Release Date:
March 6, 2025
Release Date: Mar 4
Why High Performers Often Fail as Leaders (And What to Do About It)
Are your top individual contributors struggling in leadership roles?
According to David Kitchen, founder of Edge Leadership Academy, there’s a crucial reason: leadership requires a completely different skillset than individual excellence.
On this episode of “The Learn-It-All Podcast,” David Kitchen shares insights from his journey from Division I basketball coach to leadership development expert. In conversation with host Damon Lembi, David explains why high performers often struggle when promoted to leadership positions, outlines his framework for developing leadership skills, and reveals the four hard truths every aspiring leader needs to face.
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About Our Guest:
David Kitchen is the founder and CEO of Edge Leadership Academy, where he leverages his unique background in Division 1 athletics and psychology to transform organizational leadership. Notable for becoming the youngest NCAA head coach at age 24, Kitchen transitioned from collegiate basketball coaching to pioneering innovative leadership development programs.
He holds a Master’s in Sport Psychology and is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology. Kitchen is a three-time author, including the best-selling “The Pyramid: A System for Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,” and hosts a globally top-ranked podcast. His methodology focuses on practical execution and measurable results, serving both athletic and corporate clients. Kitchen’s approach was shaped by identifying a critical gap between leadership expectations and actual leadership training in high-performance environments.
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