From Firehouse to Executive Leadership - Nick Bonstell on Building a Culture of Trust & Empowerment

Ready to discover how firefighting lessons from the frontlines can transform your leadership and build a culture of trust, preparedness, and high performance?
In this episode, Nick Bonstel ( / nick-bonstell ) l, President & CEO of Miss Dig 811 (missdig811.org/) , shares his journey from career firefighter to leading Michigan's excavation safety one-call system.
His transition from being a firefighter to executive leadership taught him the critical value of prevention over reaction. In emergency services, success often comes from proactive measures that prevent crises before they happen - a lesson he carries into his current role at MissDig811.
He emphasizes that his experience in the fire service instilled in him the importance of trust, servant leadership and creating a strong, mission-driven culture - principles that he now applies to leading organizations in both public and private sectors.
"If you can actively create an environment of psychological safety, where people feel safe to voice their concerns and try new things, you’re not just building a team - you’re creating a culture that drives innovation, engagement, and ultimately, success."
Nick discusses the challenges of organizational change, especially in aligning people and processes, and shares actionable insights on how leaders can empower their teams by fostering an environment where everyone feels safe to speak up, make decisions, and contribute to the organization’s mission.
Join us for an enriching conversation packed with practical lessons for leaders across all sectors, designed to inspire and elevate your leadership game.
Connect with Nick on LI ( / nick-bonstell )
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