The Crucible of Leadership: Internal and External Struggles that Leadership Faces

In this episode you will meet Rhonda Cox, the Interim CEO of CoVerica. Her story is a testament to the enduring power of mentorship, resilience, and the foundational pillars of faith, family, and friends. This episode peels back the layers of leadership, examining the symbiotic dynamic between a visionary and an integrator—a relationship that is the lifeblood of innovation and operational excellence in any successful business. In this episode we engage in a raw dialogue about the internal and external struggles that leaders face—from navigating staff management to overcoming legal and financial obstacles.

As part of the CoVerica leadership team, Rhonda is focused on developing talent and building a culture of customer service excellence. She takes pride in her team’s reputation for dependable, hassle-free service to each and every CoVerica client and is passionate about helping employees become experts in their fields.

Shares:

Leif: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber; The President’s Daily Brief Podcast

Garrett: The Agile Manifesto

Charlie: The Midnight Gospel

Rhonda: The Servant Leader by Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges

Mike:The Board of Directors for a Private Enterprise by Dennis Cagan; Gifted Hands by Dr. Ben Carson; Rules of Prey by John Sandford

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [e-mail] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.