August 26, 2025
#37 How a Pastor Built the Most Successful Chick-fil-A Leadership Program | Donnie Petersen
The David Guttman PodcastAbout this episode
True leadership isn’t about getting people to follow you because of your title, it’s about earning follower-ship through character, and Donnie Petersen embodies this principle in ways that will reshape how you think about influence. His journey from the life of the party to servant leadership demonstrates that the most powerful leadership flows from genuine love and truth rather than manipulation or authority. Connect with Donnie Petersen: Website: https://bit.ly/465zayB Instagram: https://bit.ly/4oSnwOZ LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/47wbeG7 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro of Show 01:40 Donnie Petersen’s Back Story 07:18 Spiritual Awakening and Surrendering to God 15:07 Faith is a Gift 19:52 Christian Journey and Answering to His Calling as a Pastor 32:59 Servant Leadership as His Foundation of Entrepreneurial Leadership 35:32 True Leadership is based upon Character 42:48 Survival Mindset vs. Thriving Mindset 44:38 Leadership Journey with Chick-fil-A 55:40 Creation and Impact of Colere 58:41 Overcoming Challenges of Integration 1:04:25 Mission of His Family 1:13:53 What do you want people to say about you on your funeral? Watch the “ David Guttman Podcast ” every Tuesday at 8AM EST on YouTube https://bit.ly/3ZGK2yv Connect with David Guttman Website: https://bit.ly/4jclYvK Instagram: https://bit.ly/4iARMe9 TikTok: https://bit.ly/3P19NVm Facebook: https://bit.ly/49CQjQx X: https://bit.ly/4gH28aR LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3Bx7Tc2 SUBSCRIBE TO: https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialDavidGuttman Download the “David Guttman Podcast” on all your favorite podcast platforms: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3VE3fzV Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3VLzm0v