In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Jacob Soter, Director of Swim Smart Technologies, to unpack why trust, humility, and resilience are essential when leadership decisions carry real-life consequences. Jacob shares his journey from engineering student to leading nationwide water safety innovation, revealing how listening first, collaborating deeply, and owning mistakes builds trust that lasts.

The conversation explores leadership under pressure, learning from failure, personal resilience shaped by adversity, and why humility not ego is the foundation for sustainable impact. This episode is a powerful reminder that strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers it’s about earning trust so mistakes don’t break you or the people you serve.

Jacob Soter is the co-founder and Managing Director of SwimSmart Technology LLC, a Michigan-based company specializing in automated beach safety systems to prevent drownings. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2019) and a Master of Business Administration (2020) from Michigan Technological University, where he participated in the SENSE Enterprise Program.

Inspired by presentations on beach safety inefficiencies at the 2017 Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium conference, Soter pivoted from initial concepts in water safety drones to developing data-driven warning technologies integrated with National Weather Service forecasts.

Under his leadership, SwimSmart has expanded to deployments across beaches around the United States and a first reaching Canada. A NOAA Weather Ready Nation Ambassador, Soter received the 2024 Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium's Superhero of the Year award for his contributions to drowning prevention.

Connect with Jacob:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-soter-swimsmart/

In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham talks with Renée Heywood, Ph.D., about what modern leadership is missing and why humility, mentorship, and faith matter now more than ever. Renée shares insights from decades in education and leadership on moving beyond fear, imposter syndrome, and performance-driven mindsets to lead with purpose.

They discuss the loss of mentorship, faith-driven decision-making, and what it truly means to lead people—not positions.

About Renée Heywood, Ph.D.
Dr. Heywood has over 25 years of experience in education and leadership. She is the CEO of South Shore Stars, founder of Real Talk Leadership, and author of Finding Me Finding Us for Educators, available on Amazon and at RealTalkLeadership.com.

Connect with Renée:
rheywood@southshorestars.org
508-505-0200

Published Blogs, Articles & Resources

1. LinkedIn Post, July 17, 2025 – Front Seats Cost Extra – So “LEAD.”

2. Path-to-Progress – Showing the Impact of Equity Work (Contributing author)

3. Heywood, R. (2021). Racial Trauma, Language Use and Biases: A Reflection on

Harmful Practices in Education. Kieli, koulutus ja yhteiskunta, 12(5). Saatavilla:

4. Krezmien, M. P., Clift, W., & Heywood, R. (2020). Using technology to unlock the

potential of diverse learners in juvenile justice settings. ResearchGate.

5. Continuum of Bias Framework (Finding Me Finding Us for Educators - Heywood,

2024)

Published Books

1. Heywood, R. (2025). Powerful God Empowering Us.

2. William, W., & Garret-Walker, W. (2025) The Majestic Place: The Freedom Possible in

Black Women’s Leadership. Rowman and Littlefield Publishing. (Contributing

author)

3. Heywood, R. (2024). Finding Me Finding Us for Educators – A Reflection Journal for

Racial Reconciliation

4. Heywood, R., & Heywood, R. (2020). I said, “I Do” to All That - Unpacking Life’s

Baggage. Extreme Overflow Publication.

In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Tris Hussey to explore why empathy is the leadership skill AI can’t replace. As organizations rush to adopt AI, many leaders are seeing rising burnout, quiet quitting, and loss of trust. This conversation breaks down what’s really happening and what to do instead.

Together, they unpack ethical AI use, human-centered decision-making, and how leaders can balance innovation with accountability, clarity, and care. If you’re navigating AI adoption, managing disengaged teams, or trying to lead with integrity in a fast-changing workplace, this episode offers practical insights to help you lead humans not just systems.

BIO:
Tris Hussey, CM is an AI consultant, writer, and marketing strategist who helps teams turn complex ideas into clear content and practical AI-enabled workflows that drive real business results. With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and strategy, Tris has worked across startups, global organizations, and the public sector where trust, regulation, and long sales cycles matter as much as marketing performance.

Connect with Tris:
Website: https://www.trishussey.com/about-me/
Substack: https://trishusseywriting.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishussey/