Ryan Tanaka came to KAI Hawaii from finance and acquisitions, not engineering. Today he is President and CEO of the employee-owned structural engineering firm in Honolulu, leading a team of highly technical engineers. Pacific Business News named him one of its 2026 Most Admired Leaders.
Ryan tells Billy Duren how KAI Hawaii spent years working through Patrick Lencioni’s six clarity questions, and why “How will we succeed?” was the hardest one to answer. They talk about building trust through communication when hurricanes and wildfires hit, and how a company that describes its team and clients as one ohana still holds people accountable by speaking the kind truth.
They also cover AI on the engineering team, why culture can matter more than the numbers in an acquisition, and how Ryan decides when a new leader is ready to carry the load.
The Nuts and Bolts of Leadership Podcast
What does it mean to be a leader? Why does learning about leadership matter? How can we become servant leaders? The Nuts and Bolts of Leadership Podcast drills into the foundations of leadership for both the emerging and established leader. Billy Duren brings in dynamic leaders each week to discuss what being a lifelong learner and people developer really looks like. Join us as we bring you proven leaders who want to serve you with their story, as well as teaching us how to grow as leaders. We will be mining for the nuggets of wisdom from these dynamic leaders from throughout the country.
“The Nuts and Bolts of Leadership” is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and IHeart Radio. For more information, please visit the Nuts and Bolts of Leadership Website.
This Podcast is edited by our friends at Deep Fried Studios.
Threaded Fasteners, Inc
Threaded Fasteners Inc. (TFI) is a 100% employee-owned business that specializes in the manufacturing, custom packaging, and distribution of steel fasteners. With over 450 dedicated employee-owners, TFI maintains over $21 million worth of inventory across 18 locations, to meet the global needs of customers from industries including electrical utilities, chemical and electrical, commercial marine construction, steel fabricators, metal building manufacturers and Department of Transportation (DOT) fabricators. More information about TFI can be found on its website at threadedfasteners.com or through social media platforms including Facebook and LinkedIn
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