The Next Level Leader

Jon Harris | Apex Performance
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

The Next Level Leader is the podcast for leaders who refuse to stay where they are. Hosted by leadership and performance coach Jon Harris, each episode brings honest conversations, proven frameworks, and the mindset shifts that actually change how you lead. From real-world stories to practical tools you can apply right away, this show delivers what you need to lead with vision, execute with confidence, and adapt when it matters most. Whatever level you lead at, this show meets you where you are - and pushes you to what's next.

  1. 1d ago

    The Next Level Leader w/ Dr. Sarah Choudhary

    Dr. Sarah Choudhary on AI Leadership, Alignment Over Balance, and Building Without a Co-Founder Why do smart founders confuse being busy with being effective, and what does it really take to lead through the AI era without burning out? Dr. Sarah Choudhary joins Jon Harris to break down her frameworks for high-stakes decisions, why she rejects work-life balance in favor of alignment, and how leaders should redesign their organizations around AI. Dr. Sarah Choudhary is a technology executive, AI and data scientist with a PhD in data science, and a builder who has bootstrapped a portfolio of companies through ICE Innovations without outside funding. She is the author of Navigating AI and Data: A Leader's Guide to Digital Transformation and the founder of the nonprofit Talim, which expands access to education for women and girls. In this episode, you'll learn: Why self-funded founders develop a clarity most venture-backed founders never have to Why Sarah rejects the idea of work-life balance in favor of alignment A practical framework for high-stakes decisions: reversible vs. irreversible, and the future-self test Why execution beats hype, and how decision fatigue quietly derails leaders Why treating AI as just a productivity tool is a trap, and what redesigning around AI really means The leadership question every AI rollout should start with: what work will I put back for my people How Talim is expanding education access for women and girls, and why Sarah calls it infrastructure, not charity Her closing advice for leaders and women: stop waiting for permission Keywords: AI leadership, digital transformation, data science, decision-making frameworks, work-life alignment, burnout, execution vs hype, women in tech, self-funded entrepreneurship, responsible AI, Navigating AI and Data, Talim nonprofit, ICE Innovations, high-stakes decision-making Connect with Dr. Sarah Choudhary: sarahchoudhary.com, where you'll find her book, her companies, Talim, and direct contact links. Hosted by Jon Harris on The Next Level Leader Podcast, bringing you practical tools and methodologies from top leadership voices to help you take your leadership to the next level. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and introducing Dr. Sarah Choudhary 02:00 Her path: a PhD in data science and 20+ years at the intersection of AI and business 02:23 Building ICE Innovations: bootstrapping multiple companies without outside funding 04:18 Why building alone forces a discipline most funded founders never develop 09:05 Why she rejects "balance" for "alignment" across work, family, and purpose 12:10 The power of deep work and eliminating context switching 15:34 The biggest misconception about high performers: execution beats hype 17:39 A framework for high-stakes decisions: reversible vs. irreversible 20:41 One-way doors, two-way doors, and knowing when a decision needs your best 23:19 Inside her book: Navigating AI and Data, A Leader's Guide to Digital Transformation 26:02 Why treating AI as just a productivity tool is a trap 27:17 AI, security, and the arms race between defenders and bad actors 28:07 Returning humanity to teams instead of just automating work away 34:14 Why you can't opt out of AI, and what a "surface level" understanding requires 37:39 Talim: expanding education access for women and girls 42:13 Closing advice: stop waiting for permission Subscribe to The Next Level Leader Podcast for more conversations with top leadership voices, and leave a review if this episode helped you level up.

