The Leadership Crucible Podcast “I Lived in My Car at 18. Now I Run One of America’s Top Cities" | Mike Goodrum of Sugar Land, Texas
Sep 4, 2025
39:50
“I lived in my car at 18. Now I run one of America’s top cities.” That’s not a soundbite. It’s the real story of Mike Goodrum — the City Manager of Sugar Land, Texas — and a living example of how resilience, empathy, and leadership collide.
In this episode of The Leadership Crucible, retired Fire Chief Randy Bruegman sits down with Mike for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to lead in public service today. From surviving homelessness to leading through the Parkland High School shooting, Mike shares how hardship shaped his leadership philosophy — and why building trust in government starts with transparency, not perfection.
You’ll hear about the problem with political theater, why city leaders must embrace relevance over tradition, and how servant leadership rooted in vulnerability can transform communities from the inside out.This episode isn’t just for public officials. It’s for anyone who wants to lead with heart, build better systems, and create cultures that don’t just survive, but thrive.
00:00 – Intro:
From Homeless Teen to City Manager
03:15 – The Broken Culture of “Perfection” in Government
06:42 – Why Empathy Builds Better Leaders
10:38 – Surviving the School Shooting Response
14:55 – Rebuilding Trust with Transparency
18:00 – “Political Theater Is Killing Progress”
21:32 – Culture Isn’t Buzzwords — It’s Behavior
25:44 – What Young Leaders Need to Know About Relevance
28:51 – Humility, Partnership, and the Puzzle of Public Service
33:17 – What Real Resilience Looks Like in Leadership
36:48 – Final Thoughts: Leading With Purpose and PerspectiveABOUT MIKE:
Mike Goodrum is the City Manager of Sugar Land, Texas, where he leads a diverse, inclusive, and award-winning community of over 110,000 residents with a focus on innovation, resilience, and people-first leadership.
With more than 25 years in local government — including previous roles as Assistant City Manager of Sugar Land and City Manager of Coral Springs, Florida — Mike brings deep experience in public administration, civic engagement, and organizational development. He currently leads a team of 900+ employees and manages a $350M+ budget, all while maintaining Sugar Land’s AAA bond rating, lean staffing model, and top-tier satisfaction scores from citizens and employees alike.Mike is an ICMA Credentialed Manager and a graduate of Texas A&M University. He’s passionate about building high-performance organizations that blaze new trails — relentlessly pursuing the good so that residents, employees, and businesses can enjoy a life better than they imagined.
Whether navigating a city through a mass tragedy like the Parkland school shooting or pioneering transparent governance through crises like COVID, Mike’s leadership is defined by humility, relevance, and results.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
- Mike Goodrum | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoodrum25/)
- City of Sugar Land (https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/)
- City of Sugar Land | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sugarlandtxgov)
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:
- YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@theleadershipcrucible)
- Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/5f2mxvfj)
- Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/5xvp5wyu)
CONNECT WITH US:
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | Web (https://www.theleadershipcruciblefoundation.org/)
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/theleadershipcruciblefoundation)
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-crucible-foundation/)
- Chief Bruegman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/chiefbruegman)
- Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast (https://www.theleadershipcruciblefoundation.org/leaders-of-tomorrow-podcast)
MUSIC CREDITS:
Fanfare For The Common Man
This Is The Beginning (Instrumental) - Lights & Motion (MB01ZYTIXH84LK9)
This Is The Good Life (Instrumental) - MOONWATER (MB01CTIIAZV80UU)
In this episode of The Leadership Crucible, retired Fire Chief Randy Bruegman sits down with Mike for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to lead in public service today. From surviving homelessness to leading through the Parkland High School shooting, Mike shares how hardship shaped his leadership philosophy — and why building trust in government starts with transparency, not perfection.
You’ll hear about the problem with political theater, why city leaders must embrace relevance over tradition, and how servant leadership rooted in vulnerability can transform communities from the inside out.This episode isn’t just for public officials. It’s for anyone who wants to lead with heart, build better systems, and create cultures that don’t just survive, but thrive.
00:00 – Intro:
From Homeless Teen to City Manager
03:15 – The Broken Culture of “Perfection” in Government
06:42 – Why Empathy Builds Better Leaders
10:38 – Surviving the School Shooting Response
14:55 – Rebuilding Trust with Transparency
18:00 – “Political Theater Is Killing Progress”
21:32 – Culture Isn’t Buzzwords — It’s Behavior
25:44 – What Young Leaders Need to Know About Relevance
28:51 – Humility, Partnership, and the Puzzle of Public Service
33:17 – What Real Resilience Looks Like in Leadership
36:48 – Final Thoughts: Leading With Purpose and PerspectiveABOUT MIKE:
Mike Goodrum is the City Manager of Sugar Land, Texas, where he leads a diverse, inclusive, and award-winning community of over 110,000 residents with a focus on innovation, resilience, and people-first leadership.
With more than 25 years in local government — including previous roles as Assistant City Manager of Sugar Land and City Manager of Coral Springs, Florida — Mike brings deep experience in public administration, civic engagement, and organizational development. He currently leads a team of 900+ employees and manages a $350M+ budget, all while maintaining Sugar Land’s AAA bond rating, lean staffing model, and top-tier satisfaction scores from citizens and employees alike.Mike is an ICMA Credentialed Manager and a graduate of Texas A&M University. He’s passionate about building high-performance organizations that blaze new trails — relentlessly pursuing the good so that residents, employees, and businesses can enjoy a life better than they imagined.
Whether navigating a city through a mass tragedy like the Parkland school shooting or pioneering transparent governance through crises like COVID, Mike’s leadership is defined by humility, relevance, and results.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
- Mike Goodrum | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoodrum25/)
- City of Sugar Land (https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/)
- City of Sugar Land | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sugarlandtxgov)
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:
- YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@theleadershipcrucible)
- Apple Podcasts (https://tinyurl.com/5f2mxvfj)
- Spotify (https://tinyurl.com/5xvp5wyu)
CONNECT WITH US:
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | Web (https://www.theleadershipcruciblefoundation.org/)
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/theleadershipcruciblefoundation)
- The Leadership Crucible Foundation | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-crucible-foundation/)
- Chief Bruegman | Instagram (https://instagram.com/chiefbruegman)
- Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast (https://www.theleadershipcruciblefoundation.org/leaders-of-tomorrow-podcast)
MUSIC CREDITS:
Fanfare For The Common Man
This Is The Beginning (Instrumental) - Lights & Motion (MB01ZYTIXH84LK9)
This Is The Good Life (Instrumental) - MOONWATER (MB01CTIIAZV80UU)