Chameleon Leadership and the Magic of Flight with Darren Sekiguchi
Seasons leadership podcast
The women in leadership podcast

Chameleon Leadership and the Magic of Flight with Darren Sekiguchi

Season
3
| Episode
6
5/11/2022
Apple podcast iconSpotify icon

Learn from Darren Sekiguchi, vice president and program manager, F-35 Lightning II Production Program at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. Throughout his leadership career he has held various positions across Supply Chain, Program Management, Quality and Production Operations/Manufacturing across the Commercial and Defense Aerospace and Services industry. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard as they talk to Darren about transitioning roles, his metaphor of chameleon leadership, listening, gaining trust, instilling self-confidence, his diversity and inclusion advocacy and more.
 
Show notes

After introductions, (3:37) Darren shares his journey from an island kid raised in Hawaii and his love of the magic of flight. Next, Darren talks about his latest career move (4:54) and how he navigates that change as a leader, assesses his environment and builds trust. Susan asks about his leadership ability (6:44) – if he was a natural born leader or did he develop it? Darren shares his passion for the journey (8:07).

The conversation moves to a central metaphor to Darren’s leadership – the chameleon (8:32). Darren provides useful examples of how like the chameleon a leader should be nibble and flexible. (9:38) He talks about how a leader should understand the strengths of their team and how they can all work together. Susan describes the metaphor as next level leadership (11:39) but challenges how someone stays authentic when working to adapt. Darren links authenticity to having vision like the chameleon’s ability to see in other ways (12:48). Through the metaphor Darren talks about the importance of using your voice as a leader – like the chameleon’s ballistic tongue (15:12), remaining on the leading edge – like the chameleon’s gripper feet (17:39) and how to help build confidence (18:37). Darren admits something he does NOT have in common with the lizard (19:40).

Next the leaders talk about how to connect and build trust with your team (23:33). Darren shares his induction process for new employees (23:57) and a strategy he uses to work on aspects of his leadership that are less strong (26:18). Debbie and Darren talk about an inspirational leader they have in common (30:34).

The group talks about the common struggle with self-confidence as a leader (32:40) and Darren offers advice centered around building a network of support. Susan asks about work week balance (37:06) and Darren shares the best development opportunity for team members (38:43). The conversation circles back to Darren’s current transition (39:34), the challenges and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will give you honest feedback (42:18). Darren talks about what he is doing personally to get better as a leader (43:53) and more on how to build a cross-functional team (45:53).

The conversation ends with Darren’s diversity and inclusion advocacy (48:57) and Darren shares what people can do to be better advocates and allies. The leaders talk about final advice for leaders (50:04) and building a legacy. Darren shares his (51:18) inspiring one. Last, (52:23) Debbie and Susan break down the learnings from their discussion with Darren. 

Most Recent episodes

See All
Season
5
| Episode
71

Taking veterinary leadership to the next level with Dr. Pam Johnson

10.2.24

|

30

Join us for our passion-filled discussion with Dr. Pam Johnson as we explore the lessons the animal world has to teach us about leadershi...

Read More
Season
5
| Episode
70

Fall: Empowering your transition

9.18.24

|

21

Join us as we reflect on four years of fall reflections. At Seasons Leadership we use the seasons as a powerful tool for understanding tr...

Read More
Season
5
| Episode
69

Leadership is a path to pursue a better version of you with Frances Chang

9.4.24

|

37

Join us as we talk to Frances Chang, chief operating officer at Andovar, a language services company. Frances opens up about the core val...

Read More

Most Recent Episodes

See All

Fall reflections are running through my mind

Fall means running Cross Country. This sport has shaped so many of my fall seasons of life. First as a student athlete and now as a coach. This sport, which is all about racing across varied terrain, takes on an almost mythical quality for me and I suspect many other runners that are drawn to this open-air competition.

Read More

Strong leaders assert agency

This summer, I've been reflecting on the concept of agency because my coaching clients have been talking about it. People say things like, “I could never do that!” or “I’m burning out, my boss doesn’t see all that I do!”

Read More

Reboot your recharge routine

Debbie's previous blog "recharge your leadership batteries" offers some timely insights to help you reboot your own practice of "me time." She shares this important reminder that inspires me to take time for myself, "by taking time off not only was I benefiting, but I was giving someone else the opportunity to stretch and grow and show themselves and others what they could do."

Read More