  2. Sep 25

    The Next Level Leader w/ Kae Wagner

    From Farm Girl to Bestselling Author: Kae Wagner on Turning Your Story Into a Book, a Brand, and a Business What if the book sitting in your head could become your most powerful business card? Author and publishing strategist Kae Wagner joins Jon Harris to reveal why every leader has a story worth telling, the neuroscience of why storytelling sells, and how to turn your hardest chapters into your most valuable ones. Kae Wagner is the founder of North Star Marketing and an author of multiple nonfiction and fiction books, including The 10 Power Principles of Marketing and The CEO's Little Black Book on Branding. She now runs an agency helping executives, coaches, and subject matter experts write, publish, and market books that build their personal brand and business. In this episode, you'll learn: Why self-published books became Kae's ticket to speaking stages and millions in sales The real reason most people wrongly believe only celebrities and executives can write books The neuroscience of storytelling: why the brain relaxes and remembers better through story How business fables turn frameworks into character-driven, memorable lessons The framework for finding your story: inciting incident, crisis, and transformation Why vulnerability and authenticity are the foundation of a strong personal brand How giving books away, not selling them, drives the real business value What the Bold Authors Network offers writers of every genre Keywords: book publishing, self-publishing, personal branding, storytelling, business fables, nonfiction writing, ghostwriting, author platform, thought leadership, book marketing, Bold Authors Network, North Star Marketing, vulnerability, authenticity Connect with Kae Wagner: North Star Marketing and the Bold Authors Network Hosted by Jon Harris on The Next Level Leader Podcast, bringing you practical tools and methodologies from top leadership voices to help you take your leadership to the next level. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and introducing author Kae Wagner 01:32 Kae's background: from farm girl writing contest to entrepreneur 03:18 Founding North Star Marketing and writing The 10 Power Principles of Marketing 04:21 The CEO's Little Black Book on Branding and the power of a book to open doors 05:40 Self-publishing strategy: using books to build a network and land clients 06:31 Pivoting into fiction: the story that would not leave her alone 08:06 The myth that only celebrities and executives get to write books 09:11 The power of storytelling and why every story matters 11:47 Fiction vs. nonfiction: story is still rooted in truth 13:00 Jon's story: falling back in love with reading through The Da Vinci Code 16:34 The neuroscience of storytelling and why the brain craves story 19:04 Business fables: turning frameworks into character-driven stories 21:45 Working with Julian on Crash and Burn Learn and finding the real plot twists 26:13 10 Things I Learned From the Billionaire: transformation without crisis 29:00 Jon's crucible moment: rock bottom, sobriety, and rebuilding his life 34:05 Owning your story: turning shame into part of your brand 40:07 Vulnerability, authenticity, and the being vs. doing of personal brand 41:31 Where to find Kae: the Bold Authors Network 42:51 Why giving books away matters more than selling them Subscribe to The Next Level Leader Podcast for more conversations with top leadership voices, and leave a review if this episode helped you level up.

  3. Sep 18

    The Next Level Leader w/ David Fung

    Authority Isn't Influence: David Fung on Leading Change, Building Trust, and Why Great Leaders Are Great Teammates First Ever gotten a promotion and expected people to finally listen to you? Executive coach David Fung joins Jon Harris to explain why authority without influence is just dictatorship, and breaks down the science-backed framework leaders need to build trust, drive change, and stop leading alone. David Fung left a 23-year career in tech, including years in high-pressure technical sales, to become a leadership and executive coach. He now works with executives and executive teams navigating major transitions, helping them lead through chaos in their personal lives, work lives, and team dynamics. In this episode, you'll learn: Why authority without influence is dictatorship, and what true influence actually requires The 3 elements of influence: connection, credibility, and relevance Why great leaders must be great teammates before they can lead others well The 3-part science of change: vision, dissatisfaction, and willingness Jack Welch's approach to leading change: what it is, why it's happening, and what's in it for them Why "leadership is lonely" is a myth, and how to build community as a senior leader How self-leadership and modeling vulnerability build trust for after-action reviews Why AI is disrupting outdated processes and spreadsheets before it disrupts leadership jobs Connect with David Fung: Website: https://coachfulcoaching.com/ Social Media Links:  https://www.youtube.com/@coachfulcoaching https://www.instagram.com/coachfulcoaching/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidfung2/ Hosted by Jon Harris on The Next Level Leader Podcast, bringing you practical tools and methodologies from top leadership voices to help you take your leadership to the next level. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome, and why leadership coaches collaborate instead of compete 01:51 David Fung's path from 23 years in tech to executive coaching 04:04 What athletes and top salespeople teach us about competition and community 08:06 The myth of the "lone wolf" leader 09:58 Why giving first builds trust and reciprocity 12:11 Debunking the myth that "leadership is lonely" 14:01 Authority vs. influence: why authority alone is dictatorship 14:53 The 3 elements of influence: connection, credibility, relevance 20:05 Jack Welch's rule for leading change 21:00 Why organizations resist change: the science of safety 22:46 The 3-part theory of change: vision, dissatisfaction, willingness 26:24 Reading the moment: The First 90 Days and matching your leadership style 30:00 "We've faced change before": lessons from COVID, 9/11, and 2008 31:56 Where AI is really disrupting work (hint: it's not leadership jobs yet) 37:42 Why leaders should run after-action reviews like military and sports teams 38:06 Self-leadership: modeling vulnerability before asking for feedback 44:19 "To influence others, you have to show you can be influenced by them" 47:25 Final advice: start with self-leadership Subscribe to The Next Level Leader Podcast for more conversations with top leadership voices, and leave a review if this episode helped you level up!

