HR Huntsman on Leadership, Empathy & Changing the World

This episode is powerful. It is raw. It is full of truth you can feel in your chest. HR Huntsman went from a painful childhood in New Mexico to building a global organization and becoming a trusted mentor to leaders worldwide. His story stays with you long after the episode ends.

HR opens up about the defining moments that shaped him, including the chaplain who changed his life and helped him rewrite his future. He shares how he transformed pain into purpose, why modern leadership looks nothing like leadership of the past, and the mindset shifts every leader must make to create real influence and impact.

He breaks down the Leadership Performance Engine, the real meaning behind servant leadership, the danger of managing to numbers instead of nurturing people, and what it takes for leaders to create trust, connection, and high performance in today’s workforce.

If you want to lead better at work, at home, or in life, this conversation is pure gold.

→ Leadership is influence, not title. If people are not following you, you are not leading. You are simply walking alone.

→ Pain can become purpose. HR’s early life shaped the empathy and service that fuel his leadership today.

→ Different generations require different leadership styles. Millennials and Gen Z do not lack work ethic. They simply respond to leaders who connect with purpose.

→ Accountability is connection, not control. Real accountability grows in environments of trust and respect.

→ The best leaders develop other leaders. There is no success without a successor.

→ Authenticity wins every time. Honest conversations build trust and unlock real performance.

→ Mindset changes when you fall in love with your future self. HR shares how he did it and how anyone can.

Quotes from HR Huntsman

“Leadership is influence. If people aren’t following you, you’re not a leader. You’re just taking a walk.” “There is no success without a successor.” “To change your mindset, you must fall in love with a future version of yourself that is so compelling you’ll break through anything to get there.” “Being a good human is good business.”

Learn more about HR Huntsman and the mission behind Leader’s Edge https://yourleadersedge.com/

Leader’s Edge exists to empower leaders to become the very best version of themselves. By interrogating reality, provoking creativity, and inspiring change, they develop exceptional leaders and teams. What if the most outstanding leaders are not those with titles, but rather the ones who choose influence, empathy, and impact?