What do broken surfboards, cattle ranches, and spreadsheets have in common? For David Porter, a senior executive at ServiceNow and former U.S. Army Ranger, they each taught him something essential about resilience, decision-making, and the pursuit of purpose.

In this episode of The Four F’s Podcast, host Jeff Cluff sits down with David to trace an unconventional path — from surfing the North Shore of Oahu to leading elite teams in combat and now steering global operations in tech.

David shares candid insights about engineered failure, the power of solitude, knowing what you don’t want to be, and how running toward fear can unlock your potential. Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, rebuilding after a setback, or simply searching for clarity, this conversation will resonate deeply.

👉 Listen for stories that move from wild to wise — and lessons you won’t hear in any MBA program.

If you want a chance to ask David a question about leadership, tech, how the surf is breaking in Southern California, or whatever else is on your mind, drop a voicemail for a chance to hear David answer in Part 2! https://www.fourfspodcast.com/voicemail/

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome & Intro: Jeff introduces David Porter and sets the stage for a conversation spanning surfing, the military, and leadership in tech.

03:00 – Growing Up “Lord of the Flies” Style: David reflects on his chaotic yet formative childhood in Southern California and lessons learned from a big family.

06:00 – Surfing, Broken Boards & a Wake-Up Call: A near-drowning and shattered knee in Hawaii change everything — and spark an unexpected return to school.

14:00 – Solitude on the Cattle Ranch: David’s time as a ranch hand in Northern Arizona brings discipline, reflection, and the unexpected power of silence.

20:00 – From Econ to the Army: How academic curiosity, grit, and a spreadsheet led to a career-defining pivot into the military.

29:00 – The Option 40 Contract & Engineered Failure: The grueling process of earning his Ranger slot — and how “engineered failure” became a philosophy for life.

38:00 – Lessons from Leadership & Redemption: From being told he’d “never make it” to becoming the Iron Warrior — how David turned setbacks into momentum.

46:00 – Facing Fear as a Compass: Why running toward fear became David’s decision-making framework — from military life to executive leadership.

58:00 – The Spreadsheet That Saved a Career: How one small act of initiative inside airborne school reshaped his trajectory and exemplified fieldcraft in action.

1:10:00 – From Ranger to Tech Leader: How the mindset forged in failure and fieldcraft translates into success at Microsoft and ServiceNow.

1:20:00 – Closing Reflections: David and Jeff unpack what it really means to “know what you don’t want to be.”

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love this episode: The Diary of a CEO (Steven Bartlett), The Shawn Ryan Show, The Lex Fridman Podcast, Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman, How I Built This with Guy Raz, The Mel Robbins Podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show.

What does it take to reinvent yourself six times—and still lead with purpose?In this episode, Jeff sits down with Gina Tesla, a global tech executive and social impact leader whose journey has taken her from Queens to the Peace Corps to leading corporate social responsibility at IBM, Microsoft, and Coupa Software.Gina opens up about:💡 How her humble start and community college education shaped her global career🌎 Life lessons from two years in the Peace Corps in Panama🏢 Building IBM’s Corporate Service Corps, often called “the corporate Peace Corps”💬 What leadership, service, and listening really mean in a corporate world🔥 Reinvention in the age of AI—and how to thrive through every transition🫱 How volunteering and board service unlock unexpected opportunitiesThis is a powerful conversation on purpose-driven leadership, resilience, mentorship, and the art of staying adaptable in an ever-changing world.🎧 Tune in if you’re interested in leadership, sustainability, or how to build a meaningful career that still delivers business results.👉 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations about leadership, purpose, and reinventionChapters

⁠00:00⁠ Introduction to Gina Tesla

⁠02:34⁠ Navigating Different Worlds: Urban vs. Rural Life

⁠05:28⁠ The Value of Education and Community College

⁠09:45⁠ From Community College to the Peace Corps

⁠13:08⁠ Career Transitions: From Advertising to Corporate Citizenship

⁠15:32⁠ The Importance of Reinvention in a Changing World

⁠18:19⁠ Soft Skills: The Key to Effective Leadership

⁠18:49⁠ The Essence of Effective Leadership

⁠20:04⁠ Learning from Failure

⁠22:32⁠ Cultural Insights from the Peace Corps

⁠28:06⁠ Navigating Challenges in the Peace Corps

⁠32:19⁠ Transitioning to Corporate Social Responsibility

⁠36:04⁠ Building a Career in Corporate Responsibility

⁠39:47⁠ Global Impact Through Micro Projects

⁠42:42⁠ The Role of Nonprofits in Community Engagement

⁠45:06⁠ The Benefits of Volunteerism

⁠46:54⁠ Board Service and Career Progression

⁠49:32⁠ Transitioning to Microsoft

⁠52:06⁠ Navigating Corporate Social Responsibility During COVID

⁠54:07⁠ Building ESG Initiatives at Coupa

⁠58:20⁠ Driving Change Through the Equal Air Initiative

⁠59:19⁠ Air Quality Disparities and Community Impact

⁠01:01:13⁠ Collaborative Solutions for Air Inequality

⁠01:02:39⁠ Corporate Responsibility and Shareholder Interests

⁠01:05:01⁠ Risk Mitigation and Climate Strategies

⁠01:07:51⁠ The Importance of Mentorship

⁠01:10:16⁠ Finding and Cultivating Mentors

⁠01:12:14⁠ The Power of Vulnerability in Professional Relationships

⁠01:15:10⁠ Reflecting on Small Moments and Their Impact

⁠#Leadership⁠ ⁠#WomenInTech⁠ ⁠#CorporateResponsibility⁠ ⁠#ESG⁠ ⁠#PeaceCorps⁠ ⁠#CareerReinvention⁠ ⁠#Fourfspodcast⁠ ⁠#Podcast⁠

In this episode of the Four Fs podcast, we dive into the fascinating journey of Kevin Schreck, co-founder and CEO of Elevate Consulting and Elevate Innovations. From solving math problems on napkins as a child to leading successful startups, Kevin shares insights into his path of curiosity and innovation. Join us as we explore his experiences in technology, leadership, and the art of balancing personal and professional growth. Don't miss this inspiring conversation that offers a peek behind the curtain of a truly curious mind.

More info on Kevin here: https://www.fourfspodcast.com/guests/kevin-schreck/

About Elevate Consulting: https://elvt.io/