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The Good Leadership Podcast

The Good Leadership Podcast

Mission and Passion in Leadership: Debriefing the September 2026 Good Leadership Breakfast featuring Rob Vischer

Sep 15, 2026 · 29 min · 15 segments

In this episode of the Good Leadership Podcast, Paul Batz and Nancy Weidenfeller reflect on the inspiring message shared by University of St. Thomas President Rob Vischer at the September Good…

In this episode of the Good Leadership Podcast, Paul Batz and Nancy Weidenfeller reflect on the inspiring message shared by University of St. Thomas President Rob Vischer at the September Good Leadership Breakfast. Rob explores how leaders create healthy accountability by becoming carriers of culture and fostering a “culture of encounter” where people feel seen, known, and valued. The conversation highlights the importance of lifting our gaze beyond achievement to focus on who we are becoming, emphasizing lifelong flourishing, meaningful relationships, and personal growth. Together, they examine how authenticity, trust, and goodness strengthen leadership effectiveness and shape thriving organizations.

In this episode of the Good Leadership Podcast, Paul Batz and Nancy Weidenfeller reflect on the inspiring message shared by University of St. Thomas President Rob Vischer at the September Good…

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Speakers: Paul BatzHostNancy WeidenfellerHost

Top entities: University of St. Thomas×5 Catholic Church×4 Pope Francis×3 Minnesota×4 Good×2

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈494 followers

Introducing Rob Vischer2:23 – 5:16

2:23

So today, Nancy and I are reviewing what we learned from Rob Vischer, who is the president of the University of St. Thomas that's here in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.

2:32

He was the s- guest speaker at our 121st Good Leadership Breakfast earlier this morning.

2:38

Rob is the 16th president of the University of St. Thomas, and he joined St. Thomas as a law professor way back in 2005 before being appointed the dean of the law school in 2013, and then he also became the president shortly after that.

2:53

Uh, he's a remarkable dude.

2:54

He went to college at New Orleans University and then Harvard Law School.

2:57

He w- writes and speaks widely on religious freedom, Catholic identity, and the role of faith in public life.

3:03

We're gonna hear a lot about this in his comments.

3:06

Uh, so Nancy, what was your first impression of Rob when you saw him take the stage and begin his talk with us?

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:12

Paul, I just...

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:13

It was captivating.

3:14

Mm-hmm.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:14

Um, I felt...

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:15

Have, have been at many of your breakfast briefings, and you really could hear a pin drop.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:20

He just was authentic.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:23

Um, something about me, I have been an adjunct instructor for St. Thomas for 15 years, and I am totally impressed with how Rob has led the university.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:35

So what I have experienced and what I saw today was an alignment.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:39

It was captivating.

3:41

That's amazing.

3:42

So, uh, before we dip into Rob's message today, let's set the stage.

3:46

So the Good Leadership Breakfast has been around now for more than 16 years, and we've had nearly 120 speakers, and our mission is to inspire, equip, and empower good leaders to improve the effectiveness of their organization with goodness.

4:01

And we start with this idea that accountability can be healthy, so we're gonna hear that back and forth, um, in the conversation, and we all do this from a perspective of goodness.

4:11

I've already explained that.

4:13

So, uh, Nancy, would you give us a little bit of a, um, a, a flavor for those who weren't in the room today? What, what was the energy like in the room today?

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

4:22

You know, the energy, um, I would just say people were very engaged.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

4:26

Um, a lot of applause for the comments that Rob made.

