The Global Leadership Podcast

Every leader eventually encounters disruption—moments that challenge assumptions, redirect plans, and test resilience. In this episode, GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talks with Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, about navigating what David calls "leadership hijacks": unexpected events that reshape both leadership and life.
Edgar shares his journey from immigrating to the United States as a teenager with little money and no English skills, to leading one of the world's largest Christian humanitarian organizations. Along the way, he reflects on lessons learned through personal hardship, raising children with special needs, leaving a successful corporate career at Procter & Gamble, and leading World Vision through COVID and global uncertainty.
This conversation explores how leaders can remain grounded during disruption, communicate hope without ignoring reality, and create healthy organizational cultures that help people thrive even in difficult seasons.

Leadership doesn't usually derail all at once—it gets hijacked slowly by subtle internal forces like comparison, self-doubt, and misplaced definitions of success. In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with David Ashcraft to unpack the internal and external "hijacks" that pull leaders off course. They explore how even confident leaders can fall into comparison traps, how self-doubt often disguises itself in different ways, and why defining success based on others' metrics leads to frustration. This conversation brings leaders back to what matters most: clarifying personal priorities, choosing the right voices to listen to, and aligning success with purpose rather than perception. If you've ever questioned your place, your progress, or your impact, this episode offers a grounded way to refocus and move forward with clarity and intention.

Leadership is often formed in the middle—when progress is slow, challenges persist, and outcomes are unclear. This episode highlights key moments from recent conversations to help you stay grounded in those seasons.
You'll hear insights on perseverance from Walker Hayes, practical wisdom on resilience from David Ashcraft, and a timely reminder from John Maxwell about embracing the season you're in. Whitney and Eric also share personal leadership challenges and what helped them keep going.
If you're facing pressure, uncertainty, or slow progress, this episode will help you focus on what you can control—and continue leading with purpose where you are.

Every organization has a culture—but not every leader is shaping it intentionally. In this episode, Jenni Catron explains why culture is one of the most important (and often overlooked) responsibilities of leadership.
In this conversation with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft, Jenni offers a practical definition of culture, along with clear ways to translate values into everyday behaviors and reinforce them through consistent rhythms.
Jenni also outlines what it actually takes to change culture—where to start, how long it takes, and why many efforts stall. Along the way, she highlights the subtle signs of an unhealthy culture and the role leaders play in either reinforcing or correcting them.
If you're responsible for a team, this conversation will help you take a more intentional, long-term approach to building a culture where people and performance can thrive.

Strategy can feel intimidating.
Maybe it brings up pressure to get it right. Maybe it feels restrictive. Or maybe it's something you've been avoiding because you're not quite sure where to start.
In this episode, Whitney Putnam sits down with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft to simplify strategy and make it practical. Together, they unpack why strategy matters at every level of leadership—and why waiting for perfect clarity might be the very thing holding you back.
If you've ever felt stuck trying to "figure it all out" before taking a step forward, this conversation will help you move.