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September 5, 2025 72 mins

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Colonel Chris Ritchie, retired United States Marine Corps officer and Director of Human Resource Development at Auburn University. Across his career, Chris has led organizations from small teams to global commands and now designs leadership and performance development programs that reach thousands of employees. 

Their conversation explores the shift from success to significance -- how true leadership lives not in accolades, but in the invisible medals we earn when we connect with others, build trust, and help people discover their own purpose. Together, they reflect on performance development as a human-centered practice, the role of reflection in leadership, and the ways small choices leave lasting traces. 

Learn more about Chris’ book The Invisible Medal: Leading with a Higher Purpose at www.invisiblemedal.com

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-richie-usmc/

This is an episode about values, presence, and impact -- reminding us that the legacy we leave isn’t written in titles, but in the lives we touch along the way. 

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