034: Leadership Rebellion W/ MATT VANDENBERG, President- Ohio Wesleyan University

Bill welcomes Matt vandenBerg, president of Ohio Wesleyan University, who recounts how failing at a pre-med path in college led him to discover his calling through mentorship and student government leadership. vandenBerg discusses early-career imposter syndrome, viewing failure as an “honest mirror,” and treating fear as fuel while “playing to win.” He shares a defining moment from his third day at Ohio Wesleyan when he had to close the library, then leveraged the crisis into a vision for the first fine-arts-infused library and raised $45 million in three months, including a $20 million gift. He explains building trust through actions and storytelling, a “rebellion” against broken higher-ed norms centered on boldness, kindness, and innovation, and peak-performance habits like delegation, communication discipline, family time, and daily workouts. He aims to create a blueprint other liberal arts colleges can follow.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:52 From Pre Med to Purpose

04:59 Mentors and Early Struggles

07:03 Fear as Fuel

11:02 Honeymoon Over as President

11:44 Library Crisis to Fundraising Win

14:58 Building Trust Through Story

19:30 Rebellion in Higher Education

22:25 Energy and Decision Discipline

26:27 Ambition Versus Patience

28:39 Team Standards and Nonnegotiables

31:09 Legacy and Closing Thanks