Courage When It Counts: David Leto on Faith, Family, and Fear

David Leto, CEO and seasoned recruiting professional, joins the Courageous Crossroads podcast to share powerful stories of resilience, leadership, and values-driven decision-making. Raised in a tight-knit, faith-centered family on the south side of Des Moines, David reflects on how his upbringing shaped his definition of courage: embracing fear and taking action simply because it’s the right thing to do. From overcoming personal tragedy after a fatal car accident involving his brothers and a close friend, to leading his business and family through the social
and moral complexities of the COVID-19 era, David’s story is a testament to quiet strength, integrity, and unwavering faith. In this episode, he opens up about the defining moments that tested him, the role of prayer and support systems in building courage, and how he strives to instill those same values in his employees, clients, and children.

Thank you for listening! We hope you feel inspired and encouraged by our conversation today. If you did, be sure to share this episode with others.

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See you in the next episode! Be blessed!

Full Transcript

Announcer: Welcome to Courageous by Crossroads Apologetics, a look into what motivates us to step out and courage, and the everyday bravery of men and women like you. In each episode, we hear a personal story of bravery centered around this question. What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done? And now your host, founder of Crossroads Apologetics, Jeff Johnson.

Jeff Johnson: Hey everybody, this is Jeff. Welcome back to another edition of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast. Glad to be back with you again. And I’m excited to introduce you to David Lido, a successful businessman, another friend of mine. A gentleman that I’ve been tracking down for a little while, begging him to be on this podcast because he’s somebody that operates with a lot of character. And you can just see it in his countenance and his face in the way that he conducts himself and the wake of success that he has. And he’s going to tell you a story about Courage that’s going to inspire you and it’s going to enrich you. So, glad you’re back with us today and glad to introduce you to David Lido. Here he is. Thanks for taking the time. David for the…

David Leto: Thanks for asking.

Jeff Johnson: Courageous Crossroads Podcast. I appreciate having you on this morning. And I think probably to put you into context for the rest of our listeners. I just ask you a little bit about your background. You know who you are, where you’re from. Education, business, family, whatever you’d like to share to kind of. Let folks get to know you a little bit.

David Leto: Sure. Yeah, so I’m Dave Lido. I was born on the South Side of Des Moines. I’m the fourth out of five children. So we actually, we were all born within seven years of each other. So our parents say, yeah, we were super close close and age. I grew up in a very small home, 1100 square foot, you know, ranch with one bathroom with seven of us. So we, but we had everything we needed with two great parents and a lot of love in the house and and got at the center. So it was a great childhood and a nice big backyard and a lot of a lot of time out there. Two girls and the three boys were born. So that’s one.

Jeff Johnson: What did your folks do?

David Leto: So my dad worked as an accountant for the state of Iowa for 36, 37 years. Department of Human Services. And then he ended up working for legislative services and doing all that fun work there. And then my mom stated home, raised us kids. And then for good portion of that time, I want to say middle school years on. She also babysat five kids in the house, four to five kids in the house. So it was, it was a wild, wild household. And then once kind of got out of the house, she went to went to work as a medical assistant, which she got some training for before pre kids and then went and worked more of an administrative role at Wells Fargo after that. But yeah, so my, but yeah, that was that was our, it was good. It was a small home, but it was a lot of love and really, really good times. A lot of fun.

Jeff Johnson: Your parents sound impressive, David.

David Leto: They are. They are, they’re great. Yep, they were really, really great. So it’s, so that’s where I grew up. I went to a downing Catholic, or a Santhanese for grade school and then downing for high school and on to you and I for college. So, you know, my, my, when I was in second grade, my dad battled cancer for the first time. So he was 36 years old and had a pretty, pretty tough diagnosis there. And he used to coach our little league teams and do all that kind of fun stuff. And I remember him, you know, battling that and all the support and love. And we got through that. That point in his life and how we beat that. Thanks be to God and, and you know, just. And then on with his career at the state, Iowa and he did a lot of really good things there and.

Jeff Johnson: Did that take him out of the workplace for a while?

