In this episode of Lead with Bubba Scott, I sit down with Dr. Kevin Mullaney, a retired U.S. Navy Captain, Industrial and Organizational psychologist, and executive coach, to explore leadership in high-stakes environments.
Kevin shares his journey from growing up in an Army family to serving as a nuclear submarine officer, and how those experiences shaped his understanding of accountability, ethics, and leadership development. We discuss why great leaders focus on the principles behind the rules, how ownership and competence drive trust, and why personality, self-awareness, and curiosity matter more than most leaders realize.
Drawing from his work in the Navy, academia, and executive coaching at Harvard Business School, Kevin introduces the Know-Do-Be model and challenges leaders to think more deeply about character, responsibility, and what it truly means to lead humans, not just organizations.
Chapters
00:00 From Army Brat to Navy Submarine Officer
01:15 The Principle Behind the Rules
03:40 Leadership in the Submarine Force
06:29 The Role of the Executive Officer
08:29 Navigating Accountability and Relationships
10:59 Transitioning to Academia and Teaching Leadership
13:28 Understanding Personality in Leadership
15:57 The Impact of Experience on Leadership Philosophy
26:57 Leadership, Discipline, and Punishment
31:03 The Importance of Curiosity in Leadership
33:20 Measuring Leadership Competencies Over Time
40:11 The Know-Do-Be Model of Leadership
43:43 Coaching Leaders at Harvard Business School
47:38 The Case for Ethical Leadership
55:10 The Value of Ownership in Leadership
