Get Unstuck & On Target

In today’s episode of ‘Get Unstuck and On Target’, Mike talks with Echo Vanderwal, co-founder of The Luke Commission. They explore the organization’s journey from a small team to a major healthcare provider in Eswatini, managing over 280,000 patient visits annually and conducting extensive outreach programs.

Echo shares the challenges and successes of scaling a compassionate healthcare organization, discussing cultural barriers, the establishment of consistent healthcare programs like hip replacement services, and the adoption of the “Joshua Principle” in their organizational culture. This principle, focusing on mentorship and shared responsibility, has been pivotal in transforming healthcare delivery in Eswatini.

Listeners will gain insights into the nuances of leading a growing organization, the importance of adaptability, and the impact of empathetic leadership in the healthcare sector.

Echo Vanderwal is the co-founder of The Luke Commission, a healthcare organization that has significantly impacted the health system in Eswatini. Starting with a small team, Echo and her co-founder have grown the organization into a major healthcare provider, known for its innovative approaches and compassionate care.

Echo’s journey in healthcare is marked by dedication to improving lives and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by communities in Eswatini. Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling the organization and establishing essential healthcare services in the region.

• The journey of The Luke Commission from a small team to a healthcare force in Eswatini

• https://www.lukecommission.org

In today’s milestone 150th episode, Mike talks with leadership coach Rob Kalwarowsky about getting leaders unstuck from limiting mindsets.

Rob explains common reasons leaders self-sabotage, feel like imposters, or become destructive bosses. He shares his personal journey overcoming depression and burnout to find purpose.

Listeners will learn simple but profound tactics to better understand your core beliefs, release past trauma, and lead from a place of confidence and clarity.

I specialize in helping leaders become high-impact individuals who turn their teams into happy, high-performing units that achieve their goals. I believe that traditional leadership coaching methods are not always enough to bring about the change that today’s dynamic work environment demands.

That’s why I’ve taken a unique approach, blending together neuroscience, mindset coaching, high-performance leadership strategies with cutting-edge technology & data to provide a clear path to building a high-performing team.

My goal is to provide leaders with a clear path towards building a successful and high-performing team or turning around an under-performing one. Just like how professional sports teams use a combination of high-performance coaching, technology, and analytics to build championship-winning teams, I use a similar approach to help leaders achieve their goals and lead their teams to success.

• Learn the root causes of “imposter syndrome” and how to silence your inner critic

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kalwarowsky/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Pete Srodoski, COO of Publishing.com and author of the book “Lead with Empathy.”

Pete explains his journey from retail management to small business and lessons learned about compassionate leadership. He shares how transparency, humility and empathy create engaged teams, even remotely.

Listeners will learn how caring for employees, building trust, and inspiring from afar are critical for culture and performance. Hear Pete’s perspective on retail’s hidden leadership talents and why businesses should take chances on these leaders.

Chief Operating Officer, Publishing.com | Author | Entrepreneur

Pete Srodoski is a driving force in empathetic leadership, recognized for his transformative impact on businesses and teams. With a rich background spanning retail, entrepreneurship, and a dedication to fostering strong team dynamics, Pete is an esteemed author, speaker, and visionary.

Beginning his journey in retail management, Pete witnessed the profound influence of empathetic leadership on team cohesion and business success. His experiences, from navigating changing perceptions of tattoos in the workplace to overcoming personal challenges like anxiety, have fueled his commitment to creating inclusive and supportive environments.

Pete’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic showcased his innovation and adaptability. Guiding companies through transformations, he demonstrated that empathetic leadership not only facilitates change but also sparks creative solutions that resonate with employees and customers alike.

Balancing a thriving career with family responsibilities, Pete champions work-life equilibrium. His journey underscores the importance of accommodating diverse team needs, and fostering personal and professional growth.

Authoring the forthcoming book “Lead With Empathy,” Pete offers actionable insights, compelling stories, and proven strategies for empathetic leadership. Pete shapes the future of leadership through his writing and speaking engagements, inspiring positive change.

Connect with Pete Srodoski to elevate your leadership, empower teams, and drive lasting transformation.

In today’s episode, Mike speaks with Amanda Windsor-White, president of Rugby ATL, who is currently transitioning after the club was sold.

Amanda shares lessons from leading a sports startup, handling confidential information, and supporting her team during change. She offers advice for taking career risks, getting unstuck, and charting new directions.

Amanda Windsor-White is the president of business operations for Rugby ATL in Major League Rugby. She has over 15 years of experience in sports, entertainment, agencies, and brands.

Prior to Rugby ATL, Amanda worked at Endeavor (formerly IMG) leading partnerships across sports, fashion, and entertainment. She also spent several years at The Coca-Cola Company managing NASCAR marketing.

She is recognized for excellence in sports business and takes a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves approach to leadership. Amanda holds a degree in Sports Management from Ohio University.

• How Amanda led Rugby ATL through confidential sale talks and transition

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandawindsorwhite/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Tyler Young, CEO of VersiTech, about building a strong company culture and staying focused as a leader.

Tyler explains how leading with vulnerability enables transparent communication and support for employees. He shares insights on maintaining motivation after achieving goals, pursuing new opportunities, and balancing work with family.

Listeners will learn Tyler’s approach to getting unstuck, supporting people, shaping culture from the top down, and keys to consistent growth.

Tyler Young is the CEO of VersiTech, whose businesses include Tonic POS and Bold Integrated Payments. He has been recognized on the Electronic Transactions Association and Retail Solutions Providers Association’s 40 under 40 lists.

