The Edge

In this episode of The Edge, host Alex Rodriguez sits down with Mike Renaud, President & CEO of Valle del Sol, a 50-year-old nonprofit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. Mike shares his journey from healthcare professional to leading one of the Southwest's first Latino nonprofits, discussing the power of upstream thinking, building passionate teams, and creating lasting community change. They explore Mike's edge in connecting with people, the importance of family values in leadership, and how Valle's work goes beyond healthcare to address root causes of community challenges.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn. Learn more about Valle del Sol.

Key Takeaways:

• Valle del Sol's mission and Mike's role (1:46)
• The "baby in the river" narrative and upstream thinking (5:05)
• Mike's journey from Boston to healthcare leadership (8:15)
• Legacy of advocacy and service (15:26)
• Building teams with passion for purpose vs. corporate polish (18:50)
• Mike's edge: empathy paired with action (20:40)
• Balancing work intensity with family life (24:16)

On this episode of The Edge, host Tim Leman sits down with Robert (Bob) Klonk, Chairman & CEO of Unison Risk Advisors (URA) and Oswald Companies.

Bob shares his 40-year journey in the insurance industry, from building Oswald's benefits practice from scratch to co-founding URA with Bob Cawley. They explore the vision behind creating a "forever independent firm." Bob opens up about his leadership philosophy, the importance of mutual respect in partnerships, and his commitment to giving others the same opportunities he had to build equity and create wealth.

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn. Learn more about Unison Risk Advisors.

Key Takeaways:

• Bob's early days building Oswald's benefits practice (1:06)
• The decision to choose the harder path of independence over selling (4:17)
• Creating an alternative for independent agencies (6:20)
• The power of employee ownership (11:14)
• Empowering independence in practice (14:44)
• In this business for the right reasons (18:35)
• Building for the future: developing next-generation leadership (20:16)
• Bob's edge and philosophy of constant improvement (24:35)
• Make the time to support your community (28:23)
• The best teams: small unit cohesion and shared ownership (31:27)
• Advice for young salespeople (36:50)
• Looking ahead: what success looks like five years from now (40:56)

In this episode of The Edge, Tim Leman sits down with Ryan Rans, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Great Lakes Capital, a real estate development firm. Ryan shares insights on leading strategy for a billion-dollar portfolio, the unique advantages of building a business in the Midwest, and how relationships drive opportunities in real estate development. They discuss the value of peer groups for entrepreneurs, the passion behind team building, and Ryan's journey working alongside his wife in business. Ryan also opens up about his boxing experience at Notre Dame and reveals how fly fishing helps him disconnect from the constant demands of entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Great Lakes Capital.

Key Takeaways:

• Great Lakes Capital's focus and Ryan's role (0:58)
• Building a successful real estate development firm in the Midwest (3:45)
• The importance of relationships in business expansion (6:02)
• Value of entrepreneurial peer groups (7:00)
• What people misunderstand about Ryan (9:47)
• Ryan's edge: intelligence paired with work ethic (12:09)
• Ryan's boxing journey at Notre Dame (15:00 and 21:15)
• Working with a spouse as a business partner (15:25)
• Finding "balance" as entrepreneurial partners (16:18)
• The peace found in fly fishing (22:16)
• Travel and continuous learning goals (23:51)

In this episode of The Edge, Tim Leman sits down with Steve Canty, Agent/Owner of Steve Canty Insurance Agency, to discuss his journey from marketing professional to insurance entrepreneur. Steve shares how a chance meeting in 2016 sparked a major career change in his 50s, proving it's never too late to pursue entrepreneurial aspirations. They explore the power of mentorship, the importance of diverse perspectives in the insurance industry, and how transferable skills from corporate America prepared him for business ownership. Steve also reflects on his time at Indiana State University and the influential relationships that shaped his career path.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn.

Key Takeaways:

• From cameraman to marketing executive to insurance entrepreneur (1:00)
• Taking the entrepreneurial leap (6:13)
• Creating diversity in the insurance industry (17:33)
• The importance of mentorship in career development (18:53)
• Characteristics of great teams (21:31)
• Steve's edge: impulsivity, inquisitiveness, and honesty (25:05)

In this episode of The Edge, host Alex Rodriguez sits down with Orus Guerra, CEO of Southwest Labs based in Albuquerque, to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, and the power of recognizing opportunities. Orus shares his journey from sales and marketing to founding multiple successful businesses, highlighting how his natural curiosity and willingness to take calculated risks have shaped his career. They explore the importance of building strong teams, fostering open communication, and creating a culture where ideas are valued and welcomed from all levels of the organization.

Connect with Orus on LinkedIn. Learn more about Southwest Labs.

