On this episode of Honestly, We’re Learning, hosts Leslie Vickrey and Lesly Cardec kick things off by celebrating a massive milestone—20 years of ClearEdge! They reflect on how the marketing landscape has transformed over two decades, the ongoing battle to prove marketing’s value as a growth driver, and why leaders can never afford to get comfortable.

Then, they are joined by Kelly McCreight, CEO of Hamilton-Ryker and owner of School of Rock Nashville. With over 30 years in staffing, Kelly is the definition of a multi-dimensional leader. Kelly opens up about his roots baling hay in Tennessee and how those formative, gritty years shaped his definition of hard work.

Leslie, Lesly, and Kelly dive deep into the ultimate leadership hurdle: learning to let go. As a self-proclaimed "recovering CPA," Kelly shares his journey of embracing the discipline of delegation—even when it means letting his team fail forward. They also tackle a massive macroeconomic shift: how the impending "baby boomer exit" is forcing traditional staffing models to evolve into innovative apprenticeship programs that create genuine upward mobility for workers.

Finally, Kelly shares a humbling, hilarious story about hitting rock bottom inside a porta-potty at mile 16 of a marathon, and the profound leadership lessons that endurance sports teach us about discipline.

• Connect with Kelly McCreight on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Hamilton-Ryker
• Check out School of Rock Nashville

Episode Chapters

0:00 – Celebrating 20 Years of ClearEdge & The Evolving Value of Marketing

05:50 – Introducing Kelly McCreight: CEO, 8-Time Iron Man, and Rockstar

08:45 – The Ultimate Walk-Up Song & Getting Grounded Baling Hay

12:40 – Preparing for Sudden Market Shifts

15:25 – How Apprenticeships Can Solve the Workforce Crisis

21:10 – Confessions of a Recovering CPA: The Discipline of Delegation

24:50 – Hitting Rock Bottom at Mile 16: Endurance Sport Lessons for Business Leaders

33:33 – Take Three: The ClearEdge Debrief on Being Change-Ready and Starting Small

About Honestly, We’re Learning

Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned.

As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen.

The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning.

Learn more about ClearEdge: https://meetclearedge.com/