David Leto: You know, I think he probably had some leave, but no, he never left, left the job. Or left his work there. No, he stayed stayed on with the state. As he was battling that. That disease, but it, you know, it was, and then, you know, come here when he was 58. He got cancer for the second time. And he got a different kind of cancer and, and just as he announced his retirement from the state, Iowa. He, he got it, got it the second time and. And I remember as a retirement party at the Capitol, which is just a beautiful, beautiful ceremony and here a few weeks later. And you have the diagnosis of what was going on with them there and battled it a year and a half and unfortunately died at the age of 60. Back in 2008. So it’s been a while now. So that’s great man. Somebody I looked up to still look up to. Right. And respect and the influence he had on my life and still has on my life has been tremendous for me. And I know in my assembly, it’s siblings the same way and, you know, my love, my mom still has for him. It’s just tremendous. I mean, we talk about him just about every time I talk to her, I talk to her about daily. So it’s just, just been a, you know, one of those things where you get through and you keep moving on.

Jeff Johnson: You know, I’m a terrible interviewer because I’m interjecting and asking you questions right now. I love what I’ve asked you to give me the background. But that I’m taken by that little description of your parents and the picture that you’re painting is really beautiful. So you’ve got, you’ve got that many siblings that are tightly together because you’re not that many years apart. And you’re talking about a warm loving Christian, well rooted kind of a family. Billy Graham said that God’s first picture of the church is a family. Does that resonate with you? Because it sounds like you have you have a support system and people that you can counsel and talk to. And I imagine when your dad’s going through cancer when he’s a young man, you guys glombed on to each other and.

David Leto: Absolutely. Yep. We had a, you know, back when I was a second grade, I remember going to aunt and uncles houses and everything else when he was. Parents were away from the house handle on that. So yeah, we grandparents were around. It was, you know, I had all four grandparents at my wedding. You know, how blessed is that? So just, yeah, we, you know, we’ve got a church every Sunday morning and then we would go over to both sets of grandparents house every Sunday after church and, you know, cousins and aunts and uncles and all the fun stuff. It was a, it was a great childhood for both sets.

Jeff Johnson: Both sets.

David Leto: Yeah, they lived just.

Jeff Johnson: Go to first. At by Santhony’s church. What’s that? Would you go to first?

David Leto: We usually went to my mom’s parents first because they were the closest to Santhony’s church down on Southside. So, and then we head over to my, the lead, the lead of side after that. So typically not always, but that was kind of typically how we, how we worked it after mass. And we, you know, we grew up mowing lawns and doing that fun stuff for a great aunts. And then, you know, it was said that the church was really good to my parents when my dad was sick early on. And we were in actually in public school and and the priest said, let’s find a way to get your kids over here because they couldn’t really afford the tuition at that point. So, so they did it. We all moved over to, to Catholic school and, you know, we, we spent a lot of Saturdays mowing lawns at the church and, and doing fun stuff to, I think, as a, as a way of thanks for, for what the church did for us. So, it was a great, great childhood, a lot of fond memories.

Jeff Johnson: Are your siblings close to you now? I mean, are they?

David Leto: Yeah, four, four of us are close. My oldest sister is in Chicago, so not too far. She gets back here fairly often. So, so yeah, so we’re all off from Ames to Anke need a, demolinda to our live in Johnston.

Jeff Johnson: Do you get to see each other a lot? I mean, have you kept that up?

David Leto: Yeah, we see, not as often as they used to, of course, but yeah, we, I mean, at least monthly. We see each other, at least, yep.

Jeff Johnson: Wow, what a beautiful picture of family. Okay, so please carry on then.

