Inside the C-Suite

What happens when a community-builder refuses to wait for permission, takes fast, messy action, and turns solidarity into a strategy for work and well-being.

On this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Anna Morgan - founder of Career BFF, talent leader, events creator, and the catalyst behind EVOLVE, a grassroots conference lifting up TA and HR. From getting quiet on a Costa Rica retreat to shipping a two-day event in 89 days, Anna brings a rare mix of compassion, candor, and get-it-done energy. She’s the person you want in your corner when the rug gets pulled - equal parts coach, connector, and accountability partner with receipts.

They unpack:

The last five years in TA/HR — layoffs, decision fatigue, “pandemic burn,” and why visibility + credibility (hello, LinkedIn) are armor for the next disruption

Imposter syndrome vs. evidence — borrowing belief from your community until your own voice gets loud again

Fast, messy action as a leadership skill — how Anna scopes, sequences, and ships community events (and why urgency + service beats perfection)

Personal brand for practitioners — building relevance and inbound opportunities without becoming “a content person”

Collaboration over competition — pulling back the curtain in recruiting to accelerate trust, reduce gatekeeping, and actually help people land

The job search with dignity — why to say it out loud, ask for help, and surround yourself with safe, winning people

“Failure isn’t the opposite of success - it’s the beginning of clarity.” Anna’s story, lessons, and how to analyze the pre-steps so you don’t repeat the miss

If you’ve felt alone in a long search, or you’re leading teams through churn and change, this conversation puts language to what you’re carrying - and a blueprint for moving anyway. 

Because staying human is not a soft skill. 

It’s the operating system that makes every other skill work.

Chapters:

00:02:46 - How the last five years reshaped TA

00:06:39 - How to choose your next move after a layoff

00:10:26 - Why building a conference in 89 days took empathy, community, and a little crazy

00:16:18 - Three pieces of advice for anyone in a long, public job search

00:19:31 - Who struggles more to self-promote - and how to use LinkedIn as service

00:22:56 - Why fake job postings erode trust and harm candidates

00:26:06 - Failure as the beginning of clarity - share a defining miss

00:33:08 - Finding your voice with the CHRO and protecting your integrity

| Connect with Us |

Follow Anna Morgan:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff/

Check Out Anna’s Podcast – Your Career BFF:

Coming Soon - https://yourcareerbff.com/podcast

(Anna Morgan is the founder of Career BFF, a people-first recruiting and consulting partner that helps growth companies hire faster, smarter, and with heart. She blends direct hire, embedded TA, and manager training with community leadership (EVOLVE, Your CareerBFF Podcast) - backed by results like $1.2M in fees saved and 49% faster time-to-fill.)

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

What happens when a Marine-turned-practitioner-turned-analyst puts adoption ahead of hype and refuses to ship “shiny things” no one will use.

On this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with her long-time friend and mentor Pete Tiliakos - chief payroll champion, veteran, longtime HR operator, and the analyst behind an “open-source” approach to sharing insight. From auditing records in the Marines to building Disney’s HR/payroll transformation and advising the largest HCM platforms, Pete has sat in every seat that matters. He’s blunt about what works, generous with what he knows, and unapologetic about leading with heart.

They unpack:

Tech that dies on the shelf vs. products people actually touch - why user adoption beats executive intent every time

Investment vs. being invested - how leaders move beyond budget approvals to shoulder the work with their teams

The Payroll Profession Competence Index - what sentiment reveals about sponsorship, trust, and the real state of the employee experience

“Failing to fail” - how imposter syndrome nearly derailed Pete’s analyst career and the discipline that kept him on the field

The Marine advantage - habits, urgency of perfection, and mission focus you can graft onto any team

Co-opetition over posturing - why open collaboration outperforms closed, “we-know-it-all” models

If you’ve ever been sold a solution that never stuck - or wondered what it takes to earn adoption at scale - this conversation answers the question you’ve been avoiding and puts language to what your best operators already know.

Because transformation isn’t a launch. 

It’s leadership showing up, consistently, with discipline and a bias for humans over headlines.

