In this episode, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Bill Dunnion, CISO at Mitel, to explore the winding path that took him from engineering to operations to leading global cybersecurity efforts. Bill shares candid insights on leadership, decision-making, project success, and navigating pressure in a world where cyber threats never take a day off.

You’ll hear stories about early career pivots, how to build credibility with executives, why delegation is a superpower, and the best advice Bill ever received from his dad — wisdom that applies to leadership, career moves, and even card games.

Key Themes & Topics
● Bill’s surprising route from engineering to a global leadership role
● What people misunderstand about cybersecurity
● Translating technical data into business outcomes
● Why only 17% of projects succeed — and what to do about it
● Managing priorities when everything feels urgent
● Small-team leadership vs. big-organization leadership
● The hidden role of communication in security
● How Mitel supports enterprise communication around the globe
● The mindset behind good delegation
● Decision-making that leaves doors open, not shut

Grateful, but Ambitious — Leadership Lessons with Kapil Agrawal

In this powerful episode of One Sharp Sword, host Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Kapil Agrawal, a strategic leader whose career spans top companies like Uber, Capital One, and SnapLogic. From his small-town beginnings in India to Silicon Valley boardrooms, Kapil’s story is a masterclass in balancing gratitude with ambition — and leading with confidence and empathy.

Together, they unpack what it means to be “grateful, but ambitious,” embracing discomfort as a signal of growth and learning how humility, optimism, and authenticity fuel long-term success.

🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why being grateful but ambitious is the key to sustainable leadership
  
  
• How discomfort can be a powerful indicator of progress
  
  
• The mindset needed to lead through uncertainty with confidence and optimism
  
  
• Why empathy isn’t just kindness — it’s a business strategy
  
  
• How great leaders create future leaders through mentorship and modeling
  
  
• How setbacks become stepping stones when you believe in yourself
  
  

💬 Key Takeaway:
True leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. Gratitude grounds you. Ambition drives you. And empathy connects you.

From Law to Leadership: Building a Culture of Growth with Mark Schwartz

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, host Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Mark Schwartz, CFO, attorney, and transformation leader, to explore how authentic leadership and curiosity create lasting organizational growth.

Mark’s career journey spans finance, corporate law, and large-scale manufacturing and supply chain transformation — leading companies from single-site operations to billion-dollar enterprises. Now, as CFO of a private equity–backed machine learning company in the retail supply chain space, he’s helping consumer brands recover lost revenue and drive efficiency through transparency and trust.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
● How to lead through complex change and transformation
● Why culture always wins over blame
● The power of perspective in leadership communication
● Lessons from scaling manufacturing operations to global success
● How curiosity, clarity, and collaboration redefine high-performance leadership

Key Takeaway: True leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about creating alignment, learning from mistakes, and inspiring your team to grow.