David Leto: Yeah, so that’s, that’s, you know, that’s my growing up family and then I met my wife at my oldest sister’s wedding, actually. And walk down the aisle as a, Bridesmaid in a groom’s men and hit it off and she was living in Chicago. She’s a farm girl from Western, Iowa and hit it off and we did a little long distance relationship and while I was still graduating from you and I and. And then I ended up moving to Chicago after graduation and engagement and marriage and, and then, you know, few years later, I had a, had our first son in Chicago and that was all, was all great. But we, we desired to be back in Iowa. So, you know, two months, he was two months old. We, we moved back to Des Moines and a little closer to her family in Western Iowa and, of course, close to my family here. So that’s, that was a great, a great move for us and the right time. You know, we had both had successful careers in Chicago. You know, she ended up getting her MBA and, and worked for Goldman Sachs and, and the investment world and, and was doing really well and I took a job out of a newspaper, Chicago Tribune. Don’t see too many of those newspaper ads anymore, but I got into recruiting right at a, right out of college and I recruited pharmacists all over the country. So that was kind of my gig and had a lot of success and, and grew, grew that and then the company sold our little company, a little privately owned company sold to a publicly traded company. And at the age of 25, I got asked to, to manage 20 people. I just decided to promote their top salesperson to run the business, which, but I said sure I didn’t know what I was quite getting into, but it was a great experience and, I met a lot of good people and some, that, you know, mentored me and helped me with my career. But we wanted to be back in Iowa and so it’s kind of what, what we ended up doing and, which…

Jeff Johnson: you didn’t meet and, you didn’t meet your wife and call it was at that at your sister’s wedding in Des Moines. Where did she go to school? Where did you go to school?

David Leto: So my, my wife went to University of Iowa. Go Hawks with my sister. That’s how they, they had met.

Jeff Johnson: Okay.

David Leto: And then I went to, I went to you and I,

Jeff Johnson: Okay, yeah, go Panthers. All right. Yeah.

David Leto: Yeah. Then you ended up in Chicago.

Jeff Johnson: Then we ended up in Chicago, yeah.

David Leto: And then we ended up back in Des Moines. And, you know, after that, that, and now we have three kids and two of them are up at Iowa State study, any bengineers and have won my little girls and not little anymore, that senior in high school. So we’re, we’re getting to the tail end of those, all those years.

Jeff Johnson: How’s that feel, dad?

David Leto: A little scary. I kind of like the kids in the house to be honest.

Jeff Johnson: I do too. Well, based on your, based on your upbringing and the beautiful family that you came from, I would imagine you would like, you know, you’d be such a good dad. I can imagine you’d want to have your kids in the house. And I’m a kindred spirit, David. I didn’t like them leaving the, I want them all to come back and just live here.

David Leto: Yeah. We, we had them all for the summer. It was great. Yeah. It was great. I got great kids. Yeah. My wife’s done a nice job raising them. I’ll tell you that. It’s good.

Jeff Johnson: Okay. You got to tell me where she’s from in Western Iowa though, because my, I’m married a farm girl from Western Iowa who was originally born in defiance and then moved to denison, Iowa.

David Leto: Okay. She’s from a town called Blenco with a bee, Blenco.

Jeff Johnson: Blenco.

David Leto: Yeah. Close to something near Anowa.

Jeff Johnson: Anowa. Oh my goodness. I’m a, I’m a, I’m a died in the wool, Iowa from birth. And those are two names that I don’t know.

David Leto: I don’t know. Anowa had used to have the widest main street and all of the US from what I, from what I know. But, uh, yeah, her town’s like less than 200 people, maybe 150 now.

Jeff Johnson: Okay.

David Leto: That’s about 35 miles south of Susity right on I 29 right on the Missouri River.

Jeff Johnson: I’ll, I guarantee I’ll ask Danielle and she’ll know exactly where it’s at and all about it. Blenco. Okay. Yeah. Near a little zoo. Yup. So North of Missouri Valley. Okay. So you started in the recruitment field right out of college in Chicago. Success at it until that business was sold and you transitioned.

David Leto: Yeah, transition into, into the other company and into a leadership role and got again, got to get asked to manage. Managed 20 people at the age of 25 and it was great. Great experience, but I did not quite understand what it was getting into, but, uh, learn a lot. Yeah.

Jeff Johnson: Okay. Well, this is the, there’s some more questions that I want to ask around the fringes there, but this is the courageous crossroads where we talk about the topic of courage. And we’re blessed in advance before I ask you the question, what’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done? I think we learn a lot from other people that have an answer and everybody’s got an answer to that question. So before I ask you that, let me ask you how you define courage. What does courage mean to you?

