"Instead of scrolling for an hour a day, scroll for a half hour and do something for you for a half hour. Lift the weights, write the blog post, learn to do the podcast, read a book.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, host Kate Volman is joined by Joe Ciccarone, District Sales Manager at AbbVie and host of the “Built not Born” podcast, to discuss how he transformed his career, taught himself sales, and built a successful podcast with just a MacBook Air and a wired microphone.

In their conversation, Joe shares how podcasting not only grew his audience to thousands but also honed his skills in sales and empathy, the diverse paths to success taken by business leaders, and the power of reading, micro steps to achieve goals, and persevering through challenges.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How starting and running a podcast significantly improves sales skills and question-asking abilities
2. The value of continuous learning, persistence, and small, consistent efforts to achieve success
3. The importance of having a support system and resources to pursue personal passions, such as joining local activities or investing in coaching

Things to listen for:

[04:54] Podcasts offer valuable insights from professionals

[08:59] Constantly strive to learn, grow, and apply knowledge

[13:21] Building following by serving ten people consistently

[22:45] People make excuses to avoid challenges

[30:32] Reading history prevents repeating mistakes, avoiding losses

[33:08] Book on persevering through challenges to success

[37:30] Podcasting fosters diverse conversations

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

"Put your people first—they're the backbone of the company. Words on a wall are easy, but leaders must treat people right. Losing sight of this for results leads down the wrong path.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, host Kate Volman is joined by Jennifer Ricks, Chief Human Resources Officer at KeHE Distributors to discuss KeHE’s commitment to employee well-being, their innovative talent retention strategies, and the magic behind their Dream Manager program.

In their conversation, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of humility, courage, and treating employees with dignity and respect. You’ll learn how KeHE Distributors prioritizes people, fosters a supportive environment, and balances caring for employees with achieving business results.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How KeHE Distributors attracts and retains talent by offering unique benefits and treating employees with dignity and respect
2. The transformative impact of the Dream Manager Program in helping employees feel seen, heard, and thrive personally
3. The importance of leadership qualities such as humility, courage, and continuous reflection in fostering a positive work culture

Things to listen for:

[06:12] Use a leadership model that inspires goodness and growth

[12:22] Balancing growth and culture in company expansion

[18:25] Navigating COVID, acquiring companies, and workforce development

[23:41] Courage for collaborative relationships

[31:27] Focusing on people and doing good

[38:18] How to develop a solid team

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

"Having my CEO say, 'This program is all about you and your success, in whatever form that takes,' was a proud moment for me.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, host Kate Volman is joined by Rebecca Salhab, Sr. Director of Human Resources at KeHE Distributors, to talk about the importance of the Dream Manager program.

In their conversation, Rebecca shares her initial skepticism, the challenges faced, and the incredible impact the program has had on her organization. You'll hear stories of employees achieving their dreams, leadership's support, and how prioritizing personal aspirations has boosted engagement and reduced turnover.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. The positive impact of the Dream Manager program on individual employees
2. How the Dream Manager program influences company culture and how it is being adapted for broader implementation at KeHe
3. How Rebecca’s initial skepticism about the Dream Manager program transformed into enthusiastic leadership for an employee experience initiative at her company

Things to listen for:

[03:24] How the Dream Manager program at KeHe has impacted people

[09:26] Encourage team members to embrace personal growth

[16:31] Emphasizing company culture and employee development initiatives

[22:15] Encourage people to pursue their dreams passionately

[29:23] Focusing on dreams and achievements will build confidence

[35:08] Prioritizing dreams and reevaluating what's important

[39:02] Prioritize and visualize to accomplish your dreams

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

“Hiring a nice but incompetent person is easy; firing them is tough. Keep this in mind to avoid future challenges.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, host Kate Volman is joined by Floyd’s own Tony Ferraro to talk all things hiring.

