From Fortune 500 CFO to CEO of Goodwill with Steve Preston

Today on the Servant Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Steve Preston — a leader who has served at the highest levels of both business and government, and now leads dwill Industries, a Fortune 500 CFO, and a senior government official — serving as Administrator of the Small Business Administration and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Today, he oversees one of the largest nonprofit networks in North America, focused on helping people find dignity and opportunity through work. In this episode, Steve shares how he’s navigated some of the toughest leadership challenges of his career — from turning around federal agencies in crisis to transforming workplace culture — and how servant leadership guides every decision he makes. If you’re passionate about using your influence to make a difference, this conversation is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Steve Preston's Intro

00:54 Welcome Steve Preston

01:01 Steve's Professional Journey

03:00 Why Take On New Job Challenges?

05:17 Katrina Crisis And The Small Business Association

09:46 Servant Leadership In Difficult Environments

11:15 Importance Of Clear, Decisive Leadership

11:59 Honesty Concerning The Severity Of The Crisis

13:40 Selection As Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development

15:07 A Square Peg For A Square Hole

17:06 Accepting The Goodwill Position

20:17 Steve's Personal Mission Statement

22:31 Employment As A Redemptive Force

25:30 Dealing With The Pressures Of Impacting Millions Of People

27:40 Building Trust In People, Teams, and Leadership

31:44 Advice For Developing Leadership Capabilities

35:58 Ten Rapid-Fire Questions39:26 Actions To Take Relative To Goodwill

40:04 Closing

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