Dr. Matt Paden | The Core: 8 Principles for Building Strong, Authentic Leadership

What if the biggest barrier to scaling your business isn’t strategy, but you? In this episode of The Entrepreneurial CEO Podcast, host Andrew Gerhart sits down with Dr. Matt Paden, President and Managing Partner of Great Days Leadership, to unpack the often overlooked driver of long term success: character. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Paden shares why leadership starts from the inside out and how clarity, discipline, and self awareness shape high performing teams. He also discusses his new book, The Core, co-authored with Dr. Ken Jones, which blends storytelling with practical frameworks to make leadership principles both accessible and actionable. They explore why organizations struggle after promoting top performers, the hidden dangers of ego, and how burnout often leads to poor decisions. Dr. Paden also shares a real example of a CEO ready to sell his company, only to realize the real issue was internal fatigue and lack of clarity. In this episode, Andrew and Dr. Matt will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to Leadership and Character (03:06) The Journey of Writing the Book (05:58) Unique Approach to Leadership Principles (09:07) Transitioning from Academia to Entrepreneurship (11:50) Challenges of Promoting from Within (15:02) Identifying Leadership Problems in Organizations (21:08) Navigating Leadership Fatigue and Fog (25:12) The Importance of Self-Awareness and Humility (30:01) Keeping Ego in Check (31:12) The Challenge of Implementation in Leadership Development (34:01) AI and People Strategy Alignment (38:02) Future Goals for Great Days Leadership Dr. Matt Paden is the President and Managing Partner of Great Days Leadership, where he helps leaders build strong teams, healthy cultures, and values-driven organizations. With over 20 years of experience as an executive, consultant, speaker, and coach, he specializes in leadership development and organizational growth. Matt holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University and is passionate about helping others lead with purpose, integrity, and lasting impact. Connect with Dr. Matt: Website: https://greatdaysleadership.com/ LinkedIn:   / drmattpaden   Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/book... Follow the Entrepreneurial CEO Podcast: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/entrepreneurial-ceo-podcast YouTube:    / @entrepreneurialceopodcast