Episode 10  —  The Power of Connection

Guest: Kim McGownd  |  Consultant & Connector, KDM Partner Solutions LLC

Runtime: 26 minutes 49 seconds

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

What does it really mean to be a connector — and how can the right introduction at the right moment change everything?

In this episode of Shifting the Power Balance, host Dwayne Smith sits down with Kim McGownd, Founding Partner of KDM Partner Solutions LLC and one of Kansas City's most strategically generous connectors. Kim takes us from the discipline of competitive gymnastics in small-town Missouri, to pioneering the natural pet food industry, to pressing 'reset' at 40 and building a firm rooted in trust, intentionality, and the quiet power of relationship.

Kim and Dwayne explore the critical difference between networking and genuine connection, why stagnation is often a signal rather than a dead end, how power dynamics show up inside organizations, and what it takes to shift them. Kim's philosophy is simple but rare: the right person, at the right time, for the right problem changes everything. And she's built a career proving it.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader navigating organizational culture, or someone who knows it's time to make a bold move, this conversation will challenge you to stop collecting contacts and start building connections that actually move the needle.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

 | TIME | TOPIC | 00:00 | Introduction — Meet Kim McGownd and KDM Partner Solutions
| 02:57 | The Power of Connection vs. Networking: What's the Real Difference?
| 05:54 | Lessons from Competitive Gymnastics: Discipline, Resilience, and Grit
| 09:02 | Pioneering the Natural Pet Food Industry — A Woman Ahead of Her Time
| 12:08 | The Impact of Personal Choices on Health, Mindset, and Business
| 15:03 | Pressing Reset at 40: The Career Move That Changed Everything
| 17:58 | Understanding Stagnation — How to Recognize It and Find Direction
| 21:08 | Navigating Power Dynamics Inside Organizations
| 23:56 | The Art of the Meaningful Introduction
| 26:30 | Shifting the Power Balance: Final Reflections and Challenge to the Listener

KEY TAKEAWAYS

•       Authentic connection and strategic networking are fundamentally different — one is transactional, the other is transformational.

•       The discipline and mental toughness learned in competitive athletics translate directly into business resilience and leadership.

•       Pioneering a market requires both conviction and the willingness to educate — Kim built consumer demand for natural pet food before the mainstream caught on.

•       Pressing 'reset' at 40 was not a setback — it was the best business decision Kim ever made, and it gave birth to KDM Partner Solutions.

•       Stagnation is a signal, not a sentence. Learning to recognize when you're stuck — and why — is the first step to moving forward.

•       Power dynamics are present in every organization. Those who understand them can navigate, influence, and ultimately shift them.

•       A great introduction is not just a referral — it's a curated, intentional act of trust that can change the trajectory of someone's business or career.

•       Women are expanding their presence in leadership, but the work of building authentic confidence and self-advocacy never stops.

•       Building relationships rooted in trust over transactions is a long game — and it's the only game worth playing.

NOTABLE QUOTES

 | “Connecting the right people at the right time.” — Kim McGownd
| “Networking is a tool to find opportunity — connection is how you build something that lasts.” — Kim McGownd
| “Women are widening the gap in leadership — and the work is far from finished.” — Kim McGownd

 ABOUT THE GUEST

Kim McGownd  —  Consultant & Connector, KDM Partner Solutions LLC

Kim McGownd is the Founding Partner of KDM Partner Solutions LLC, a Kansas City-based strategic intermediary firm built on one powerful premise: the right person, at the right time, for the right problem changes everything. A competitive gymnast turned natural pet food pioneer turned connector-in-chief, Kim pressed 'reset' at 40 and built a practice rooted in trust-anchored relationships. She operates across a vetted network of 25+ partner organizations spanning cybersecurity, wealth management, regulatory compliance, legal services, and operations strategy. Kim is also a PGA HOPE Kansas City, MO Chapter Ambassador.

CONNECT WITH KIM MCGOWND

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmcgownd/  —  Connect with Kim on LinkedIn

Website: https://kdmpartnersolutions.com/  —  KDM Partner Solutions LLC — Official Site

KDM About: https://kdmpartnersolutions.com/about  —  Learn more about Kim and KDM's approach

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Shifting the Power Balance is hosted by Dwayne Smith, National Speaker, Leading Legal Authority, and workplace investigations expert. Each episode explores how individuals and organizations navigate, influence, and ultimately shift the power balance in business, the workplace, and beyond.

