Make My People Better

As restrictions concerning COVID-19 begin to ease, implementing a re-entry strategy for the workplace is a high priority. Jacob Houk of Hays+Sons and Dan Morris of Officeworks join Gretchen and Kyle to discuss the challenges facing businesses as team members return to their offices.

In this episode, Jacob and Dan provide specifics on how you can navigate the policies and procedures that will protect your people and help alleviate their health concerns about returning to the office. Their expertise and professionalism shine through in this episode of Make My People Better.

Quick Links:

• Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmorrisowi/
• Connect with Jacob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-houk-057a766/
• Learn more about OfficeWorks: https://officeworks.net/
• Learn more about Hays+Sons: https://haysandsons.com/
• Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledefur/
• Get engaged with trueU: https://trueu.com/ or [email protected]

When it comes to navigating the return to work, there’s no one better to have in your corner than Karen Seketa and Drew Smith. As VP of Talent at Element Three, Karen knows the challenges and concerns facing her team members as they contemplate returning to the office. As President of American Specialty Insurance, Drew knows the perils of returning to the workplace in a post-pandemic world, both for the business and the individual.

In this episode, Karen and Drew provide tactical insights on returning to work in this new environment and how you can navigate the personnel and policy issues you’re likely to face. Their expertise, empathy, and professionalism shine through in this episode of Make My People Better. 

Quick Links:

• Connect with Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenseketa/
• Connect with Drew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-smith-39006026/
• Learn more about Element Three: https://elementthree.com/
• Learn more about American Specialty Insurance: https://americanspecialty.com/
• Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledefur/
• Get engaged with trueU: https://trueu.com/ or [email protected]

When it comes to marrying passion with purpose there is no who embodies this more than Mark Caswell. As the CEO of KSM Consulting, Mark focuses on helping organizations achieve goals and deliver results no matter how complex the challenge may seem. 

In this episode, he provides tactical insights into how he leads his organization while helping to solve problems for his clients. His humility, storytelling, and stewardship shine through in this episode of Make My People Better. 

Quick Links:

• Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markocaswell/
• Learn more about KSM Consulting: https://www.ksmconsulting.com/
• Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledefur/
• Get engaged with trueU: https://trueu.com/

Marcus Hall is the President and Partner at California Closets – a custom furniture and storage firm located throughout Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio. 

Marcus has a fascinating leadership journey from the world of professional sports through technology, and he has a passion for building brands and aligning teams. Listen in as he shares the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way and how he connects his purpose with the work he does.

Quick Links:

• Connect with Marcus
• Learn more about California Closets
• Connect with Gretchen
• Connect with Kyle 
• Get engaged with trueU

At trueU we believe in continuous improvement and evolvement to better equip our leaders and members. In these interesting and challenging times, evolvement is constant. We want to give back to our members by addressing the obstacles we’re all facing head-on in a candid conversation between Gretchen and Kyle.

In the second of this two-part series, the conversation turns to the ways leaders can become more human in the midst of the current crisis. Why is extreme humanization important for a leader in this new virtual world? Listen in as Kyle and Gretchen break it down.

Takeaways:

• Leaders don’t need to have all the answers.
• When we are isolated, virtual meetings + connections are vital. 
• Trust is built through shared experience–communicate what you’re experiencing

Quick Links:

• Patrick Lencioni–The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com/
• Bob Kort – Kort Builders, Inc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kort-47981a3
• Jeff McDermott - President/CEO at the Center for the Performing Arts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-mcdermott-8126b616/
• Connect with Gretchen
• Connect with Kyle 
• Get engaged with trueU

At trueU we believe in continuous improvement and evolvement to better equip our leaders and members. In these interesting and challenging times, evolvement is constant. We want to give back to our members by addressing the obstacles we’re all facing head-on in a candid conversation between Gretchen and Kyle.

In the first of this two-part series, the conversation covers the issues CEOs and business leaders are facing during this crisis. They also examine ways to grow in the midst of the situation, and what really matters. 

Listen to part one now. 

Takeaways:

• Send a “thinking of you” note.
• People will remember how you showed up during times of trial.
• Do the harder right thing over the easier wrong thing.

Quick Links:

• Patrick Lencioni–The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com/
• Al Wurster–Wurster Construction: https://wursterconstruction.com/team-showcase/al-wurster-2
• Karen Gregerson–The Farmers Bank: https://www.thefarmersbank.com
• Seth Morales–The Morales Group: https://moralesgroup.net
• Connect with Gretchen
• Connect with Kyle 
• Get engaged with trueU

Today’s episode was recorded Live at trueU’s Leadership Series event with Nick Smarrelli of GadellNet and Shelley Hunter from College Mentors for Kids.

Nick and Shelley are experts in mentoring and mentorship programs, and Nick takes the stage first to deliver the keynote. Before he discussed some key themes of mentorship, such as culture or ineffective matchmaking, he asked a ground-zero question: “What do you need to have before you do anything else?” 

After Nick’s keynote, Shelley joins Nick on the stage for a panel discussion led by Gretchen. They address key questions such as when you know you’re ready to be mentored and take questions from the audience.

Listen in to hear the answers.

• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli
• Connect with Shelley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyhunter1
• Connect with Gretchen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchenschott
• Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledefur
• Get engaged with trueU: https://trueu.com

At trueU we believe in continuous improvement and evolvement to better equip our leaders and members. This belief is why we are excited to announce a new series, The Employee Experience. 

In this series, you will hear from a couple of leaders from the same organization on how they have been impacted by one another’s influence. What our CEOs don’t know is that they’ll get to hear how they've impacted their organization's leader. Its an opportunity for us to give back to our purpose-driven leaders, showcasing how important their diligence truly is. 

Tune in next week to hear our fist of the series. 

• Connect with Gretchen
• Connect with Kyle 
• Get engaged with trueU

CJ McClanahan is a dynamic speaker, leader, author, and, in his own words, a recovering overachiever. He brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience helping organizations achieve record sales and profits.

In our community, many of us strive to be grateful. It takes intentionality to build it into your life and business. This episode CJ shares his newest venture inspiring leaders to give. Hear how this project came to be and why it’s pivotal for leaders today.  

• Connect with CJ
• Learn more about Project Two Rule
• Connect with Gretchen
• Connect with Kyle 
• Get engaged with trueU

Have you heard this phrase before, “leaders are readers?” In this episode, we’ll hear from Shane Pilarski, President and CEO of Alliance Bank. One of the initiatives she started was a book club leaning into the organizational values of helping grow and develop their people to be their best selves. 

Interested in the book they read? You’ll have to take a listen. And if you do,  you’ll also learn other ways Shane leads her team to embrace new challenges, titles, and life opportunities. 

Shane’s story is an inspiring one. While she’s now CEO, she started at Alliance at an entry-level position and grew into the leader she is today. 

Hear her story and learn how you too can be a better leader.