David Leto: Yeah, that’s, uh, that’s a, that’s a good question because you think about about that and I think about all the things I’ve done in my life that the somewhat maybe courageous or maybe, maybe not. But, you know, I, as I think about it and what I’ve done courage to me is, you know, embracing, um, really overcoming that fear, you know, taking action on something you know was right. Because it’s just, just because it’s the right thing to do. So, in embracing the fear, getting over the fear and then doing it, taking that action and making it happen. It’s kind of how to find it.

Jeff Johnson: That’s great. Is that a, is it a reflex? I mean, is it an intuitive thing that you’re, that you’re born and raised with and you have that because you’ve seen that in your family or is it a, is it a decision that you’re making in the moment to be courageous?

David Leto: I think a good portion of its inherent, um, on how you were raised, you know, part of it, I think as a mental deal, you have to overcome that fear. I also think in other part of its ingrained in the morals that you were raised with and knowing what, what the right thing to do is, kind of how it, how I would say that. But I do think it can be learned as well with the right mentors and role models in your life to help you, help you succeed there and to have that courage. So, um, yeah, I think it could be both, but I, you know, having that inherent, uh, in you, I think is a big, a big step forward.

Jeff Johnson: Now, you’re in the recruitment field, which is I could go into a whole thing, David, about, you know, you and I know each other through a, through a business group that we were, we’ve met each other in and, um, I was excited to meet you because I know about your business and my, my world view, of course, is a Christian world view, just like yours. And I believe that, um, that our work is God given, you know, like putting Adam in the garden, you know, Genesis chapter two, verse five, I don’t need to get into a big exegesis here, but Genesis two, five talks about there wasn’t any shrubs or plants or anything because God hadn’t made man to take care of it. And then in Genesis chapter two, verse 15, he talks about how he took Adam and he put him in the garden to take care of all these things. So there’s so much purpose in work and all of that happened before the fall before anything bad ever happened. Anybody ever ate, took a bite of the apple or any of that sort of thing. So we gain from that that, at least I gained from that, that work is a good thing and not only is it a good thing, but it’s fundamental to the human experience. And so I think people that are able to employ people are doing a very godly thing because they’re getting people into the fullness of which God created them, you know, getting them employed. And so your business in particular to me struck me from the onset as a very godly kind of endeavor. So I’m curious, um, that’s probably too much of an introduction to that topic, but I’m curious. Do you look at courage as a, as a marker for people that you employ? I mean, is that something that you’re searching for and people that come to you and say, well, you help me find placement?

David Leto: Yeah, I mean, there’s a, they say looking for a new job or getting displaced and having going through that as one of the, you know, one of the largest fears people have. And our people try to make that as easy as possible on on the candidates we serve and on the clients we get, we get the opportunity to help as well. And courage, you know, you have to take that leap of faith. We call it fear of change. Often when people are switching jobs or are thinking about trying to better their situation, it’s a real, it’s a real thing. I mean, I, you know, I’ve gone through so many situations when I started here, I started over on a, in a recruiting desk and, and sales desk. And so I started my career over here and worked my way up into the CEO role. But so I’ve had, you know, I had the opportunity to help a lot of a lot of people find new employment and it’s just amazing how many people go through the interview process are so excited about making, making the change. And then, you know, getting the courage to actually make the decision and go into your boss and tell them, hey, I’m resigning for my position. And, you know, just thinking about a new workplace and a new field or whatever it may be, it’s, it’s a big, big deal. So, you know, sometimes we can, you know, we’re pseudo counselors when it, when it comes to helping people with their life situations and talking through why they started looking for work in the first place and, you know, what are their motivations and what does this new job, you know, we don’t want somebody to take a new job of not going to better their, their life. Right. Our company purpose is making lives better. That’s what we focus on. It’s what we talk about. We actually have a little segment and a Monday meeting. We have a meeting every Monday of whole staff meeting and we share, we call it making lives better moments. We get notes every week from people that we’ve helped find employment, thanking us for, for the impact we’ve made on our lives. So just seeing those things, it’s, I mean, it really is a beautiful thing and how we help people. How we can impact them and doing it for the right reasons.

