Todd Isberner “Leadership That Lasts… Part 2”

Leadership That Lasts: A Conversation with Former International President/CEO of TWR Lauren Libby  (Part Two)

In Part One of our conversation, Lauren reflected on the foundations of leadership—whether leaders are born or made, how to stay spiritually aligned, and the central role of faith and prayer in decision-making.

In this second part, he turns to practical strategies for working with boards, preparing for succession, and inspiring the next generation of ministry leaders. His wisdom offers timeless guidance for anyone leading in Christian media or ministry today.

Q: Many of our readers work with boards of directors. What advice do you have for handling difficult boards?

Lauren: Stay focused on the mission. Boards can sometimes pull in different directions, but if you keep returning to the mission, eventually things align.

When I first came to TWR, I identified seven strategic directions for the ministry. Every single board meeting, I went back to those same seven points. For more than four years, I patiently repeated them, explained them, and prayed over them.

Finally, one day a board member said, “You know, this makes sense. We really ought to affirm what Lauren is saying.” That moment of alignment didn’t happen overnight—it took persistence and consistency.

“Patience, persistence, and prayer eventually align people when you consistently live out what you’re talking about.”

Boards watch not just what you say, but how you live. If you are living what you’re calling the ministry to do, credibility builds, and people follow.

Q: How do you think about succession planning?

Lauren: Succession starts the day you walk through the door. From the very beginning, I asked myself: “If I die tonight, who could take over?”

Then I watched carefully for young leaders who “popped out of the crowd.” When I spotted them, I looked for ways to give them controlled experiences that would prepare them for greater responsibility. You don’t just hope a leader emerges—you invest in them intentionally.

Too many organizations ignore succession until it’s too late. Then when the leader steps aside, a vacuum is left behind. That’s preventable if you’ve been pouring into people all along.

“Succession starts the day you walk through the door.”

Q: What separates a good leader from a great one?

Lauren: Many confuse leaders with managers. Both are necessary, but they serve different functions.

Managers focus on efficiency and systems. They look at short-term needs and how to keep things moving smoothly. Leaders, on the other hand, think strategically and long-term about where God is leading the organization.

“You need both—but when managers and leaders work together, powerful things happen.”

One of the mistakes leaders make is trying to do both at once. They bog themselves down in details that belong to managers, and then they lose sight of the bigger vision. A great leader recognizes the difference and builds a team where both strengths complement each other.

Q: What charge would you give to the next generation of ministry leaders?

Lauren: True transition happens when older leaders build real relationships with younger leaders. In 2 Kings 2, Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit. That only happened because they had a relationship.

I believe the same is true today. The older generation must be willing to invest deeply in the younger, and the younger generation must be humble enough to pursue that relationship. That’s how the mantle is passed.

“The double blessing of leadership only happens when generations walk together.”

I’ve often prayed that God would allow the next generation to do far more than I ever could. That’s the heart of real leadership—leaving something behind that outlasts you.

Q: What role does faith play in strategic leadership?

Lauren: Leaders must lead by faith, not just gut instinct. Gut instinct can sometimes look like faith, but it’s not the same. Faith means asking God what He wants and then acting on it, even when you can’t see the outcome.

I’ve always encouraged my teams to operate with faith. Sometimes that stretched them in uncomfortable ways. But without faith, organizations only accomplish what’s humanly possible. With faith, they step into what’s divinely possible.

Q: How do you stay focused when critics or setbacks come?

Lauren: You don’t lead long before you realize criticism comes with the territory. You’ll get shot at from all directions.

I can’t tell you how many times I found myself awake at 3 a.m., talking with Jesus about a situation I had no idea how to solve. But that’s the point—leaders aren’t supposed to have all the answers. They’re supposed to walk closely enough with God that when the pressure mounts, they turn to Him.

Those late-night conversations shaped my leadership. They reminded me again and again: It’s not about me. It’s about the mission God has entrusted to me.

Q: If you could leave one legacy statement for future leaders, what would it be?

Lauren: Leadership is about faithfulness. Titles fade. Positions change. Circumstances shift. But what remains is whether you were faithful to what God called you to do.

I believe leadership is about discerning in the unseen world what God wants—and then translating that into the seen world. That takes courage, humility, and dependence on the Spirit.

If future leaders can grasp that, they won’t just be good managers of ministries—they’ll be spiritual leaders who change the world.

Closing Thoughts (Part Two)

Leadership is not just about today’s challenges—it’s about preparing tomorrow’s leaders. As Lauren’s life shows, the true measure of leadership is found in faithfulness to God’s mission and in raising up others to continue the work.

Even now, as he recovers from a major stroke, Lauren’s life is still teaching us: leadership that lasts is leadership rooted in prayer, faith, and the courage to pass the mantle on to the next generation.

Read Part One of this interview HERE

Now retired from fundraising, Todd draws from his years of experience in training, consulting and coaching, and devotes his time to mentoring men along their journey of faith. He is author of the book, “What Every Man Needs to Know.”   Todd and wife, Wendie also co-host their podcast: Your Biggest Breakthrough.

More at ToddIsberner.com  and https://yourbiggestbreakthrough.com/podcast/    Email: todd@toddisberner.com