“Everyone wins when the leader gets better” — Takeaways from the 2026 Global Leadership Summit

“The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is…”

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is a comment from Jim Collins that “fulfillment in life does not come from the avoidance of responsibility but through the responsibilities that we choose to accept.” We don’t work for money; we use money to do the meaningful work we are drawn to.
— Zak Lutz

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is that building character is better done in a “crockpot rather than a microwave.” Deep and enduring transformation requires time, patience, and persisting through trials and pressure—the steady heat of a crockpot, not the rush of a microwave.
— Brien Lasse

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is actually two quotes: “If you’re right 100% of the time, you’re failing” (Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten) and “The best things in life are on the other side of difficult conversations.” (Kwame Christian)
— Noah Springer

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is that it’s not always necessary to have perfect visibility in your environment, as long as you know your intent and can take the next step forward. Taking the next faithful step is almost always better than waiting for absolute certainty—which rarely ever comes.
— Ryan Althoff

My one takeaway from this year’s GLS is that “clutch people” don’t necessarily up their game in key moments. Rather, based on their discipline and preparation, “clutch people” are able to perform when it counts while others fold under pressure.
— Zeke Colyer

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is the importance of making sure our worship is aimed in the right direction. We as believers need to be on alert to the world actively trying to make material things the object of our worship.
— Stephen Bruce

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is the idea that our culture lures us into loving things, using people, and worshipping ourselves. But as followers of Christ, we need to use things, love people, and worship God.
— Delainey Bruce

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is that I don’t have to figure out the entire path forward during uncertain times in my life. I just need to take the next right step and the Lord will lead me to where He wants me to be. “He’s where the joy is.” (Tara-Leigh Cobble)
— Jordyn Crosbie

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is the importance of staying focused on becoming the best version of who I’m uniquely designed to be by knowing myself, stopping the comparisons, and embracing my unique strengths.
— Brittany Knisely

The one thing that I’m taking away from GLS this year is from Alison Levine. Recounting a whiteout she experienced near the top of Mount Everest, she explained that in the seasons of unknowns in life, it is okay to have moments of fear and doubt. However, complacency in that fear will kill you. “You don’t need ‘perfect visibility,’ you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
— Hannah Gawne

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is that great leaders are great at recognizing patterns. As leaders, we need to disrupt the patterns that aren’t working and then create and reinforce the patterns that will achieve the results we’re looking for.
— Rachel Morehouse

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is that, in difficult conversations, it’s critical to name and validate emotions before you can address the topic at hand.
— Christian Mercado

The one thing I am taking away from GLS this year is the reminder that fearlessness is not a measure of success. Every meaningful journey includes failure, uncertainty, and setbacks. What makes a good leader is not in avoiding these, but in how they respond, grow, and keep moving forward.
— Tricia Lingenfield

The one thing that I’m taking away from GLS this year is that the best things in life are “made in a crockpot, not a microwave.” Character and leadership are developed, tested, and proven over time—especially during times of crisis.
— Dylan Englehart

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is from Priscilla Shirer. She reminded us that being a Christian does not “give us a pass” to be average or incompetent. In fact, it demands our best.
— Levi Greenly

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is from Arthur C. Brooks, who talked about finding meaning in life in the age of AI. He explained that the left side of our brain processes the “how” and “what” questions—logic-based things that AI can certainly help with. But our right brain is responsible for the deeper “why” questions of purpose, happiness, and love—things that AI can only provide cheap imitations of by turning them into generalized of “how” and “what” answers.
— Brian Wayne

The one thing that I’m taking away from GLS this year is that I need to lead where I am with what I’ve been given. Not just as a LifeGuide team member, but as a wife. A mom. A church member. A coach. A friend. And in all the little, everyday places where I have influence.
— Katie Griest

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is about decision-making: “You have to make decisions based on the situation at hand—once you step on the mountain, your plan is already outdated.” (Alison Levine)
— Kris Sekera

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is the idea that great leaders are those whose organizations (or ministry, influence, etc.) continue to get better even when they’re gone.
— Michael Ginder

The one thing I’m taking away from GLS this year is the idea that big decisions are often made before we feel ready. “Certainty,” Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten shared, “is an illusion.” Our goal should be to build trust—with our team, our spouse, and most importantly, in God. That is where we will find the courage to take faithful steps before the outcome is clear.
— Kelseyleigh Hepler