In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with global finance and operations leader Alexander J. Freeman, whose journey spans continents, cultures, and some of the world’s most influential companies.

Born in a country that no longer exists, Alex moved from Odessa → Italy → Texas → Moscow → New York → Austin — building a remarkable career with Citigroup, Visa, Dell, American Express, HID Global, and more. His story is rich with insight about leadership, resilience, risk-taking, and the power of leaning into discomfort.

If you’re a leader, an aspiring leader, or someone who knows they’re meant for more, this conversation will inspire you to stretch, grow, and rethink what’s possible.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why stepping into discomfort is the key to accelerating your growth
• How mentorship shapes leadership — and how to become a better mentor
• The real reason people follow great leaders (and why they leave bad ones)
• How Alex staffs his teams at 80% capacity to prevent burnout
• The rituals he uses to create presence and calm before big moments
• The leadership mindset shift that turns “failure” into feedback
• What Alex learned from international roles that shaped his success
• Why teaching is a powerful form of legacy

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.