Season 5, Episode 19. Building Better Leaders with Brad McDonald
In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born sits down with Brad McDonald — leadership designer, executive coach, and co-founder of Pattern Talent. With a mission to develop one million leaders, Brad brings deep insights from his work with organizations like Chick-fil-A, the U.S. Army, and the City of Phoenix.
Together, Natalie and Brad unpack the four dimensions of leadership — Character, Chemistry, Competence, and Capacity — and explore how these timeless principles shape emotionally intelligent, high-impact leaders. From building self-awareness to cultivating trust and unlocking the potential in others, this episode is a masterclass in leading with both head and heart.
[00:00 – 04:00] Brad’s Leadership Journey
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Growing up in a leadership-centered home and learning from his parents’ example.
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How early exposure to servant leadership through Chick-fil-A shaped his philosophy.
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Why Brad chose to dedicate his life’s work to developing leaders across industries.
[04:01 – 08:00] Character: The Foundation of Leadership
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Asking the essential question: Who am I as a leader?
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How self-awareness and emotional intelligence prevent unintentional harm.
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Why humility, integrity, and consistency build credibility and lasting trust.
[08:01 – 12:00] Chemistry: Building High-Trust Relationships
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Redefining “likability” through authentic curiosity and connection.
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The power of emotional security and presence when entering a room.
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Why curiosity and trust are the hidden superpowers of relational leadership.
[12:01 – 18:00] Competence: Knowing Your Unique Value
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Moving beyond skill to unique value contribution.
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Engaging both the head and heart of your team for sustainable performance.
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The difference between teaching and modeling — why imitation builds true capability.
[18:01 – 24:00] Capacity: Developing Leaders Who Multiply Leaders
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How to identify and nurture untapped potential in others.
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The leader’s role in creating “more, better, autonomous” leaders.
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Why leadership capacity expands through empowering others, not controlling them.
[24:01 – 29:00] The Refining Fire of Leadership
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Navigating challenges, setbacks, and chaos with resilience and perspective.
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How to process leadership growth questions in community, not isolation.
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Staying grounded and open through curiosity, humility, and feedback.
[29:01 – 31:00] Closing Reflections
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Brad’s call for leaders to invest deeply in both themselves and those they lead.
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How community, trust, and transparency unlock lasting transformation.
Quotes
“Low self-awareness can unintentionally make or break a leader.” – Brad McDonald“Great leaders cultivate genuine curiosity about the people around them.” – Brad McDonald
“If you want infinite capacity as a leader, it’s found in your ability to develop the capacity of others.” – Brad McDonald
Connect with Brad McDonald
Website: patterntalent.co
Podcast: The Daily Leader
If this conversation inspired you, don’t forget to leave a review and share this episode with a leader who’s ready to grow through innovation.
🎙️ Check out Natalie’s book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co. These are proven tools to transform your leadership and innovation approach.Visit innovationmeetsleadership.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Don’t just get out of the box — break the box and set it on fire.Let’s go transform something!
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