Chapters:

00:05:09 - User adoption over top-down IT in HR tech

00:09:12 - Securing organization-wide buy-in for change

00:09:52 - Tracksuit moment and brand authenticity context

00:11:43 - Favorite podcasts and shows cited

00:16:26 - Military branch and service origin shared

00:21:07 - 18-year-old self perspective on today

00:21:37 - Advice to 18-year-olds starting out

00:23:41 - Common C-suite myths challenged

00:30:56 - Failure that became a turning point

00:38:02 - Final message and where to connect

| Connect with Us |

Follow Pete Tiliakos:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petetiliakos/

Twitter - https://x.com/petetiliakos

Check Out Pete & Julie’s Podcast – HR & Payroll 2.0:

Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-payroll-2-0/id1763160959

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/10HlnoTCwGPVQEtUHNcCWl

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

(Pete is a globally recognized HR and payroll authority with 30+ years spanning practitioner, buyer, vendor, consultant, analyst, and advisor - known for sharp research and strategic guidance across global payroll, EOR, fintech/payments, and HCM. He co-hosts HR & Payroll 2.0, hosts The Source by DailyPay, and is a go-to voice for industry associations, publications, and events.)

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Libby DeLucien - a builder who turns hard moments into durable systems. 

Libby builds in the real world. When recruiting broke, she engineered a better funnel.When pricing felt like guesswork, she turned quoting into a repeatable hand-off. 

Her companies solve friction you can feel on the job site and in the back office.

We start with the story and land on the system. When Libby explains she has aphantasia - it clicks: she runs on checklists and clean inputs that create real speed. From there, her leadership is simple and serious - force alignment first, then move with intention until the work is finished. And because presence is part of the job, she trained it on purpose - with a performance coach - so confidence isn’t a vibe; it’s a switch she hits on cue.

Tune in to hear:

How a personal reset became Organize It - and why recurring revenue changed her trajectory

Aphantasia as a hidden edge - systems over visualization, clarity over vibe

The persona work that helps her own a room on demand

How to choose the right coach when the real constraint is you, not the playbook

Family as an enterprise - real roles, real accountability, generational skills on purpose

Leading Like an Elephant and “Kids That Clean” - building courage and capability early

Indigenous roots and why representation in entrepreneurship matters

Libby doesn’t trade in slogans. She builds systems that ship. 

If you want a company that lasts, design it on purpose.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Libby DeLucien joins Inside the C-Suite - serial entrepreneur building three companies on purpose

00:01:50 - Where did it start?” From crisis to Organize It and the power of recurring revenue

00:04:29 - “What broke in hiring?” WootRecruit takes dead aim at no-shows and speed-to-hire

00:06:32 - “So what is Service Cart?” Quote with confidence and make sales delegable

00:08:59 - “Explain aphantasia.” No mental pictures—systems, checklists, and velocity instead

00:13:21 - “How are you leveling up?” Body first, home next, business follows

00:16:01 - “Which coach moves the needle?” Business vs. leadership vs. mindset—pick the constraint

00:20:01 - “Why a drag-queen coach?” Presence engineered—confidence as a switch, not a mood

00:24:12 - “Define intentional execution.” Alignment -> intention -> execution; replace balance with intentional time

00:26:26 - “Why write for kids?” Leading Like an Elephant, Kids That Clean, and building generational skill

| Connect with Us |

Book a professional clean or home organization session:

https://organizeit.services/

Hire reliable talent fast with an automated recruiting funnel:

https://wootrecruit.com/

Align, set intention, and execute with One Layer Deep:

https://www.amazon.com/Layer-Deep-Winning-Business-Yourself-ebook/dp/B0F3NLK548

Teach courage and leadership with Leading Like an Elephant:

https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Like-Elephant-Heart-Difference-ebook/dp/B0F3YY3KW9

Follow Libby DeLucien:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmurphy2/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/libbydelucien/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@libbydelucien

(Libby DeLucien builds systems that turn home services into scalable businesses. Founder of WootRecruit (2020) and Service Cart (2025), she’s helped 400+ companies across 25 industries hire faster and sell cleaning services online in seconds. She also owns Organize It - launched in 2014 with a cleaning division added in 2018 - now a proving ground for her products and a growing franchise, all while raising three kids in a family of entrepreneurs.)

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Bryan Murphy, CEO of Smartling - a leader in translation and localization whose mission is simple but powerful: help brands speak to the world in its own languages.

Bryan doesn’t come across like your standard tech exec. He’s a gardener at heart, someone who likes to grow things - whether that’s plants, businesses, or people. And that instinct shows up in how he leads Smartling. 

Tune in to hear:

At its core, this episode is about connection - between brands and their customers, between leaders and their teams, and between language and meaning.

Bryan doesn’t just translate content. He translates possibility. 

And in a world moving this fast, that’s the kind of leadership we need.

