Brent Yonk - Beyond Titles in Leadership

05/15/24 • 61 min

What does it take to create an impactful leader? Find out in this episode of the Sweet on Leadership podcast. Tim interviews the insightful Brent Yonk—Leadership Coach, Culture Change Agent, and Senior Leader at the FBI—about his extensive experience coaching diverse leaders from around the world. Their conversation will provide you with a wealth of wisdom, including why leadership titles don’t matter as much as we think they do, how to develop yourself as a leader first before seeking followers, plus the impact of technology on organizational leadership structures. You don't want to miss this episode if you want to grow your leadership skills and inspire others around you!

Brent also shares stories from his experience working as a leader within the FBI and coaching leaders in law enforcement around the world. You’ll hear about the many misconceptions people have about leadership, the mistakes organizations make when searching for leaders, and how to cultivate those skills in yourself. For the aspiring leaders out there, you’ll learn why it’s so powerful to unlock your potential by believing in yourself and cultivating a culture of leadership in your environment. By the end, you’ll be inspired to make changes to the way you lead and the way you view leadership.

About Brent Yonk

Brent Yonk is an Assistant Section Chief for the FBI Counterterrorism Division’s Technology and Data Innovation Section. In this role, he oversees the development of novel technology solutions supporting international and domestic terrorism investigations and other critical incidents around the world. Prior to his current role, Brent served as the FBI’s In-Q-Tel Interface Center Director leading the Bureau’s commercial scouting, testing, and evaluation of emerging technologies. Brent is also an Adjunct Faculty for the FBI Academy, instructing and facilitating courses in leadership, organizational change, and project management for law enforcement partners around the world. Prior to joining the FBI, he spent over 10 years working in the private sector with several Fortune 500 companies in the areas of organizational change management and workforce development.

Resources discussed in this episode:

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Contact Brent Yonk:

Linkedin: Brent Yonk

Transcript

Brent 00:01

And the beauty is usually when you're exercising leadership without titles, the competitive nature of it doesn't really ever come into play. Because there's really not an opportunity for you to one up anybody else, right? It's really about looking at each other, evaluating each other's strengths, understanding what each person on that team brings to the table, and then really just giving each other and empowering each other to bring their best selves, to support whatever the shared objective or goal is.

Tim 00:33

I'd like to ask you some questions. Do you consider yourself the kind of person that gets things done? Are you able to take a vision and transform that into action? Are you able to align others towards that vision and get them moving to create something truly remarkable? If any of these describe you, then you, my friend, are a leader, and this show is all about and all for you. I’m Tim Sweet. Welcome to the Sweet on Leadership Podcast. This is episode 33. Thanks for joining us.

Tim 01:08

Welcome back to the Sweet on Leadership podcast. Thank you very much for joining me today. This is a podcast that has been months in the making. I am absolutely electric with excitement for talking to my guest today. I'd like to introduce Brent Yonk. And Brent, I'm gonna let you tell people all about why I'm so jazzed today. Tell them about what you do. And what you find yourself doing day in day out. It's not my normal cup of tea.

Brent 01:39

Absolutely. Well. Hopefully, I don't underwhelm everybody. But, so my name is Brent Yonk. I'm an assistant section chief with the Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI. Specifically, I'm in the FBI’s counterterrorism division. And so my role, I focus on leading a group of folks who develop kind of the next generation technology that supports our agents and our analysts who are both at our headquarters divisions, as well ...

About Brent Yonk

Resources discussed in this episode:

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Contact Brent Yonk:

Linkedin: Brent Yonk

Transcript

Brent 00:01

Tim 00:33

Tim 01:08

Brent 01:39

Previous Episode

Dan Löfquist - Courage, Openness, Change and Dramatic Tech Growth

In a dynamic discussion, Tim Sweet and seasoned software engineer Dan Löfquist explore the intersection of technology and leadership in today's dynamic landscape. They discuss the need to adapt and stay flexible to meet innovation head-on. They highlight the importance of leaders who embrace change and foster collaboration across generations. This episode is for any leader having doubts about how to navigate the complexities of leadership in the digital era.

Tim and Dan also discuss the imperative for leaders to adapt and embrace uncertainty amidst a rapidly changing world. They touch upon topics such as generational differences in the workplace, the evolving role of technology, and the value of transparent communication. Drawing from Dan's experience as a consultant, they share the significance of modular thinking and delegation to navigate complex challenges. Together, they reflect on the shifting paradigms of work and advocate for prioritizing empathy and collaboration in driving organizational success.

About Dan Löfquist

Dan Löfquist is a seasoned consultant and principal at Input Consulting in Stockholm, boasting nearly 40 years of combined experience in software development, banking, finance, and the travel industry. With a strong foundation in systems design and a relentless drive for innovation, Dan brings unparalleled expertise to the forefront of modern technology and leadership. His extensive background equips him with the skills needed to guide organizations through complex technological transitions, optimize systems for efficiency, and foster a culture of innovation and growth.

