When I sit with John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, I’m reminded what grounded, values-based leadership looks like in real time. John starts where so few do — with integrity and empathy as his operating system. For him, integrity isn’t just moral fiber; it’s the ability to understand the human condition, to listen before leading, and to build trust across every divide — to trust, and to verify. There’s a natural alignment between John and the Chamber itself; his personal values mirror the organization’s mission to advance both business success and community wellbeing.

He tells me, “If we can’t trust and accept everyone as they are, we’re not going anywhere.” That conviction runs through everything — from advancing policy to shaping the culture of his own team. He doesn’t issue edicts from on high. He works with people, understanding their needs, circumstances, and conditions before deciding how to move forward. Integrity, to him, is both a strategy and a stance.

When I ask what makes him lead — what keeps him waking up every morning to do it again — his answer is clear: he’s living his values. His motivation is rooted in social good, in bringing people together to solve real problems. The “juice,” as he calls it, is seeing progress, watching coalitions form, and witnessing what’s possible when empathy and purpose take the driver’s seat.

He says, “Focus on the problem, not the people.” It’s a deceptively simple principle. When we stop making each other the enemy and start addressing the real issue — with integrity and empathy — solutions come faster and relationships deepen.

When I ask if he always talks this way, he laughs and says, “I like to think I live this way.” He carries his values forward: sustainability, racial equity, diversity, collaboration. His sequence is clear — mission, vision, then values. That’s the work the Boulder Chamber does at its core: to build a better economy in service of a better community.

“It’s not easy,” he admits. “Running a business organization in a community like ours means navigating competing priorities. But values and economy have equal place at the table. You can’t advance social and environmental goals without a sustainable economy — and you can’t sustain an economy without social and environmental health.”

That balance — sustainability, resiliency, equity — is his definition of a well-functioning community. His career, he says, has been one long commitment to building that balance through integrity and understanding.

Sitting across from him, I pause. This is values-based leadership embodied. According to Wikipedia, values-based leadership is an approach that centers every decision, policy, and behavior around a clear set of guiding principles. It’s not about charisma or control—it’s about consistency, authenticity, and alignment between what you believe and how you lead. Many leaders I coach are still clarifying what their values even are, let alone how to live them in practice. John Tayer doesn’t have to think about it; it’s in his wiring. His leadership is steady, relational, and humble—not because it’s fashionable, but because it’s effective.

He leads not from the helm, but alongside others — a champion of deep values and collaborative progress. His humility doesn’t dull his power; it amplifies his credibility.

If you want to see this kind of leadership in action, explore what the Boulder Chamber is doing for our local business community at boulderchamber.com.

And while you’re there, take a moment to reflect: how clear are your values in your daily leadership?

More for Boulder Readers:

See how CU students celebrate and contribute to Boulder’s vibrant fall season at AboutBoulder.com.

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Kate Galt Primal Leadership Business Coaching

Kate Galt coaches and challenges leaders at all levels— from entrepreneurs to seasoned executives— to sharpen their vision, articulate key messages so they connect and inspire, and make decisive, strategic moves that drive real business growth. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she works with individuals and teams to strengthen leadership, improve team dynamics, and achieve measurable results.

Her coaching is rooted in Primal Leadership—because the strongest leaders move with instinct, command presence without force, and create unshakable trust through raw, real connection.

Like any driven person, Kate is always figuring out how to do it all—running a business, raising two kids with her equally involved husband, and still making time for the adventure that brought her to Colorado in 1998. Whether it’s snowboarding, mountain biking, or chasing an ultimate frisbee, she knows the best leadership isn’t just learned—it’s lived.

The bottom line? Kate makes good leaders great.

Curious about what makes her coaching style so impactful? Book a call and experience it for yourself at CoachTheLeaders.com.