This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.
I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, I attempt to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.
What if building a company had more in common with ultracycling than you ever imagined?
In this powerful conversation, Gaspar Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Blue Road Academy, shares how resilience, belonging, and the willingness to keep moving forward have shaped both his leadership journey and his life.
He opens up about navigating failure, making imperfect decisions, building a strong organisational culture, and turning personal adversity into purpose.
For leaders facing uncertainty, setbacks, or the challenge of bringing different people together, Gaspar offers a refreshing reminder that you don’t have to conquer the entire journey at once—you simply need to take the next step.
This is a conversation about choosing leadership, embracing the journey, and recognising just how much potential can emerge when people feel seen, valued, and empowered.
You can find Gaspar Rodriguez at the links below
In the interview, Gaspar shares
- “Whether you’re building a company or cycling 500 kilometres, you don’t conquer the whole journey at once. You focus on the next step, the next challenge, and keep moving forward.”
- “The desire to belong is universal. No matter where we come from, we all want to feel that we matter and that we have a place.”
- “When you enter a new environment, your value doesn’t disappear. You bring your experiences, your perspective, and everything you’ve learned along the way.”
- “Leadership isn’t about making perfect decisions. It’s about making the best decision you can with the information and circumstances you have, then having the courage to learn from it.”
- “Sometimes the hardest experiences in life become the very things that build our resilience and reveal what we’re truly capable of.”
- “Refugees are often defined by what they’ve lost. We need to start seeing them for what they bring—their resilience, their experience, and their untapped potential.”
- “You don’t have to be the perfect manager to be a powerful leader. Leadership starts with having a clear purpose, a compelling vision, and the willingness to bring others along.”
- “Sustainable growth happens when you stop trying to create the vision alone and empower the people around you to shape it with you.”
- “Real inclusion isn’t simply giving people a place at the table. It’s recognising the contribution they are capable of making once they’re there.”
- “Life isn’t a series of tasks to be conquered. It’s a journey to be experienced, and every step forward is a testament to your resilience and potential.”
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