Enrique Acosta Gonzalez, a proud U.S. Navy veteran and founder of Triad Leadership Solutions, has been nominated for the Podcaster of the Year award at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026. The nomination recognises his exceptional work as a multi award winning podcast host, executive leadership coach, author, and media voice who has dedicated his career to helping leaders lead with greater clarity, confidence, and sustainable impact. Based in Orlando, Florida, Enrique’s journey from 26 years of naval service to becoming a respected voice in the leadership and podcasting communities is a testament to his discipline, resilience, and commitment to empowering others.
Enrique served for 26 years in the U.S. Navy’s Meteorology and Oceanography Command, rising through the ranks to become a Command Senior Enlisted Leader. His naval career placed him in high stakes environments where clarity, discipline, communication, and calm decision making were not optional but essential. During his service, he held roles ranging from Observer and Master Forecaster to Command Senior Enlisted Leader for three commands. He became a Certified Master Forecaster in Surface, Aviation, Anti Submarine Warfare, Special Operations, and Hydrography, and served aboard multiple ships including USS Vincennes, USCGC Jarvis, USS Essex, USS Kitty Hawk, JS Kirishima, and USS Iwo Jima. His deployments took him across South America, the Mediterranean, the Pacific, and the Atlantic, shaping him into a leader with global perspective, operational discipline, and deep respect for service.
Today, Enrique is the founder and Executive Leadership Coach of Triad Leadership Solutions, where he works with senior leaders and executives who carry significant responsibility and want to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and sustainable impact. As the CEO of VFR Publishing and author, Enrique has contributed to works focused on leadership, transformation, and Latino advancement. He is a bestselling author of Latinas100: Leaving Our Legacy and Inspiring the Next Generation, Volume 3, Voice Your Vibe: The Power of Authentic Connection, and The Business Behind the Business: Real Entrepreneurs Share Real Struggles, Real Success. He has also authored or contributed to A Lion’s Pride: The Scars That Silenced Kings, Voices for Leadership, The Latino Leadership Playbook, and LEADERS100 Eight Leadership Styles That Empower: A Guide to Transformative Collaboration.
Enrique is also a respected media voice and multi award winning podcast host. Through Developing The Leader Within Podcast, he has created a platform centered on leadership, management, career development, and personal growth. The podcast has been recognized as one of the top leadership platforms, and Enrique has been named a Top 50 Leadership Podcast, MVA Best Interview Podcast, and Media Professional of the Year. He co-hosted The Leadership Void Podcast, a veteran centered leadership show that highlighted the journeys of military veterans, spouses, and leaders transitioning into entrepreneurship, corporate life, and public service. He also hosts the American Valor Podcast, which shares the stories of Major League and Hall of Fame Baseball players who served in the Armed Forces or are impacting their communities in powerful, positive ways.
Enrique has become a steadfast presence, speaker, and champion within the podcasting community, consistently supporting both the Podfest Multimedia Conference and Podcast Movement. His commitment extends far beyond the stage. He invests his time and experience in teaching, mentoring, and advising fellow podcasters, from emerging voices finding their footing to established creators seeking to expand their impact. Through his mentorship, advocacy, and willingness to serve, Enrique does more than support podcasters; he helps empower people to find their voice, strengthen their message, and use it to make a lasting difference in the world. His influence extends beyond coaching and media. Enrique serves as a Managing Board Member for the Global Chamber of Business Leaders, a Member of the Board of Directors for The Leadership Crucible Foundation, a Board of Advisors member for Wise Leadership Solutions, a content creator for Purpose Place Network, and a contributor to media projects honoring American athletes who also served their country. He has also held leadership roles with Bunker Labs, the Navy League of the United States, Stealth Performance Communication, FEMA, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Sonobi, and other organizations where leadership, systems, training, and people development were central to the work.
Enrique’s educational foundation includes a certificate in Organizational Leadership from Harvard University, a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from Texas A&M University, a veteran focused Excellence in Entrepreneurship certificate from the University of Central Florida, a Project Management certificate from Syracuse University, and a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from Thomas Edison State University. His professional recognitions include the 2017 Top 10 Veterati Mentors Award, the Oceanographer of the Navy John Dungan Jr. Award, the Arnold Fletcher Award, the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society distinction, and Excellence in Federal Government Mentor of the Year honors in 2013 and 2014. At the heart of Enrique’s leadership is a belief that people are not meant to succeed alone. They need mirrors, mentors, truth tellers, and communities that remind them who they are and what they are capable of becoming.
