John McEntire is a global leadership coach, cultural strategist, and founder of the SYNC Method—Synchronize Yourself Naturally Within Your Community. With decades of experience living and working across 25 countries, John’s mission is to help leaders create inclusive, culturally conscious organizations. His story reflects the power of empathy, cultural integration, and personal responsibility in shaping future-ready leaders.
At Humans of Fuzia, we proudly feature John as part of our He for She initiative, amplifying the voices of men who actively champion equality, empathy, and unity. His story will inspire our global community of over 5 million changemakers committed to empowering women, fostering leadership, and building a more inclusive world.
John, your life story reflects an incredible global journey. Tell us how it all began.
I grew up in a home that was like the United Nations. We hosted foreign exchange students from Japan, Germany, and Uruguay, welcomed humanitarian refugees, and even fostered Navajo brothers. At the time, I didn’t realize how different that upbringing was, but it shaped me deeply. By the age of 22, I had traveled to 19 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and eight Canadian provinces. Those experiences instilled in me a passion for understanding people from all walks of life.
How has this early exposure influenced your work today?
It taught me that everyone is a piece of the puzzle of life. To be effective as a leader, you need to understand those pieces and how they connect. Over the years, I’ve realized that leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about empathy, cultural sensitivity, and empowering others. That’s the foundation of the SYNC Method I created.
What does SYNC stand for, and how did it come about?
SYNC means Synchronize Yourself Naturally Within Your Community. It’s a toolkit based on my 35+ years of global leadership experience. It helps leaders break down silos, foster meaningful connections, and align their teams. A lot of this stems from my experiences in Japan, where I first learned about Nemawashi—the practice of laying the groundwork for consensus-building.
You speak a lot about culture. How do you integrate diverse cultural wisdom into leadership?
Cultures have so much to offer if we’re willing to embrace them. For example, I talk about Sewa from India—the spirit of selfless service. From the Philippines, I’ve learned about servant leadership. In Korea, I adopted Noonshi, the ability to read a room. All of these philosophies enrich leadership. Even in my own life, I’ve experienced both Eastern and Western medicine—the balance between modern science and ancient wisdom. That’s the beauty of blending cultures—it makes you whole.
You mentioned intuition as a key element. Can you share more on that?
Absolutely. Intuition has guided my biggest life decisions. I’ve worked across the world not because of calculated plans, but because of what I call “intuitive moments”—signs, opportunities, or impressions I couldn’t ignore. I often refer to The Alchemist—that book speaks about omens, and it resonates deeply with me. My wife, who’s been my partner for 37 years, trusts my intuition as much as I do. We’ve built our life and business on that trust.
You also bring unique tribal insights from your experiences. How do they apply to leadership?
Working in the Middle East, especially at the Qatar Foundation, and having Navajo foster brothers, I learned about the tribal mindset—how familial bonds and loyalty drive community. But I also witnessed hierarchy and silos, which can divide teams. The challenge is to create that sense of family within an organization while eliminating silos, so everyone understands each other and feels included.
How do you see your role in supporting equality, especially for women?
It starts with acknowledging the women who shape us. My mother, grandmothers, wife, daughters, and granddaughters—they’ve all shaped me. True equality isn’t just talk—it’s lived every day by respecting, supporting, and empowering women. That’s why initiatives like Humans of Fuzia resonate with me. We need more spaces where women’s voices are amplified, and men stand as allies.
“As leaders, we need to synchronize cultures, embrace intuition, and lead with empathy. Only then can we create organizations—and communities—that truly thrive together.” — John McEntire
Connect with John McEntire:
You can connect with John on LinkedIn.
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