University of St. ThomasCollege or UniversityPrivate university in Saint Paul, Minnesota
96%5 mentions
Catholic ChurchOrganizationChurch
89%4 mentions
Pope FrancisPersonFormer head of the Catholic Church
82%3 mentions
MinnesotaAdministrative AreaUS state
75%4 mentions
GoodEntity
68%2 mentions
Old National BankCompanyBanking company
61%2 mentions
Minneapolis–Saint PaulEntityArea in Minnesota
54%1 mention
LSU New OrleansCollege or UniversityUniversity in New Orleans, Louisiana
46%1 mention
MinneapolisCityCity in Minnesota
39%1 mention
Harvard Law SchoolCollege or UniversityLaw school in Cambridge, Massachusetts
32%1 mention
Arthur C. BrooksPersonAmerican author
25%3 mentions
Labor DayEntityHoliday
18%1 mention
LinkedInSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
11%1 mention
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
4%1 mention

Society
Cultural ValuesEducation > Higher Education > University Leadership
AccountabilityEducation > Higher Education > University Leadership > Cultural Values
Goodness in LeadershipBusiness > Leadership > Organizational Culture
Personal AccountabilityBusiness > Leadership > Organizational Culture > Goodness in Leadership
Faith in Public LifeSociety > Community Engagement > Cultural Identity
Religious FreedomSociety > Community Engagement > Cultural Identity > Faith in Public Life
Interpersonal RelationshipsCulture > Cultural Encounter
Student EngagementCulture > Cultural Encounter > Interpersonal Relationships
Holistic DevelopmentCulture > Cultural Encounter > Interpersonal Relationships > Student Engagement
Catholic IdentityReligion
Faith-Based LeadershipReligion > Catholic Identity
Role of Faith in EducationReligion > Catholic Identity > Faith-Based Leadership
Ethics in LeadershipReligion > Catholic Identity > Faith-Based Leadership > Role of Faith in Education
LeadershipBusiness
Cultural IdentitySociety > Community Engagement
University LeadershipEducation > Higher Education
Organizational CultureBusiness > Leadership
Community EngagementSociety
Cultural EncounterCulture
Religion
Education
Business
Culture
Higher EducationEducation

Introducing Rob Vischer2:23 – 5:16

2:23

So today, Nancy and I are reviewing what we learned from Rob Vischer, who is the president of the University of St. Thomas that's here in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.

2:32

He was the s- guest speaker at our 121st Good Leadership Breakfast earlier this morning.

2:38

Rob is the 16th president of the University of St. Thomas, and he joined St. Thomas as a law professor way back in 2005 before being appointed the dean of the law school in 2013, and then he also became the president shortly after that.

2:53

Uh, he's a remarkable dude.

2:54

He went to college at New Orleans University and then Harvard Law School.

2:57

He w- writes and speaks widely on religious freedom, Catholic identity, and the role of faith in public life.

3:03

We're gonna hear a lot about this in his comments.

3:06

Uh, so Nancy, what was your first impression of Rob when you saw him take the stage and begin his talk with us?

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:12

Paul, I just...

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:13

It was captivating.

3:14

Mm-hmm.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:14

Um, I felt...

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:15

Have, have been at many of your breakfast briefings, and you really could hear a pin drop.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:20

He just was authentic.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:23

Um, something about me, I have been an adjunct instructor for St. Thomas for 15 years, and I am totally impressed with how Rob has led the university.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:35

So what I have experienced and what I saw today was an alignment.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

3:39

It was captivating.

3:41

That's amazing.

3:42

So, uh, before we dip into Rob's message today, let's set the stage.

3:46

So the Good Leadership Breakfast has been around now for more than 16 years, and we've had nearly 120 speakers, and our mission is to inspire, equip, and empower good leaders to improve the effectiveness of their organization with goodness.

4:01

And we start with this idea that accountability can be healthy, so we're gonna hear that back and forth, um, in the conversation, and we all do this from a perspective of goodness.

4:11

I've already explained that.

4:13

So, uh, Nancy, would you give us a little bit of a, um, a, a flavor for those who weren't in the room today? What, what was the energy like in the room today?

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

4:22

You know, the energy, um, I would just say people were very engaged.

Nancy WeidenfellerHost

4:26

Um, a lot of applause for the comments that Rob made.

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