From IBM to Independent: John Gallagher's Leadership Leap

🔥 Excerpt

"People change when the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of the change itself."

⚡ TL;DR

John Gallagher left a secure corporate role at IBM to build a purpose-driven coaching practice rooted in faith, intentionality, and transformation. In this episode, we unpack his journey from executive leadership to entrepreneurship — exploring how feedback, surrender, and alignment with purpose shaped his life's work. John and Rick discuss leading with integrity, building Kingdom impact through business, and finding harmony between faith, work, and personal growth.

📄 Show Notes

Some leaders are built in the boardroom; others are refined in the fire of transformation. John Gallagher is both. After a 25-year career in operations, manufacturing, and consulting — including a decade at IBM — John reached a pivotal crossroads. A performance review delivered with truth and grace set off a chain reaction that changed everything. What began as an uncomfortable wake-up call became a defining moment of humility, growth, and redirection.

When IBM downsized during COVID, John faced another decision: chase comfort or trust God's call. He chose faith — and founded Growing Champions, an executive coaching and performance consultancy designed to inspire, encourage, and equip leaders to move from "good enough" to uncommon.

We dig into what that really means — from how to measure love and hospitality in business, to how leaders can bring faith and strategy together without losing credibility or heart. John shares his own defining encounter in a grocery store checkout line that changed his life, reignited his faith, and set him on a mission to make his work his ministry.

He breaks down his "six F's" of life balance — faith, family, fitness, finances, friendship, and fun — and how reflection, accountability, and small, consistent actions (#StopEatingFrenchFries) can create extraordinary transformation. His approach is part performance science, part spiritual discipline — built on the conviction that excellence only happens on purpose.
If you've ever wondered how to reconcile faith and ambition, or how to turn hard lessons into leadership breakthroughs, this conversation is your roadmap.

✅ Key Takeaways

•  Feedback delivered with truth and grace can become the turning point for growth.
• Change requires pain — but avoiding it costs more in the long run.
• Faith and business aren't separate; when aligned, they multiply impact.
• Purpose begins with your "so that" — the reason you do what you do.
• Reflection creates momentum. Evaluate, adjust, and repeat.
• Excellence only happens on purpose — one small habit at a time.

👤 Bio

John Gallagher is the Founder and CEO of Growing Champions, an executive coaching and consulting firm helping leaders reach their full potential through intentional growth and faith-based principles. A former IBM executive with 25 years in leadership, operations, and consulting, John now focuses on equipping others to move from good to uncommon through mindset, strategy, and purpose-driven action.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Introduction to John Gallagher
01:55 Journey into Executive Coaching
04:03 The Impact of Feedback and Personal Growth
06:28 Faith and Purpose in Business
11:13 Understanding Kingdom Impact
15:18 Personal Transformation and Surrender
18:49 Aligning Faith and Work Life
25:03 Building Lasting Habits for Change
26:17 Overcoming Life's Distractions
27:21 Purposeful Reflection
31:42 Finding and Aligning with Purpose
35:49 Coaching vs. Self-Help
37:53 Real-Life Transformations
41:35 Investing in Kingdom Impact
43:53 Recognizing the Need for a Coach
48:47 Final Thoughts