The Leadership and Learning Podcast

In this episode, host Randy Goruk has a conversation with Ed DeAngelis, CEO of EDA Contractors, about how construction leaders can evolve from old school, command-and-control styles to adapt to a people-first, emotionally intelligent approach. Ed shares his personal journey from grinder and stress overload to servant leader and explains why he now treats humanity as a strategy investing in emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and holistic worker experiences as core business drivers, not "soft" add-ons.

Listeners will also learn:

• Why traditional "old school" command-and-control leadership is rapidly losing effectiveness in today's construction workforce.
• What "humanity as a strategy" is all about.
• How emotional intelligence applies to construction.
• Specific ways to create psychologically safe job sites where people feel respected, heard, and valued.
• Practical first steps for old school leaders such as pausing and breathing before reacting.
• How focusing on people can still drive safety, profitability, and performance.
• How to introduce emotional intelligence into a skeptical culture.
• The connection between leadership and the current labor shortage.
• How better leadership can help attract and retain workers.
• What younger workers are looking for today.
• The role of growth mindset and continuous learning.
• A vision of the future of construction.

Website: https://www.edacontractors.com/

Ed DeAngelis LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwarddeangelis/

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk sits down with Andrea Piering, President of Sun State Builders, to explore how leaders can better attract, recruit, and retain women in construction.

Listeners will learn:

• How Andrea Piering went from working job sites as a teenager to becoming President of Sun State Builders
• Why construction can be a fulfilling and creative career path for women, even if they didn't grow up around it
• How schools and industry messaging can change misconceptions that construction is only dirty, outdoor, "in the hot sun" work
• The wide variety of roles women can have in construction
• Common misconceptions women have about entering construction and how ongoing learning makes the industry accessible
• Common misconceptions male leaders have about hiring or promoting women, and how those are changing with new generations of leaders
• Practical ways to help women succeed in the field
• How companies fall short when they don't provide a spectrum of entry points for women
• Why equal pay and feeling valued are critical to retaining women in construction
• How flexibility and empathy for family responsibilities impact retention
• Concrete ideas for leaders to attract and recruit more women
• How to retain women by simply asking them directly about their challenges, listening for blind spots, and making fixable improvements
• The importance of women in the industry seeing each other as allies, not competitors and growing together
• That there is a clear, needed place for women in construction, and how leadership development programs can support their growth

Website: https://sunstatebuilders.com/

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-piering-55b14880/

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, Randy Goruk welcomes Angela Tait, CEO and founder of Tait Consulting and author of The Human Capital Playbook, to unpack what really drives employee retention in construction and similar project-driven environments.

In this episode you will learn how to:

• Build and maintain trust
• Use vulnerability effectively
• Design high-impact onboarding
• Create clarity for new employees
• Avoid the trap of overpromising and underdelivering
• Align culture with hiring
• Use practical tools to hear employees
• Address performance and behavior issues early

Whether you're a project manager, field supervisor, or senior leader, this episode will help you rethink retention as an experience. One that keeps your people engaged, loyal, and performing at a higher level.

BIO: Angela Tait is the Founder of Tait Consulting and a Chief Talent Strategist who partners with growing companies, particularly in construction, legal, and professional services to build high-performing teams. With experience as both a recruiter and an in-house HR leader, she has scaled organizations from early-stage to over 100 employees and now helps leaders align hiring, culture, and performance to drive business results. Angela is also the host of the Mom-Me Podcast and the bestselling author of The Human Capital Playbook. She has been seen in USNews, ABC, FastCompany, SHRM and many other publications.

Website: https://taitconsultingllc.com/

The Human Capital Playbook: https://www.amazon.com/Human-Capital-Playbook-Strategies-Leaders/dp/B0F4PMTFQB

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelatait/

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk sits down with Jessper Maquindang, fractional Chief People Officer and leadership development consultant, to explore what it really takes to build and sustain high-performing construction teams.

Together they discuss why so many contractors struggle with hiring and retention, and how to move beyond filling roles with "warm bodies" to intentionally hiring for attitude, ownership, and culture fit.

You will learn how to:

• Transition from "doing everything yourself" to leading empowered teams.
• Attract better talent through clear mission, values, and vision.
• Communicate expectations so they're truly understood.
• Avoid over-reliance on "rockstar" employees and the risk that creates.
• Spot early warning signs of burnout and reducing chaos with clear priorities.
• Creating psychological safety, recognition, and strong onboarding to keep people engaged and committed.

If you're a leader who wants to minimize burnout, reduce turnover, and create a high-performance culture that doesn't depend on one or two heroes, this episode is packed with insights you can put to work right away.

Jessper Website: https://www.famileadconsulting.com/

Jessper LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmaquindang/

In this episode of The Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk welcomes back cyber security expert Robert Siciliano for his third appearance to unpack the rapidly evolving world of cybercrime.

You will learn:

• What a "Strategic Human Firewall" is and why it's important.
• How the "human blind spot" works.
• Why cyber criminals now target people instead of systems.
• How AI has supercharged scams.
• Red flags and practical defenses against invoice fraud, vendor email compromise, and spoofed payment requests.
• Why out-of-band verification matters.
• How loneliness and emotional needs are manipulated by the bad guys.
• Daily and weekly security habits to keep you protected.
• Why cybersecurity is now a necessary core leadership skill.
• The importance of family and team "passwords.

