What does jumping out of an airplane 650+ times teach you about leadership, fear, and high-stakes decision making?
In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald Dunn sits down with leadership coach, engineer, and licensed skydiver Joe Wyrwas to unpack the real lessons behind risk, Growth, and performance under pressure
Joe Wyrwas
Joe shares how skydiving mirrors leadership in business — from calculated risk and break-off points to trusting your team, overcoming fear, and stepping outside your comfort zone. With experience leading engineering teams in mission-critical Department of Defense environments and building youth leadership programs, Joe brings both tactical expertise and practical Wisdom.
You’ll learn:
• Why a growth mindset beats an achievement mindset
• How to calculate risk without freezing in analysis paralysis
• The leadership power of “modeling the way”
• What young leaders are doing better than previous generations
• How to find your “why” and build confidence under pressure
• Why stepping outside your comfort zone changes everything
Whether you’re a veteran transitioning careers, a business owner scaling your company, or a leader feeling stuck, this conversation delivers practical frameworks you can apply immediately.
Connect with Joe:
LinkedIn: Joe Wyrwas
Website: wiserwithjoe.com
Instagram: @wiserwithjoe
If you’re serious about improving your leadership, decision-making, and mental resilience — this episode is for you.
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