Ben Sasse Reflects on Leadership and Purpose

Thought Leader: Ben Sasse

April 9, 2026

The former senator wants to heal the America he’s leaving behind.

How would you live if you knew when you were going to die?

When Ben Sasse announced last December that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he called it a death sentence, but he noted that he’d had one before the cancer too. We all do.

Sasse served the state of Nebraska in the U.S. Senate for eight years as a high-minded and, by his own account, sometimes ineffectual conservative. Then he quit politics to become the president of the University of Florida, pursuing a different model of civic reform.

Now he’s facing mortality.

For Sasse, the advance of his cancer has brought clarity, sharpening his focus on his wife and three children, and the God whom he expects to shortly meet.

At the same time, he’s doing a lot of talking. He’s running his own podcast, titled “Not Dead Yet,” and he’s doing interviews like this one about what life is like on the threshold of the undiscovered country.

WWSG exclusive thought leader Ben Sasse brings a unique perspective as a former U.S. Senator, university president, and New York Times bestselling author. A leading voice on government and politics, leadership, education, technology and society, and the future of American institutions, Sasse explores how digital disruption is reshaping the world while offering both historical context and forward-looking strategies. From defending free speech to strengthening civic culture and building resilient communities, he equips leaders with the intellectual framework to navigate today’s complex challenges. To invite Ben Sasse to your next event, contact WWSG.