Leading with Kindness with Christy Pretzinger: Lead to Succeed 163

What role does kindness play in leadership? In a world often focused on achieving results and meeting expectations, can leading with compassion create a more productive and fulfilling workplace? In this episode, Christy Pretzinger shares her perspective on the transformative power of kindness in leadership.

As the owner and CEO of WG Content, Christy has established an industry-leading company that delivers superior content and strategy to healthcare brands nationwide. She intentionally focused on building the business based on kindness. And that approach has proven to be good for people and the bottom line.

Over time, Christy discovered her true calling: to create a workplace that nurtures personal and professional growth — and help other leaders do the same. She’s a popular guest speaker for events and podcasts, always ready to guide audiences on how to grow leaders and build environments where people can thrive. Christy’s new book, Your Cultural Balance Sheet: Keys to creating an environment where people can thrive, is due out January 2025.

Embracing Vulnerability and Support with Owen Marcus: Lead to Succeed 162

In leadership, vulnerability is often seen as a weakness, but what if embracing it could make us stronger and more effective?

In this episode, Owen Marcus delves into the importance of emotional safety in the workplace, how leaders can model vulnerability, and why creating supportive environments for both personal and professional growth is crucial.

Have The Courage To Be Disliked with Rob Moore: Lead to Succeed 140

No matter where life leads us, one undeniable truth remains: criticism is inevitable. Yet, it is not the mere presence of criticism that defines our journey, but rather, our response to it. In the face of inevitable critique, it is our ability to accept it with grace and the courage to endure disdain that propels us forward on the path of growth, both in life and in business. This profound truth finds resonance in the experiences of our esteemed guest, Rob Moore.

Rob is the founder of the Progressive Group, encompassing Progressive Property, Progressive Success, and the Entrepreneurs Business Academy (EBA). His training companies are among the largest in the UK and globally recognized. With over 1,000 speeches delivered in the last decade, Rob is a sought-after keynote speaker known for his unfiltered 'Rob's Rants' and tactical insights. As a mentor to numerous millionaires and celebrities, he's helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs go from zero to millionaire status.

The Power of Connection with Michael Zuercher: Lead to Succeed 139

The importance of connection within the team cannot be overstated. This connection goes beyond mere acquaintance or professional rapport; it encompasses a deeper understanding, trust, and synergy among team members. That’s what our guest Michael will be sharing with us.

Michael is CEO and co-founder of Prismatic, a leading embedded integration platform (embedded iPaaS) for B2B SaaS companies. A second-time founder, he previously scaled a software company whose product had hundreds of integrations serving thousands of customers. He passionately believes that B2B SaaS companies need a better way to build and manage integrations.

Breaking Free from the Inner Critic with Hooman Motevalli: Lead to Succeed 138

We all have that nagging voice inside our heads—the one that constantly whispers doubts, criticisms, and fears. It's the voice that tells us we're not good enough, smart enough, or capable enough to achieve our goals and dreams. In this episode, our guest Hooman Motevalli will be shining a light on the inner critic, helping us overcome it.

Hooman is a senior business analyst and in-demand consultant for high-level blockchain and AI software teams. He is the director of HSP Holdings, an IT-based company investing in intelligent blockchain and DAO-Metaverse startups. He also works to improve the qualities of tech and business teams through his Converting Confusion to Clarity (CCC) training program.

Hooman is a macroeconomics expert and author of Don’t Be A Crab: A Practical Guide to Building Strong, Joyful Relationships.

Mindset Mastery with Sheldon Gilbert: Lead to Succeed 137

In the complex journey of life, our experiences, choices, and outcomes are intricately woven by a force often underestimated yet profoundly influential: mindset. How we perceive the world, interpret challenges, and approach opportunities shapes not just our daily existence, but the very trajectory of our entire lives. In this episode, our guest Sheldon Gilbert will share how developing the right mindset at a young age changed his life.

Sheldon founded Kura Labs to create new pathways for ensuring employment in the tech economy for people from underserved communities. Kura Labs is a non-profit vocational academy that offers free training and job placement in the high-demand sectors of devops/SRE, cloud infrastructure computing and cybersecurity at Fortune 1000 employer partners.

Sheldon is also the Founder and CEO of Proclivity Systems. Proclivity builds and operates electronic marketplaces for secure trading of digital assets in real-time such as data and media. Beginning first in e-commerce, Proclivity has since developed the largest electronic ad marketplace in the pharmaceutical industry and extended its expertise in autonomous trading systems and secure computation in other industries.

Develop Your Interpersonal Skills with Jeff Baldassari: Lead to Succeed 136

In the relentless pursuit of professional success, it's easy to become fixated solely on honing one's technical expertise and career-oriented skills. However, those who prioritize these aspects at the expense of developing interpersonal skills often find themselves encountering unexpected roadblocks on their journey to success. In this episode, our guest Jeff Baldassari will be emphasizing the importance of developing interpersonal skills.

