Welcome to How Leaders Lead where every week you get to listen in while I interview some of the very

best leaders in the world. I break down the key learning so that by the end of the episode,

you'll have something simple you can apply as you develop into a better leader. That's what

this podcast is all about. Well, my guest today is Mike White,

who served as the chairman and CEO of DirecTV from 2010 until his retirement in 2015.

Now, you might recall, that's exactly the time when streaming services really took off.

I mean, people were cutting the cord on traditional TV,

left and right, and the whole media landscape got turned upside down. So what does it take to be a

leader when the world is changing right before your eyes? Well, it takes a heck of a lot of resilience.

And if you've ever wanted to really see what resilience looks like in action,

then you're going to love this conversation.

Mike doesn't lose his stride when things get tough.

He knows how to see around corners and anticipate what's coming.

And most importantly, he knows how to keep people going when things feel uncertain.

The truth is, the world is always changing, and the best leaders understand the power of resilience in a changing

world. So here's my conversation with my good friend, and soon to be yours, Mike White.

I understand that you're one of eight kids.

How much did that influence the leader that you've become?

Well, when you're the oldest of eight kids, it influences you a lot.

You know, I think from the get-go, I was taught to be responsible for the others. And I was also because I was the oldest, I was always the last to be

fed. Because my mother always said, the last shall be first and the first shall be last. So,

you know, you learn a lot about leadership just growing up, although there's a lot

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