Serving in several high-profile roles during his career, the foundation of Mike Bell’s leadership approach has always emphasized helping others and making things better. During this episode Mike talks about growing-up in Louisiana and Toledo Ohio, people who influenced him early on, playing college football and being a basketball cheerleader, why he became a firefighter, dealing with bias and discrimination, the rewards and challenges of being an urban city mayor, handling criticism, the importance of leaders being themselves, and riding in “The Beast” with President Obama.