Executive Evolution

Becoming a successful leader begins with knowing your 'why.' It's the foundation for building a strong culture and developing an effective team.

In this episode, Heather Heuman, CEO and founder of Sweet Tea Social Media Marketing, joins us to share her entrepreneurial wisdom and leadership insights. She brings a unique angle to leading a virtual team, the positives of owning your weaknesses, and understanding your personal 'why.'

Join us as Heather shares her how-to guide on becoming the best leader you can be, while developing a team and culture that excels.

After You Listen:

Get your copy of Start with Why by Simon Sinek

Connect with Heather on LinkedIn

Check out Sweet Tea Social Marketing

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Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Roadblocks are a given when it comes to leadership. But it's how you deal with these roadblocks that matters.

In this episode, Rachel Downey, founder, CEO, and Executive Producer of Share Your Genius, joins us to share her personal story into leadership and valuable lessons that can help us navigate our own leadership paths with more confidence and resilience.

Join us as we unpack Rachel's 5 tips to navigating challenges, seizing opportunities, and evolving through self-awareness and intentional actions.

After You Listen:

Get your copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn

Check out Share Your Genius

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

The younger generation is the future of leadership. And it's our responsibility to equip them with the right tools and knowledge to succeed in their leadership roles.

In this episode, professor, advisor, and performance coach, Nick Smarrelli, dives into the big challenges faced by young leaders and how to overcome them. He also discusses the the evolution of leadership in the workplace and the importance of understanding individual team members' unique traits rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach.

Join us as we share actionable advice for nurturing the next generation of leaders and how to develop them to become successful.

After You Listen:

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

In the fast-paced world of leadership, it's easy to get caught up in the power and status that come with the role. Leading with humility, relating to others, and demonstrating humility can create a more positive and inclusive leadership environment.

In this episode, Performance and Executive Coach, Andrea Petrone shares his invaluable insights into the challenges and lessons of transitioning into a C-suite role, particularly the importance of mindset, humility, and clear communication.

Join us as we unpack the essential attributes of successful C-suite leaders and explore the journey of evolving into an outstanding executive.

After You Listen:

Get your copy of The Five Temptations of a CEO by Patrick Lencioni

Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn

Check out The World Class Leaders Show

Follow Andrea on Youtube

Sign up for Andrea's Newsletter

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

When thinking about sales leadership, there are specific challenges that you'll go through, but there are also a vast amount of opportunities that arise.

In this episode, Matt Nettleton, President at Sandler DBT, joins us to share his insights on the key roles of successful sales leaders, the importance of setting up the right systems and creating a culture where making mistakes are encouraged. He also goes into detail on the long-term practices that contribute to the success of sales leaders.

Join us are we share the secrets to mastering sales leadership that unlock doors of opportunities.

After You Listen:

Get your copy of The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Discovering your 'why' can be tricky. But once you figure that piece out, you can root back to purpose, and growth becomes natural rather than a challenge.

In this episode, Matt Cuzzort, Head Coach at Orangetheory Fitness Broad Ripple, joins us to share his journey of becoming a leader in the fitness industry, reflect on his experience of leading through challenges, and how he built a strong team culture. He discusses the importance of seeking mentorship, finding his zone of genius, and maintaining energy through the reinforcement of his 'why.'

Join us as we unpack Matt's journey and how he used his 'why' to shape his evolution as a leader in the fitness industry.

After You Listen:

Get your copy of Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Connect with Matt on Instagram or Facebook

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Diversity of thought is essential for evolution, but a lot of times leaders don't embrace this opportunity.

In this episode, Pete Dunbar, Regional President of American Bank of Freedom, joins us to share actionable advice on the importance of diversity of thought in leadership teams and the value it adds to decision-making processes, the power of intentional, day-to-day leadership, efficient planning, and more.

Listen in for more of Pete's leadership insights and gain a deeper understanding of the power in making room for a range of ideas and perspectives.

After You Listen:

• Get your copy of Megatrends and by John Nesbitt

• Connect with Pete on LinkedIn

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

• Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Your value lies in who you are as an individual, not what you do on a day-to-day basis.

In this episode, Jack Hope, President of Hope Plumbing, joins us to discuss why as a leader you have to recognize your unique strengths and the perspective you bring to the table, be it understanding customers, strategic problem-solving, or team development. Along the way, Jack also shares the pivotal moments that led to his growth as a leader.

Listen in for more of Jack's unique leadership insights and a deeper understanding of the power of having a formula for how you want to lead.

After You Listen:

• Get your copy of The Trial and Death of Socrates by Plato and Good to Great by Jim Collins

• Learn more about Hope Plumbing

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

• Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Public speaking is hard, but does it have to be?

For a long time the answer was 'yes' for Lori Byrd, President and Co-Founder of 1909 Digital. Quiet classrooms and museums were her comfort zone and then she found herself standing on stages talking to international audiences.

In this episode, Lori shares her insights and experiences as a leader in the digital marketing industry, offering valuable lessons on public speaking, co-creation, and building a strong team culture. Listen in to learn some of Lori's quick tricks for showing up more confidently when all eyes are on you and to hear why your mindset around the audience's point of view needs to change.

After You Listen:

• Get your copy of Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

• Learn more about ClearPath Consulting and Coaching

• Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

"If you've not crashed, you're not driving fast enough."

Those words of wisdom come from Lyn St. James, a professional race car driver and motivational speaker.

In this episode, our guest, Melissa St. John, CEO and Owner of Relocation Strategies, explains how she took that concept and applied it to her leadership journey. Many leaders are held back by the fear that they might not be qualified enough to lead and resort to playing it safe. But as Melissa shares her story of becoming a leader for the first time—when she bought the company she's currently led for almost 17 years—she reminds us you can always lean on the experience of others and the power of questions to overcome any challenge as a leader.

Listen to discover why you shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes or "crash" as you navigate each new turn your leadership journey presents.

After You Listen:

• Learn more about the Indiana Conference for Women

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

• Learn more about ClearPath Consulting and Coaching

• Check out Craig's monthly free training on holding difficult conversations