Protect your business, your family and yourself by listening to this and the other Leadership and Learning Podcast episodes featuring Robert (episodes #18 and #103).

Website: https://protectnowllc.com/

Robert's Linked Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsiciliano/

In this episode, host Randy Goruk explores practical innovation advice for the construction and building materials industries. His guest is Neall Digert, Vice President of Innovation and Market Development with Kingspan Light and Air, a leading global manufacturer of high-performance daylighting and ventilation solutions.

Listeners will learn:

• A practical definition of innovation.
• Why fear of change is the #1 barrier to innovation and how to start eliminating it.
• How continuous improvement and innovation connect.
• Ways to engage frontline employees so they see their role in innovation and actually want to contribute ideas.
• Leadership behaviors that quietly kill innovation.
• The important role leaders play if they want innovation to take hold.
• How to innovate without overwhelming small teams.
• What typically triggers companies to finally innovate and how to be proactive instead of reactive.
• Why investing in people's learning, development, and industry involvement is essential to staying innovative and competitive.
• How a reputation for innovation helps attract and retain top talent.
• One simple innovation habit for leaders.

If you lead in construction, building materials, or manufacturing and you want more innovation without huge budgets or complicated programs, this conversation will give you practical ideas you can apply now.

Website: https://www.kingspanlightandair.us/

Neall Digert LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnealldigert/

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk talks with Ryan Hogan, founder and CEO of Talent Harbor about how leaders in construction and building materials can recruit better employees and retain them longer.

Ryan shares the three critical phases of effective hiring.

You'll also learn:

• Why generic job descriptions fail
• How to build a simple blueprint for every role
• How to write posts that attract the right people and repel the wrong ones
• Low‑cost, high‑impact retention strategies
• A powerful interview question that reveals attitude, ambition, and fit
• Early warning signs of disengagement and quiet quitting
• The critical impact of the first 72 hours and first 90 days of onboarding
• Creative, practical recruiting tactics specific to the building trades and construction

If you're a leader who's tired of constant turnover and wants to become a true talent magnet, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can start using this week.

Website: https://talentharbor.com/

Ryan Hogan email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk sits down with Robert Kennedy III, founder and CEO of Kennetik Kommunications, to explore how leaders can use storytelling to build trust, create clarity, and drive real change.

Robert shares practical ways leaders can use stories to:

• Make safety meetings and toolbox talks more engaging and memorable
• Strengthen trust with customers and prospects through testimonial-style stories
• Motivate crews, improve retention, and connect daily tasks to a bigger purpose

You'll learn Robert's simple EASE framework (Energy – Ask – Story – Explain) for structuring a compelling message and his powerful 'cheat code.'

You'll also learn:

• How to safely use personal and team stories.
• Avoid common mistakes with humor and references.
• How to build a personal "story bank" from everyday moments.
• Additional strategies, techniques, and tips to help you be a great storyteller.

If you've ever thought, "I don't have any good stories" or worried that your presentations put people to sleep, this episode will give you concrete tools to communicate with more impact on the jobsite, in the boardroom, and beyond.

Website: https://robertkennedy3.me/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkennedy3/

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk explores a fundamental question faced by leaders: when should you give your team credit for accomplishments, and when (if ever) should you take credit yourself?

Drawing on real coaching conversations and timeless leadership wisdom, Randy emphasizes why team success is never about the individual leader, but about collective achievement.

Listeners will hear actionable tips on supporting and inspiring teams

• · Why humility is a crucial leadership trait that builds trust and respect.
• · Practical ways leaders support their teams.
• · How a leader's behind-the-scenes work contributes to overall team success.
• · That team achievements are a collective success.
• · Inspiring examples and quotes underscoring the value of humility in leadership.
• · Randy's personal mantra.
• · Leadership tips on achieving a positive, engaged work environment.

Join host Randy Goruk in this insightful episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast as he welcomes Scott Peper, CEO of Mobilization Funding. Together, they dive deep into operational discipline as an underrated tool for recruiting and retaining top talent in manufacturing, construction, and operations.

Scott draws from his extensive experience to reveal how a well-organized, safe, and empowering workplace drives morale, productivity, and company growth.

Listeners will discover practical leadership lessons and strategies for retaining employees.

Whether you're a plant manager, business owner, or team leader, this episode delivers actionable insights to help you build a high-performing and engaged workforce.

Listeners will learn:

• Why operational discipline is crucial for employee retention and organizational success.
• The importance of leadership in creating a positive, safe, and empowering work environment.
• How clarity in standards, roles, and expectations drives engagement and reduces burnout.
• The role of workplace organization, cleanliness, and safety in communicating company values.
• How leaders can foster empowerment, encourage feedback, and involve employees in improvement.
• Practical strategies for managing growth responsibly, including cross-training and establishing strong systems/processes.
• The significance of genuine care from leaders and its impact on team morale and retention.
• Why "winning" and achieving excellence create a strong culture and competitive advantage.
• How to identify and address operational and leadership blind spots to avoid common pitfalls.
• Actionable tips for plant managers to connect employees' daily work with customer outcomes and company mission.

Website: https://mobilizationfunding.com/

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-peper-9387288/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MobilizationFunding