I attend more leadership conferences than anyone I know, especially now that I am speaking professionally. It is simply amazing how many events leaders have to choose from today.

But the Chick-fil-A Leadercast is still at the top of my list. Perhaps this is because I have hosted the Leadercast Backstage program where I have had the privilege of interviewing all the speakers on video. As a group, they are second to none.

This past spring, I had the privilege of hosting the Chick-fil-A Leadercast Backstage program. I interviewed several notable authors as they came off the stage, including Seth Godin, Sir Ken Robinson, Dan Cathy, John Maxwell, and Frans Johansson. I am continuing to share these on a weekly basis.

In this interview, I talk to Alison Levine, an amazing woman that I met for the first time. Her life is an eloquent testimony to the fact that, despite physical challenges, you can accomplish extraordinary things—especially if you are persistent.

Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of hosting the Chick-fil-A Leadercast Backstage program. I interviewed several notable authors as they came off the stage, including John Maxwell, Seth Godin, Sir Ken Robinson, Dan Cathy, Suzy Welch, Frans Johansson, and several others. I thought I would share these with you over the next several weeks.

In this interview, I talk to Dan Cathy, President and COO of Chick-fil-A. He is the son of S. Truett Cathy, who founded the company in 1946. I met Dan a few years ago, and we had immediate rapport. We shared the same values and interest in leadership. He embodies Chick-fil-A’s customer-centric business model. He has since become a friend and mentor.

As I interviewed him, we talked about several topics, including:

Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of hosting the Chick-fil-A Leadercast Backstage program. I interviewed several notable authors as they came off the stage, including John Maxwell, Seth Godin, Dan Cathy, Suzy Welch, Frans Johansson, and several others. I thought I would share these with you over the next several weeks.

Sir Ken Robinson, Ph.D. is an internationally-recognized leader in the development of creativity and innovation. I first encountered him when I heard his presentation at the 2006 TED Conference. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything.

As I interviewed him, we talked about several topics, including:

Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of hosting the Chick-fil-A Leadercast Backstage program. I interviewed several notable authors as they came off the stage, including John Maxwell, Sir Ken Robinson, Dan Cathy, Suzy Welch, Frans Johansson, and several others. I thought I would share these with you over the next several weeks.

This one is with Seth Godin. He talked about several topics, including:

Naturally, as a book publisher, you would expect me to believe in the value of reading. But it is more than that. In fact, I got into book publishing because I was so committed to books as a tool for personal and cultural transformation.

A few months ago at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Ben Carson, world-renowned Professor of Neurosurgery, Oncology, Plastic Surgery, and Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University. Not bad for a child that was raised in extreme poverty by a single mother. Statistically speaking, he didn’t have a chance.

Admittedly, I am a conference junkie. Thankfully, attending conferences, discovering new speakers, and raising the visibility of my company is part of my job as CEO of a book publishing and live events business.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not selective. I pass on nine conferences for every one I attend. I can’t attend all of them, but I want to make sure I attend the best, most stimulating ones. That’s why The Chick-fil-A Leadercast is on my short list of can’t-miss events.

Last year I attended the Chick-fil-A Leadercast in Atlanta, Georgia. I also had the privilege of hosting the “Backstage Video” program. I interviewed each of the speakers, including Jim Collins, author of Good to Great; Dr. Ben Carson, the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital; and Dan Cathy, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Chick-fil-A.

I attended numerous events last year, but this one was in my top three. Why? Because it provided the inspiration and practical how-to information leaders need to take their leadership to the next level.

As I have written before, I will be attending the Chick-fil-A Leadercast on May 7, 2010. This is a one-day leadership event that will take place in Atlanta, Georgia and will be broadcast to 500 host locations throughout the country via satellite or internet downlink. They are expecting nearly 70,000 attendees, between the live site in Atlanta and the rest of North America.

A few weeks ago, while attending the Catalyst Conference, I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Dan Cathy, President and COO of Chick-fil-A, and Mark Miller, VP of Training and Development for Chick-fil-A. I experienced first-hand their passion for leadership and for enriching the lives of the people in the the communities where their stores are located.