On this episode of the Sea Captain Leadership Podcast, host Phil Bender is joined by Devon Volker and Jennifer Goldman, the dynamic leaders behind My Virtual COO and new Affiliate Partners of Sea Captain Performance.

My Virtual COO helps businesses stop struggling and start improving by transforming operations into a true growth engine. Through a powerful blend of coaching, consulting, and fractional COO services, Devon and Jennifer help leaders gain traction, build accountability, and scale sustainably—especially in today’s fast-moving environment shaped by technology and AI.

In this conversation, Phil, Devon, and Jennifer explore how operational clarity, human-centered leadership, and adaptive systems are redefining what it means to lead well.

• The My Virtual COO Mission
• How My Virtual COO was founded in 2005 and how its mission—“Stop Struggling, Start Improving, Reach Your Vision”—has evolved alongside modern leadership challenges.
• The Trifecta of Growth: Coaching, Consulting, and SaaS
• Why true transformation happens when leadership coaching, strategic consulting, and the right technology work together—and where clients see the biggest breakthroughs.
• The Human Side of Operations
• How culture, communication, and trust must evolve alongside systems and processes to create lasting operational change.
• AI, Technology, and Fluid Recalibration
• Jennifer introduces the concept of “fluidity around recalibration” and explains how leaders can responsibly integrate AI while staying aligned with their values and people.
• The Three P’s Framework
• A foundational model for sustainable growth—and how leaders can quickly identify which area is out of alignment inside their business.
• Aligning People, Processes, and Providers
• My Virtual COO’s approach to sequencing outsourcing partners, technology platforms, and workflows to drive growth without chaos or burnout.
• Partnering with Sea Captain Performance
• Why this affiliate partnership expands what’s possible for advisors and leaders—and how leadership coaching and operational strategy together create a powerful competitive advantage.

Devon Volker and Jennifer Goldman are the founders of My Virtual COO, where they serve as trusted operational advisors, coaches, and strategists to growing organizations. Their work helps leaders move from friction to flow, turning complexity into clarity and vision into execution.

The Sea Captain Leadership Podcast is hosted by Phil Bender, CEO of Sea Captain Performance, where we help leaders chart a clear course for growth, culture, and impact.

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On this episode of The Sea Captain Leadership Podcast, host Phil Bender sits down with Danny Kenny—leadership and performance coach, behavioral scientist, former college soccer player, and facilitator with organizations such as Inspirecore and the McChrystal Group.

Danny’s story is one of identity, resilience, and meaning. After years of defining himself through athletic performance, the end of his playing career sparked a profound personal transition. That journey led him into the world of behavioral science, human performance, and leadership development—ultimately shaping a mission to help others “unlock their lives” and pursue aligned, purposeful success.

Together, Phil and Danny explore how performance is built, how identity evolves, and how leaders can move from striving to living with intention, authenticity, and clarity.

How Danny’s early experiences in sports shaped his view of teamwork, discipline, and leadership—and how those lessons became the foundation of his coaching approach.

Danny shares why he pursued a PhD to understand why people act the way they do—and how research-based insight informs real, human-centered development.

A look at Danny’s approach to designing learning experiences—from intentional agendas to behavioral systems—and why structure matters in real change.

When the cheering stops, many athletes face a loss of direction. Danny opens up about his own transition and how that experience now fuels his work helping others navigate major life and career shifts.

We discuss the shift from high performance to aligned performance—where success is not just measured, but felt.

Danny shares how he helps individuals reconnect to meaning, values, and self-leadership.

Danny reflects on the projects that inspire him today—from coaching leadership teams to writing his Seeking Wisdom newsletter—and shares his vision for helping people make work more human, fulfilling, and alive.

• Performance isn’t just skill—it’s identity, purpose, and environment.
• True growth happens when we ask who we are becoming, not just what we’re achieving.
• Learning design shapes behavior change; change doesn’t happen by accident.
• Transitions are invitations—opportunities to redefine what matters most.
• Leadership begins with self-awareness and expands outward through intentional influence.

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The Sea Captain Way for Financial Advisors

On this episode of The Sea Captain Leadership Podcast, Phil Bender sits down with Eric Doherty, President & CEO of DPE International, a global AI and healthcare consulting firm. Eric’s career has spanned pharmaceutical leadership, medical device commercialization, global business development, and now the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

Rooted in a childhood surrounded by science and medicine — with a pharmacist father and microbiologist mother — Eric has dedicated his work to helping organizations harness data, technology, and innovation to drive better decisions and improve lives.

This conversation explores how AI is reshaping entire industries, what leaders must understand about navigating disruption, and the mindset shifts required to move from reaction to vision.

What We Discuss

From Healthcare Foundations to Global Strategy

Eric shares how his upbringing and early career in healthcare shaped his understanding of how systems function — and why change often requires rethinking those systems from the ground up.

Founding DPE International

Eric explains the problem his firm set out to solve: helping organizations not just adopt technology, but integrate it strategically. The role of AI has dramatically expanded in that mission.

AI as a Catalyst — Not a Replacement

We explore how AI is currently impacting healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and digital health — including which applications matter now and which are still emerging.

Leadership in an Era of Disruption

Industries are shifting fast. Jobs are changing. Efficiency is increasing — sometimes painfully.

Eric and Phil discuss:

• Why adaptability is now the defining leadership skill
• How transparency and communication shape trust during change
• How to ensure transformation is human-centered, not just cost-driven

Navigating Change Without Losing Culture

From COVID diagnostic systems to AI-enabled workflow design, Eric reflects on lessons in resilience, clarity, and guiding organizations through uncertainty.

Preparing for the Next Decade

Eric offers grounded, strategic guidance for leaders who want to remain relevant:

• Stay curious
• Invest in systems, not just tools
• Lead from values, not fear

Key Insights

• AI is not about replacing people — it’s about elevating human intelligence with better data and better systems.
• Leadership during disruption requires clarity of mission, not just efficiency.
• The organizations that thrive are the ones willing to rethink how they work — not just what they do.

About The Sea Captain Leadership Podcast

Hosted by Phil Bender, Founder & CEO of Sea Captain Coaching, this podcast explores the systems, habits, and decisions that empower leaders to build alignment, grow intentionally, and create lasting impact.

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