What if the real differentiator in leadership isn't speed, strategy, or even talent… but culture?

In this powerful episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with Michael Chavira, Navy veteran, Ironman athlete, and co-founder of Axiologic Solutions, a company he scaled from a two-person startup to a 300+ person organization approaching $100M in revenue.

From intelligence work and ISR support in the military, to advising boards on ethical AI adoption, to leading a fast-growing federal contracting company, Michael's story is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership. His journey proves that you can scale big without sacrificing humanity, clarity, or culture.

Michael opens up about the early missteps that almost stalled their growth, the turning point when culture became their engine, and why clarity, dignity, and accountability form the foundation of his leadership philosophy.

He also shares deeply personal reflections on family, legacy, and what it means to lead yourself with discipline, from 5 a.m. Ironman training rides to building a home life rooted in presence, values, and service.

💡 In this conversation, you'll learn how to:

• Build a culture strong enough to scale from 2 employees to 300 without losing your identity

• Lead with clarity and dignity so your people understand the mission, and their role in it

• Create psychological safety by learning from mistakes instead of penalizing them

• Protect culture while implementing processes, systems, and leadership layers as you grow

• Strengthen leadership stamina through discipline and long-term mindset (including Ironman lessons!)

• Navigate AI with ethics, governance, and trust at the center, not fear

• Leave a legacy rooted in family, community, and lifelong learning

Whether you're leading a small team, growing a company, or simply trying to become a better human at work and at home, Michael's blend of service, discipline, humility, and intentional culture-building will inspire you to rethink what leadership can be.

🎧 Listen now and discover how purpose, clarity, and culture can transform the way you lead.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Kind Leadership = Clarity + Dignity + Accountability Great leadership isn't soft, it's structured. When leaders communicate goals clearly, treat people with fairness, and hold themselves to the same standards as everyone else, trust becomes the foundation for high performance.

2. Culture Must Be Co-Created, Not Declared The most effective cultures are shaped with employees, not handed down to them. Bringing teams together regularly to revisit values prevents misalignment and builds authentic commitment across the organization.

3. Psychological Safety Turns Mistakes Into Momentum Borrowing the Special Forces "Hot Wash" model, teams grow faster when they debrief honestly without blame: What worked? What didn't? What did we learn? Transparency strengthens relationships and accelerates improvement.

4. Build the Infrastructure Before You Scale Growth from 20 to 300 people requires systems, recruiting, HR, communication, and leadership layers. Investing early in structure protects culture and prevents leaders from burning out as the organization expands.

5. Discipline Creates Possibility, in Fitness and in Leadership The mindset that completes a 140.6-mile Ironman is the same one that builds resilient organizations: set clear goals, create a plan, track metrics, and show up consistently. Discipline is a form of self-leadership.

🔗 Connect with Michael Chavira Personal Website: Michael Chavira Axiologic Solutions: Axiologic Solutions

📚 Recommended Books

• Step Up, Step Back – Elsbeth Johnson

  A research-backed guide that helps leaders stop micromanaging and instead create the conditions for long-term success. It teaches when to step in for clarity and when to step back to empower teams.

• Meditations – Marcus Aurelius

  A timeless collection of personal writings from the Roman emperor, offering practical wisdom on resilience, humility, discipline, and leading with integrity, foundational to modern Stoicism.

• Books by Ryan Holiday (Modern Stoicism)

  Holiday's work makes ancient Stoic philosophy accessible for modern leaders, offering daily insights on emotional balance, perspective, and intentional leadership in fast-changing environments.

• The Lincoln Highway – Amor Towles (fiction recommendation)

  A beautifully written novel exploring adventure, moral choices, and personal growth. Not a leadership book, but a powerful reminder of character, resilience, and the journeys that shape us.

00:00 Finding Joy in Life's Everyday Moments 01:35 From Wyoming to Founder: The Journey of a Kind Leader 03:05 What Kind Leadership Really Means: Clarity, Dignity & Accountability 04:03 Why Culture Is the Heartbeat of Every Successful Organization 07:04 Scaling with Intention: Protecting Culture as You Grow 11:30 Developing Leaders Through Training, Mentorship & Example 14:45 Ironman Lessons: Stamina, Discipline & Leading Yourself First 20:54 Leadership in the Military: Empathy Lessons from the Navy & Special Forces 22:46 AI, Trust & Governance: The Future of Responsible Leadership 30:42 Family, Legacy & Creating Impact Beyond the Workplace