Going Big! with Kevin Gentry

Episode: Going Big with Governor Glenn Youngkin: From Basketball to the Boardroom to the Capitol

Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Kevin Gentry
Guest: Governor Glenn Youngkin (74th Governor of Virginia)

Episode Overview

This richly personal and insightful episode features Governor Glenn Youngkin, who joins host Kevin Gentry for an in-depth conversation well beyond political headlines. Together, they explore the arc of Youngkin's life: from his Virginia upbringing and his journey through athletics and business, to his faith, motivations for public service, and the lessons in leadership he’s gathered along the way. Youngkin shares candid recollections from childhood, college basketball, his business career at the Carlyle Group, and his faith journey—offering practical advice about mentorship, leadership, teamwork, and living a life of purpose.

Key Themes and Insights

1. Foundations: Childhood, Family, and Early Values

Timestamps: 03:58–08:55

• Resilience Formed in Adversity: Youngkin credits a pivotal family setback—his father’s job loss in seventh grade—as foundational to his character.
  • "You don't step away and quit. You figure out how to keep going. And my mom drove so much of our family decision at the time. She was just an extremely strong woman." —Youngkin [05:10]
• Early Work Experience: Working as a dishwasher and breakfast cook instilled a strong work ethic and practical understanding of finances and taxes.

2. Influences: Coaches, Teachers, and Faith Leaders

Timestamps: 06:43–08:55

• Varied Mentorship: Youngkin describes a tapestry of influences—parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, coworkers—and highlights the catalytic role of teachers who “opened up a whole new understanding of what's possible.”
• Faith's Emergence: Although not raised in a particularly religious household, his spiritual journey was shaped later by his wife, Suzanne, and faith mentors.

3. Athletics and Humility: Lessons from Basketball

Timestamps: 09:24–12:17; 35:24–40:46

• Hard Work and Humble Pie: Youngkin’s transition from star high school basketball player to role player in college taught him humility, value of teamwork, and making the most of his minutes.
  • "When people ask me, what position did you play in college? I smile and look at them and honestly say, bench. And you learn a lot from sitting on the bench." —Youngkin [09:56]
• Translating Teamwork to Leadership: Sports fostered competitive drive, strategic thinking, and the understanding of diverse team roles, which he applied in business and government.

4. Business Leadership: The Carlyle Group Era

Timestamps: 14:05–18:08

• Results Over Ideas: Success demands execution, not just strategy. Youngkin underscores the power of teams that debate, plan, and deliver results.
  • "People who are a dime a dozen who have good ideas, but it's the ability to translate really good ideas into results that matters." —Youngkin [15:12]
• Growth Mindset: Growing organizations foster opportunity, optimism, and purpose, a philosophy guiding both his business and gubernatorial approach.

5. The Leap to Politics: A Calling to Serve

Timestamps: 18:08–21:55

• Not Planned, But a Calling: Youngkin admits he never envisioned running for office, but a “calling on my heart” and concern for Virginia’s decline led him to public service.
  • "I had a real calling on my heart in my own prayer life to quit my job and run for governor. Much to my wife's frustration at the beginning… But after we prayed over it, we both committed ourselves that if we were elected, we would serve." —Youngkin [19:56]
• Transferring Business Tools to State Governance: He brought a comprehensive, strategic, results-oriented mindset into his administration.

6. Faith as Guiding Principle

Timestamps: 25:35–29:09

• Faith’s Central Role: Youngkin’s faith journey began when his wife Suzanne required that their marriage center around Jesus Christ. Faith provides confidence, humility, and clarity.
  • "She gave me a conditional yes. And it was conditioned on putting our Savior Jesus Christ in the middle of our marriage..." —Youngkin [26:07]

7. Mentorship—Giving and Receiving

Timestamps: 31:29–34:55

• On Receiving: Youngkin credits faith leader John Yates for spiritual governance at a critical stage in his life.
• On Giving: He delineates true mentorship—investment, honesty, commitment, and, above all, listening.
  • "Being a mentor doesn't mean that you're espousing pearls of wisdom all the time. It also means you're listening." —Youngkin [33:45]

8. Reflections on the Governorship & Life Lessons

Guidance for Students

Timestamps: 41:29–49:23

• On why he ran: Not a single issue, but a sense of Virginia falling behind.
• As a kid? He wanted to be an astronaut, not a governor.
• On stress: “It is, in fact, that moment, that moment where it's not hard but it is so meaningful and purposeful. That just makes this the best job in the world.” —Youngkin [43:05]
• Handling criticism: Guided by faith, talks out disagreements privately, avoids ad hominem attacks.
  • "I would debate policy until I was red in the face... But I was not going to demean people." —Youngkin [43:45]
• On cell phone policy: Academic and behavioral issues drove the ban, reporting improvements in performance and wellbeing.

Legacy and Looking Forward

Timestamps: 49:44–56:11

• Dislikes the word “legacy”; wishes to be remembered for faith, dedication to family, and pouring everything into the job.
• Advice to his younger self: “Be confident you could do it.”
• Lasting advice to listeners:
  • "Believe, dream, think through what could be and don't limit based on what is... But second of all, it is put yourself on a path to actually do it. Don't be one of those folks that has an idea minute and really doesn't ever purposefully pursue it." —Youngkin [54:37–55:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hard Work and Humility in Sports:
  "That humble pie that comes with pouring everything you have into what you're doing and not getting the outcomes in you want is a really important lesson." —Youngkin [11:08]
• On Results in Leadership:
  "Plans are nothing without the ability to execute against them and deliver results." —Youngkin [14:46]
• On Respecting Virginia’s History:
  “Every day I'm reminded that there were founders of this nation from Virginia, who were willing to sacrifice everything, not to work harder tomorrow than they'd ever worked, but literally to sacrifice everything…” —Youngkin [22:37]
• On Mentorship:
  “Mentors…can’t just be created, they have to be cultivated. That requires two parties.” —Youngkin [32:12]
• On Handling Criticism:
  “I would debate policy until I was red in the face... But I was not going to demean people.” —Youngkin [43:45]
• On Living with Purpose:
  "A life of purpose is a life of doing things that are impactful, of doing things that can change, things that are wrong, things that are bad, things that need to be done. And that's why we're here, to live a life of purpose." —Youngkin [55:01]

Segment Highlights (with Timestamps)

• Introduction & Foundations [00:02–08:55]
• Influences & Mentorship [06:43–08:55, 31:29–34:55]
• Lessons from College Basketball [09:24–12:17, 35:24–40:46]
• Business and Leadership at Carlyle [14:05–18:08]
• Decision to Enter Politics [18:08–21:55]
• Faith Journey & Public Life [25:35–29:09]
• Advice on Giving & Receiving Mentorship [31:29–34:55]
• Leadership, Teamwork, and Sports [35:24–40:46]
• Student Questions: Personal Reflections & Policy Choices [41:29–49:23]
• Legacy, Service, and Lifelong Purpose [49:44–56:11]

Conclusion

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s journey from the basketball courts of Rice University, to the boardrooms of the Carlyle Group, to the halls of Virginia’s Capitol is defined by resilience, a commitment to purposeful leadership, a transparent faith, and relentless focus on results over rhetoric. The conversation overflows with actionable wisdom about overcoming setbacks, pursuing big dreams, developing leadership through humility and hard work, the transformative power of mentorship, and the necessity of listening—central to effective leadership and collaboration.

Whether you’re a student, leader, or aspiring changemaker, Youngkin’s life lessons and grounded optimism offer both practical strategies and enduring inspiration to help you take your next leap—and go big.