What does it take for a first-generation college student with a geology degree to become CEO of a major telecommunications company?

In this episode of Bearcats Mean Business, Lindner MBA alumnus and altafiber President and CEO Leigh Fox reflects on an unconventional career defined by hard work, curiosity and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.

From working 40 hours a week while putting himself through college to pivoting from geology into business, Fox shares how saying "yes" to difficult opportunities — and figuring them out along the way — shaped his leadership and career journey.

In this conversation with Lindner dean Marianne Lewis, Fox also offers an honest look at what leadership requires once you reach the corner office. He explains why the CEO title can be dangerous if you let it feed your ego, how intentionally staying humble has made him a better leader, and why learning, failure and continuous growth never stop.

The UC Foundation Board of Trustees Chair also discusses the importance of civic leadership and giving back, describing how scholarships, philanthropy and community engagement became central to his purpose after Lindner changed the trajectory of his own life.

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Welcome to Bearcats Mean Business, the official podcast of the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, where inspiring career stories, honest lessons and fresh business perspectives from the people building impact in the real world come together.