Chapters:

00:01:22 – How Smartling Helps Global Brands Like Tesla, Apple & Disney

00:03:30 – AI Translation: Cutting Costs & Growing Digital Footprints

00:06:35 – Unique Languages & Emerging Localization Trends

00:08:28 – Fear of AI vs. Curiosity: Why Skills Matter More Than Ever

00:11:13 – Christy’s First AI Experiment: From Poems to Prompts

00:12:53 – Top 3 Ways to Learn AI Skills Fast

00:14:34 – From Google to GPT: How Search Behavior Is Changing

00:19:18 – AI Vocabulary & The Challenge of Clear Communication

00:23:07 – Localization Done Right: Brand Voice & Cultural Nuance

00:25:52 – Leadership in Crisis: Lessons from Losing a Business in COVID

00:28:12 – A Defining Moment: Loss, Resilience & Leading Through Tragedy

00:32:30 – What Bryan Murphy Does Best as a CEO

00:34:39 – Final Takeaways: The Power of Language to Connect the World

| Connect with Us |

Learn more about Smartling:

https://www.smartling.com/

Follow Bryan Murphy:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmurphy2/

(Bryan helps global brands speak every customer’s language - building trust and driving growth through Smartling’s LanguageAI platform. With two decades of experience scaling e-commerce and SaaS companies, including leadership at eBay and co-founding WHI Solutions, he blends technology with empathy to make localization fast, accurate, and human. Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and recognized on a16z’s Marketplace 100, Bryan doesn’t just lead companies - he builds teams and tools that connect the world.)

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy welcomes generational researcher and founder of Inlay Insights, Kim Lear - a speaker, writer, and cultural translator whose work puts context behind the chaos of modern work.

Kim doesn’t do clickbait stereotypes or “Gen Z vs. Boomers” headlines. She studies shifts in trust, leadership, parenting, politics, and communication over time - then helps companies actually make sense of it. Through storytelling and hard data, she unpacks why cultural change feels disorienting and how leaders can navigate it with empathy, rigor, and intention.

Together, Christy and Kim explore what happens when generations collide in the workplace - and why that tension might be exactly what we need.

Tune in to hear:

How Kim’s research into generational identity started with one radical question: “What if my grandmother had been born in a different era?”

Why the collapse of institutional trust isn’t just a Gen Z issue - it’s a workplace wake-up call

The missed opportunity in the “authenticity movement” and why emotional regulation is leadership’s next frontier

What COVID did to our shared sense of direction - and how it rewired expectations for work, leadership, and belonging

How Gen Z sees work differently than Millennials - and why that might be a good thing for business

Kim doesn’t just study change - she maps it.

And if we want to lead people forward, we need to understand them first.

Chapters:

00:01:56 - What Changes Across Time - and Why Context Is Everything 

00:04:35 - Personal Roots of a Generational Obsession 

00:11:40 - COVID’s Long Shadow and Gen Z’s Broken Trust 

00:16:22 - Why Losing the Workplace as a Shared Space Changed Everything 

00:20:11 - Vulnerability at Work: When It Helps and When It Hurts 

00:22:25 - Whole Self vs. Best Self: The Career-Defining Distinction 

00:26:35 - Why HR Must See Itself as an Energy Conduit 

00:31:11 - Respect, Identity, and the Complexity of Modern Leadership 

00:33:39 - Gen Z’s Take: Work Isn’t Family - It’s a Contract 

00:34:45 - Kim’s Hard Lesson: Vetting Ideas Before Pitching Up 

00:40:03 - Where Are the Grown-Ups? What Young People Are Really Asking 

00:44:13 - Connection Over Perfection: What People Want from Leaders Now 

Curious about the book Christy shared?

Brand Up isn’t just a read - it’s a blueprint for showing up with purpose. Whether you're navigating college admissions, job interviews, or executive leadership, this book helps you clarify who you are and lead from it.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to step into who you are and lead with it - this is it.

| Connect with Us |

Learn more about Inlay Insights:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/inlay-insights/

Follow Kim Lear:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylear/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kim_lear

SubStack - https://kimlear.substack.com/

(Kim breaks down the cultural shifts shaping today’s workplace - using data, storytelling, and humor to make it stick. Her work has been featured by NPR, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. Trusted by Fortune 500s and top universities alike, Kim doesn’t just study change - she makes it make sense.)

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Stacey Cohen, CEO of Co-Communications, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author of Brand Up. From launching her first business at age 14 in thrift-store uniforms to running an award-winning PR firm for 25+ years, Stacey brings the kind of wisdom that only comes from building it brick by brick - and brand by brand.

Together, they break down the real work of visibility, self-definition, and leadership in an age of automation, oversaturation, and self-doubt.

Tune in to hear:

If you’re navigating career shifts, launching your own thing, or simply trying to figure out how to be seen - this episode is a tactical, heart-centered playbook for showing up and standing out.

