In this engaging conversation, Tom McAndrew shares his journey from a Navy veteran to the CEO of cybersecurity company Coalfire, emphasizing the importance of authentic leadership, resilience, and community impact. He reflects on personal experiences that shaped his leadership style, the challenges faced in both military and business environments, and the significance of giving back to the community through initiatives like Gold Star Gamers. Tom's insights provide valuable lessons for aspiring leaders on building a strong foundation, navigating challenges, and creating a positive culture in organizations.

The Leadership Playbook asks top executives from the business world's most recognizable brands and companies about the stories behind their success, their leadership secrets, and the biggest obstacles they've faced and overcome.

Follow us on leadershipplaybook.org to find out more about the show. Subscribe to listen to succeeding episodes.

Welcome to Epic Fails, Epic Comebacks: How Great Leaders Turned Setbacks into Success—the podcast where we uncover the true stories of visionary leaders who hit rock bottom … then rewrote the ending. Epic Fails, Epic Comebacks is an offshoot of The Leadership Playbook, the podcast of Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics and the Center for Leadership Formation.

In this episode, we tell the story of Hal Sperlich, the quiet visionary who saw how people really lived and imagined a car no one else believed in: the minivan. Rejected at Ford, embraced at Chrysler, Sperlich’s persistence reshaped the auto industry and changed family life forever. It’s a story about vision, power, and what happens when the right idea meets the wrong boss—and why believing in it anyway can change the world.

Credit goes to the Wall Street Journal and Capital One Auto Navigator for providing details that went into this podcast episode—writing by Alicia Kan and music/production by Alvarez Audio. Follow Epic Fails, Epic Comebacks wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe now and join Viviane Lopuch as we explore the fall, the fight, and the rise of the world’s greatest leaders. Follow us on leadershipplaybook.org to find out more about the show.

The Leadership Playbook asks top executives from the business world's most recognizable brands and companies about the stories behind their success, their leadership secrets, and the biggest obstacles they've faced and overcome.

Follow us on leadershipplaybook.org to find out more about the show. Subscribe to listen to succeeding episodes.