#331 Kevin Eikenberry: How Great Leaders Flex Without Losing Themselves — Part One

Kevin Eikenberry didn’t start in a leadership lab—he started on a farm where animals had to be fed no matter what else was happening. In Part 1, he shares how early lessons in discipline and systems thinking carried into his leadership work decades later. From his unexpected pivot from fertilizer sales to corporate training, to founding the Kevin Eikenberry Group, Kevin talks about the mistakes, pivots, and realities that shaped his approach to helping others lead better. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Feeding Hogs, Learning Discipline “No matter what else was happening, you had to feed the animals. Non-negotiable.” From Agriculture to Human Systems “I studied mechanical and biological systems. Now I work with human ones.” An Accidental Pivot into Training “I volunteered once at Chevron—and ended up reshaping my whole career.” The Easy Exit, the Harder Lesson “Leaving with projects lined up made it easier—but delayed learning how to market myself.” Keeping the Business Alive “You can’t just be good at the work. You have to keep finding the next work.” ____________________________ Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Kevin Eikenberry --Chief Change Officer-- Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself. Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep, Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts. EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist. 20 Million+ All-Time Downloads. 80+ Countries Reached Daily. Global Top 1% Podcast. Top 5 US Business. Top 1 US Careers. >>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<