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/

In this episode, we sit down with Professor Stacey Lee from Johns Hopkins University to explore the transformative power of negotiation. Stacey shares her journey from law to academia, revealing how empathy and preparation can turn tough conversations into opportunities for building stronger relationships. Whether you're navigating complex negotiations in healthcare or seeking to enhance your communication skills, Stacey's insights offer a fresh perspective on the art of negotiation. Tune in to discover how to harness the power of dialogue to create meaningful and durable agreements.

More information on the episode here: https://www.fourfspodcast.com/guests/stacey-b-lee-jd/

Leave a voicemail here: https://www.fourfspodcast.com/voicemail/

Check out the book Transforming Healthcare Through Negotiation here: https://a.co/d/eKLtTuq

Subscribe to Stacey’s Substack: https://staceyblee.substack.com/subscribe

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-b-lee/

#Negotiation #Empathy #RelationshipBuilding #CommunicationSkills #Leadership #ToughConversations

Dr. Gordon Bodnar is Professor of International Finance at the Johns Hopkins University.

The conversation explores the evolving landscape of education, particularly the impact of AI on teaching methods and student attitudes. It discusses the challenges of remote learning, the importance of hard work in education, and the implications of AI in the corporate world. The dialogue also touches on economic concepts such as tariffs, the US debt situation, and the imperfections in financial markets. In this conversation, Gordon Bodnar discusses the implications of fiscal policy and deficits on the US economy, the evolving landscape of digital assets and stable coins, the role of central banks in digital currency regulation, and the future of the US dollar in a changing global economy. He also shares insights from his research on the relationship between GDP growth and stock market performance, including the stock market's role as a forward-looking indicator.

In this conversation, Rich Kaplan shares his experiences and insights from his time at Microsoft, particularly during the Y2K crisis. He discusses the importance of leadership, effective communication, and the need for clarity in meetings. Kaplan emphasizes the significance of personal priorities and how they influence decision-making in a corporate environment. He reflects on the lessons learned from influential leaders like Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, and the impact of good leadership on organizational culture and success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:21 Leadership and Vision

03:31 Effective Communication in Leadership

05:32 Meeting Management Techniques

07:43 Feedback and Guidance in Leadership

10:01 Personal Experiences and Life Lessons

11:35 Health and Priorities

13:50 Philanthropy and Giving Back

15:54 Y2K and Crisis Management

18:02 Innovative Marketing Strategies

20:06 Reflections on Technology and Society

27:12 Navigating the Y2K Challenge

30:09 Establishing Support Policies

33:42 Customer Commitment and Reputation

36:39 Leadership and Accountability

38:19 Influencing Without Authority

49:57 Executing the Y2K Strategy

51:21 Y2K Strategy and Execution

52:58 Confidence in Preparedness

57:04 Lessons from Y2K and Security

01:02:05 Leadership and Culture at Microsoft

01:04:40 Influence of Key Leaders

From Casio diary to cyber defense: How technology curiosity shaped Andreae Pohlman's military-Microsoft arc.

In this conversation, Andreae Pohlman (Dr. Dre) shares her journey from a tech-savvy child in Texas to a successful cybersecurity expert. She discusses the importance of networking, the impact of her military service on her career, and the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. Andreae emphasizes the need for self-advocacy, building confidence, and the significance of mentorship in navigating one's career path. The conversation also touches on the importance of authenticity and the lessons learned from failures. In this conversation, Andreae Pohlman (Dr. Dre) shares her journey through the tech and cybersecurity fields, discussing her educational choices, the importance of networking at conferences, and the challenges faced by women in tech. She emphasizes the need for resilience in career paths, the significance of cybersecurity in protecting against threats, and the evolving role of AI in the industry. Andreae also highlights the mission of the Women's Society of Cyberjutsu, which aims to empower underrepresented groups in cybersecurity through education and community support.

https://womenscyberjutsu.org/

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Mike Owen—a former Microsoft engineer whose 18+ year tech career started in a unionized grocery store and ended with an unexpectedly powerful final act. Mike shares how he rebounded from a rare “zero rewards” performance review, how a blood transfusion changed his life (and his commitment to donating), and why he became a vocal advocate for salary transparency, mental health, and reverse mentorship at one of the world’s biggest tech companies.

From surviving ulcerative colitis and hospital stays, to transforming Friday virtual happy hours into safe spaces for honesty, Mike’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical generosity. We also dive into imposter syndrome, the impacts of the pandemic, coaching younger engineers, and how personal accountability—and community—can change your trajectory.

This conversation is a masterclass in redefining success beyond titles and bonuses. If you’ve ever felt unseen at work, struggled with burnout, or questioned your place in tech, this episode is for you.

You can connect with Mike on his LinkedIn, and check out his financials presentation as mentioned, that helped guide industry transparency on salary.

00:00 Introduction to Mike Owen's Journey

10:12 Navigating Career Challenges and Growth

20:12 The Importance of Salary Transparency

30:10 Reflections on Longevity and Vulnerability in the Workplace

37:55 Mentorship and Learning

38:48 The Importance of Coachability

39:30 Salary Transparency and Its Challenges

41:24 Defining Self-Worth Beyond Numbers

43:17 Overcoming Bad Reviews and Resilience

50:17 Personal Struggles and Recovery

58:21 Reflections on Layoffs and Job Security

01:02:07 The Case for Unionization in Tech

01:11:30 Advice for Young Professionals in Tech