Jeff is a former C Suite Executive and the author of From Associate to Ambassador. It contains the skills and disciplines that are not taught in law school but are needed to build an extraordinary career. This book speaks to law students, summer associates, and young associates who aspire to achieve extraordinary outcomes in their careers.

Choose the Right Role with John Bennett: Lead to Succeed 135

Selecting the right role for employees is paramount for effective leadership. Matching individual strengths, skills, and aspirations with suitable positions not only maximizes productivity but also fosters job satisfaction and long-term engagement. That’s exactly what we’ll be talking about in this episode, with our guest John Bennett.

John joined Dashlane as its Chief Executive Officer in February 2023, bringing over 30+ years of experience leading high-growth B2B SaaS and communication companies. Prior to joining Dashlane, John served as the CEO of Cordence and held executive positions in LogMeIn and Citrix. During his tenure at LogMeIn, John successfully oversaw and grew the $450M Identity and Access Management unit.

The Pursuit of Our Ideal Selves with John Miles: Lead to Succeed 134

As we pass down knowledge from generation to generation, a prevalent regret among our predecessors is often the unfulfilled pursuit of their ideal selves. This failure to realize their true potential serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of striving towards personal fulfillment. In this episode, we will explore with our guest John Mile this vital lesson.

John R. Miles, creator of Passion Struck®, is a renowned authority in behavior change, wellness, and leadership. With a diverse background from the U.S. Navy to Fortune 50 executive roles, his insights are rooted in real-world experience. Through his podcast, Passion Struck, and his latest book, "Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life," he shares science-based principles for personal growth and living with purpose, endorsed by luminaries like Oprah Winfrey. Recognized as a must-read for 2024, it inspires readers to overcome self-doubt and embrace intentional living.

Unlocking Effectiveness with Brent Pohlman: Lead to Succeed 133

Stepping out of one's family business can offer invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth. By venturing beyond familiar territories, individuals gain fresh perspectives, encounter diverse perspectives, and cultivate a broader understanding of the world. That’s exactly what our guest Brent Pohlman was advised to do.

Brent is the Owner and CEO of Midwest Laboratories, which performs analytical testing in Human Health, Animal Health, and Agriculture/Environmental. In 2023, Brent released his first book, “Leaders Look Within”. The book is a testimony to Brent owning his heart to live a life of gratitude.

Embrace Constraints with Gary Harpst: Lead to Succeed 132

It's important to see constraints not as obstacles that limit us, but rather as opportunities for innovation and creativity. By reframing our perspective, we can harness the power of constraints to drive progress and achieve remarkable outcomes. And this is exactly what Lead to Succeed guest Gary Harpst will demonstrate through his insightful experiences and practical wisdom.

Gary Harpst, CEO of LeadFirst, is known for his fusion of faith and work, fostering agile organizations. With four decades of experience, he founded three successful businesses, one of which merged and was sold to Microsoft. He has authored three books. His latest book, "Built to Beat Chaos," makes the biblical case that we are all created to overcome chaos.

From the Stockroom to the Corner Office with Brian Librach: Lead to Succeed 131

In today's competitive business landscape, where efficiency and systems often take precedence, some leaders stand out for prioritizing people above all else. Brian, our guest, epitomizes this ethos.

Brian worked in retail for 35 years, from the stockroom to the corner office. He was a VP of stores for PacSun and Urban Outfitters and most recently ran Old Navy stores in Canada. His new book helps people write or rewrite their career outcomes.

Care Transforms Sales with Jeremy Sandell: Lead to Succeed 123

In the world of sales, genuine care is the key to success. When you genuinely care about your customers, it goes beyond just making a sale; it's about understanding their needs, providing value, and creating a positive experience. People are more likely to buy from someone they trust and feel genuinely cares about their well-being, that’s exactly what we will learn from our guest Jeremy Sandell.

Jeremy is an online sales and marketing professional with more than $15,000,000 in 1:1 sales across 6+ different industries.

He’s spent the last 12 years studying human behavior and evolutionary psychology and has developed a unique, non-salesy approach to sales that results in considerably higher than average closing rates in the high-ticket sales niche.

Listen in and learn more about the importance of building trust in sales.

Building Connections with Yehiel Kalish: Lead to Succeed 74

What sets apart the great leaders from all the others? Connections!

And nobody does connections better than Yehiel Kalish.

Yehiel Kalish is a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives and currently serves as the CEO of Hatzalah, the largest volunteer ambulance service in the United States.

In this episode, Yehiel went deep on building connections.

I am super excited to share his wisdom and insights with you.

Influence and Impact with Kevin Kruse: Lead to Succeed 60

What does true leadership look like in 2020? The office is closed, the team is remote, and productivity is down. These are some of the unique challenges that leaders face during our current pandemic. Kevin Kruse, leadership expert and best-selling author, offers keen insight into maximizing our influence and impact. Listen in as Kevin teaches us that leading with intent, being mindful, promoting values, and setting aside uninterrupted time to tackle deep work are the keys to bringing out the best in ourselves and our teams.

Lead to Succeed dives deep into personal leadership journeys, seeking to understand how leaders got to where they are today, and the challenges & successes that they experienced along the way