In their conversation, Tony shares practical but essential tips for hiring the right fit for your team. He breaks down the ideal structure for interviews and the importance of having diverse personalities in the room. They also explore the challenges leaders face when pressured to fill positions quickly and the critical need for maintaining hiring standards.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. The importance of prioritizing the quality of hires over the efficiency of the hiring process to ensure an effective and long-lasting team fit
2. The benefits of involving multiple personalities and perspectives during the interview process to achieve a comprehensive evaluation of candidates
3. The significance of maintaining disciplined hiring standards to avoid the pitfalls of rushed or pressured hiring decisions

Things to listen for:

[04:31] Hold yourself accountable, actively listen, and take ownership

[08:00] Create a space for honest interview feedback

[09:27] Evaluate with facts and reasons, not emotions

[13:07] Evaluate your process to get the right people

[17:58] Balanced hiring process is crucial for successful outcomes

[22:16] Evaluate candidates by culture fit

[26:54] Allow room for rough edges in hiring

[29:19] Leaders should be self-aware and involve others

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

"Write down all the things as a business owner that you are really good at or you love to do. Those are the things that you protect and you keep doing. ”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, host Kate Volman is joined by Joe Pulizzi, the founder of the Content Marketing Institute, an author, podcaster, marketing speaker, and entrepreneur.

In their conversation, Joe recounts his journey from hitting rock bottom to founding the successful Content Marketing Institute and emphasizes the importance of patience, strategic outsourcing, and listening to customer feedback. Tune in to learn how shifting business models, the power of investing in coaching, and how building a robust audience can propel your business forward.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. The importance of patience and adjusting your business model based on customer feedback
2. The benefits of strategic outsourcing, allowing you to focus on your strengths and passions while delegating non-core tasks to others
3. How to build a successful content business by prioritizing audience engagement, effective communication through newsletters, and diversifying revenue channels

Things to listen for:

[07:06] Joe’s launch of his successful online content marketing platform

[09:28] The insights Joe has from reassessing product launch

[15:28] Delegate tasks, communicate regularly and set boundaries

[18:33] The importance of community bonding and support in marketing industry

[24:19] What Joe learned from taking a one-year sabbatical

[29:25] Writing fiction involves character development and surprises

[33:16] Joe’s content marketing model

[38:39] Building patience and outsourcing for business growth

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

"Culture is the vision, value systems, languages, expectations, behaviors, and beliefs that increase or decrease an organization's chances of accomplishing its strategy and fulfilling its mission.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, host Kate Volman takes the mic solo to share the top 3 questions you should ask yourself to improve your company culture.

In this conversation, Kate dives into the essence of company culture and how to enhance it in your organization. She breaks down the misconceptions about culture being equated to perks and highlights the true elements that shape a dynamic culture. Tune in to practical steps and valuable insights to enhance your company.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. The importance of defining company culture and understanding that it's more than just perks like unlimited vacation days or free lunches
2. The six immutable principles of a dynamic culture from the book "The Culture Solution”
3. Three key questions to ask yourself to enhance your company culture

Things to listen for:

[01:00] What is culture?

[02:44] 3 questions to ask to enhance your company culture

[04:27] Identify a game plan to develop your culture

[06:46] What’s one thing you’ll do today to improve your company culture?

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

"When reviewing applicants, prioritize those who align with our company mission and values. Skills can be taught, but shared values are essential.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, Floyd’s Tony Ferraro takes the host seat to talk with

Mitzi Dain, Director of Human Resources at PTCI, on how she navigates a unique challenge of selecting top talent from a pool of applicants.

In this conversation, you’ll learn valuable insights on prioritizing values over skills during the hiring process and how to nurture a thriving organizational culture, setting clear expectations, evaluating performance, and promoting internal talent. Tune in to learn the importance of aligning company values with hiring decisions and creating a welcoming environment for team members to excel.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. The crucial role of focusing on values and mission alignment when hiring, rather than just skills and background
2. How implementing a structured hiring process, including testing and thorough evaluations, helps in identifying the best candidates
3. Insight into the unique challenges faced during hiring, especially in organizations that receive a large volume of applications, and how to manage these challenges effectively

Things to listen for:

[02:06] The challenges of hiring with a focus on values and mission

[05:35] The importance of weaving through applicants with the company values in mind

[07:05] Focus on skills and abilities while hiring

[08:28] Focus more on culture and employee background

[09:17] Align role descriptions, revamp evaluation systems, and use hiring scorecards

[16:15] Set expectations and implement a disciplined hiring process

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog

Connect with the Guest:

• Mitzi’s LinkedIn

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Tony Ferraro’s LinkedIn
• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

“We wrote our mission statement and we re-embraced our core values because we can't have our strategy and the rest of our business without our culture first.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, we are joined by Brian Maglicocco, Director of Culture and Business Development at Captivate Exhibits, to share how his company has transformed from the 6 immutable principles of a dynamic culture from Matthew Kelly’s book, The Culture Solution.

