Students Take Over: Leading on All Fronts with Eric and Kathryn

This spring I'm releasing bonus episodes of The Take Home. No new lectures on leadership, instead I'm sharing the amazing podcasts created by the students in my Leadership for Sport Professionals class.

In this bonus episode of Season 5, I'm sharing "Leading on All Fronts" which was created and produced by Eric Liao and Kathryn Detweiler. Here are their liner notes:

In the premiere and only episode of Leading on All Fronts, hosts Eric and Kathryn explore the
critical themes of Inclusive Leadership and Team Leadership from chapters 12 and 16 of Peter
G. Northouse's Leadership: Theory and Practice (9th Edition). They discuss key leadership
strategies such as embracing responsibility, mastering clear and consistent communication,
fostering a collective “bought-in” mentality, and exemplifying qualities that inspire others to
follow.

Their guest, Jeff Mueller, brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. As a
partner at Polen Capital and co-portfolio manager of the firm’s Global Growth strategy, Mueller
combines deep expertise in finance with a disciplined approach to leadership. He also serves as
an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, where he teaches Compounders in the
renowned Value Investing Program.

Mueller’s path to leadership is both dynamic and inspiring. Over a decade of service in the U.S.
Marine Corps, he flew more than 200 combat missions in F/A-18 aircraft, honing his skills in
high-pressure, mission-critical environments. He later transitioned to finance, earning his M.B.A.
with honors and distinction from Columbia Business School while being recognized as a Tillman
Scholar. Before that, he graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor of Arts in
communication and business administration, captaining the men’s tennis team, achieving
All-American status, and contributing to a national championship victory. Today, he resides in
Florida with his wife and two children.

In this episode, Mueller reflects on the lessons learned throughout his career, emphasizing the
importance of continuous growth and embracing the question, “What’s next?” He also shares a
powerful insight from his Marine Corps experience: the motto, “Mission first, Marines always.”

This guiding principle underscores the need to prioritize team cohesion as the foundation for
achieving a shared mission—wisdom that resonates far beyond military service.
Through engaging dialogue and actionable insights, this episode provides a thoughtful
exploration of leadership and its impact. It’s a fitting way to both introduce and conclude Leading
on All Fronts.

Music Credits:

● Intro: "Epic" by BlackTrendMusic
● Outro: "Epic" by Lite Saturation