Jeff Johnson: The courage to change. Yeah, that’s, that’s really interesting. I find that a lot too. You know, there’s some people that feel like they’re stuck and you just want to almost shake them and say, you know, you’re not stuck. You just have to take a step. But they’re, they’re terrified to do it. And that’s where the courage shows up. Wow. Okay, David Lido, I’m going to jump right in. What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?

David Leto: No, man, that’s, you know, you say this is an easy question. But, and I think it back on my life. And there’s so many, so many things. So, I don’t know if you give me a chance to share more than one, but I’ll share, I’ll share the first one here. I went back in, in, after my freshman year at college, I was hanging out with my brothers and we were going to go to a car show. And I was impatient. So I took off. I left and, and picked up some other friends and was going to this car show and, and my brothers were picking up another friend and, and they were going to meet us there. They never showed. And so I think about that. And then we couldn’t find them. So we took off and try to figure out where they were. Well, come to find out they were in a horrific car accident. Days before cell phones and, and all that fun stuff. And, and I came upon the car. I got tackled by police officers because I was a little out of my mind at that point, you know, trying to try to figure out where my brothers and my friend were. Our friend ended up passing away in the accident. And our, you know, my brothers were, were, were hurt pretty badly. You know, luckily, they made it through it and all that kind of stuff. So that mentally, I mean, just, just took a toll on me, took a toll on her family took a toll, obviously, on the, the friends and going through that. So I, you know, we got through that went back to school and I nearly dropped out. I just couldn’t get myself to, to want to do my studies and, and all that stuff. And, you know, whether it’s my courage or, or, or really good support system. But I had, you know, a lot of talks with my dad about it. I was going to, I’m going to leave that semester and then, and then my roommate still best friend to this day. Look to me and said, dude, what are you doing? Like you need to be here. And I took that and then made, to me, made the bold move to say, you know what, I got to get myself on the right track here. So I think that took some courage not to just to give up, to give in to, to focus on my life. And my future and doing the things that I, you know, and if it wasn’t for, you know, those influences and me making that decision, I, I don’t think I, I clear wouldn’t be here today in this role and doing what I did in the current choice that I have. So very blessed, very bust there. And then, you know, then I think back, or think about running a business and raising three kids through the, the COVID era with all the social and political. And then, you know, pressure through that time and which, you know, really some of that continues to be on and, and I, you know, we’re a company for all people. We, we want to help people. I don’t care what your background. I don’t care what your religion. I don’t care. I don’t, you know, your political affiliation. I don’t care any of that. And so the pressures through that were real intense. I mean, it’s, you know, you have certain people that want you to say certain things or do certain things. Or do certain things or take certain actions or, you know, take certain, you know, drugs or shots that, you know, you may not, may not believe in and, and it was, you know, me trying to be a steady hand through that, through that time period was, was not easy. Luckily, I had a great team around me to help me through it. But I think that took a lot of courage. And then watching, you know, my, and raising my kids and trying to have them study at home and, and some of the things the schools were doing that. I didn’t find appropriate as well. So speaking up and being a voice for them during that time, I think took a lot of, a lot of courage when I think very few people were doing that and speaking up. So, and then just being relentless with them on, on knowing right from wrong. I know I drive them crazy sometimes with, with, with that. But I, I want them to be good humans. My goal in life is to get them to heaven. And I have to do everything I can to help them with those choices. So, you know, doing that and the pressures of life and the pressures around them, the social media pressures, the, the pressures from friends and all that stuff during that time period and, you know, again, some of that’s not as bad a day. But would be another example I’d have.

Jeff Johnson: Those are great examples. When you, when you go back to the example with the car crash and your brothers and your friend, I’m so sorry to hear that Dave, but when you, when you practice that courage and you stay in school through wise counsel, talking to your dad, talking to your best friend, etc. But you, but you’re the one that took the step to stay.

David Leto: Sure.

Jeff Johnson: Does that, does that create resilience for you and give you strength to do the next courageous thing or is it? What do you call it? Just character building or because I’m wondering, I’m trying to bridge the, the car crash thing and staying in school with, being able to be courageous and talking to your kids and your employers and employees. And, etc. Does one thing help you out?

