LEAD UNI Podcast

Leadership is everywhere.

LEAD UNI explores the real experiences of leaders across the University of Northern Iowa - sharing the stories, lessons, and perspectives that help all of us become better leaders.

Leadership isn't limited to a title, position, or office. It's found in the decisions we make, the relationships we build, the challenges we navigate, and the way we show up for others. Each episode highlights real leadership experiences from across campus and explores the defining moments, challenges, and lessons that shape how people lead. The podcast is built around a simple idea: Everyone has something to learn about leadership - and everyone has something to teach.

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Real Stories. Real Challenges. Practical Leadership.

Leadership development doesn't happen only in a classroom. It happens through experience. It happens in the difficult conversation you didn't expect to have. The team that needed to be rebuilt. The decision that didn't have an obvious answer. The employee who needed a second chance. The project that required people to move in the same direction. The moment when someone trusted you to lead.

Each episode of LEAD UNI features a leader sharing the experiences that have shaped how they work, lead, and serve others.

LEAD UNI is built around four principles:

Learn - Leadership begins with curiosity. Learn from experience, challenges, mistakes, mentors, and the people around you.
Engage - Leadership is relational. Engage with your team, your community, new ideas, and perspectives different from your own.
Advance - Leadership requires action. Advance yourself, your team, your organization, and the work that matters.
Develop - Leadership is ongoing. Develop your skills, your people, your relationships, and the next generation of leaders.

Aerial view of a university campus at sunset, with tree-lined walkways, academic buildings, and open green spaces spread across the landscape. A tall brick clock tower stands prominently near the center of a plaza surrounded by pathways and autumn-colored trees. Small groups of people, event tents, and seating areas are visible on the grounds below. In the distance, a large domed sports facility and other campus buildings sit against a backdrop of farmland and rolling countryside. Warm golden sunlight illum

Have a Story to Share?

From coaches and administrators to student leaders, supervisors, faculty, and staff, these conversations explore what leadership actually looks like in practice. Leadership stories are everywhere across the University of Northern Iowa.

Do you know someone whose experiences, perspective, or approach to leadership could help others grow?

Suggest a guest for LEAD UNI

Season 1 - Fall 2026

Episode	Title	Guest	Link
001	Leadership Through Belonging	Connie Hansen	Listen Here
002	The Stories That Shape Great Leaders	Danielle McGeough	Listen Here
003	Leave It Better Than You Found It	Lane Kruger	Listen Here
004	Leadership Begins With Showing Up	Anya Lovstuen	Listen Here

001 - Leadership Through Belonging with Connie Hansen

Podcast promotional graphic for the LEAD UNI Leadership & Management Podcast on a black background with purple and gold accent bars. The top left corner features a lightbulb icon and the text “LEAD UNI” with the subtitle “Leadership & Management Podcast.” A purple banner in the upper right reads “EPISODE 001.” Large central text states “LEADERSHIP THROUGH BELONGING,” with the word “BELONGING” highlighted in gold. Beneath the title, script-style gold text reads “with” followed by “Connie Hansen” in white. Black-and-white portrait photos of two people appear along the bottom left and right sides of the graphic. The design uses UNI's purple, gold, white, and black color palette.

Connie Hansen, Associate Director of Student Involvement at the University of Northern Iowa, joins LEAD UNI to reflect on more than 35 years of leadership and service, sharing the experiences that have shaped her approach to building trust, developing people, and creating meaningful impact. Drawing on her work with programs including CAB, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and the Panther Pantry, Connie discusses the importance of relationships, consistency, and presence in effective leadership. She also shares lessons from navigating challenges, leading through change, and investing in others - offering practical insights for current and emerging leaders.

Key Themes:

Leadership Through Longevity - Connie reflects on a career dedicated to student development and how sustained commitment can shape culture and community over time.
Building Trust and Connection - A focus on relationships as the foundation of effective leadership - particularly in student-facing roles.
Navigating Challenges with Purpose - Insights into how leadership challenges refine decision-making, resilience, and perspective.
Developing Others - The importance of investing in students and staff to create lasting impact beyond individual roles.

003 - Leave It Better Than You Found It with Lane Kruger

Podcast promotional graphic for the LEAD UNI Leadership & Management Podcast on a black background with purple and gold design accents. In the upper left corner, a purple circle contains a white lightbulb icon beside the text “LEAD UNI” and the subtitle “Leadership & Management Podcast.” A purple banner in the upper right reads “EPISODE 003.” Large central text states “LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT,” with the word “BETTER” highlighted in gold. Beneath the title, gold script text reads “with” followed by “Lane Kruger” in white. Black-and-white portrait photographs of two people appear at the lower left and lower right of the graphic. The design uses UNI's purple, gold, white, and black color palette and emphasizes leadership through stewardship and continuous improvement.

Lane Kruger, a spring 2026 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, joins LEAD UNI to explore how leadership is measured not by titles or recognition, but by the positive impact we have on people and organizations. Drawing on his experiences creating opportunities for student involvement, leadership, and personal growth, Lane discusses the value of saying “yes,” building meaningful relationships, and continually improving the systems we leave behind. Together, Jesse and Lane examine how effective leaders invest in others, empower the next generation, and leave organizations stronger than they found them.

