Michael Sytsma - Mid-Month Deep Dive

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In this mid-month deep dive, our guest hosts revisit a popular interview with Michael Sytsma, President of Key Bank in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Michael shares his unconventional journey to leadership and his dedication to serving his community. The episode highlights his inspiring story about helping create a sustainable orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo with his friend Christophe and delves into his philosophy of servant leadership. Michael emphasizes the importance of creating a positive work environment, lifelong learning, and the powerful role of faith in his leadership style. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own leadership journey, the legacy they want to leave, and how they can make a positive impact in their daily lives.

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Episode Transcript

Jason (00:00):
Welcome to the biblical leadership at work mid month.
Deep dive.
And today's bonus episode.
Our guest hosts revisit one ofour most popular interviews.
If this quick recap inspiresyou.
Then be sure to check out thefull episode.
For even more great insights.
All right.
So today we're taking a deepdive into leadership, faith and

(00:22):
philanthropy all through thelens of Michael Sixma.
Yeah, should be a fascinatingone.
President of Key Bank in GrandRapids, Michigan.
Um, you gave me this interviewhe did on the Biblical
Leadership at Work podcast, andit's, uh, Quite a story.
It is.
Full of surprises.
Yeah.
And, you know, one of the thingsthat struck me right away was
just how his path to leadershipwasn't this, like, straight

(00:45):
line.
Oh, yeah.
You know, he starts outinterested in real estate, in
manufacturing.
Yeah.
He even interned at a bank justto kind of help him decide
between the two.
It's funny how life takes you inthese different directions.
It is.
And so he ends up having thispassion for banking, but not in
the way you might think.
Exactly.
And, you know, he could havefocused on You know, climbing

(01:06):
that corporate ladder andgetting to the top, but instead,
he really found fulfillment byfocusing on serving his
community and really buildingthose relationships.
It's a good reminder thatleadership isn't always about a
title or a position.
Absolutely.
It's really about having apositive impact in whatever you
do.
It really is.
And speaking of impact, hisstory about the orphanage in the

(01:29):
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Oh, yeah.
Is just such a powerful exampleof how he puts his beliefs into
action.
Yeah.
So his friend Christophe, arefugee from Congo.
Right.
Makes this incredible decisionto adopt 27 children who were
living on the streets.
That's amazing in and of itself,that act of compassion.
It is.
What's really remarkable is howMichael kind of used his

(01:52):
business skills.
Right.
To help Kristoff turn this intoa sustainable organization.
Yeah.
So they set up a functioningorphanage complete with housing
and education health care forall these kids.
And it shows the power of howdifferent skills and passions
can come together.
Absolutely.
To create real change.
Yeah, it's inspiring.
And, and it's not just him, hisdaughter, who was only 19 at the

(02:13):
time.
Wow.
Played a key role in setting upthe website, the sponsorship
program.
That's great.
It's really cool to seedifferent generations coming
together and make a differencelike that.
Absolutely.
And it kind of speaks to thatidea that, you know, you don't
have to be a CEO or have, youknow, years of experience to
make a difference.
You know, everyone has somethingto contribute.
Sometimes it's just using thoseskills and resources that you

(02:34):
already have to support a causethat you believe in.
Now, shifting gears a bit, let'stalk about Michael's leadership
philosophy in general.
Okay.
One thing that really stood outto me was his emphasis on
creating a positive workenvironment.
He really believes in supportingand empowering his team.
Yeah, and, and he's not afraidto admit that, you know, he's

(02:57):
had his own struggles along theway.
Oh, yeah.
Early on in his career, he talksabout wrestling with pride and,
you know, wanting to provehimself.
Mm hmm.
And it's kind of refreshing tohear a leader.
You know, acknowledge, you know,those imperfections in that
growth process.
Yeah.
It makes it much more relatable.
It does.
He realized that true leadershipis about fostering trust, and

(03:21):
creating an environment whereeveryone feels valued and
respected, and prioritizingcollaboration over competition.
It makes me think of that, youknow, John Maxwell quote.
Yeah.
Leadership is influence.
Yeah.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Right.
It's powerful.
And Michael really gets that.
You know, it's about inspiringand guiding people, not

(03:43):
dictating or controlling them.
And he gives some practicalexamples of this.
Oh, really?
He mentioned a time when hestepped down from a board
position that wasn't the rightfit.
Even though it might have seemedlike a prestigious opportunity,
he realized it was important tobe really deliberate about how
he spends his time and energy.
That's a great point.
You know, sometimes saying nocan be just as important as

(04:06):
saying yes.
It's about making thoseconscious choices that align
with your values.
It's worth noting that Michael'sfaith plays a significant role
in shaping his leadership style.
Mm hmm.
He often refers to the biblicalprinciple of servant leadership.
Okay.
Which is really about puttingthe needs of others before your
own.
Interesting.
Yeah, it's fascinating how thatfaith really informs his whole

(04:28):
approach to leadership.
Mm hmm.
Yeah.
You know, it's not just about,you know, going to church or
reading the Bible.
Yeah.
It's about really like livingout those values in his daily
life.
And he's open about the factthat it's not always easy.
You know.
Right.
He talks about struggling tostay consistent in his spiritual
practices, especially withprayer.
Yeah.
I think that makes him even morerelatable.

