The Audacity of Leadership with Anton Gunn (Part 2 of 2)
- Tosca DiMatteo
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
What drives a person to persist when the world feels unfair, resources are scarce, and their path is anything but clear? Sometimes, real leadership emerges from the moments where we're forced to motivate ourselves. It may sound a lot like what Oprah has said for decades, but it's true - showing up for others is what helps us learn to show up for ourselves.
Anton Gunn's story is a powerful reminder that greatness is rarely the outcome of a carefully mapped career, but more often a journey fueled by personal battles, community, and a relentless commitment to make things right. His ability to harness adversity using music, mentorship, and a deep sense of service, proves that leadership isn’t just about taking charge. It's about transformation from the inside out, especially when times are tough.
About This Series
This blog dives into Part 2 of my conversation with Anton Gunn on The Unlock Lab. While the first episode set the stage for Anton’s early challenges and drive, this final installment gets into the heart of how he moved beyond struggle; turning discouragement and disadvantage into fuel for impact at the highest levels.
If you haven’t heard Part 1, I encourage you to start there for the full context of Anton’s powerful backstory.
Hip Hop as a Driving Force
For Anton, hip hop became far more than a genre, it was a companion through hardship, a motivator, and a tool for self-renewal. Whether he was getting pumped up for a keynote address, celebrating a win, or simply getting through another tough day, music shaped Anton's resilience and outlook. Over the years, he’s created intentional playlists tied to everything from daily routines to milestone moments, underscoring how small rituals can have a powerful effect on our ability to continue moving forward.
The Transformative Power of Mentorship
A critical chapter in Anton’s personal and professional development began with a mentor who truly invested in his growth. Not only was he taught how to see power within himself, despite a system designed to convince people otherwise, but he was continually given opportunities to grow, learn, and lead. The lesson was clear: Real leaders unleash potential in others and measure their legacy by the empowerment they leave behind.
Anton brought this approach into his work in underserved communities, helping individuals who felt powerless reclaim agency and discover their own influence. Experiencing systems designed to hold people back made him more determined to teach self-advocacy and collective action.
Channeling Passion for Change
With a lifelong aversion to injustice, Anton was driven to become part of organizations and campaigns that worked for equity and fairness. Community organizing, relentless activism, and a willingness to take on broken systems defined his next chapter—culminating in direct impact through roles in nonprofit leadership, public office, and as a senior advisor helping to enact transformative nationwide health policy in the United States.
His career is a study in refusing to settle for symbolic wins. Even after gaining a legislative seat and national recognition, Anton faced more challenges and moments of feeling powerless. Yet, the constant thread was a resolve to do something—however big or small—to bend situations toward justice and possibility.
The Takeaway
Anton Gunn’s journey through adversity, community leadership, and policy impact is a testament to the idea that leadership grows in the spaces where service meets grit. Achievement comes not from chasing titles, but from cultivating resilience, uplifting others, and taking every opportunity, no matter how modest, to move the needle in the right direction.
As he now works to transform organizational culture for the good of all, Anton’s example calls us to examine how we use our own power, and how choosing to lead, right where we are, can ripple out much further than we imagine.
Get early access to new episodes, inspriation and practical leadership tips, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter here.
This episode is sponsored by Human Design by Holly.
Use code UNLOCKLAB for 25% off your first reading
