Strong. Demanding. Loving: Rethinking Great Leadership with Drew Kugler

In this powerful episode of Reach Teach Talk, renowned leadership coach Drew Kugler returns to Reach Teach Talk to share his transformative revelation: that leading through love—specifically strong and demanding love—is essential to great leadership. Reflecting on 26 years of coaching, Drew uncovers a red thread of love at the core of effective human connection. Educators, business leaders, and coaches alike will be inspired to lead more meaningfully, listen deeply, and elevate others by embracing love as a daily, intentional practice.

Drew Kugler (www.drewkugler.com) is a leadership and communication coach with over 30 years of experience guiding executives and teams across industries—from law and media to non-profits and consumer brands. Raised in San Diego by a city judge who believed deeply in integrity and respect, Drew learned early on the power of influence and the importance of listening. Over the past 30 years, he’s coached leaders across industries—law, media, nonprofits, and more—helping them navigate tough conversations and lead with what he calls Constructive Candor. He’s held leadership roles at Nordstrom and Marriott, taught communication at San Diego State, and spoken at institutions like Stanford, NYU, and UCLA. Drew is especially proud to work with all communities nationwide and to serve as faculty at Hebrew Union College and the Board of Directors at Reach Academy for Young Men.