Episode Details

In this episode, Don reflects on what it means to lead through uncertainty, when clarity hasn’t yet come and all you can see is fog. Drawing from the concept of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity), he explores how curiosity, not control, becomes the true anchor in turbulent times.

Joining him is Brandon Leppänen, Town Manager of St. George, Maine, a former mentee, longtime colleague, and now close friend. Together, they talk about learning to trust the process, balancing agency with empathy, and finding calm in the unknown.

Their conversation is a reminder that leadership isn’t about eliminating uncertainty, but about staying grounded enough to move through it one clear insight, one step at a time.

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