In this episode, Nicole sits down with Karl Sakas, a seasoned leadership advisor and operations expert for creative businesses, to explore his latest book, Calm the Chaos. They dive into what it really takes to lead a thriving business or agency without losing your mind—or your weekends. Karl shares powerful insights about managing your energy, delegating intentionally, building strong teams, and yes, surviving meetings that could’ve been emails. He also tackles:

• Why leaders must prioritize their own well-being (and how Karl learned the hard way)
• How to stop being the bottleneck in your business
• Creating a culture that balances warmth with competence
• A hilarious take on “swoop and poop” leadership
• Why bad meetings are the enemy (and how to fix them)

Whether you run an agency, a hospital, or a small business, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to stop spinning your wheels and start leading with focus and purpose.

Highlights from this episode
[07:53] Take Care of Yourself First. “Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others.” Karl shares how his team staged an intervention about his workload—and how that wake-up call changed everything. Start here if you feel burnout creeping in.
[14:19] Stop Being the Sole Answer Person. Delegation isn’t a bumper sticker—it's a complex process. Karl breaks down how to stop being the "go-to" for everything and why that mindset limits your team and your growth.
[24:48] Create the Work Environment You Always Wanted. High warmth, high competence. Karl unpacks a powerful framework to help leaders build culture intentionally. Plus, the difference between being a good boss and just being “nice.”

Karl's book: https://sakasandcompany.com/lp/calm-the-chaos-book/

Connect with Karl:
Karl's website: https://sakasandcompany.com/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlsakas/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/karlsakas/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/karlsakas
X: https://x.com/KarlSakas

Other books mentioned in this episode:
The Human Brand https://a.co/d/1Yu76uU
Radical Candor https://a.co/d/2S9FwV4
Traction https://a.co/d/4LHm4RG

We are grateful to Karl for bringing his passion for leadership and workplace culture to the Build a Vibrant Culture podcast! Listen at vibrantculture.com/podcast or your favorite podcast app!