In this episode, I sit down with Cary Sparrow, Founder and CEO of WageScape and a former nuclear submarine officer. Cary brings a unique blend of technical thinking, leadership experience, and insight into today’s labor market.

We begin with a challenge many organizations face: hiring people who actually stay. Cary explains that leaders often focus heavily on technical experience in interviews while overlooking something just as important—understanding their own culture. When the reality of the workplace doesn’t match what candidates expect, employee churn is almost inevitable.

From there, we discuss what drives retention today. Cary highlights the importance of both culture and competitive pay, noting that leaders must understand their environment and the real labor market if they want to attract and keep strong people.

We also explore leadership lessons from Cary’s time in the Navy and in business. He emphasizes humility, self-awareness, and the willingness to admit when you’re wrong. In fast-moving environments, he says, the biggest risk is often not moving fast enough.

The takeaway is simple: strong leadership requires knowing your organization, making decisions with imperfect information, and building an environment where people can succeed.

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