Courage Over Fear

Harness the Power of Agency to Lead in Uncertain Times

The only constants are unpredictability and uncertainty, and today’s leaders face pivotal decisions that test their values, resilience, and ability to drive meaningful change. From corporate upheaval to societal shifts, Kristen Kavanaugh and Mike Randolph confront it all in Courage Over Fear: Harness the Power of Agency to Lead in Uncertain Times, an urgent call to action for leaders to step up, reclaim their agency, and meet this crucial moment with conviction and confidence.

Fear-based leadership fractures trust and unity. Leaders who act with courage and integrity are needed to bring forth those values now.Leaders who act with courage and integrity are needed to bring forth those elements now. Based on their past experiences as senior leaders at Tesla and their work with The Agency Initiative, Kavanaugh and Randolph present The Agency Loop, a structured framework for practicing courageous leadership and navigating uncertainty with authenticity, agency, and growth. 

In practice, The Agency Loop will allow you to confront real challenges that we face today—from the deprioritization of DEI, to political and social polarization and the rapid rise of innovation reshaping the workplace.

This is not merely a leadership playbook—it’s a rallying call for all workers, whether you’re a frontline manager, an experienced executive, or a changemaker ready to disrupt the status quo. Courage Over Fear will give you the tools necessary to seize this moment and lead with confidence.

$28.95
ISBN: 979-8-89138-461-3
SKU: 18-1360-01
Categories:Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Leadership and Management, Politics and Current Affairs

Kristen Kavanaugh

Leadership Strategist, CEO & Co-Founder of The Agency Initiative

Kristen Kavanaugh is the cofounder and CEO of The Agency Initiative, an Austin, Texas–based organizational effectiveness and leadership development consulting firm dedicated to creating a world with more leaders and organizations choosing courage in their most critical moments. She served as the vice chair of the Department of Defense’s inaugural Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion until it was disbanded by the Trump administration in 2024. Previously, she served as the senior director of inclusion, talent, and learning at Tesla, where she led the diversity, equity, and inclusion, talent management, and learning and development functions for the global organization, formulating many of the ideas around courage and leadership during her nearly six-year tenure. Kristen holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, and a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Mike Randolph

Talent Management Expert, COO & Co-Founder of The Agency Initiative

Michael Randolph is the cofounder and COO of The Agency Initiative, where he helps leaders step into their agency and build values-driven organizations. Before launching The Agency Initiative, Mike led talent experience at YETI and shaped leadership development and talent management at Tesla, integrating courageous leadership practices into the fabric of organizational growth. With over a decade of experience coaching senior leaders, he specializes in building resilient, people- centered cultures that thrive in uncertainty. Mike holds a master’s degree in education from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in international business and Asian studies from Augustana College. He has served on multiple professional development boards of directors for HR, talent development, and higher education. He believes leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about having the courage to navigate the Moments That Matter.

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