Leading with Trust and Purpose: Michael Sanderson, P.E., PTOE

Leading with Trust and Purpose: Michael Sanderson, P.E., PTOE

From ITE Talks Transportation by ITE Talks Transportation

January 27, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

Michael Sanderson discusses his 'people first' leadership philosophy and its impact on building strong teams in transportation.

Michael Sanderson—CEO of Sanbell and 2018 ITE International President—shares how his “people first” philosophy has shaped his career and his approach to building strong teams on this episode of ITE Talks Transportation. He explains that leadership in technical fields isn’t about command-and-control, but about setting a clear vision, building culture, and trusting experts to deliver. Sanderson emphasizes that leadership is learned through practice, and encourages young professionals to say yes to opportunities, especially in organizations like ITE. He also highlights the importance of ethical decision-making, mentorship, adaptability, and the lasting impact of creating Leadership ITE to help develop the next generation of transportation leaders.

People in this episode

Guest: Michael Sanderson P E Ptoe

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • trust
  • mentorship
  • ethical decision-making
  • team building

Keywords

  • LeadershipITE
  • young professionals
  • adaptability

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Sanbell

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