Leading in the Dark is a podcast dedicated to exploring how no two leadership journeys are alike—shedding light on the lessons, setbacks, and unexpected opportunities that guide leaders to build their unique blueprint for success
Leading In The Dark
Claim This Podcastby Nick Akers
35 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
42
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality84
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement0
Podcast Overview
Leading in the Dark is a podcast dedicated to exploring how no two leadership journeys are alike—shedding light on the lessons, setbacks, and unexpected opportunities that guide leaders to build their unique blueprint for success
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/14/2025
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42
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality84
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement0
7
Excellent Areas
2
Good Performance
10
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Publishing Consistency
Every 7 days
Performing excellently!
good
Show Notes Quality
3.0/5
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Recent Episodes
June 16, 2026
Nick Akers & Mike Hess
<p></p><p>Mike Hess, founder and executive director of the Blind Institute of Technology, joins Leading In The Dark for a powerful conversation about leadership, disability inclusion, workforce development, and challenging assumptions inside modern organizations.</p><p>Born blind and shaped by a decades-long career in enterprise technology, Mike shares how his lived experience influenced his leadership philosophy, why companies continue to overlook an incredibly capable talent pool, and how BIT is helping people with disabilities build meaningful careers in tech across the globe.</p><p>This episode explores servant leadership, imposter syndrome, innovation through adversity, organizational culture, and the difference between hiring someone out of charity versus recognizing the real business value they bring.</p><p>It’s a conversation about leadership, perspective, and building organizations that truly put people first.</p><p></p>
June 2, 2026
Nick Akers & Michael Hofer
<p>Michael Hofer, CFO of Navajo Transitional Energy Company, joins Nick Akers on Leading In The Dark for a conversation about leadership, mergers & acquisitions, artificial intelligence, and navigating transformation inside large organizations.</p><p>Michael shares lessons from leading through private equity-backed growth, global integration projects, operational restructuring, and large-scale organizational change. The discussion explores how leaders communicate vision during uncertainty, align teams around value creation, and balance short-term performance with long-term strategy.</p><p>The episode also dives into the real-world impact of AI inside businesses today—from contract analysis and predictive maintenance to improving operational efficiency and supporting employee performance.</p><p>Additional topics include:</p><ul><li>Private equity leadership dynamics</li><li>Change management and communication</li><li>AI adoption in business operations</li><li>Energy infrastructure and increasing demand</li><li>The future energy mix and sustainability</li><li>Leadership lessons from global executive roles</li></ul><p>Michael also discusses the unique perspective of working within a Native American-owned enterprise and the long-term thinking that comes with generational stewardship.</p><p>🎧 Listen to this episode of Leading In The Dark for practical insight on leadership, innovation, and transformation in modern business.</p><p></p>
February 24, 2026
Nick Akers & Kristen Duhr
<p>What does it take to re-home over 1,100 dogs a year?</p><p>In this episode of Leading In The Dark, Nick Akers sits down with entrepreneur Kristen Duhr — founder of Home 2 Home Canine Orphanage and multiple dog-centered businesses across the St. Louis region.</p><p>Kristen shares:</p><ul><li><p>How she built a foster network capable of handling 40+ dogs in a single day</p></li><li><p>The operational realities of rescue logistics</p></li><li><p>Why training dogs is really about training humans</p></li><li><p>The problem with pain-based training methods</p></li><li><p>Missouri’s overpopulation challenges</p></li><li><p>Her upcoming 2026 surgical center focused on spay/neuter, dentals, and heartworm treatment</p></li></ul><p>This conversation goes beyond rescue work.</p><p>It’s about leadership, discipline, systems, and building scalable compassion.</p><p>If you care about entrepreneurship, impact, or the intersection of structure and heart — this episode delivers.</p>
35 total episodes available
Recent guests on Leading In The Dark
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Josh Allen
Guest
Crystal Allen Dallas
Guest
Michael Gross
Guest
Dr Rik Nemanick
Guest
Josh Phillips
Guest
Simon Bailey
Guest
Andrew Cohen
Guest
Jared Peno
Guest
Taylor Perry
Guest
Alan Bulmer
Guest
August Felker
Guest
Brian Wilcox
Guest
Deep-dive analytics for Leading In The Dark
Frequently asked questions
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- What is Leading In The Dark?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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