Leaders & Futures

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

Business

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Episodes

163

Latest episode

Jun 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

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.

May 12, 2026Episode 1726 min

Are We REALLY Family?!

Dr Lugo and Chief discuss the concept of "being family" in the workplace, examining how this phrase can create confusion due to different interpretations of what family means in personal versus professional contexts. They explore how workplace culture differs from family dynamics, particularly regarding expectations around sacrifice, performance, and personal boundaries. Dr Lugo emphasizes the importance of balancing professional demands with personal well-being, noting that different professions have varying expectations around sacrifice.

May 5, 2026Episode 1630 min

Is the 40-hour Work Week Still Valid?

Dr Lugo and Chief discuss the concept of the 40-hour work week, questioning its relevance in today's world, especially with the rise of AI and changing work processes. They explore how AI can help streamline tasks and potentially alter traditional work structures. Chief also touches on the importance of assessment and alignment with personal values in achieving success, while Dr Lugo emphasizes the need for people to see themselves in future plans to remain motivated.

April 28, 2026Episode 1530 min

A Place of Realized Potential!

Chief and Dr Lugo discuss the importance of creating a positive work environment that goes beyond just financial compensation. Chief emphasizes the significance of both the spiritual aspects of workplace culture and the effect the physical environment has on the quality of employee morale. They agree that leaders have a responsibility to provide suitable working conditions, though complete success is not always guaranteed, and employees appreciate sincerity and honesty from leadership.

April 21, 2026Episode 1432 min

FAIT - the Futures Awareness Inquiry Tool

Dr Lugo explains a futures thinking model called FATE, which helps organizations, particularly cities, understand different perspectives on future scenarios. He describes four types of futures: open future (evident to all), blind future (invisible to some), hidden future (visible to others but not oneself), and unknown future (including wildcards). Dr Lugo emphasizes the the importance of discussing those different futures using multimodal communication to identify and address blind spots, bringing hidden futures to light, and understanding unintended consequences of preferred futures.

April 14, 2026Episode 1333 min

How to Talk WITH the Boss!

Dr Lugo and Chief Vásquez discuss Chief's book, "How to Talk To/With the Boss" emphasizing the importance of proper attitude and approach when communicating with supervisors. Chief shares a personal anecdote about learning the value of understanding seniority and privileges in the workplace from a mentor. They stress that effective communication with bosses requires listening to both complaints and solutions, and highlight the difference between talking to and talking with a boss.

March 31, 2026Episode 1231 min

Monday Motivation

Dr Lugo and Chief Vásquez discuss the challenge of getting employees to come to work on Mondays. They focus on creating a sense of purpose and maintaining a positive work culture. Dr Lugo shares a personal story from his time at Ramstein Air Base, where he was so excited about solving a technical problem that he sped to work, demonstrating how a strong sense of purpose can motivate employees. They discuss how leadership through actions speaks louder than words, the importance of integrity in leadership, and how practice (whether good or bad) becomes permanent over time. The conversation also touches on how organizations need to fit the right people to the right cultural environments.