What’s a defining moment that shaped how you lead today?
Early in my career, I had the opportunity to help build something from the ground up here in Hawai‘i—growing a church New Hope Oahu from zero to 6,000 people in just a few years. It wasn’t driven by perfect strategy or polished systems but by people, purpose, and trust.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned came from managing and leading hundreds of volunteers. That’s the purest form of leadership. You can’t rely on compensation—you have to lead through purpose.
That same principle applies to employees, no matter how much you pay them. People are driven by meaning. They need clarity in their roles and measurable goals, but more importantly, they need to know their work contributes to something bigger than themselves.
In Hawai‘i, we talk about ‘ohana. When people feel connected to a shared mission—when they know they’re making a real difference—ownership becomes natural and performance follows. That experience shaped everything I believe about leadership today: alignment, purpose, and ownership drive results.
What do most CEOs and business owners get wrong about scaling a business?
Most CEOs and business owners believe scaling requires doing more—more strategy, more oversight, more control.
That’s exactly what holds them back.
Scaling requires letting go. If the CEO/owner remains at the center of every decision, the business will plateau. The real shift is moving from being the driver to becoming the architect of a SYSTEM.
Most businesses don’t have a strategy problem—they have a people and structure problem. They don’t have the right people in the right seats, supported by a system that creates ongoing renewal and performance year after year.
When leaders get that right, growth becomes sustainable—and scalable.
What’s something you once feared in business but now embrace?
I used to avoid crucial conversations, especially with high performers who weren’t fully aligned with the team. But avoiding the conversation doesn’t protect the team—it protects the problem.
In Hawai‘i, we value harmony, but leadership isn’t about keeping things comfortable. It’s about creating clarity. Today, I embrace crucial conversations—especially when the stakes and emotions are high—because they build trust, raise standards, and move organizations forward.
Handled well, they don’t divide teams. They strengthen them.
What’s a principle you live by in your work with leaders?
Clarity creates confidence. Accountability drives results.
In Hawai‘i, outrigger canoe paddling offers a powerful picture of leadership. Everyone in the canoe has a role. Seat 1 sets the pace. Seat 2 mirrors and calls the change. Seats 3 through 6 generate power. Seat 6 steers and guides direction.
You don’t win because one person is strong—you win because everyone is in sync.
Great organizations work the same way. When every leader understands their role, is aligned to the same rhythm, and is pulling in the same direction, performance accelerates. And like the ocean, conditions are always changing. The best teams adjust in real time without losing alignment.
When clarity and accountability are in place, businesses don’t just move. They move together. That’s where real momentum comes from.
What’s one result or transformation you’re most proud of?
One of the transformations I’m most proud of was our work with Hawaiian Electric Company during a pivotal moment in their history.
We were brought in by then-CEO Alan Oshima to invest in the executive team and develop multiple layers of leaders during the proposed NextEra Energy merger—a period marked by uncertainty and pressure.
What stands out isn’t just what we built, but what we preserved. Through that entire process, not a single executive was lost. Instead, the leadership team grew stronger.
We focused on building trust, alignment, and the ability to engage in healthy conflict while intentionally developing the next generation of leaders, including future CEOs for Hawaiian Electric Industries and Hawaiian Electric Company.
During that time, Hawaiian Electric Industries’ stock value grew from $25 to $50, reflecting stronger leadership alignment and execution. Nearly a decade later, they continue to operate with those same principles.
That’s what I’m most proud of—helping build a leadership culture that lasts.
How do you stay grounded as your responsibilities grow?
Living in Hawai‘i makes it easier to stay connected to what matters.
Every morning, I start my day in the water—jumping into the pool, then the hot tub, taking in the view of the city. I follow that with a cold plunge. It’s in those moments that I reset, letting go of negative thinking and grounding myself before the day begins.
In the evening, I return to that same rhythm—pool, hot tub, sauna and reflection. It’s a time to process the day, pray for my family and clients, and stay centered.
Our golden doodle, Meli, plays a big role, too. Walking her daily at the park or beach gives me space to think, connect with neighbors, and learn through podcasts and audiobooks. Her energy and constant joy are a daily reminder not to take life too seriously.
What excites you most about the future of leadership?
We’re entering a new era where leadership is less about control and more about building strong, healthy, high-performing teams.
The leaders who will thrive aren’t just the most knowledgeable—they’re the ones who can create alignment, develop people, and execute consistently.
That’s what drives me—helping leaders multiply their impact. Because at the end of the day, my work is about one thing: Investing in tomorrow’s leaders today.
