CMA 4th classman creates podcasts talking to leaders about how they lead

Culver Military Academy fourth classman Gabriel Gary thought the best way to learn about leadership was to talk with leaders, so he started a podcast on the subject.

On his podcast, “Gen Z on Leadership,” Gary has interviewed more than a dozen leaders, including Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, a Republican from Noblesville, state Sen. Rodney Pol, a Democrat from Chesterton, and leaders in education and other areas.

“I make a point of interviewing both Democrats, Republicans and people not involved in politics. I want to talk to people about leadership and how they view leadership,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel said he started the podcast in June 2023 shortly after he was elected as student council president at his middle school in Valparaiso, Indiana, about 40 miles northwest of Culver.

“I realized that I wanted to grow my leadership skills and I just thought the best way to do that was by talking to leaders directly,” he said.

He started emailing leaders he would like to talk to, including some people in local government. He said interviewing those people led to him having opportunities to more prominent leaders, such as James Brainerd, who was mayor of Carmel, Indiana, for 28 years, Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns and Cathy Ferree, CEO and president of the Indiana State Museum.

Ferree told Gary she had been mentored by a lot of strong leaders.

“Being in a CEO position means that at the end of the day, everything does stop at your desk,” she said. “When you get to the CEO level, everything is your responsibility regardless of what department or area it is in.”

The most controversial person he has interviewed is likely Beckwith, an ultra-conservative Christian pastor who promotes uncompromising positions on abortion, gender and sexuality. Beckwith won the Republican nomination even though the Republican gubernatorial nominee, Mike Braun, endorsed state Rep. Julie McGuire.

Gary said he wanted to talk to Beckwith about why he ran for lieutenant governor.

“I wanted to get in a conversation with him and find out what are some core leadership values that he holds,” he said.

Beckwith said he thought Indiana voters should have a choice. The governor shouldn’t choose the lieutenant governor.

Gary asked Beckwith about his core leadership values. Beckwith said he looks to Jesus as a role model and how he “embodied servant leadership.”

“The Bible says he did not come to be served, but to serve. I think any leader, any person in position of authority or power – whether that’s in government, whether that’s in education, whether it’s in business – leaders need to be first and foremost servant minded,” he said. “That’s the biggest attribute that I look for in a leader. Will you serve the people you are leading?”

Gary said servant leadership is a common theme among people he’s interviewed. He said another common theme is leading by example.

Gary said he reaches out to about 50 people on average before he finds someone who will agree to take part in his podcast. But he said as he interviews people he asks them if they will recommend him to someone else, or if they can recommend someone for him to reach out to.

“I think the people who do agree to be on the podcast are the some of the greatest leaders because they are willing to talk with a 15-year-old freshman. That's some real humility,” Gary said.

Gary conducts the interviews over Zoom and uses editing software to add some music and create an introduction.

Gary said he knew when he started the podcast he wanted to go to Culver and was aware of the emphasis the boarding school placed on leadership. He thought it might help his application.

He continues to create the podcasts because he thinks they are interesting and he likes having access to leaders.

“I find it interesting to talk to these people,” he said. “I keep on doing it to develop myself as a leader.”