In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, executive coach and former healthcare CEO Al Pilong sits down with Dr. Loraine Frank-Lightfoot, Vice President and Triad Region Chief Nursing Executive at Novant Health.

Drawing from more than 40 years of nursing and healthcare leadership experience, Loraine shares practical insights on courage, confidence, transparency, team culture, and what it truly takes to lead when things get hard.

Al and Loraine discuss:

• Why leadership is ultimately a team sport

• How great leaders avoid being reactionary

• Standing up for what’s right, even when it’s unpopular

• Building confidence through experience and consistency

• Leading teams through difficult decisions

• Creating cultures people can actually feel when they walk into an organization

Loraine also reflects on influential mentors throughout her career, her philosophy on empowering leaders instead of micromanaging, and the lessons she’s learned leading through some of healthcare’s most challenging environments.

If you lead people — especially in healthcare — this episode offers grounded leadership wisdom and honest conversation from two experienced healthcare leaders.

Leadership is ultimately about relationships.In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, Al Pilong sits down with Dr. Tonya Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Valley Health, for a thoughtful conversation about trust, presence, courage, vulnerability, and the lasting impact leaders have on the people around them.Drawing from decades of leadership experience in healthcare, Tonya shares practical wisdom on:• Building trust through consistency and presence• Why reassurance matters during difficult moments• Lessons learned from both great leaders and poor leadership experiences• Creating psychological safety and accountability on teams• The importance of giving yourself grace as a leader• A powerful personal practice she calls the “gratitude box”One of the most meaningful reminders from this conversation:People may forget what you said or did — but they will remember how you made them feel.Whether you lead a healthcare organization, a business, a team, or a family, this episode offers grounded insight into the kind of leadership people remember long after the meeting is over.#Leadership #HealthcareLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #Trust #Culture #LeadershipDevelopment #ServantLeadership

In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute, for a candid conversation on what separates effective leaders from ineffective ones.

Alan shares why professional insecurity can become one of the most toxic leadership traits, how leaders can build greater self-awareness, and why surrounding yourself with strong people is one of the greatest keys to success.

We also discuss:

• Why trust must be built before hard decisions come
• How servant leadership works in practice
• The power of the first team mindset
• Why authenticity matters more than having all the answers
• How healthy cultures are built under pressure

A thoughtful conversation with practical wisdom for leaders in healthcare and beyond.

#Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #ServantLeadership #HealthcareLeadership #Culture #Trust

Leadership is hard. And in healthcare—it matters even more.

In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Mark Nantz, President & CEO of Valley Health, to talk about what truly defines impactful leadership.

Mark shares lessons from three leaders who shaped his career, why connection to purpose matters more than credentials, and how authenticity builds trust—especially in times of uncertainty.

We also dive into the role of transparency and vulnerability in leadership, including how leaders navigate difficult decisions while maintaining credibility and alignment.

This is a conversation about what it really means to lead—with purpose, clarity, and conviction.

👇 Full episode also available on YouTube

#Leadership #HealthcareLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #OrganizationalCulture #Trust

Leadership is easy to talk about—but much harder to live, especially under pressure.

In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Carlos Scholz, CEO of Catalysis, to explore why leaders fail, what separates those who succeed, and what servant leadership actually looks like in practice.

We discuss:

• Why leadership often breaks down under pressure
• The shift from control to empowerment
• The role of psychological safety in driving improvement
• What it really means to lead with purpose and serve others
• Why principles matter most when the stakes are highest

If you’re a leader navigating complexity, change, or uncertainty—this conversation is for you.

#Leadership #ServantLeadership #HealthcareLeadership #LeanLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment

In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, Al Pilong sits down with Laura Glenn, Chief Operating Officer of Munson Healthcare, for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, resilience, and authenticity.

Laura shares the leadership book that had the greatest impact on her early career, reflects on the importance of using your voice and setting boundaries, and discusses how leaders can create environments where innovation, transparency, and learning from failure are possible.

Together, Al and Laura explore what it means to lead with vulnerability, how to navigate difficult decisions without pretending to have all the answers, and why building a safe, trusting culture starts at the top.

Laura closes with a powerful reminder for anyone serving in healthcare: the work is demanding, but it is also a profound privilege.

In this episode #4 of the AP Leadership Podcast, Al Pilong sits down with Dr. Kevin Omilusik to explore success and failure in leadership.

They discuss the discipline of listening, why leaders don’t need to have all the answers, and how trust accelerates performance. Drawing from The Speed of Trust and unexpected lessons from the movies, this conversation offers practical insight for leaders navigating complex healthcare environments.

Leadership is a team sport — and trust is the foundation.

In this episode of The AP Leadership Podcast, Al Pilong sits down with Kent Riddle, President & CEO of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, to explore what makes leadership succeed — and why it so often fails.

Kent shares his deeply personal journey into healthcare leadership after his wife survived a traumatic brain injury and received life-changing rehabilitation care. What began as board service turned into 15 years of CEO leadership — and sustained double-digit growth built on culture.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Common leadership failures — including narcissism and ego
• The importance of psychological safety
• Why leaders must expect more from their teams
• Servant leadership in practice
• Why culture drives performance and financial strength
• Favorite leadership thinkers including John Maxwell and Simon Sinek

Mary Free Bed has grown 10% annually for over a decade — not by leading with finance, but by leading with mission.

If you’re a healthcare executive, organizational leader, or aspiring CEO, this episode offers practical insight and grounded wisdom.

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