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Download the Introduction for Courage Over Fear
From corporate upheaval to societal shifts, today’s leaders face high-stakes decisions that test their values, resilience, and ability to drive meaningful change. Few people understand that better than Kristen Kavanaugh and Mike Randolph, former senior leaders at Tesla whose work in diversity, equity & inclusion and talent development transformed their approach to leadership. In Courage Over Fear: Harness the Power of Agency to Lead in Uncertain Times, they offer a rallying call for leaders to step up, reclaim their agency, and meet this defining moment with courage and conviction.
With practical strategies, real-world case studies, and hard-earned lessons, Courage Over Fear equips leaders to:
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Reject fear-driven leadership—Build trust, resilience, and curiosity instead of control and division.
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Seize agency—Take control of decisions that align with your values and mission.
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Navigate uncertainty with confidence—Turn fear into opportunity and chaos into clarity.
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Confront today’s greatest leadership challenges—From the deprioritization of DEI to political and social polarization and the rapid rise of innovation reshaping the workplace.
This isn’t just a leadership guide—it’s a call to action.
ENDORSEMENTS
Jason Kander,
Afghanistan veteran, humanitarian activist and bestselling author
Courage Over Fear is the kind of book we need right now—not just for executives, but for anyone who’s ever had to lead in uncertain times. Kristen Kavanaugh brings the perspective of a Marine Corps officer who’s been tested in both service and the corporate world, and together with Mike Randolph, she’s created a practical, inspiring guide for leading with integrity when fear is loudest. This isn’t just a leadership book—it’s a call to step up.
MEET THE AUTHORS
Kristen and Mike met at Tesla during a moment that tested their values and transformed their approach to leadership. Like many leaders, they found themselves asking, “What just happened?”—grappling with decisions that made little sense and silence in the aftermath that followed.
What began as shared frustration became something more: a search for meaning, responsibility, and possibility. In conversation after conversation, one word kept surfacing— AGENCY.
Agency, the ability to make intentional decisions rooted in values, was what was missing in the moments they regretted—and what made all the difference in the moments they were proud of.
After developing thousands of leaders across Tesla, they saw this clearly: when leaders choose courage over fear and act with agency, they don’t just survive uncertainty—they transform it.
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