The Chair Leader | Chris Malleo
The Jon Gordon Podcast
Jon Gordon
4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 31 October 2025
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with Chris Malleo, co-author of The ChairLeader, for a moving conversation about his unexpected journey from college athlete to transformational leader. Chris shares how his own setbacks—on and off the field—ultimately led him to coaching, where an email from Frankie Kennevy, a nonverbal young man with cerebral palsy, changed everything.
Together, Chris and Frankie turned a struggling football program into champions, building a culture rooted in selflessness, gratitude, and the belief that attitude can overcome any circumstance. Chris reflects on the incredible lessons he learned from Frankie about resilience, teamwork, and what it really means to make an impact.
This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership is about lifting others up, and the greatest victories come from the heart. Listeners will be inspired by The ChairLeader and rethink what's possible!
About Chris,
Chris Malleo is a former Northwestern and professional football player turned coach, author, and leadership entrepreneur. As the founder of Culture Health and the author of The ChairLeader, Chris helps leaders and organizations strengthen culture through trust, alignment, and intentional leadership.
After leading one of the nation's top high school football programs — sending 48 players to college in four years — Chris transitioned into commercial real estate, where he advises high-net-worth families and businesses on large-scale investments. His unique journey from locker rooms to boardrooms gives him a rare perspective on how great cultures are built.
Grounded in faith, family, and purpose, Chris lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida with his wife Ashley and their four children.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the John Gordon podcast, where we share John's interviews with guests, as well as key strategies and lessons from his keynotes, coaching, and more. |
| 0:09.0 | We want to encourage you to check out John Gordoncertified.com if you're interested in growing as a leader, coach, speaker, or trainer. |
| 0:15.6 | When you get certified, you'll be able to teach, coach, and train others on John's most impactful mindset, leadership, and teamwork principles. For more information, visit john gordoncertified.com. That's J-O-N-Gordon certified.com. Now let's jump into today's episode. Hey, this is John Gordon with the John Gordon podcast. And today my guest is Chris Malayo. Chris, how you doing? I'm doing great, |
| 0:38.2 | John. How are you? Chris, what did you say to me off air? And I said, all right, we're going to start the podcast right now. I dare to say this on my podcast right now. Say it, let's go. I said, I did not realize that Jeff Gordon was as short as he is. And I said, what? Because he's shorter than me? Are you serious about that? |
| 1:11.0 | Because you know how short I am? We're like, can't believe Jeff's even shorter than you, John. Come on, Chris, say it. That's what you meant. That was not the dig. That was not the reference. But you got me. You caught me. Yeah, I think we're probably about the same height. I was wearing shoes that made me make a little bit taller. |
| 1:11.4 | But yeah. But yeah, sitting next to my brother, Jeff. Yeah, I think we're probably about the same height. I was wearing shoes that made me make a little bit taller. |
| 1:11.3 | But yeah, sitting next to my brother, Jeff Gordon, at a table and hanging out, talking to him, |
| 1:17.3 | then standing up taking the picture. |
| 1:18.4 | I was like, oh, okay, I'm a little taller. |
| 1:20.3 | Vote out. |
| 1:20.9 | Vote out. |
| 1:21.6 | I will distinctly always remember you telling a story about when one of the first times |
| 1:25.2 | you were promoting the energy bus that you were in Indianapolis and you were like, you know, everyone thought it was Jeff Gordon. |
| 1:30.7 | So you had this huge crowd of people show up. |
| 1:33.2 | Exactly. |
| 1:34.4 | Chris, tell everyone about your background. |
| 1:36.0 | Where are you from? |
| 1:38.0 | I'm from New Jersey originally. |
| 1:39.9 | Central New Jersey, a little town called Manusquan. |
| 1:42.4 | And I went to a high school called Wall High School, |
| 1:44.9 | and went to Northwestern University, which we'll get into, obviously. And now live down here |
| 1:50.2 | in Pontivasia Beach, Florida with my wife and four beautiful children. Yeah, not far from me. Just |
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