Podcasters Note - The contents in this podcast should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. 

Summary

In this episode, Dwayne Smith and Rudy Davis speak with Anoop Goyal. Goyal shares his journey from an engineer with patents to an entrepreneur, highlighting the creation of Network Counts, a digital business card app. 

Discover how his experiences in Kansas City shaped his approach to innovation, networking, and building a startup from the ground up.

Chapters

00:00 From Engineer to Entrepreneur: An Unconventional Journey

07:12 The Birth of Network Counts: Identifying a Need

12:11 Overcoming Obstacles: Trust and Growth in Entrepreneurship

14:54 Future Aspirations: Scaling Network Counts Globally

 Resources

Network Counts App - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/network-counts/id6448527922

Anoop Goyal on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anoopgoyal

In this follow-up episode, co-host Rudy Davis and attorney/host Dwayne Smith break down the legal landscape since Jerome Tang's for-cause firing from Kansas State. Topics include Tang's return to Baylor and how it affects his damages claim, the duty-to-mitigate argument, the comparator coaches, K-State's strongest and weakest arguments, the settlement dynamics, and key takeaways for HR professionals and high-profile employees.

Timestamps:

0:30 – Introduction & episode overview

1:33 – Jerome Tang lands at Baylor: what happened after the firing

2:46 – The for-cause firing explained

3:16 – Tang's legal team and the threat of a lawsuit

3:52 – How Tang's new job affects his legal case

4:22 – Duty to mitigate damages: the financial math

5:44 – What Tang could allege against K-State

6:19 – The comparator coach: a two-week suspension for worse conduct

7:59 – The football coach comparator (Chris Kleiman)

9:03 – Contract consistency and the disparate treatment argument

9:39 – K-State's defense: the unilateral authority argument

11:36 – K-State's weakest argument

12:22 – What K-State should have done differently

12:56 – Timeline to resolution — and what happens if they can't settle

13:33 – The potential hammer letter and what it signals

14:40 – The bigger picture: NIL and institutional power

15:12 – Who has the power right now

16:59 – Takeaway for HR professionals and executives

17:30 – Closing

Overview

In this episode, Scott Chase, a seasoned HR expert with 25 years of experience, discusses the importance of fractional HR for small and medium-sized businesses. He shares insights on HR strategies, common pitfalls, and practical steps to build a compliant and supportive workplace.

Keywords

HR, fractional HR, small business, HR policies, employee handbook, workplace culture, HR strategy, compliance, talent acquisition, employee relations

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to HR and Scott Chase's Journey

03:05 Understanding the Role of HR in Organizations

05:20 Defining Fractional HR and Its Importance

07:58 Initial Steps in Client Engagement

10:46 The Cost of Ignoring HR in Small Businesses

13:04 The Importance of Employee Communication

15:31 Talent Acquisition Mistakes in Small Businesses

18:04 Adapting to New Generations in the Workforce

20:47 The Essential Employee Handbook

23:09 Valuing People Over Numbers in Business

Resources

Scott Chase on LinkedIn

Chief of Staff

Summary

In this heartfelt interview, Amy Sharpe shares her journey through her husband's (Greg Sharpe) cancer diagnosis, their life in Nebraska, and the importance of living fully despite life's challenges. Discover insights on faith, resilience, and the power of living in the moment.

Keywords

Amy Sharpe, Greg Sharpe, cancer journey, faith, resilience, Nebraska, broadcasting, family, living fully

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Amy Sharp's Journey
04:12 Transitioning to Nebraska: New Beginnings
04:53 Navigating Career Changes and Family Life
07:13 A Family Trip to Hong Kong: Joy and Reflection
09:57 Facing the Cancer Diagnosis
14:40 Living with Cancer: Emotions and Resilience
18:52 Adjusting to Life After Loss
23:17 The Role of Faith in Healing
25:00 Lessons Learned and Messages to Share
27:46 Final Thoughts and Legacy of Greg Sharpe

Amy Sharpe LinkedIn

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Amy Sharpe
02:16 Amy's Journey in Journalism
11:51 Navigating the Challenges of Being a Female Anchor
16:00 Memorable Stories from Amy's Career
18:35 Meeting Greg Sharpe: A Personal Connection
21:34 The Evolution of Their Relationship
24:38 Transition to Nebraska and Supporting Greg
27:07 Foundation of Their Relationship Before Challenges
29:36 Shifting the Power Balance Outro.mp3

