John J. Lentini Exclusive Interview - Build Character Before Life Tests You

Spread the love

John J. Lentini, known as The Leadership Engineer, has transformed decades of global banking leadership and firsthand experiences through some of history’s most defining crises into a practical blueprint for building resilient leaders. From surviving the September 11 attacks to leading teams through the Fukushima disaster and launching his leadership company during the COVID-19 pandemic, his career has been shaped by navigating uncertainty with courage and purpose. Through his Six Dials leadership framework, bestselling book, and keynote speaking, Lentini empowers individuals and organizations to intentionally develop the character, determination, and trust needed to lead with confidence before crisis strikes.

Here is the Q&A session we had with John J. Lentini

John J. Lentini As Cover Story Interview – July 2026 Magazine Edition

How do you introduce yourself?

I’m John J. Lentini, The Leadership Engineer. I’m the President and Founder of BOLD Training Corp and the creator of the Six Dials framework for building better leaders. I spent over 20 years as a global banking executive at HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Mizuho, and Credit Suisse, leading teams across the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Today I train leaders across the Northeast and speak to organizations, often on leading through crisis and disruption.

Struggle. What hardships have you gone through in life?

Three moments shaped everything I teach. On September 11th, I was standing at the foot of the tower when the plane went over my head and through my desk on the 80th floor of Tower 2. Years later, I was in Asia leading a regional banking team when the Fukushima nuclear disaster hit, and I had to lead through similar historic fear and uncertainty where loss of life on the job was again a real concern. Then I founded BOLD Training Corp during COVID, building a business about bringing leaders together at the exact moment the world was forced apart. Crisis is not a chapter of my story. It is the through line. It taught me that character is not tested in calm waters, and real world experience matters more than unpracticed certifications.

What do people usually not know about you?

I consider myself to be fairly risk averse. Statistically speaking, car accidents present a meaningful threat to us, so I drive a Volvo. Yet, I’ve taken calculated risks in the name of adventure and life experience that may seem crazy from the outside looking in. I’m a fairly accomplished traveler and scuba diver. I’ve dived with sharks, crocodiles, and the whole spectrum of marine life around the globe, run with the bulls in Pamplona, and escaped angry hippos and elephants in the Okavango Delta. I’ve prayed with novice Buddhist monks in Laos and trekked with snow monkeys in the mountains of Japan. Travel is truly one of life’s greatest teachers. Get out there and learn!

What sets you apart from others?

I have developed my own Six Dial Leadership framework. Discipline plus Mindset plus Resilience builds Determination. Integrity plus Empathy plus Influence builds Trust. Determination plus Trust equals Character. Most leadership content tells you what good leadership looks like. The Six Dials presents an opportunity to build it with intent, the way an engineer builds a system. The other difference is that I did not learn leadership from a book. I learned it running global teams, at times through the worst days those teams ever faced.

What are your upcoming major events?

My book, Engineering Character: Six Dials to Build Better Leaders, publishes with Forefront Books on July 20, 2027. My TEDx Talk, “Three Dials to Lead You,” has passed 250,000 views. And every Tuesday I publish my LinkedIn newsletter, The Leadership Engineer, where I break down one leadership principle through real people and real moments.

What expert advice would you like to give?

Stop waiting for the crisis to find out who you are. Character is built through self-diagnosis and an intentional feedback loop. Assess your Six Dial control panel to understand how determined and trusted you are as a leader. Focus on the weak areas, and dial them up. If you need strategies on how to do that, connect with me to learn more.

Your social media handles and website links?