Why Leaders Fail: 500+ CEO Lessons with Adam Mendler
September 22, 2026
What if the difference between good and great leadership has nothing to do with being a good person?
In this episode of Big Hitters with Larry Weidel, host Larry Weidel sits down with Adam Mendler, UCLA professor and interviewer of 500+ top CEOs, to explore why most bad leaders aren't bad people, they're just untrained, how you can unlock your superpower to move from mediocre to exceptional, and the key strategies to measure what actually matters in your organization. Whether you're a leader looking to transform your team or an entrepreneur seeking clarity on your path forward, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on defining success, getting started on what matters most, and the real cost of playing it safe. Tune in to discover why your first step matters more than your perfect plan.
Why do so many entrepreneurs play small when winning is the only real reason to be in the game?
In this episode of Big Hitters with Larry Weidel, host Larry Weidel sits down with Adam Mendler, UCLA professor and interviewer of 500+ top CEOs, to explore why most bad leaders aren't bad people, they're just untrained, how you can unlock your superpower to move from mediocre to exceptional, and the key strategies to measure what actually matters in your organization. Whether you're a leader looking to transform your team or an entrepreneur seeking clarity on your path forward, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on defining success, getting started on what matters most, and the real cost of playing it safe. Tune in to discover why your first step matters more than your perfect plan.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why most bad leaders aren't bad people - they're decent, well-meaning individuals who simply never learned how to lead
- How to measure real leadership success by growth and development, not just win-loss records or surface-level metrics
- The importance of defining what success actually looks like before you can expect to achieve it
- How to identify your personal "superpower" - the unique strength that lets you move from good enough to truly exceptional
- Why taking real risks (even later in your career) can teach you more in a decade than years of formal education ever could
- How genuine, non-strategic relationship-building can become one of your greatest professional assets
- Why getting started, taking one small, actionable step - matters more than waiting for a perfect formula or plan
Adam Mendler is a leadership expert and UCLA professor who has conducted in-depth interviews with over 500 top CEOs, athletes, generals, and Olympic gold medalists to understand the principles of peak performance. With a background spanning entrepreneurship, having co-founded and built three distinct companies across different industries and corporate finance, Mendler brings both academic rigor and real-world experience to his analysis of what separates exceptional leaders from average ones. In this episode, he explores the critical distinction between toxic people and toxic leaders, revealing that most bad leaders are well-meaning individuals who simply lack the skills and self-awareness necessary to lead effectively. Through candid discussion with Larry Weidel, Mendler shares actionable insights on leadership development, identifying your superpower, and the importance of continuous improvement wisdom distilled from his extensive research and personal entrepreneurial journey. His work has made him a sought-after keynote speaker and mentor, offering practical frameworks that help emerging leaders unlock their potential and drive meaningful results.
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