Workplace culture can look polished on the outside while hiding toxic behavior and serious legal risk underneath. In my follow-up conversation with Fractional General Counsel and Attorney Tim Papuga, we discuss: 

• Defining workplace culture as lived values 
• Reading culture quickly through respect, trust, and accountability 
• Separating a single bad actor from a leadership and culture failure 
• Understanding why policies and handbooks fail without real enforcement 
• Clarifying the at-will employment myth and how it fuels bad decisions 
• Why conducting workplace investigations is important 
• Choosing internal vs external investigators based on size, power dynamics, and credibility 

In this episode, Tim Papuga, a seasoned legal expert and founder of VersaGC, shares insights on the intersection of legal counsel and business strategy, emphasizing the importance of culture, legal foundations, and the innovative Fractional General Counsel model for small and medium-sized businesses.

Keywords

Legal counsel, business strategy, workplace culture, fractional GC, labor law, HR, organizational development

Key  topics

Legal and business strategy intersection

Fractional General Counsel model

Workplace culture and legal issues

Shifting the Power Balance: Building Bridges to Power
A Conversation with Scott D. Hamilton

What does power really look like—and who gets to use it?

In this episode of Shifting the Power Balance, I sit down with Scott D. Hamilton to talk about leadership, service, and the long game of creating opportunity. Scott’s journey is anything but linear: from law school to the energy sector, and ultimately to leading the Urban League of Arkansas. Along the way, he’s learned how institutions work, why relationships matter, and what it actually takes to move systems that were never designed to be fair.

We talk candidly about how Scott’s early experiences shaped his view of advocacy, the influence of his family’s civic legacy, and the moment he chose to leave a successful corporate career to return home and serve his community. This is a conversation about power—not as something to hoard, but as something to build, share, and sustain.

In this episode, we explore:

• How law school shaped Scott’s understanding of advocacy, influence, and responsibility
• Why education, curiosity, and resilience are essential tools for overcoming barriers
• The lasting impact of family legacy and his father’s example of civic leadership
• What led Scott to return to Arkansas and step into leadership at the Urban League
• How trust, relationships, and cross-ideological collaboration drive real community change
• Why zip code and access to quality education still determine so many life outcomes
• Practical ways to build power through relationships and shared goals
• How to work across ideological differences without losing your values
• The role of voter participation in creating durable systemic change
• What gives Scott hope—and the legacy he hopes to leave behind

This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and grounded in lived experience. If you care about leadership, equity, and building pathways to opportunity, this episode will challenge how you think about power—and what you can do with it.

 Summary

In this episode of Shifting the Power Balance, guest host Rudy Davis and show creator and host Dwayne Smith delve into the controversial firing of Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang. They explore the legal and procedural aspects of the termination, emphasizing the importance of due process in employment law, especially for public institutions. The discussion highlights the changing landscape of college athletics, the implications of NIL agreements, and the potential reputational harm to the university. Smith discusses that the way K-State handled the firing could have significant legal repercussions, particularly regarding the failure to follow established procedures and the labeling of Tang's actions as immoral.


 takeaways

- K-State had the right to fire Jerome Tang, but was the process flawed?
- The firing is more about labor and employment law than sports law.
- Due process is crucial for public employees like Tang.
- K-State's decision could set a precedent for future coaching contracts.
- The landscape of college sports has changed with NIL agreements.
- Cultural building in teams is still possible, but requires strategy.
- The definition of 'for cause' in contracts is complex and significant.
- Governance and oversight are critical in termination decisions.
- Reputational harm claims must be substantiated with evidence.
- The failure to follow due process can lead to significant legal consequences.




 
Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Shifting the Power Balance
02:56 The Firing of Jerome Tang: A Case Study
10:06 Understanding For Cause Termination
12:42 The Role of Due Process in Employment
16:01 Comparative Analysis of Coaching Terminations
21:11 Legal Implications of Firing a Coach
27:30 The Impact of Governance on Decision Making
32:02 Reputational Harm and Its Defensibility
37:26 The Importance of Procedural Due Process
42:47 Broader Implications for Kansas State University