2025 Reflections & 2026 Predictions: Surfacing Leaders Year-End Wrapped with Marc Koehler

In this year-end episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler reflects on the defining leadership lessons of 2025 and offers a forward-looking perspective on what leaders can expect in 2026. Drawing from 26 diverse conversations—from fire chiefs and construction leaders to Navy admirals and Gen Z innovators—Marc highlights the themes that surfaced again and again across industries, generations, and communities.

He underscores the growing need for clarity over control in a rapidly changing environment and explains why trust has emerged as a true competitive advantage, not a luxury. Marc also explores the expanding role of AI as an accelerant for leaders, helping shift time and focus toward strategic thinking and human connection. Lists of insights from Gen Y and Gen Z leadership mirror his own experience in the submarine force, where responsibility and adaptability are non-negotiable.

Listeners will gain practical takeaways from Marc’s review, including the top five most impactful episodes of the year, the daily leadership rhythms that fueled success in disruptive times, and the skills leaders must develop to thrive in the year ahead:

— Build consistent rhythms that anchor performance amid change.
— Prioritize clarity and trust across teams and organizations.
— Leverage AI to elevate—not replace—the human side of leadership.

Join us for this special episode as Marc unpacks the year’s key insights and reveals the trends, tools, and capabilities leaders will need to navigate 2026 with confidence and purpose.