Key Themes:

Leadership Through Impact - Leadership isn't measured by position - it's measured by the positive impact you leave on people and organizations.
Embracing Opportunity - Career growth often comes from saying "yes" to opportunities before you feel completely ready.
Continuous Improvement - Great leaders focus less on preserving their own legacy and more on creating systems that allow future leaders to build something even better.
Relationships First - Meaningful leadership begins with authentic relationships and a genuine investment in helping others grow.

004 - Leadership Begins With Showing Up with Anya Lovstuen

Podcast promotional graphic for the LEAD UNI Leadership & Management Podcast on a black background with purple and gold accents. In the upper left corner, a purple circle contains a white lightbulb icon beside the text “LEAD UNI” and the subtitle “Leadership & Management Podcast.” A purple banner in the upper right reads “EPISODE 004.” Large central text states “LEADERSHIP BEGINS WITH SHOWING UP,” with “SHOWING UP” highlighted in gold. Beneath the title, gold script text reads “with” followed by “Anya Lovstuen” in white. Black-and-white portrait photos of two people appear at the lower left and lower right of the graphic. The design uses UNI's purple, gold, white, and black color palette and emphasizes the importance of presence, engagement, and consistency in effective leadership.

Anya Lovstuen, a recent University of Northern Iowa graduate, joins LEAD UNI to explore how leadership is built through service, meaningful relationships, and the willingness to step outside your comfort zone. Drawing on her experiences with Cat Crew, student employment, mentoring, and campus involvement, Anya discusses how confidence develops through action and how mentors can help others recognize their own potential. Together, Jesse and Anya examine how effective leaders create welcoming environments, invest in the growth of others, and leave behind relationships, traditions, and systems that help future leaders succeed.

Key Themes:

Leadership Through Service - Leadership isn't about having a title; it's about showing up for others, supporting your peers, and creating opportunities for those around you to succeed.
Confidence Through Experience - Growth comes from saying yes to opportunities, learning through challenges, and recognizing that confidence is built over time rather than possessed from the beginning.
The Power of Mentorship - Every leader benefits from someone who believes in them. Anya reflects on the mentors who invested in her and why paying that investment forward matters.
Creating Lasting Impact - Strong organizations develop future leaders by building systems, traditions, and cultures that continue long after individual leaders move on.

002 - The Stories That Shape Great Leaders with Danielle McGeough

Podcast promotional graphic for the LEAD UNI Leadership & Management Podcast on a black background with purple and gold design elements. The top left corner features a lightbulb icon and the text “LEAD UNI” with the subtitle “Leadership & Management Podcast.” A purple banner in the upper right reads “EPISODE 002.” Large text in the center states “THE STORIES THAT SHAPE GREAT LEADERS,” with “GREAT LEADERS” highlighted in gold. Below the title, gold script text reads “with” followed by “Danielle McGeough” in white. Black-and-white portrait photos of two people appear at the lower left and lower right of the graphic. The design uses UNI's purple, gold, white, and black color palette and emphasizes leadership development through storytelling.

Danielle McGeough, faculty member in the Department of Communication and Media at the University of Northern Iowa, joins LEAD UNI to explore how the stories we tell ourselves - and others - shape the way we lead. Drawing on her work in storytelling, identity, and performance, Danielle discusses the importance of reflection, authenticity, and understanding our own identities before trying to influence others. Together, Jesse and Danielle examine how leaders can use storytelling to create meaning, build stronger cultures, and take intentional daily actions that shape the future they want to create.

Key Themes:

Storytelling as a Leadership Tool - Leadership isn't just about communicating information - it's about inviting people into a shared story that gives meaning to the work they do.
Identity Shapes Leadership - The stories we tell ourselves influence how we show up, whether we're leading from confidence and connection or from a need to prove ourselves.
Authenticity Over Perfection - Danielle reflects on embracing the qualities she once viewed as weaknesses and explains how authenticity became one of her greatest leadership strengths.
Creating Meaning Every Day - Leadership isn't built through occasional big moments - it develops through intentional daily choices that align with the future we want to create.

005 - Leading With Service, Not Status with Chiquita Loveless

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Chiquita Loveless, Assistant Dean of Students for Family & Military Programming at the University of Northern Iowa and a retired U.S. Navy veteran with 23 years of service, joins LEAD UNI to explore the difference between managing people and truly leading them. Drawing on her military and higher education experiences, Chiquita discusses how trust, accountability, mentorship, humility, and genuine care help leaders develop people and build stronger teams. Together, Jesse and Chiquita examine why a leader's greatest impact is often measured by the people they prepare to succeed long after they have moved on.

Key Themes:

Leadership vs. Management - Why leadership extends beyond assigning tasks and managing operations - and instead focuses on developing people, creating purpose, and earning followership.
Service Before Self - How military leadership emphasizes serving the mission while never losing sight of the people carrying it out.
Mentorship Creates Leaders - The importance of intentionally developing future leaders and "reaching back" to help others grow.
Character and Integrity - Why credibility, humility, and consistency matter far more than position or title.

LEAD UNI Podcast

Leadership is everywhere.

Real Stories. Real Challenges. Practical Leadership.

Have a Story to Share?

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