The Global Leadership Podcast

Ep 215: How Leaders Make Ideas Stick (with Emma Kuhl Pitts)

Leaders communicate constantly, but not everything they say is remembered, internalized, or acted on. In this episode, David Ashcraft talks with Emma Kuhl Pitts, CEO of PullSpark and, about how leaders can create messages and experiences that stay with people. Emma shares why attention is not the same as impact, how memory shapes influence, and why leaders should ask, "What do I want people to believe?" before asking, "What do I want people to do?" PullSpark is also the official creative partner of the Global Leadership Summit, and this conversation gives a behind-the-scenes look at how Emma and her team help shape creative moments at the Summit, from openers and story videos to the details that help leaders engage more deeply. For pastors, executives, communicators, and team leaders, this conversation offers a practical framework for creating moments people do not just consume, but remember.

Ep 214: Excellence, Influence and the Making of the Summit (with Lori Hermann)

Great leadership experiences do not happen by accident—they are shaped through careful preparation, strong teams, clear values, and a deep desire to serve the people in the room. In this episode, David Ashcraft sits down with Lori Hermann, Senior Vice President of Summit Experiences and executive producer of the Global Leadership Summit, for a behind-the-scenes look at the leadership behind the Summit. Lori reflects on how the Summit shaped her own leadership over decades, why not every leader is called to be the out-front visionary, and how excellence can honor God without becoming perfectionism. She also shares what she looks for in a team, how collaboration raises the bar, and why speaking up often becomes easier when you remember who you are advocating for. This conversation offers both a preview of the 2026 Global Leadership Summit and a practical look at how behind-the-scenes leadership creates lasting impact.

Ep 213: Our Favorite Moments, Spring 2026—Four Leadership Lessons for Uncertain Seasons (with Whitney Putnam and Eric Case)

When plans change, leaders still need to provide clarity, steady themselves internally, and help their teams keep moving forward. In this Q2 "Best Of" episode, Whitney Putnam and Eric Case revisit four leadership moments from recent conversations with Craig Groeschel, David Ashcraft, Chris McChesney, and Edgar Sandoval. Together, these clips explore what leaders can do when strategy meets reality: stay flexible when plans shift, avoid comparison, define success by the right measures, create visible progress for their teams, and communicate with steadiness during pressure-filled seasons. This episode is a practical look at the internal and external work of leadership. Whether you are navigating organizational change, team fatigue, personal self-doubt, or a season that feels unpredictable, these four lessons will help you lead with greater clarity, humility, and purpose.

Ep 212: Why Productivity Starts with Clarity (with David Ashcraft)

Productive teams do not move faster because leaders push harder; they move faster because the goal is clear. In this episode, Whitney Putnam talks with GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft about productivity from a team leadership perspective—not as a system of hacks, but as a question of clarity, initiative, accountability, and trust. David shares why he looks for initiative in team members, how clear guardrails help people move with confidence, and why leaders often stay busy with the wrong things while avoiding the work that matters most. The conversation also explores how accountability rhythms, like the 12-week year, can help leaders and teams stay focused on what they said they would do. For leaders who feel busy but not always effective, this episode offers a practical way to rethink productivity as a leadership responsibility.

Ep 211: On Calling, Counsel and Courageous No's (with Priscilla Shirer)

Leaders are constantly presented with opportunities, expectations, and decisions—but not every open door is an assignment. In this episode of the Global Leadership Podcast, GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft talks with Priscilla Shirer about how leaders discern what is truly theirs to carry. Priscilla shares practical wisdom on calling, wise counsel, humility, accountability, and learning to say yes or no from a place of clarity rather than fear or guilt. She also reflects on how leaders can protect their families, carry public attention lightly, and create "green space" for rest, responsiveness, and deeper awareness of God's work. For leaders navigating full calendars, growing influence, or the pressure to keep saying yes, this conversation offers a grounded reminder: faithful leadership requires both courage and discernment.