  4. Sep 4

    The Next Level Leader w/ Forrest Derr

    Guest Background Forrest Derr spent about 18 years in the office furniture/supply industry, eventually becoming VP of Operations over logistics, warehousing, distribution, and technology. He then moved into telecom (VoIP and internet), where his company adopted EOS after reading Traction and worked with an implementer for four years. After a chance conversation with another fractional integrator, Forrest saw an opportunity to help multiple companies at once rather than working inside a single one, and now works as a fractional COO/integrator — primarily with companies already running on EOS. He also founded an EOS networking group in Fairhope, Alabama that has since grown to roughly 70 chapters nationwide. What is EOS? EOS is described as an operating system for running a business — not software, but a set of fundamental systems and structures covering vision alignment, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and disciplined meeting rhythms (notably the weekly 90-minute "Level 10," or L10, meeting). Forrest estimates over 400,000 businesses currently run on EOS, some self-implemented and others guided by a certified implementer. Building the Right Team: The Accountability Chart A recurring theme was building an accountability chart around the needs of the business — not around the people currently in the building. Forrest advises leaders to imagine designing the org chart from scratch based on where the company needs to be in 12 months, then determine who fits which seat, rather than creating seats to accommodate long-tenured employees who may not fit ("Susie's been here 20 years" is not a reason to keep a seat that no longer serves the business). Each seat should carry just 5–7 core responsibilities — the 20% of activities that drive 80% of results — paired with scorecard metrics so people know whether they're winning or losing without needing a manager to tell them. Accountability and Resistance to Change Introducing scorecards and real accountability typically surfaces resistance. Forrest calls people who self-select out "volunteers" — high performers embrace metrics, while low performers who prefer to stay unseen tend to leave. He argues this is healthy: losing someone unwilling to be held accountable usually brings relief to the rest of the team and clears the way to bring in a stronger replacement. He's observed a compounding effect where upgraded ("A-player") hires attract other strong talent from their networks. The Visionary/Integrator Relationship Forrest explained the two core EOS leadership roles: Visionary — typically the founder; idea-driven, emotional, often pursuing multiple directions at once. Integrator — the second-in-command who leads the leadership team and channels the visionary's energy toward focused execution. Common Blind Spots The blind spot Forrest raises most often with founders and leadership teams: What is the exit strategy? He argues every major business decision should be made in service of a defined future outcome — whether that's an ESOP conversion, a sale to private equity, or another path — and that many leaders are unknowingly building toward a valuation or timeline that their current business model can't support. Jon added a related distinction he uses with founders and solopreneurs: whether they're building a "lifestyle business" (which can't be sold apart from themselves) or a sellable asset — neither is wrong, but the distinction should be a deliberate choice that guides decisions. Forrest intentionally works himself out of a job: 6–9 month (up to 12-month) contracts aimed at helping a company determine whether an internal "closet integrator" already exists or whether they need to hire one externally, then setting up the structure for a permanent hire. He typically works with three client businesses per week, one day each. derrconsulting.com | LinkedIn: Forrest Derr

