Embrace Your Fears And Live A Life of Meaning with Doug Holladay

The second season of the Up2 Podcast begins with Ambassador Doug Holladay. Doug has been a U.S. Special Ambassador, a Wall Street executive with Goldman Sachs, an advisor to several U.S. presidents, the co-founder of his own private equity firm, a professor at Georgetown University, the founder and CEO of PathNorth, and so much more.

Among his impressive accomplishments, Doug’s humble leadership is unmistakable as he speaks with Up2 host, Adam Kaufman. Doug is the epitome of what the Up2 Podcast represents, leaders who are as humble as they are successful. He has spent his career focusing on the unconventional ways in which leaders can become better versions of themselves and doing what he calls, ‘broadening the definition of success.”

Doug speaks about the unintended consequences of success, addressing the “loneliness at the top” dynamic. With the privilege of meeting and working with many successful and powerful people in his career, he’s noticed a similarity: loneliness. 

“Bad things happen and when we get isolated…Create a posse in your life, in a faith context we call that fellowship. Who are the people that you can check in with that really give a damn whether you get up in the morning?”

Mentorship is a common theme among the humble leaders featured on the Up2 Podcast and Doug Holladay is no exception. While speaking with Adam, Doug shares one of his proudest accomplishments when members of the Goldman Sachs management committee asked him to spend time with their children. Doug recalls a time where he offered some unique career advice to a friend’s son, encouraging the young man to stand out and do something different. 

"Look, everybody's trying to go through the front door. Let them have it. Go through the window."

Through all of his accomplishments, Doug hasn’t lost touch with what really matters in life. Doug and Adam discuss Doug’s upcoming book, which is nearly completed. He shares his book touches on the deeper purpose for why we are all here and how to discover life’s meaning. 

“I am, frankly, opposed to happiness....meaning is something far deeper.”

Doug Holladay has an extraordinary gift of connecting with people in all walks of life, a trait that has made him an impactful leader and an admirable human being. 

"I've got a great resumé but what are people going to remember me for?"

Visit dougholladay.com to learn more about Doug and pre-order his new book, “Rethinking Success: Eight Essential Practices for Finding Meaning in Work and Life”. 
Click here and listen to his full episode on the Up2 podcast or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts. Click here to read the full episode transcript.