Because if you don’t tell your story, someone else will. 

And they won’t get it right.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Meet Stacey Cohen: CEO, Author, Brand Builder  

00:02:16 - Building a Full-Service Brand Agency from the Ground Up  

00:03:12 - Entrepreneurial Fire Starts Early  

00:06:10 - Reframing Entrepreneurship Beyond Business Ownership  

00:08:20 - From Twin Identity to Personal Brand Clarity  

00:12:36 - Embracing Your Uniqueness in a World of Comparison  

00:13:56 - How to Show Up Authentically in Corporate Culture  

00:14:23 - Rethinking Personal Branding - It’s Not About Ego  

00:15:57 - The $1M Question: Why Should Someone Choose You?  

00:17:31 - Career Equity Starts with Brand Integrity  

00:18:20 - Finding Your Value Through Self and Peer Reflection  

00:19:47 - Control the Narrative - Manage Your Digital Presence  

00:22:25 - AI and Branding: Use It, Don’t Be Replaced by It  

00:24:52 - Relationships > Resumes: The Truth About Hiring  

00:26:29 - Networking Without the Cringe  

00:28:36 - Connection Begins with Giving, Not Selling  

00:30:25 - LinkedIn Strategy That Actually Works  

00:32:20 - Why Everyone Needs a Brand - Even if You’re Not Job Hunting  

00:33:22 - Stacey’s 3-Part Framework for Purpose and Visibility  

00:36:46 - Turn Your Value into Visibility  

00:39:09 - The Power of Peer Validation and Team Alignment

Curious about Brand Up?

It isn’t just a book - it’s a wake-up call. Brand Up is for anyone ready to stop playing small and start owning the room, whether that room is a college admissions office, a job interview, or a boardroom.

Stacey cuts through the noise with tools that actually work - and more importantly, with the mindset shift that changes everything. 

Because the world doesn’t slow down to notice you. 

You have to make it look twice.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to step into who you are and lead with it - this is it.

| Connect with Us |

Learn more about Co-Communications:

https://cocommunications.com/

Follow Stacey Cohen:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceycohen2/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/staceyrosscohen/

(She’s the real deal: CEO of Co-Communications, Award-Winning Author, TEDx Speaker, and Brand Builder on a Mission)

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

What do you do when you're expected to be the moral compass and the legal expert - and you’re neither a therapist nor a lawyer?

In this real-talk episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Jocelyn King, the founder and CEO of Virgil HR, who went from overwhelmed HR exec to startup founder by asking a simple but powerful question: Isn’t there a better way?

Together, they unpack the messy middle of leadership - where pressure, purpose, and people all collide.

Tune in to hear:

Whether you’re leading a team, building something from scratch, or just trying to keep your head above water - this episode is your reminder that there is always a way forward.

And if you can’t find one?

Make one. 

Chapters:

00:01:52 - Why HR keeps saying “I’m not a lawyer”

00:02:22 - What grit and resilience really look like in a startup

00:03:44 - The people who shaped Jocelyn’s leadership

00:05:28 - Building a team you can trust

00:05:42 - Leading through chaos without rituals

00:07:12 - Traits that helped Jocelyn succeed

00:08:01 - Turning communication into a leadership superpower

00:09:15 - Jocelyn’s mantra for overcoming obstacles

00:10:22 - What Jocelyn would tell her younger self

00:11:51 - A startup failure that turned into growth

00:15:01 - The biggest compliance issues HR leaders face

00:17:51 - Why HR carries more weight than people realize

00:18:38 - Where to meet Jocelyn at upcoming events

00:19:14 - Jocelyn’s personal outlets and self-care habits

00:22:08 - What makes Virgil HR different

00:22:54 - What no one tells you about the C-suite

| Connect with Us |

Learn more about VirgilHR:

https://virgilhr.com/

Follow Jocelyn King:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynanneking/

(She's the real deal: CEO of VirgilHR, HR Compliance Expert and Technology Innovator, & A Proud Dog Mom)

Meet Jocelyn IRL at Upcoming Conferences:

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

Most leadership stories start with a title. This one starts with a name people tried to weaponize.

In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt sits down with Ashley T Brundage - a former homeless part-time bank teller turned national VP, political candidate, and now CEO of Empowering Differences. Ashley didn’t just navigate discrimination, transition, and poverty - she transformed it into one of the most dynamic leadership blueprints of our time.

Her method is simple, but not easy: track power, own your differences, and use both to lead.

Ashley’s story isn’t about making people comfortable. It’s about making people capable - of leading with clarity, building across difference, and staying rooted in conviction when the spotlight turns political.