In our conversation, Brian discusses his company’s strategic integration of mission and values into their hiring process, the impact of creating a Dream Manager program, and how they incorporated a cultural assessment to strengthen their team.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. The importance of integrating a company's mission and values into the hiring process to ensure new hires align with the organization's culture
2. The benefits of having a coaching culture within an organization, promoting both personal and professional growth among employees
3. Strategies for overcoming challenges during a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by adapting business models and focusing on core values

Things to listen for:

[05:37] Pandemic led to growth for Brian’s exhibit company

[09:42] Enhance culture through successful hiring and teamwork

[15:24] Collaboration spurs creativity, fuels productivity, and innovation

[17:33] Creating purpose-driven mission statement revolutionizes organizations

[22:37] Fear of what others think can hinder growth

[25:27] Seek connection with culture managers for support

[28:27] Dream managers create a positive impact on organizations

[33:00] Identify main culture principles and get personalized coaching

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog

Connect with the Guest:

• Brian’s Linkedin

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

"Building a family-like environment isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about creating a space where everyone can dream big and work together towards those dreams.”

In this episode, we are joined by Sean Kenny, Dealer Manager at Buckeye Honda, who dives into the importance of a mission-driven approach and creating a family-like atmosphere at work.

In our conversation, Sean explores how his organization embraced changes, he highlights the significant role of coaching and the Dream Manager program in empowering employees and how he focuses on developing not just a business, but a thriving community that supports individual dreams and collective success.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. The Dream Manager program and its role in developing team members' personal dreams and career paths
2. The practical changes and strategies implemented by Sean, focusing on role descriptions, scorecards, and creating a mission-driven culture
3. The value of having a third-party perspective in leadership and team development

Things to listen for:

[03:59] Creativity thrives in collaboration

[06:19] Restructure your business to focus on growth, not survival

[11:11] Improving productivity leads to long-term profitability

[15:28] Adapt roles and goals for business growth

[17:33] Cultural inclusivity drives organizational success and growth

[20:23] People want to work and find value

[24:19] Regular coaching improves work-life accountability

[28:04] Find a supporting staff to achieve personal and career goals

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog
• Stellar One Consulting

Connect with the Guest:

• Sean Kenny’s LinkedIn

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram

"Emotional mastery is not just about controlling your reactions, it's about conducting an honest audit of your relationships and owning the role you play in them.”

In this episode, we are joined by Jennifer Fonseca, Senior Coach and Trainer at Floyd Consulting, who dives into the art of emotional mastery and its transformative effect on both personal and professional relationships.

In our conversation, Jennifer shares takeaways like the transformative effect of honest self-assessment, the seven levels of intimacy, and how they can lead to profound shifts in understanding and improving every relationship in your life. Tune in to learn how mastering your emotions can unlock doors of opportunities.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How emotional mastery can transform relationships both professionally and personally
2. How cultivating deeper levels of intimacy can lead to easier and more effective professional relationships as well as enhancing personal connections
3. The impact of humanizing your interactions and the power of changing the narratives you have about people in your life

Things to listen for:

[04:22] Encourage vulnerability and accountability

[08:50] Develop deep relationships in personal and professional life.

[10:37] Be aware of workplace communication challenges

[15:43] Even public figures experience anxiety, stress, and doubt

[22:23] Prepare, show up, focus, identify needs, and grow

[23:55] Valuing human dignity improves work relationships and outcomes

[26:56] Supporting people's dreams creates a better culture

Resources:

• Floyd Coaching
• The Culture Assessment
• Matthew Kelly’s Books
• Floyd Coaching’s Blog
• Stellar One Consulting

Connect with the Guest:

• Jennifer Fonseca’s LinkedIn

Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

• Kate Volman’s Linkedin
• Floyd Coaching on Linkedin
• Floyd Consulting on Facebook
• Floyd Consulting on Twitter
• Floyd Consulting on YouTube
• Floyd Consulting on Instagram