Key Takeaways:

• The origin story of Southwest Labs (2:00)
• Orus's natural ability to recognize opportunities (9:40)
• Commit now and figure it out later (11:10)
• The value of surrounding yourself with smart people (19:21)
• Creating a collaborative team culture (22:16)
• Orus's edge (24:44)
• Balancing business and family (30:33)

In this episode of The Edge, Tim Leman sits down with Jeff Shuck, Founder & Principal of Plenty, a consulting firm that helps conscious leaders and organizations grow. Jeff discusses learning to love what you do, the importance of eliminating ego, and how purpose often "finds you" rather than the other way around. Jeff also offers insights on creating abundance in your organization and reveals his personal leadership philosophy that has guided his journey.

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn. Learn about Plenty.

Key Takeaways:

• What Plenty is and the meaning behind the name (00:48)
• The role of purpose in for-profit business (3:58)
• Learning to love what you do (5:34)
• Your purpose is looking for you (9:47)
• Start with where you find alignment (11:32)
• The journey to writing "Leading with Light" (13:53)
• Jeff's edge: "I believe in you" (19:25)
• Characteristics of great teams (25:22)
• The importance of clear boundaries in leadership (28:44)

In this episode of The Edge, host Courtney Montfort sits down with Amber Fields, Chief Culture Officer at trueU, and Stephanie Neale, CEO of Blind Zebra, for a dynamic conversation about leadership, sales, and work-life integration. They explore how these three successful women have created their own "board of directors" to support each other professionally and personally. The conversation dives into goal setting, mentorship, maintaining authenticity in leadership, and the challenges of balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities. Along the way, they share personal insights on what gives each of them their unique edge in business and life.

Connect with Amber on LinkedIn and learn about trueU. Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn and learn about Blind Zebra.

Key Takeaways:

• Amber's journey from sales to culture leadership (1:04)
• Stephanie's shift from teaching to leading a coaching organization (3:23)
• Each leader's unique edge (7:34)
• Mentorship and reverse mentoring (9:50)
• "Personal" board meetings (12:37)
• Setting business and personal goals (13:01)
• Work-life integration strategies (23:30)
• The power of a word-of-the-year (34:20)

In this episode, Tim Leman sits down with Dr. Mike Godard, President of Indiana State University, to discuss leadership, mentorship, and creating a culture of care. Dr. Godard shares his journey from first-generation college student to university president, highlighting the importance of building authentic relationships and maintaining a student-centered approach. They explore the synergy between the university and the Terre Haute community, the impact of social media on campus engagement, and what gives Indiana State its distinctive edge in preparing students for success.

Connect with Dr. Godard on LinkedIn. Learn more about Indiana State University.

Key Takeaways:

• What makes Indiana State University special (0:47)
• Dr. Godard's leadership journey from professor to president (4:18)
• The importance of authenticity in leadership (11:28)
• Using social media as a connection point with campus community (13:49)
• Collaborating with the Terre Haute community (16:46)
• Attributes of great teams (18:39)
• Dr. Godard's edge (22:55)
• The role and impact of mentorship (24:33)
• The importance of alumni engagement (29:54)
• Creating memories for students beyond academics (37:15)
• Aligning academic programs with workforce needs (38:14)
• Athletics as the "front porch" of the university (41:47)
• Measuring success as university president (44:25)

On this episode of The Edge, co-host Taylor Covey sits down with Cory Tanner, President & Founder of Exit IQ based in Salt Lake City. Cory shares his entrepreneurial journey from his first venture in the green energy space to founding Exit IQ with his father. Throughout the conversation, they explore how Cory's competitive mindset shaped his business approach, the lessons he learned from both successes and failures, and the importance of putting people in positions where they can win. Cory also discusses how he finds harmony between work and family life while maintaining meaningful relationships that drive his success.

Connect with Cory on LinkedIn. Learn more about Exit IQ.

Key Takeaways:

• The power of a competitive mindset (1:16)
• Winning & the feeling that propels you to the next win (3:12)
• Learning from business successes and failures (4:15)
• The biggest challenges in selling a business (10:08)
• Creating Exit IQ with his father (11:22)
• Putting people in positions to win (16:52)
• Finding what motivates your people, but adjusting your system over time (18:03)
• Cory's favorite team experience and knowing people's strengths (21:04)
• Finding harmony between work and family (23:46)
• What gives Cory his edge in business and life (28:42)

In this episode, Tim Leman sits down with Laura Langehaug, a Vistage Chair based in Salt Lake City, to explore the power of empathetic leadership. Laura shares her journey from an HR professional to an executive coach, highlighting the importance of fostering a safe space for business leaders to grow, connect, and navigate the challenges of leadership.

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn. Learn more about Vistage.

Key Takeaways:

• Vistage and the role of a Chair (00:48)
• Laura's journey to Vistage (3:43)
• Her HR background and its impact on Laura's role today (6:45)
• Community of support (9:20)
• The attributes of a good team (10:41)
• Asking leaders tough questions (15:45)
• Laura's edge (21:46)