Tyler has over 15 years of experience in the payments and point-of-sale industry. He founded his first company, Secure Payments, in 2009 and has since led multiple acquisitions and mergers to create VersiTech’s current suite of payment and POS solutions.

Driven by his passion for positively impacting people’s lives, Tyler aims to create an environment where employees feel supported personally and professionally. He leads with transparency, motivates his team, and balances work with dedicating time for family.

• Leading with vulnerability enables stronger connections and a “people first” culture

• https://versitech.com/

In this episode, Mike O’Neill talks with Antonio Garrido, founder of My Daily Leadership, about unlocking your potential as an elite leader. Antonio shares insights on leadership blind spots, the power of journaling, and taking extreme ownership as a CEO.

Learn how self-awareness is key to getting unstuck, why having a coach matters, and how Antonio helps leaders reach their full potential.

Antonio Garrido is the founder of My Daily Leadership, with a mission to inspire one million of the world’s best leaders. He has over 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles and is an expert in leadership transformation.

Antonio is the author of “My Daily Leadership: A Powerful Roadmap for Leadership Success” and several other books. He provides coaching and advisory services to help leaders and organizations close the gap between where they are and where they want to be.

• Self-awareness and humility are key for leaders to get “unstuck”

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniogarrido/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Jerry Bird, a franchise consultant with over 14 years of experience helping clients find the right franchise opportunities.

Jerry explains the pros and cons of buying a franchise versus starting a business or acquiring an existing business. He shares how his company educates clients, evaluates their goals and abilities, and matches them with franchises that are the best fit.

Listeners will learn how the franchise model sets entrepreneurs up for success, what questions to ask, and how to decide if franchise ownership is right for you.

Jerry Bird is a Senior Franchise Consultant with FranNet. He has over 14 years of experience advising clients on finding the right franchise opportunity to match their goals, abilities, and temperament.

Prior to joining FranNet, Jerry had a 34-year career with Kmart Corporation where he helped the company rapidly expand and also managed 1,100 Little Caesars pizza franchises within Kmart stores.

Jerry takes an educational, personalized approach to advising clients. He helps them fully evaluate if business ownership is the right move before introducing franchise options suited to them.

• The difference between starting a business, buying a business, and franchising

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrybird/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Shobit Gupta, co-founder and CEO of MapZot, a company that uses generative AI to recommend optimal real estate locations for retailers.

Shobit explains how MapZot has built specialized AI models for different brands that can analyze thousands of data points to identify new sites with up to 90% confidence. He shares key lessons on controlled growth, gathering user feedback, and building a collaborative team culture.

Listeners will learn how generative AI works, how MapZot helps retailers expand, and how taking risks and surrounding yourself with great people are keys to entrepreneurial success.

Shobit Gupta is the co-founder and CEO of MapZot, a generative AI company that helps retailers and brands optimize their real estate site selection. He has over a decade of experience spanning real estate, finance, and technology. Shobit holds an MBA in Real Estate Finance and Analytics. Prior to founding MapZot, he worked at an international hedge fund and one of the world’s largest big data companies.

Driven by his passion to combine AI, data, and real estate, Shobit founded MapZot in 2017 to bring transparency and leverage data to help companies confidently expand and grow. Under his leadership, MapZot has built specialized AI models that can evaluate thousands of data points to recommend optimal new locations with up to 90% accuracy.

• Generative AI can analyze thousands of data points to recommend optimal new locations for retailers

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobitgupta/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Len Finkle, CEO of Profisee, a master data management company. Len helps leaders understand why employee engagement is a top indicator of sustainable growth and how to create a highly engaged workforce.

Len Finkle is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience leading high-growth B2B software companies. As CEO of Profisee, he grew the company’s revenues by over 50% annually and achieved a top 1% employee engagement score, ultimately leading to a successful acquisition.

Len has an exceptional track record building sales organizations, penetrating new markets, and driving 100%+ revenue growth.

His broad go-to-market expertise includes strategically selling SaaS, on-premise, and multi-channel solutions. Len is passionate about leading through a “people-first” approach to drive sustainable growth.

• Employee engagement goes beyond satisfaction – it’s employees who are excited to come to work each day

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/len-finkle-9465b22/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Dan Gilmore, an experienced labor and employment attorney. Dan helps his clients understand the changing legal landscape around unions and organizing.

He’s the founder of Squire Strategies, where he advises employers on staying union-free through better communication and engagement with employees. Dan shares insights from his 30+ year career representing management.

After serving as a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps, I joined the Tennessee-based firm of Miller & Martin and began a decades-long career in employment law. With Miller & Martin, I spent ten years in Southern California serving as “captive counsel” for the firm’s largest client. While in that capacity, I was directly involved in the client’s employment law matters in 14 states.

Throughout my career, I have represented clients in all phases of proceedings in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. I have experience in contested equal employment opportunity matters, employee and management training, alternative dispute resolution, and traditional labor law — including representation elections, contract administration, arbitrations, and negotiations.

I work regularly in partnership with human resources representatives and all levels of management to creatively and proactively identify and resolve issues impacting the workplace. I have advised and represented clients in matters including, but not limited to, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, National Labor Relations Act, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, as well as their state and local counterparts. For the past ten years, I have served as an adjunct professor in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

• Union membership in the US is at an all-time low of 10.1%, which is about 1/3 of what it was in the 1980s.

• https://www.squirestrategies.com/