In this episode of The Sean Trace Show, I sit down with Ben Cochrane, a lifelong marketer who runs an agency in New Zealand and has worked with major global brands, to talk about what real leadership looks like when the work is fast, stressful, and full of opinions. We get into why investing in people is the most underrated leadership skill, not “training programs,” but real coaching, real feedback, and the kind of mentorship that accelerates growth. 

Ben breaks down how leaders build a culture where people feel safe to speak up, challenge ideas, and disagree respectfully, without turning the workplace into either a conflict zone or a “nice culture” where creativity goes to die. We talk about mental health in high-pressure environments, how humor can release tension and create clarity, and why strong teams run on habits, consistency, and trust, not long hours and performative busyness. Ben shares how starting his own business shaped him, what he learned at Harvard about scaling versus staying small and profitable, and why defining “enough” can be the difference between a great life and endless drift. 

If you are leading a team, building an agency, running a business, or trying to grow without burning out, this conversation is packed with practical leadership lessons, company culture insights, and real-world decision-making that actually holds up when things get intense.