My uncle Monty was a brilliant businessman—and a bold atheist.

I’m a Christian. And yet, we had some of the deepest, most honest conversations I’ve ever had.

He challenged me. I challenged him. We respected each other deeply. At his funeral, I shared one of those stories—and to my surprise, a room full of mostly non-believers clapped and laughed with me.

It reminded me of something crucial in leadership:

The goal isn’t sameness.

It’s mutual respect.

As leaders, we work across different worldviews, faiths, personalities, and values. You don’t need everyone to agree with you. But you do need the wisdom and humility to lead with conviction and compassion.

Monty and I saw the world very differently.

But we both showed up with curiosity—and that created space for connection.

➡️ How do you navigate leading across deeply held differences?

➡️ This photo was taken at his funeral—standing with my wife, my sister and brother-in-law (who passed away recently), and my aunt who spent a lifetime with Uncle Monty.

➡️ I help leaders navigate high-stakes influence, especially when worldviews clash. If you’re leading across deep differences and want to talk, Email me.