(04:51):
You know, even someone like him,you know, in a leadership
position, someone who's deeplyrooted in his faith still faces
those everyday struggles.
It does.
You know, it highlights theimportance of having that
support system and, you know,that accountability.
He talks about finding strengthand encouragement in his weekly
men's group, which he's been apart of for over two decades.

(05:12):
Wow, that's a commitment.
It is.
Yeah.
And speaks to the power ofcommunity and surrounding
yourself with people who cansupport you.
And not just receiving support,but offering it as well.
Yeah.
It seems like that sense ofcommunity is a big part of his
life.
It really is.
Both personally andprofessionally.
And he also talked about how heloves the works of C.
S.
Lewis.
Oh, that's interesting.
Yeah.

(05:33):
What is it about C.
S.
Lewis that resonates with him?
He admires how Lewis can breakdown these complex theological
concepts and make them relatableand understandable.
And I think that kind of alignswith his own leadership style,
you know, emphasizing clearcommunication and Yeah.
Building those genuineconnections.

(05:54):
And he also mentioned findinginspiration from biographies of
people like George Washington,Martin Luther King Jr., Winston
Churchill.
So he's pulling from a lot ofdifferent sources.
Yeah.
Different perspectives.
Yeah, a lot of differentperspectives.
He had the opportunity to meetChristo Brand.
Okay.
Who was the prison guard whooversaw Nelson Mandela.

(06:14):
Oh, wow.
During his imprisonment.
Now, that's a story I want tohear more about.
It really is incredible to thinkabout these two men coming from
such different backgrounds andexperiences, but finding this
common ground, this mutualrespect and understanding.
And I think it speaks to thepower of forgiveness.
Absolutely.
Reconciliation.

(06:35):
Considering the circumstances,you know, Mandela, after
enduring all those years ofunjust imprisonment, He comes
out not with bitterness orrevenge but with a message of
peace and reconciliation.
It's incredible.
It really is a powerful exampleof leadership.
Yeah, it makes you think about,you know, how you would react in
a similar situation.

(06:55):
You know, would you chooseresentment?
Or forgiveness.
Yeah.
Would you let those pastexperiences define you?
It's a tough question.
It is.
You know, it really goes beyondleadership in just a
professional setting.
Right.
It speaks to, you know, our corevalues as human beings and how
we choose to navigate thecomplexities of life.
And Michael doesn't shy awayfrom these tough conversations

(07:17):
about the complexities ofleadership.
Especially when it comes toethical considerations.
He talks about this concerningtrend he saw in Africa where
resources intended to helppeople in need were sometimes
diverted for personal gain.
Yeah.
It's a sad reality.
It is.
That power can be misused evenwith the best intentions.

(07:40):
Yeah.
Ethical leadership reallyrequires constant vigilance and
commitment to transparency andaccountability.
Yeah.
For sure.
He emphasized that true leadersput the needs of others first,
you know, it's not aboutenriching yourself or furthering
your own agenda.
It really ties back to that ideaof servant leadership that he

(08:00):
talked about earlier.
It does.
You know, recognizing thatleadership is a responsibility.
It's a privilege.
Yeah.
It's an opportunity to servesomething greater than yourself.
And it's not always about thosebig gestures or pronouncements,
you know, it can be about Thesmaller everyday choices we
make.
Like when he decided to stepdown from that board position.
Yeah, I remember that.

(08:21):
Yeah, he recognized that trueleadership sometimes means
making sacrifices.
Right.
And prioritizing what reallymatters.
Yeah, absolutely.
And you can see how his faithreally plays a central role in
shaping his values.
Right.
He sees leadership as thiscalling.
To serve, to lead with humility,and to create a work environment

(08:44):
that reflects his beliefs.
It's a great example of howfaith can really inform our
actions and guide our decisions.
Yeah.
You know, it's not aboutimposing your beliefs on others,
but about letting your valuesshine through in the way you
live your life and the choicesyou make.
So ultimately, Michael'sapproach to leadership is about
Using your influence, yourtalents, right, your resources.

