S3 Episode 11: Building People, Stories, and Impact: James Rhee on Leadership and Life

“If you want a family, you should have a family. I hope your kids work at the company one day.” – James C. Rhee

We couldn’t have asked for a more inspiring guest to The Forward Podcast than James C. Rhee - CEO, Founder, Author, Educator, and Private Equity Investor. He’s helped transform iconic brands, stood on global TED stages to speak about leadership, and guided young minds at Howard, MIT, and Yale.

James shares the lessons that shaped him - from childhood to the C-suite.James’ journey spans some of the most fascinating intersections of human experience and professional growth:

• Childhood lessons that taught him about agency, problem-solving, and kindness
• Founding and growing businesses while investing in people and mentorship
• Navigating the role of fear, ego, and empathy in leadership
• Using storytelling to align people and purpose across organizations

From early life experiences to building businesses, James’ story is anchored in one thing: helping people see what’s possible and act with care.

Episode Chapters:

01:28 – Welcome & Introduction

06:30 – Red Helicopter Story: Childhood lessons on agency

26:00 – Kindness in Business

45:10 – Managing Fear & Ego: Overcoming internal barriers

55:30 – Storytelling in Business: Aligning teams and culture

58:05 – Technology & Agency: Using AI without losing core values

1:01:00 – Final Reflections: Practical advice for life and work

Whether your goal is personal growth, leadership impact, or building stronger relationships, this episode is packed with actionable stories, insights, and tools you can start using today.