People, Process, Progress: Leadership from Critical Care to the Boardroom

Kevin Pannell
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

When the plan fails, how do you lead? Most people have a plan for when things go right. Very few have a framework for when they go wrong. Hosted by Kevin Pannell, a former Navy Hospital Corpsman in critical care, Firefighter/EMT, and current Enterprise IT PMO leader; People, Process, Progress is a masterclass in high-stakes decision-making. From the sterile intensity of an ICU to the unpredictable chaos of a 911 call and the complex politics of a corporate boardroom, the variables remain the same: People, Process, and Progress. Every episode follows a simple rhythm to give you actionable insights for Monday morning: - People: Understanding the mindset of those who stay steady under pressure. - Process: Deconstructing the tactical systems that actually work when it gets hard. - Progress: Identifying the growth earned by staying the course. Whether it’s a conversation with a first responder, business owner, or veteran, we explore one core truth: Growth is earned, and hope is not a plan. Own your role. Move with discipline. Progress starts here.

  1. The First 30 Days of Any Project

    MAR 10

    The First 30 Days of Any Project

    Many projects struggle not because of poor execution, but because alignment was never built at the start. In this episode, Kevin Pannell shares practical leadership lessons on why the first 30 days of a project matter most. Drawing from experience in healthcare IT, emergency management, and cross-organizational initiatives, he explains how clear intent, open communication, and shared expectations set the tone for successful work. If you lead projects, teams, or initiatives, these early conversations can determine whether your work moves forward smoothly or spends months correcting avoidable problems.

    11 min

  2. FEB 26 · BONUS

    You Are Not Behind: Keep Building

    A lot of young people feel like they are already late. Late to choose the right major, late to land the right job, late to make real money, late to figure life out. In this episode, I share the long arc of my own path, from joining the Navy at 19 to working IT support at 25, going back to college at 29, graduating at 32 with a newborn at home, serving in public health and emergency management through my late 30s, becoming an EMS Captain at 41, and eventually leading an enterprise IT PMO. Along the way, I also built strength in my 40s, earned my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt, and continued to grow in faith and discipline. This conversation is a reminder that your twenties are not a deadline; they are a runway. You are not behind, you are building.

    6 min

  3. FEB 14

    From the GWOT to Giving Back: How Clay Surratt Builds Others Through Martial Arts

    In this episode of People, Process, Progress, From the GWOT to Giving Back: How Clay Surratt Builds Others Through Martial Arts, host Kevin Pannell sits down with Clay Surratt, the founder of Guerrilla ATX. Together, they explore the transition from military service to civilian life and how the "mission" doesn't end when the uniform comes off—it just changes shape. Clay opens up about his journey from joining the Army in the wake of 9/11 to finding a new calling in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He shares how he uses martial arts as a restorative practice to build men up physically, mentally, and spiritually, creating a community where veterans and civilians alike can sharpen one another. Resources mentioned: Connect with Clay Surratt: Website: Guerrilla ATXInstagram: @conscious.claySupport the Mission: Curtis Bartlett Fitness: Learn MoreVeteran Bushido Brotherhood: Support Veterans

    1h 30m

  4. FEB 4

    When the Bagpipes Play: Owning the Moment, Moving through the Weight, Anchoring What Comes Next

    This week’s episode, When the Bagpipes Play: Owning the Moment, Moving through the Weight, Anchoring What Comes Next, is about the weight of losing brothers and sisters in public safety, the responsibility of planning line of duty death services, and how to move through grief in a healthier way. I break it down using a simple framework: Own where you are.Move through the weight together.Anchor what comes next with connection and support. This one is for those who have carried the flag, stood watch, or covered a shift so others could grieve. Godspeed y'all, Kevin

    8 min

  5. JAN 23 · BONUS

    Own. Move. Anchor. Lessons from The Burg Box - Faith in Action Friday

    In this Faith in Action Friday episod, Own. Move. Anchor. Lessons from The Burg Box, I follow up on my recent conversation with Jennifer Prevette, founder of The Burg Box, and reflect on what Own. Move. Anchor. really means in everyday life. I share how owning your mind is about learning to handle stress and regulate emotions, how moving your body is simple but powerful medicine for mental and physical health, and how anchoring your spirit helps keep the weight of decisions and expectations from becoming overwhelming. Jennifer’s approach to business, family, mental health, movement, and faith is a practical example of how these ideas can show up together without extremes or hype, just steady practices that support clarity, consistency, and perspective.