David Leto: Yeah, I think they all build on each other. You know, whether you correlate those two things or not, but I think one, one courageous thing leads to another and the more you do it and the more you don’t give into fear, I think the better you become. Probably the better person you become, to be honest, because you know you’re doing the right things. So I was easy to do the right thing, right? The issues and the pressures that can come from that are real. But just staying focused on that North Star and, but I, you know, I do believe they build on each other, Jeff, to answer your question.

Jeff Johnson: Yeah, that’s good. Did you think the thing about staying in college was addressing fear? I mean, in the real time, did you see it that way?

David Leto: Maybe at the time I didn’t, you know, once I kind of got called out with some of my actions, I’m like, I cannot give up. I mean, that’s, that was just the easier out would be for me just to move back home and not stick it out. So it was just, yeah, it was just a lot of uncertainty and unknowns. I think for me at that point of what I wanted to do with my life and, you know, what’s, what’s important. Why am I here? And sometimes you got to get out of your own way to, in order to move forward. Sometimes we’re on worst enemies, right? So, yeah. But acting courageously, I totally agree with you. I think it builds. And I think it, you know, it helps you become more resilient for the next thing and the next thing and the next thing and as long as you keep moving forward, you know, you, you just keep growing.

Jeff Johnson: Do you think we live in a society that, that embraces courage? I think about the COVID thing in particular because maybe I shouldn’t be this honest, David, but I, you know, I think everybody was just struck with really strong opinions, either on one side or the other, you know, it’s almost like a binary kind of a thing. And we all felt like we were being torn apart from each other. But my opinion was, of course, the right one. And I thought everybody else was an idiot and should just agree with me and I’m sure they all thought the same thing. So I look at that and I’m like, are people courageous or are we all so passive and we just go along or, I don’t know if I’m asking it very well, but you think we live in a courageous society.

David Leto: Overall, I would say no, unfortunately, but I think there’s a lot of courageous people out there still. You know, I, I’ve heard one of your past podcasts about the shot. Yeah, and I didn’t take it, I didn’t take it either. And that was a, you know, with all the pressures around and, and I felt that was, you know, what was best for me in my family at the time and don’t put anybody else down that did what they thought they needed to do at the time and I get why they, why they did given the, you know, the media pressures and the pressures, the peer pressures and all that kind of fun stuff. But, but I don’t overall, I think there’s a lot of courageous people. I don’t think our society in general is courageous.

Jeff Johnson: Your parents were courageous.

David Leto: Absolutely. Yeah, still are. My mom, yeah, she’s a brave woman. For sure, I admire her and her strength and, you know, my dad on his deathbed said, look to me and said, you take care of her and I promised I wouldn’t. And that’s what we mean. My siblings all are trying to do.

Jeff Johnson: Yeah, would your wife say you’re courageous that Western Iowa Farm Girl?

David Leto: I think so. I think she would say I’m courageous and very stubborn. That’s the Italian in me, I think so.

Jeff Johnson: That’s a, that’s an interesting mix and a Italian guy and a, and a country tough Western Iowa Farm Girl.

David Leto: German, German Scottish Irish woman. Yeah. Yeah, you guys are forced. For sure.

Jeff Johnson: What kind of encouragement would you give? We’ll wrap it up here, David. What kind of encouragement would you give? Other people that are confronted with a difficult decision or maybe their knees are knocking a little bit and they’re wanting to find that courage trigger inside of them.

David Leto: Yeah, I’d, my, my advice would you pray first and foremost, you know, you got to have that faith element to know right from wrong and then follow your gut. And, and then just do it. It’s hard. Things are hard. It can be hard, but you got to take action as well. That’s what I would say. Having a support system certainly helps. You know, having, having good people around you to, to help you through things, but the end of the day, you know where I from wrong. So make the decision and do it.

Jeff Johnson: Yeah, that’s wonderful. Well, David Lito, I really appreciate your testimony today and it’s going to bless a lot of people. A man of great courage. Thank you so much for joining us today.

David Leto: Thanks Jeff. Appreciate your time.

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