Create the Future
The Create the Future Podcast™ is hosted by Rick Williams, keynote speaker and author of Create the Future – your essential leadership guidebook for making difficult decisions. The Create the Future Podcast is a community forum for leaders to share their stories about making difficult choices in an engaging and entertaining way so others will learn from their experiences. When you listen to the Create the Future Podcast, you will learn how to be a more successful leader who makes the difficult decisions. You will hear how inspiring leaders have faced similar challenges. You will hear about courage, fear, determination, and hope. Executives, entrepreneurs, aspiring leaders, board members, nonprofit leaders, public-sector leaders, and mission-driven professionals share their stories about leadership challenges and making tough choices that shaped the future of their organization and their own careers. If you have a compelling story to tell about making a tough call for your company, or any organization – what went right, what went wrong, and lessons learned – share your story with the Create the Future Podcast audience. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.rickwilliamsleadership.com/podcast-guest.
Episodes
What do you do when your life is already full—but you still have a dream worth pursuing?
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams sits down with Lisa Woodruff, Founder and CEO of Organize 365, author, speaker, and business leader, to explore the courage it takes to make a life-changing decision when you already have a career, a business, and a family to care for.
Lisa shares the story behind her decision ...
What if the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is building the product before they know customers actually want it?
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams sits down with John Walsh, Founder and CEO of Endera, to explore what it really takes to build, validate, and scale a company in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle industry.
John shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, including the importance o...
What does it really take to lead across cultures, adapt to change, and create genuine inclusion?
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams sits down with Frances West, veteran technology executive, author, and founder of FrancesWest & Co., to explore the leadership lessons she learned from navigating complex cross-cultural environments.
Frances shares insights from her experience in global technology leaders...
What if your paycheck could become the starting point for a business that gives you more freedom, purpose, and control over your time?
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams sits down with George Dubec, entrepreneur, author, business consultant, and networking expert, to explore what it really takes to make the leap from a steady job to entrepreneurship.
George shares lessons from his journey from a corporate...
What should you do when your career no longer goes according to plan?
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams speaks with executive coach Kim Sawyer, President of theWealthSource, about turning career setbacks, uncertainty, and difficult decisions into opportunities for growth.
Kim shares how his approach to decision-making evolved throughout his career—from reacting impulsively to using mentors, self-re...
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams sits down with Dr. Eugene Manley Jr., Founder & CEO of SCHEQ Foundation, scientist, speaker, and health equity advocate.
Dr. Manley shares his journey of championing health equity, inclusive leadership, and the courage required to create lasting impact in communities. Through powerful stories and practical leadership lessons, he explains why purpose-driven leadershi...
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams sits down with Dr. Zafra Lerman, internationally recognized chemist, educator, human rights advocate, and President of the Malta Conferences Foundation.
Dr. Lerman shares how scientific collaboration can build trust across political, cultural, and ideological divides. From promoting science education to advancing human rights and peace, she reveals why collaboration&mda...
How do some experts become industry icons while others remain invisible?
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams sits down with Paige Arnof-Fenn, Founder & CEO of Mavens & Moguls, to explore what truly builds a memorable brand.
Paige shares lessons from leading marketing initiatives for Fortune 500 companies and startups, revealing why authenticity, bold positioning, and values-driven leadership create...
In this episode of Create the Future, your host Rick Williams speaks with Tom Doorley, CEO of Sage Partners, about leadership and decision-making.
Tom shares his journey from chemical engineer to management consultant at Arthur D. Little, and eventually entrepreneur. He recounts two key decisions: leaving Arthur D. Little to found his own consulting firm despite personal financial pressures, and helping a current client reassess mis...
In this episode of Create the Future, host Rick Williams speaks with John Walsh, Founder and CEO of Endera.
John shares his entrepreneurial journey, from launching businesses at just 25 years old to building and scaling an electric bus company in a rapidly evolving market. Drawing on lessons from private equity, automotive restructuring, startup failures, and customer development, John explains why the most successful founders valid...
In this episode of Create the Future, your host Rick Williams speaks with Bobby Humes, CEO of BH Consultancy and former HR Director for the City of Seattle.
Bobby shares his leadership journey, including receiving anonymous critical letters while modernizing Seattle's HR department, battling imposter syndrome, and navigating resistance to change. He discusses how executive coaching transformed his perspective, leading him to launch ...
In this episode of Create the Future, your host Rick Williams speaks with Dr. Eugene Manley, Jr., Founder and CEO of STEMM & Cancer Health Equity.
Dr. Manley shares his journey from inner-city Detroit to becoming a mechanical engineer, molecular biologist, and patient advocate. He recounts a pivotal leadership moment when an uninvited speaker demanded keynote status at his lung cancer health equity summit. Dr. Manley stood firm,...
In this episode of the Create the Future podcast, your host Rick Williams speaks with Rhonda Petit, Founder of 3X5 Coaching LLC. Rhonda shares her journey from a 34-year sales career to becoming a leadership coach. She discusses the pivotal decisions she made at 40, including leaving a demanding job and ending her marriage, driven by her struggle with codependency and approval addiction. Rhonda emphasizes the importance of authenti...
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, your host Rick Williams speaks with Adam Povlitz, CEO & President of Anago Cleaning, about his journey from finance and IBM to leading his father's three-tier commercial cleaning franchise.
Adam shares how he started at the bottom, learned every role, and eventually scaled the company from $67M to $100M in just 19 months by delegating strategically and hiring senior leaders. He a...
In this episode of the Create the Future podcast, host Rick Williams interviews Dr. Zafra Lerman, President of the Malta Conferences Foundation.
Dr. Lerman shares her journey as a scientist and leader, highlighting her courageous efforts to unite scientists from conflicting Middle Eastern countries to promote peace through science. She discusses overcoming personal and political challenges, the power of science diplomacy, and the im...
In this episode of Create the Future, your host Rick Williams interviews Desiree Martinez, Founder of The Kast Agency.
Desiree shares her journey from early social media marketing to making a pivotal decision: shifting her business from chasing rapid growth to focusing on sustainable, values-driven strategies. She discusses adapting to industry changes, especially the rise of AI and the renewed need for human connection. Desiree emp...
In this episode, host Rick Williams and guest Dusty Holcomb, Founder and CEO of Arcqus Group, engage in a thoughtful discussion on effective leadership, focusing on decision-making, vulnerability, and self-leadership.
They share personal stories and practical strategies, highlighting the importance of seeking diverse perspectives, managing fear, and separating self-worth from outcomes. The conversation emphasizes authentic vulnerabi...
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, host Rick Williams interviews leadership coach and author Paul Thornton. Paul shares his journey from corporate HR leader to college professor and prolific writer.
He recounts a pivotal lesson from coaching hockey: enforcing accountability by leaving late players behind, despite their importance to the team. The discussion explores the challenges of leadership, the importance of livi...
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, your host Rick Williams interviews Nick Jain, Co-Founder of Eagle Rock CFO. Nick shares his experience leading a mid-sized, founder-led software company through a pivotal transition to professional management. He discusses implementing data-driven decision-making, shifting company culture, and the importance of financial clarity. Nick also reflects on learning from failure, balancin...
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, your host Rick Williams interviews executive coach Kim Sawyer, Founder & Principal of The Wealth Source, about pivotal decisions throughout his life and career.
Kim recounts his journey from adventurous travels and military service to entrepreneurship and executive coaching. He shares how his decision-making evolved from impulsive choices to a structured process involving mentors...
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.