(09:05):
Mm-hmm To make a positiveimpact.
Yeah.
It's about inspiring others tobe their best selves and to
contribute to something largerthan themselves.
And when asked about, you know,what he wants his legacy to be,
right.
He didn't talk about, you know,professional achievements or
accolades.
No.
Didn't he said he wants to beremembered.
For caring.
Yeah.
For making a difference and forthe quality of his

(09:27):
relationships.
And that really stood out to me.
It did to me, too.
You know, in a world that oftenprioritizes success and
accomplishments.
Right.
He seems to understand that truefulfillment comes from making a
positive difference in the livesof others.
Absolutely.
He also talked about building astrong team.
Mm hmm.
Fostering a culture of respectand collaboration in the

(09:48):
workplace.
Right.
He believes in recognizing theleadership potential in
everyone.
Yeah.
I like that.
Regardless of their position.
Mm hmm.
And it kind of reminds me of hispoint about being deliberate
with your commitments.
Oh, yeah.
You know, like when he steppeddown from that board position.
Right.
Sometimes saying no can actuallybe an act of leadership.
Yeah.
It can free you up.

(10:08):
Yeah.
To focus your energy where itreally matters.
And it allows you to stay trueto your values.
Exactly.
And, you know, for Michael,those values are clearly rooted
in his faith.
Right.
But the underlying message isuniversal.
It's about integrity.
It's about authenticity and it'sabout using your influence for
good He also emphasized theimportance of being a lifelong

(10:29):
learner.
Oh in what way, you know alwaysseeking out new knowledge and
perspectives Yeah, whether it'sthrough books conversations or
just observing the world aroundus.
That's such a valuable mindsetYou know, it's easy to get
complacent.
Yeah, especially as we gainexperience, right?
But true growth requires thatwillingness to, you know,

(10:51):
challenge our assumptions, tostay curious, and to be open to
learning from anyone, regardlessof their background or position.
He shared one of his favoritepieces of advice for young
leaders.
Okay, like that.
Find something you love and gofind a way to be excellent at
it.
I love that.
There's so much wisdom in that.
There is.
You know, it encourages peopleto identify their passions, to

(11:13):
align their work with theirvalues, and to find what truly
fulfills them.
Right.
It's not about chasing thoseexternal markers of success.
It's about finding what trulylights you up.
What are your thoughts on that?
I think it's incrediblyempowering.
Yeah.
It shifts the focus from, youknow, external validation to
internal motivation.

(11:35):
Right.
You know, it's not about chasingtitles or accolades.
Right.
It's about pursuing somethingyou genuinely care about.
Yeah.
And striving to be the bestversion of yourself within that
field.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's about finding that sweetspot, you know, where your
passions and your skills align.
Yeah.
And then really dedicatingyourself to mastering that

(11:55):
craft.
And And, you know, as Michael'sstory shows, it's a dedication
can lead to some prettyincredible impact.
Yeah.
Both personally andprofessionally.
And when you ask him about, youknow, what kind of legacy he
wants to leave.
Right.
He doesn't talk about, you know,money or fame or success.
Yeah.
He talks about wanting to beremembered for caring, for

(12:15):
making a difference and for thequality of his relationships.
That's powerful.
It is.
You know, in a world that often,you know, put so much emphasis
on achievements and awards.
Yeah.
He gets it.
Yeah.
You know, true fulfillment comesfrom making a positive impact on
the lives of others.
He talked about how important itis to build a strong team and to

(12:37):
create a culture of respect andcollaboration.
And he really believes inrecognizing the leadership
potential in everyone, no matterwhat their job title is.
It all comes back to that ideathat leadership isn't about
hierarchy, it's not aboutauthority.
It's about empowering thosearound you.
It's about creating anenvironment where everyone feels

(13:01):
valued and they can contributetheir unique gifts and talents.
And it reminds me of when hetalked about stepping down from
that board position.
You know, because it wasn't theright fit.
Sometimes saying no is the bestway to lead yourself and to lead
others.
And stay true to your values.
Exactly.
Which, for Michael, are verymuch rooted in his faith.

(13:22):
But I think there's a universalmessage there.
Oh, yeah.
You know, it's about integrity,it's about authenticity.
It's about using whateverinfluence you have to make a
positive impact.
It really is.
So, as we wrap up this deep diveinto Michael's story Yeah.
I want to leave you with this.
What kind of leader do you wantto be?
Yeah.
What kind of legacy do you wantto leave behind?

(13:43):
Think about the people youinteract with every day, at
work, at home, in yourcommunity.
Yeah.
How can you use your influenceto serve them?
Right.
How can you make their lives alittle bit brighter?
Sometimes it's the smallestthings that make the biggest
difference.
Absolutely.
Just a kind word, a helpinghand, a listening ear.
Those little things can go along way.

(14:03):
They can.
Leadership is a journey.
It is.
Not a destination.
We're all learning and growingand evolving.
So embrace those challenges,find mentors, and never stop
striving to be the best versionof yourself.
It's been great taking this deepdive with you.
Likewise.
Thanks for joining us.