103: The Happy Leader, with Dr. Calvin Lawrence

103: The Happy Leader, with Dr. Calvin Lawrence

From Leadership Jam Session by Rob Fonte

August 5, 2025 · 31 min · Episode 103

About this episode

Dr. Calvin Lawrence discusses the importance of relationships, authenticity, and happiness in effective leadership.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Calvin Lawrence—motivational speaker, leadership consultant, and author of the newly released book, The Happy Leader. Calvin brings over 40 years of experience in educational leadership and administration, offering a wealth of wisdom and heartfelt stories from his journey. We dive deep into the essential role that relationships, mindset, and authenticity play in effective leadership, as well as the power of choosing happiness—even during challenging times. Calvin shares the inspiration behind The Happy Leader, emphasizing that “relationships matter” and exploring how mentorship, learning from failure, and busting through stereotypes have shaped his leadership philosophy. He discusses the importance of being an authentic leader, recounts lessons learned from his own missteps, and highlights practical ways to build trust and connection with your team. Calvin and I also talk candidly about the realities of leadership, including managing personal setbacks, balancing pressure, and the crucial practice of celebrating wins—big and small. Key takeaways: Leadership starts with the quality of your relationships—getting to know your people, learning…

People in this episode

Host: Rob Fonte

Guest: Dr. Calvin Lawrence

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • authenticity
  • relationships
  • happiness
  • mentorship
  • personal development

Keywords

  • leadership
  • authenticity
  • happiness
  • mentorship
  • trust
  • personal setbacks
  • celebrating wins

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Happy Leader

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