In Part Two of Clint's Conversation with Simon Mainwaring – Founder & CEO of We First, bestselling author, and global authority on purpose-driven branding – the discussion shifts from strategy to soul: how storytelling, culture, and connection can elevate your organization from the inside out.

Simon shares hard-earned lessons from his work with Fortune 100 giants, startups, and global NGOs alike, explaining why today’s most effective leaders aren’t just driven by profit, but by shared purpose. Simon breaks down how every employee can embrace a “lead with we” mindset, regardless of title, industry, or org chart. From building emotionally resonant brand stories to operationalizing culture, this episode explores how to lead with meaning in every corner of your company. This is the second part of a two-part conversation. 

Topics Covered:

• Why storytelling is the key to building trust and brand value
• How to move purpose from PowerPoint to point-of-sale
• Building culture like a brand: what Patagonia, LEGO, and Airbnb get right
• The Four Co’s: Co-ownership, Co-authorship, Co-creation, and Collaboration
• Daily rituals that reinforce a "We" culture
• Why recognition beats burnout and makes business sense
• The last mile of storytelling: celebrating shared wins
• How payroll teams and sales reps alike can lead with purpose
• Startups vs. Fortune 50s: different paths, same challenges
• What it means to be a B Corp and why it matters
• The single most important takeaway from Lead With We

Links & Resources:

• Simon’s website - https://simonmainwaring.com/
• Simon’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmainwaring/ 
• Simon’s company, We First Inc. - https://wefirstbranding.com/ 
• Simon’s email - [email protected] 
• Simon’s book, “We First” - https://amzn.to/3Mhx4V0 
• Simon’s book, “Lead With We” - https://amzn.to/3Me1HL7 
• Clint’s website - www.clintpadgett.com 
• Clint’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintpadgett/ 
• Clint’s book - https://amzn.to/3JWD2Ka

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Chris Fenning – communication coach, corporate trainer, and award-winning author of “The First Minute” – they shift from personal communication habits to team and organizational dynamics.

Chris shares common red flags that signal a team’s communication is broken (think: camera-off meetings, “FYI” email chains, and vague subject lines) and offers practical strategies to fix them. The two dig into the business cost of unclear messaging, how email templates and meeting invites can be made more effective, and why the best communicators are often the most promotable.

Chris also explains how his GPS method (Goal, Problem, Solution) can make your messages sharper, your meetings shorter, and your updates more impactful. From interview prep to project briefings, these tools are designed to save time and build credibility. This is the second part of a two-part conversation.

Topics Covered:

• The subtle signs your team’s communication is broken
• The hidden cost of processing information inefficiently
• How to avoid “backward conversations” that derail progress
• Why succinct updates make better impressions (and careers)
• What NOT to say when delivering bad news
• How to guide others to be clearer—without being rude
• Using GPS to help direct reports (or managers) frame their message
  Links:Chris’s website - www.chrisfenning.com 

Chris’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/ 
Chris’s book, “TITLE” - https://amzn.to/3JwPNer 
Clint’s website - www.clintpadgett.com Clint’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintpadgett/ 
Clint’s book - https://amzn.to/3JWD2Ka

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Shane Snow – award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author of “Dream Teams: Working Together Without Falling Apart” – the focus turns from what makes a great team to what makes a team truly high-performing. Shane explores the concept of “cognitive friction” and how constructive conflict, when handled with humility, is a catalyst for innovation rather than a barrier to it.The two also talk about the dangers of groupthink, the myth of culture fit, and why benevolence, not brilliance, is the real foundation of trust. With stories ranging from Steve Jobs’ bathroom placement to Malcolm X’s intellectual transformation, Shane explains how great teams cultivate shared thinking, mutual growth, and meaningful disagreement.. This is the second part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:

• What cognitive friction is and why teams need it to innovate
• How leaders can separate disagreement from personal conflict
• Why “culture fit” is overrated but “culture add” is essential
• The unexpected power of benevolence in building trust
• Malcolm X’s reinvention and the courage to change your mind
• How to proactively guard against groupthink
• The challenges of building high-performing teams in hybrid and remote work
• What the phrase “let’s explore that” can do for your team culture

Links:
Shane’s website - https://www.shanesnow.com/
Shane’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanedsnow/
Shane’s book, “Dream Teams” - https://amzn.to/4qz7M4f

In this episode, Clint sits down with Shane Snow, award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author of “Dream Teams: Working Together Without Falling Apart.” Shane shares his origin story growing up in Idaho with an engineer dad and a teacher mom, and how that foundation of curiosity and problem-solving led him from journalism into the study of breakthrough collaboration.The two explore what makes exceptional teams different, why cognitive diversity trumps comfort, and how trust, tension, and even disagreement can be leveraged to build smarter, more resilient organizations. Shane also shares fascinating insights, from the surprising entrepreneurial spirit of immigrant communities, to the psychology behind why kids playing street soccer helped reduce hate crimes in Buenos Aires. This is the first part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:

• Shane’s upbringing in rural Idaho and how it shaped his worldview
• Why “getting along” isn’t the key to great teamwork
• The hidden value of cognitive diversity and “intellectual immigrants”
• How shared play (like street soccer) can reduce tribalism and build trust
• The neuroscience behind in-groups, out-groups, and voting behavior
• The story of the Soviet Russian hockey team and what it teaches us about incentives
• Why brainstorming in groups doesn’t work (and what to do instead)
• How the best leaders foster safety, debate, and divergent thinking
• The power of holding two opposing ideas in your head at once

Links:
Shane’s website - https://www.shanesnow.com/
Shane’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanedsnow/
Shane’s book, “Dream Teams” - https://amzn.to/4qz7M4f

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, they discuss how empathetic leadership can drive culture, performance, and the bottom line. Claude shares how to create trust in flat organizations, why feedback is about connection (not correction), and what it really means to lead with heart. Plus, the pair explore how to scale emotional intelligence in a rapidly changing world. This is the second part of a two-part conversation.

In this episode, Clint sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, to explore what it means to bring humanity, empathy, and emotional optimism into leadership. Claude shares her remarkable journey from struggling with dyslexia and finding herself through Outward Bound, to working in advertising around the world and becoming a purpose-driven leader. Along the way, she unpacks the power of trust, vulnerability, and authentic connection in the workplace. This is the first part of a two-part conversation.