  5. Jul 31

    Next Level Leader w/ Julien Godbarge

    Julien Godbarge spent 15 years rising through a private equity-backed company before becoming CEO of a Dubai-based platform company. The first four years were a textbook private equity success story: process improvements, rebranding, tech upgrades, and an industry roll-up that made money and felt exhilarating. Then it unraveled. A flawed ERP dashboard inflated his EBITDA projections, post-pandemic supply chain issues forced him to buy equipment he'd planned to rent, debt covenants tightened, competitors turned hostile, and a new product launch dragged on. Within six months, he went from "top of the world" to breaking down in tears at an airport, unable to think clearly. Julien and Jon unpack the blind spots that turned a run of external pressure into a full collapse: the "Atlas Syndrome" of believing you alone have to carry every burden, tying self-worth to performance and outcomes rather than process, and the danger of building an entire identity around a job or title. They also cover the "denial tax" - the cost of not processing hard things as they happen - and why resilience, not just raw talent or work ethic, is the trait that actually protects high performers. Julien now writes and coaches on this through his book, Crash and Learn, and his 10 Blind Spots assessment. About Julien Godbarge: Former CEO of a private equity-backed platform company, author of Crash and Learn, and executive coach. After his own burnout and recovery, he built a framework around 10 leadership blind spots to help executives spot and avoid the same collapse. Get in touch with Julien Julien's Website - The 10 Blindspots Connect on LinkedIn Key Topics & Timestamps 00:02 — Julien's background: 15 years in a lower-middle-market PE-backed company, then CEO of a Dubai platform company 06:00 — The first four "great" years: process improvement, rebranding, tech stack overhaul, industry roll-up 07:38 — The first crack: a flawed ERP dashboard inflates EBITDA projections 09:00 — Compounding crises: supply chain shortages, forced equipment purchases, tightening debt covenants 10:10 — Fallout from the roll-up: competitors turn adversarial, one poaches half his sales team 11:32 — The six-month slide: stress → sleep loss → anxiety → depression → breakdown at the airport 16:16 — Why it's "lonely at the top" — isolation as both circumstance and self-imposed habit 18:08 — The "Atlas Syndrome": believing you alone must carry every burden 19:01 — Identity fused with job title/performance, and why that's fragile 22:19 — Performance-based self-worth, and how it starts in childhood (grades, rewards) 23:52 — Julien's bonus-negotiation story: linking family provision and self-worth to hitting an EBITDA number 26:14 — Why resilience — not just talent — is what coaches and scouts actually look for 32:20 — McKinsey's shift toward recruiting for resilience, not just pedigree 33:35 — Psychological safety as a prerequisite for talking about resilience without it turning into "participation trophy" mockery 41:04 — Reframing work-life balance as harmony measured over months/quarters, not days 41:38 — The "denial tax": the compounding cost of not processing setbacks in real time 42:52 — Process over outcome — judging effort and fulfillment, not just results 46:22 — Where to find help: 10blindspots.com and the 10 Blind Spots assessment

  6. May 15

    Next Level w/ Pete Sacco

    NEXT LEVEL WITH PETE SACCO In this wide-ranging conversation, Jon and Pete cover everything from the impact of AI on the workforce to optimizing human performance and the intersection of those two topics. Pete has a fascinating background with a wide-ranging experience - from technologist and tech founder to data-center consultant, author, and speaker - Pete covers a lot of ground. Find out more about Pete: https://www.petesacco.com/ Let's Go Do Great Things! www.apexperformance.one

  7. Mar 23

    Next Level w/ Tristin Vaccaro (pt. 2)

    Ahead of ISC West, I have a follow-up conversation with Tristin regarding all things Marketing and Branding. As always, Tristin delivers a wealth of knowledge and actionable recommendations to take your Marketing game to the Next Level. Connect with Tristin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristinvaccaro/ Let's Go Do Great Things!

  8. 12/30/2025

    Next Level w/ William C. Davis

    Next Level w/ William C. Davis In this episode, Jon sits down with leadership expert and author William C. Davis to unpack what’s broken in modern leadership—and how to fix it. With nearly 40 years of experience and a 90%+ retention track record, William shares why leadership must return to its core: people, trust, and connection. This conversation explores the difference between managing and leading, the cost of poor leadership, and why humility, empathy, and self-awareness are essential for building high-performing teams. A powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about control—it’s about enabling others to succeed. How to connect with William https://www.williamcdavis.net/

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About

The Next Level Leader is the podcast for leaders who refuse to stay where they are. Hosted by leadership and performance coach Jon Harris, each episode brings honest conversations, proven frameworks, and the mindset shifts that actually change how you lead. From real-world stories to practical tools you can apply right away, this show delivers what you need to lead with vision, execute with confidence, and adapt when it matters most. Whatever level you lead at, this show meets you where you are - and pushes you to what's next.

Information

  • Creator
    Jon Harris | Apex Performance
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jon Harris | Apex Performance
  • Show Website
    The Next Level Leader