveraging analytical expertise and industry knowledge to create value for investors, partners, and the communities Fulcrum serves. Doug is also passionate about educating the next generation of energy leaders and serves as an adjunct instructor for the Executive MBA in Energy program at the University of Oklahoma. He believes greater public understanding of the energy sector is essential to creating a sustainable and prosperous future. Subscribe to Energy Ruminations: https://douglascsandridge.substack.com/ Connect with Doug LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-c-sandridge-63996312/ Substack: https://douglascsandridge.substack.com/ Website: https://executives4nuclear.com/ Email: doug@sandridge.org

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  Unapologetic Leadership

  Leadership at 16 Years Old... Founder, Patents and Building Before You Feel Ready, with Arya Upadhyay

  Aug 6, 202630 min

  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 at just 15 years old, Arya has earned two patents and is developing groundbreaking solutions in biodegradable nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and environmental sustainability. Arya shares the story behind her decision to graduate early, the challenges of entering college at 16, and how stepping into unfamiliar environments taught her resilience, independence, and self leadership. She explains why failure has been her greatest mentor, why confidence comes from taking action instead of waiting for certainty, and how learning through experimentation has shaped both her personal growth and her innovations. The conversation explores her pioneering work developing a biodegradable nanorobot designed to detect microplastics in soil while naturally decomposing without harming the environment. She also discusses her second patent, an AI powered behavioral prediction system that helps improve patient engagement by using technology to encourage healthy habits instead of unhealthy distractions. Throughout the episode, Arya shares practical insights on staying focused in a world full of distractions, using social media intentionally, trusting the process even when results aren't immediate, and embracing uncertainty as an essential part of leadership. Her message is simple but powerful: leadership isn't about authority. It's about seeing a problem, taking responsibility, and building a solution. About Arya Upadhyay Arya Upadhyay is a researcher, inventor, and founder who graduated high school at 15 and has spent the years since building systems instead of waiting for permission. A student of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UT Austin, she holds two patents, has been featured in national media outlets, and leads research at the intersection of biodegradable nanotechnology, AI, and environmental sustainability. Her work focuses on designing intelligent systems that solve real-world problems, from soil microplastics to predictive behavioral engines, while challenging conventional thinking about innovation and leadership. Arya believes leadership is not about authority, but about having the clarity and courage to see a problem, name it, and build a solution anyway. Connect with Arya LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arya-upadhyay/ Instagram: @arya.upadhyayy Email: arya.upadhyay@utexas.edu

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  Unapologetic Leadership

  Christian Values in Business and Family, Downsized by AI, and Disruptive Innovation, with Andrew Grove

  Jul 29, 202635 min

  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. Together, they explore how Christian values can guide leaders through uncertainty while creating businesses that honor both God and the people they serve. Andrew shares his personal journey from working in innovation and product design to being laid off as AI transformed his industry. Rather than seeing disruption as defeat, he embraced it as an opportunity to help others reinvent themselves, launch new ventures, and build businesses rooted in purpose instead of fear. He explains why the future belongs to those who are willing to innovate, adapt, and create value while remaining grounded in timeless principles. The conversation also explores family legacy, mentorship, intentional leadership, and building values that can be passed from one generation to the next. Andrew shares how his family's Christian values shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, while Cory reflects on the freedom that comes from leading with faith rather than fear and trusting God through both success and uncertainty. Together they discuss disruptive innovation, AI-driven career shifts, entrepreneurship, calculated risk-taking, and why today's leaders must embrace change without compromising their convictions. Whether you're navigating career transitions, launching a business, leading a team, or seeking to faithfully integrate your beliefs into your work, this episode will encourage you to lead with courage, clarity, and conviction. About Andrew Grove Andrew is the Founder of POSE Fitness, a Fractional Innovation & Design Consultant specializing in branding, identity, and helping organizations build the future. His experience spans fitness, finance, aerospace, transportation, software, and alternative education, where he partners with companies to rethink outdated paradigms and create cultures where innovation thrives. By developing compelling product stories and strategic brand positioning, Andrew helps organizations turn bold ideas into practical, market-ready solutions that inspire teams, customers, and stakeholders alike. Connect with Andrew Email: andy@posefitness.io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewgrove/ Website: https://posefitness.io

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