    3 min

  6. JAN 22

    The Burg Box Began Here | Jennifer's Prevette's Path to Success in Blacksburg, Virginia

    In this episode of People, Process, Progress of the New River Valley, I sit down with Jennifer Prevette, founder of The Burg Box, a locally rooted gift box company built around community, craftsmanship, and care. Jennifer shares her journey from studying architecture at Virginia Tech to working in marketing, to becoming a full-time mom, and eventually building a business that connects people through thoughtfully curated boxes featuring local makers. We talk about faith, intention, and what it really looks like to build something meaningful and sustainable, one box at a time. Connect with Jennifer and The Burg Box: Start with the website to explore current boxes and local makers: https://www.theburgbox.com/ Follow on Instagram for new releases and behind-the-scenes updates: https://www.instagram.com/the_burg_box/?hl=en Connect on Facebook for community updates and gifting ideas: https://www.facebook.com/theburgbox/ More conversations highlighting the people, process, and progress shaping the New River Valley at https://peopleprocessprogress.com

    49 min

  7. JAN 16

    Why DRiVE Still Matters in Leadership

    This short bridge episode, Why DRiVE Still Matters in Leadership, revisits key leadership lessons from Drive by Daniel Pink. The focus is on why autonomy, mastery, and purpose continue to shape motivation, engagement, and performance in modern organizations, especially in complex and remote environments. This episode also connects recent reflections with an upcoming conversation with Jennifer Prevette, Founder and Owner of The Burg Box. Episode Highlights: Autonomy without trust leads to isolationMastery stalls when growth paths are unclearPurpose fades when communication declinesRemote work amplifies existing leadership gapsMotivation often declines before performance does

    6 min

  8. JAN 1

    7 Books to Start 2026 Strong

    In this episode, I share seven books I read, or returned to, in 2025 that helped me stay disciplined, grounded, and clear-headed heading into 2026. These aren’t trend-driven recommendations. They’re books focused on hardship, meaning, faith, resilience, and personal responsibility. Some pushed me physically, others reshaped how I think about suffering and connection. All of them helped me show up better in my life and leadership. Books Discussed in This Episode The Stability EquationDiscipline Equals Freedom Field ManualThe Wim Hof MethodWhat Doesn’t Kill UsMan’s Search for MeaningLost ConnectionsThe Amplified Bible Read the full post and resources: https://peopleprocessprogress.com/2026/01/01/7-books-to-start-2026-strong/ Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.

    10 min
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About

When the plan fails, how do you lead? Most people have a plan for when things go right. Very few have a framework for when they go wrong. Hosted by Kevin Pannell, a former Navy Hospital Corpsman in critical care, Firefighter/EMT, and current Enterprise IT PMO leader; People, Process, Progress is a masterclass in high-stakes decision-making. From the sterile intensity of an ICU to the unpredictable chaos of a 911 call and the complex politics of a corporate boardroom, the variables remain the same: People, Process, and Progress. Every episode follows a simple rhythm to give you actionable insights for Monday morning: - People: Understanding the mindset of those who stay steady under pressure. - Process: Deconstructing the tactical systems that actually work when it gets hard. - Progress: Identifying the growth earned by staying the course. Whether it’s a conversation with a first responder, business owner, or veteran, we explore one core truth: Growth is earned, and hope is not a plan. Own your role. Move with discipline. Progress starts here.

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