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Contact Dan Löfquist | Input Consulting:

Linkedin: Dan Löfquist

Transcript:

Dan 00:02

It's very important how you design your system, you basically have very small parts of your system that can connect together to make a feature, for example. So, if you have an order system, you have one little part that deals with a client or the customer, you have one little part that deals with the history of the orders and one little part that deals with what happens when the customer do an order. So, you have to break it down in very small bits, which makes changes much easier.

Tim 00:35

Do you rely on others to set a vision and then get them what they need so that they can achieve something they never would be able to do on their own? Whether or not you formally lead a team. If this sounds like you, then you, my friend, are the definition of a leader. And this show is all about bringing you new insights from real people that you've never been exposed to. So, you can grow and increase your impact on the world and feel more fulfilled while you're doing it. I'm Tim Sweet. Welcome to the Sweet on Leadership Podcast, episode 32.

Tim 01:09

Welcome back, everybody. Thank you very much for joining us for another edition of Sweet on Leadership. If you haven't joined us yet and this is your first time, we are all about bringing exciting insights from leaders around the world. And they come from very different backgrounds. Today, I have Dan Löfquist in front of me, Dan, thanks very much for joining me. I really appreciate it.

Dan 01:31

Oh, you're welcome. I'm glad to be here.

Tim 01:34

Dan, you are a principal with Input Consulting in Stockholm. That Correct?

Dan 01:39

That is correct. Yes.

Tim 01:41

What else would you like people to know about you and where you find yourself professionally?

Dan 01:45

I am a software engineer the base of it. And I've been working with software development, almost 40 years. And I still look this young.

Tim 02:00

We'll make sure that we have a portrait in the show notes. So, go check it out if you're listening over audio. Dan, also comes to us because your partner is our very good friend, Debbie Potts.

Dan 02:15

That's correct.

Tim 02:17

So, if you're wondering what the connection is, there, we are all one big happy family. What really excites me about talking to anybody that deals with complex systems is that that knowledge transfers over into their perceptions of business and organizations and leadership. And it's if you have people like this in your life, I would really encourage you to bring people like Dan into conversations that don't involve just software or IT or anything like that...

Next Episode

Julie Freedman-Smith - From Parenting Skills to Leadership Qualities

In this engaging episode of Sweet on Leadership, host Tim Sweet sits down with Julie Freedman Smith, a seasoned parenting expert, for a thought-provoking conversation on parenting and leadership. Julie shares important insights on how parents can support their children in finding their own paths while balancing guidance and empathy. They discuss the importance of understanding the unique perspectives of children and how parents can embrace courage and flexibility while parenting.

Julie and Tim explore the idea that children operate on a different "currency" than adults, valuing friendship and good feelings over time and achievement. They emphasize the necessity of reassessing parental expectations and focusing on short-term progress rather than long-term outcomes. Additionally, they draw parallels between parenting and leadership, discussing how adults can avoid limiting themselves to specific roles or activities based on early career choices or societal expectations. This episode is packed with practical advice and is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their parenting skills and leadership qualities, fostering growth, adaptability, and genuine fulfillment in both personal and professional realms.

About Julie Freedman Smith

Julie Freedman Smith is the founder of JFS Parent Education and co-founder of Parent Mentor Now. With over two decades of experience guiding parents across North America, she is dedicated to transforming family dynamics by fostering safe, respectful communication that builds lasting connections. As an author, podcast host, parenting expert, and mother of two, Julie understands the thrilling yet challenging journey of raising children in today's complex world.

Her empathetic and practical approach empowers parents to support their children's growth and development while maintaining a positive family dynamic. Through practical strategies and open communication, she helps parents navigate the stresses and joys of parenting, ensuring both they and their children thrive. Julie's mission is to equip parents with the tools they need to create harmonious and resilient family environments, enabling them to handle the ups and downs of parenting with confidence and grace.

Resources discussed in this episode:

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Contact Julie Freedman Smith | Parent Mentor Now:

Transcript:

Julie 00:01

So, I was just talking to a family this week about a child who's playing one level up. So, he's the youngest kid on the game. He's being picked on all the time and then he's taking that and he's picking on everybody else in his class because that's what it looks like. And so we can just take a step back, sit in the discomfort, this means I might not know the entire path for my child. And can I just be here? Can I be with this child right now with what they need from me right now, and see where we get to next?

Tim 00:34

Do you rely on others to set a vision and then give them what they need so that they can achieve something they never would be able to do on their own? Whether or not you formally lead a team. If this sounds like you, then you, my friend, are the definition of a leader. And this show is all about bringing you new insights from real people that you've never been exposed to. So, you can grow and increase your impact on the world and feel more fulfilled while you're doing it.

Tim 01:01

I'm Tim Sweet. And I'm glad you could join us for episode 34.

Tim 01:08

Hey, everybody, welcome back to the Sweet on Leadership podcast. Joining me once again, this will be your seventh visit? Seventh visit is, Julie Freedman Smith. Together, we form some sort of a superhero duo, yet to be named. We've been talking off-camera about things that are going on in our lives, we decided to hit record. And today we're going to take you into a subject that I...