S11-Ep6: Leading from Within - A Former Navy SEAL on Transforming Yourself to Lead Others | Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future

Guest: Diego Ugalde

What if the key to elite leadership isn’t control, but deep self-awareness and emotional intelligence? In this episode, Maureen Metcalf sits down with retired Navy SEAL, leadership expert, and storyteller Diego Ugalde to explore how authenticity, trust, and inner mastery reshape the way we lead.

Drawing from his experience in high-stakes environments and his personal transformation journey, Diego shares powerful insights on breaking the "warrior mindset," integrating emotions, and leading from a grounded, aligned place. Whether you're navigating executive challenges, managing teams, or seeking personal growth, this conversation offers actionable tools to elevate your leadership and unlock your full potential.

Here's what Diego and Maureen cover:

How self-awareness fosters trust and team alignment;
The paradox that letting go of control creates better outcomes; and
Why rigid leaders are actually acting out of fear (and how to break free from that).

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

From Ego to Impact: Managing with Clarity with Subhanu Saxena
How Your Personal Practices Make You an Exceptional Leader with Kathryn Goldman Schuyler
When Leadership Puts Life on the Line with former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin

For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!

RESOURCES:

Diego’s book is Leading from the Deep. It’s available in paperback at https://amzn.to/4kODtno, on Kindle at https://amzn.to/4kODtno, and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/4kODtno.

You’ll find more about his projects at https://thewarriorside.com/ and https://thetridentapproach.com/.

Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.

Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.

Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.

Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:

To Stop a Tyrant by Ira Chaleff, on how leaders become tyrants and their types of followers, is in hardback on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3W5XDys and on Kindle at https://amzn.to/420Zvwc. An audiobook edition is coming soon.
Bedtime Stories for Managers, a collection of short essays from Henry Mintzberg; it’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/4hl6gOb, and Kindle at https://amzn.to/3PYmSiX.
Take Back Your Power: 10 New Rules for Women at Work by Ancestry CEO Deb Liu, on how to overcome the obstacles women still face in the workplace – especially in tech. It’s in hardback at https://amzn.to/47OUO9E, and audio at https://amzn.to/3Y6EmOQ.
Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A by Steve Robinson; it’s available in hardback at https://amzn.to/460LnmQ, on Kindle at https://amzn.to/3RVXhZs, and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/3xPjBgn.

NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.

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OUR PODCAST TEAM:

Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf

Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko

Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko

Booking Producer: Jenna Reik

Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.

Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com

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About Our Guest:

Diego Ugalde is a retired Navy SEAL, leadership expert, storyteller, and author of Leading from the Deep. With decades of experience in high-stakes environments, Diego now coaches top executives to lead with emotional intelligence and purpose. His transformational approach blends SEAL leadership with spiritual depth, helping clients unlock new levels of success and fulfillment. He is also the creator of Warriorside, an immersive storytelling experience that reconnects people to their humanity through powerful, vulnerable stories. Diego’s work has been praised for its deep impact, with clients such as Google X and elite leaders across industries.