This isn’t just a masterclass in equity. It’s a case study in courage.

Chapters:

00:01:20 – How We Met and Why Ashley Stood Out  

00:01:47 – Ashley’s Background Beyond the Bio  

00:03:10 – What Happens When You Google Ashley T Brundage  

00:04:19 – How Ashley Helps Teams Feel More Inclusive  

00:08:07 – Ashley’s Journey from Homelessness to the C-Suite  

00:18:49 – A Common Myth About the C-Suite Experience  

00:20:07 – A Failure That Shaped Ashley’s Leadership Path  

00:22:11 – Campaigning Stories and Leadership Lessons from the Field  

00:27:42 – The Deeper Layers of Empowering Differences  

00:33:55 – Final Thoughts and How to Engage with Ashley’s Work

| Connect with Us |

Learn more about Empowering Differences:

https://empoweringdifferences.com/

Grab Ashley’s book and start empowering differences today:

https://empoweringdifferences.com/product/empowering-differences-book/

Follow Ashley Brundage:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleytbrundage/

(Rebuilt from rock bottom and now equips leaders to recognize power, difference, and what’s really driving impact.)

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

Most leadership stories start with a promotion. This one starts with five felonies.

In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt welcomes Garrett Mintz - former drug dealer turned executive mastermind facilitator, founder of Ambition in Motion, and the kind of person who’s built his career on second chances and relentless experimentation.

What happens when you combine IO psychology, startup scrappiness, and a deep belief in human potential? You get a business that didn’t just survive - it scaled. Garrett shares how his journey from prison risk to purpose-driven CEO has shaped his views on mentorship, motivation, and building real community at the top.

This isn’t a redemption arc. It’s a blueprint for doing business with conviction.

They unpack:

• Why horizontal mentorship (not top-down advice) creates the best growth

• The real reason most mentoring programs fail - and what to do instead

• How “work orientation” reveals the hidden reason mentorship either clicks or crashes

• Why clarity of why beats charisma or credentials every time

• How executive loneliness gave rise to community-led mastermind groups

• Why obsession with the problem is more powerful than worship of the solution

Whether you’re rebuilding after failure, leading a team through chaos, or trying to scale without losing soul - Garrett’s story proves grit and grace can coexist.

Because leadership doesn’t start with having all the answers. It starts with asking better questions.

Chapters:

00:00:54 – From drug dealer to executive facilitator

00:02:54 – The mentors who changed everything

00:07:24 – Why mentorship often fails

00:08:00 – What makes mentorship work

00:11:20 – Surprised by your work mindset?

00:13:47 – Daily habits that fuel leadership

00:15:17 – What’s next for Garrett’s work

00:22:50 – Keeping your team motivated

00:25:11 – A failure that reshaped the business

00:27:19 – How fatherhood changed his mindset

00:29:02 – A common myth about the C-Suite

00:30:49 – What Garrett does better than anyone else

| Connect with Us |

Learn more about Ambition in Motion:

https://ambition-in-motion.com/

Follow Garrett Mintz:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettmintz/

(Built a business on second chances and now helps leaders see what’s really happening beneath the surface.)

Follow Inside the C-Suite:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/

Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b

Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160

Want to be on the show or know someone who might? 

Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9

Most companies talk about putting people first. Few build systems that prove it. 

This episode unpacks what happens when empathy isn’t a value - it’s the infrastructure.

In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt sits down with Josh Varone - CFO and EVP at Centreville Bank, longtime HR pro, board member, and unshakable believer in leading with humanity. With more than 20 years in HR and a deep resume of community impact, Josh breaks down how his L&D roots shaped a career defined by empathy & servant leadership.

This isn’t your typical HR playbook - it’s a reminder that caring still scales.

They unpack:

Why “employer of choice” isn’t a buzzword - it’s a mission

How handwritten notes and DoorDash gift cards beat policy changes in real impact

The red folder lesson: why HR’s reputation depends on showing up before there’s a problem

What real consultation looks like in today’s HR: less compliance, more conversation

How to build an HR team that challenges you (instead of just nodding yes)

Why your leadership ladder needs to be 40 feet wide - not 40 feet tall

How to get on a board the right way - starting with passion, not position

Whether you’re HR of one or leading a department, Josh’s journey is a blueprint for showing up with consistency, clarity, and compassion.

Because great leadership? It starts with being a good human.

| Connect with Us |

Learn more about Centreville Bank:

https://www.centrevillebank.com/

Follow Josh Varone:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-varone/

(HR lifer turned CFO – known for handwritten notes, red folder wisdom, and building cultures where people feel seen before they're managed)

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