Leaders & Futures

Hosted by Dr. Jose LugoSantiago and Ret. Chief Bob Vasquez

Business

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Episodes

169

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome… to Leaders and Futures! This podcast is about leading as futures emerge, are yet to be realized, or plainly…need to be reimagined. Someone has said that “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Although it’s impossible to predict the future, one thing is certain: You must lead in it! It’s time to think differently about leading. Join us!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 25, 2026Episode 2734 min

Is the Customer ALWAYS Right?!

Chief Vásquez and Dr Lugo discuss the topic of whether the customer is always right, sharing personal experiences and perspectives on customer service. Chief recounts a recent incident at a restaurant where a customer was difficult, and praised the employee, Anna, for her professionalism. Dr Lugo explains that the customer defines quality through their requirements and expectations, and that businesses must understand and meet these to satisfy the customer. Is the customer ALWAYS right? Maybe. Maybe not! But the customer is ALWAYS the customer!

August 4, 2026Episode 2626 min

Will We Forget to Think?

Dr Lugo and Chief discuss the importance of critical thinking in organizations and how leaders must focus on teaching their people to think analytically rather than attributing failures to individuals. They explore how AI should be used as a tool rather than replacing human decision-making, with Dr Lugo emphasizing that proper tools should be matched to the task at hand.

July 28, 2026Episode 2530 min

Will AI Affect How We Supervise?

Chief and Dr Lugo discuss how AI might affect supervision practices. Lugo explains that while AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can be useful, they are most beneficial for experts who can evaluate the output and make informed decisions. They agree that leaders must continue growing and learning rather than relying solely on experience or AI tools, as true expertise requires mastery that evolves over time.

July 21, 2026Episode 2430 min

Giving and Gifting

Dr Lugo and Chief discuss the topic of giving, both in a leadership context and in personal life. They discuss the concept of unconditional giving as a form of love, using examples from their military and civilian leadership experiences. The conversation also touches on creating a culture of care and support in organizations, the challenges of leading by example, and the personal dilemma of giving to those in need.

June 30, 2026Episode 2332 min

The Future Workforce

The conversation between Dr Lugo and Chief Vásquez focuses on the future of the workforce, particularly the rise of remote and hybrid work arrangements. Dr Lugo shares statistics showing that 37% of the workforce now works from home, with numbers approaching 50% for professionals with advanced degrees. They discuss the challenges and benefits of remote work, including the need for effective leadership and communication skills when managing hybrid teams.

June 23, 2026Episode 2230 min

The Superpower of Curiosity!

Dr Lugo and Chief discuss the topic of curiosity as a superpower in organizations. Dr Lugo explains that curiosity requires understanding past conditions to predict future outcomes and make strategic decisions. They explore how curiosity manifests differently at various levels within organizations, from basic operational understanding to deeper causal analysis. Dr Lugo emphasizes that while curiosity is important for leaders, it needs to be balanced with the specific culture and requirements of different organizational environments.

June 16, 2026Episode 2132 min

Purpose or Policy?

Dr Lugo and Chief Vásquez discuss the relationship between purpose and policy in organizational leadership. They explored how organizations need both clear policies to guide operations and a strong sense of purpose to drive meaningful outcomes. Chief shares examples from his military experience where following purpose sometimes required bending or breaking policies, while Dr Lugo emphasizes that effective organizations balance clear guidelines with the flexibility to make exceptions when necessary.

June 9, 2026Episode 2033 min

Why Train them?

Chief and Dr Lugo discuss the value of training and educating followers in the workplace. They explore how training focuses on practical skills while education focuses on developing understanding, including covering workloads when employees are sent for training, the importance of creating a culture that values sharing knowledge after training, and the benefits of informal knowledge-sharing discussions. They also discuss how leaders should manage expectations around training investments and ensure that learning is shared throughout the organization to maximize returns. The discussion included personal anecdotes about leadership experiences and the long-term impact of mentoring and training others.

May 26, 2026Episode 1932 min

People vs Mission

Chief and Dr Lugo focus on the topic of "people versus mission" in organizational leadership. They discuss how both people and mission are equally important and interconnected, using analogies like balance beams and visual representations to illustrate their point. Dr Lugo emphasizes that organizations function as systems where internal factors (people) and external factors (environment, technology, politics) must be considered together rather than as separate entities. They agree that effective leaders must constantly balance focusing on people as individuals while maintaining mission focus, and that successful teams are united by purpose and clear goals.

May 19, 2026Episode 1833 min

Leading the REAL Family!

Chief and Dr Lugo focus on National Family Month, discussing the balance between family and work responsibilities. Chief shares personal experiences about prioritizing family, including missing his daughter's graduation to attend military training. They discuss how effective leaders should support employees' family needs and maintain "emotional bank accounts" for times when withdrawals are necessary. The conversation also covers strategies for strengthening family bonds. They touch on the importance of making family a priority while maintaining professional responsibilities in the workplace.