In this episode of The Steward Chair, Curtis Hite, Chairman and CEO, Improving, discusses the essence of stewardship in leadership, emphasizing the importance of a people-first approach and the responsibility leaders have towards their teams and stakeholders. He shares insights on building a strong company culture, navigating global expansion, and the significance of values-driven leadership.

We discuss the weight of stewardship as a responsibility to help others flourish, the power of listening to employees to build trust, and how a values-driven approach can be a strategic advantage — providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Stewardship is a heavy responsibility focused on others' flourishing.
• Listening to employees is key to building trust and engagement.
• A values-driven approach can be a strategic advantage in business.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.improving.com/
• Follow Curtis on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-hite-a7b228/
• Follow Improving on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/improving-enterprises/

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

 

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, John Lauseng, CEO of Aldrich, shares his insights on stewardship and leadership, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership, culture, and the need for rest and disconnection in a high-pressure environment.

You’ll hear how John navigated the challenges of leading during the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of aligning growth with organizational values, and the legacy he hopes to leave as a leader.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership often involves giving opportunities to individuals before they feel ready.
• During crises, true leadership is tested and revealed.
• Culture can be a strategic advantage in driving performance.
• Rest and disconnection are essential for effective leadership.
• Growth should align with the organization's core values and purpose.
• Modeling behavior is crucial for encouraging team unplugging.

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about Aldrich at https://aldrichadvisors.com/
• Follow John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lauseng-18313a2b/ 

 

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Shane Jackson, President of Jackson Healthcare, shares his journey of stewardship-driven leadership, emphasizing the importance of long-term thinking and a leader’s impact on both their organization and community, exploring how trust, transparency, and radical vulnerability drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss how redefining leadership through the lens of stewardship fosters long-term thinking, how radical vulnerability can strengthen trust and team morale, and why simplicity and clarity are essential for lasting organizational success, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is a long-term responsibility, not for personal gain.
• Radical vulnerability can inspire confidence in leadership.
• Long-term thinking leads to sustainable growth.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.jacksonhealthcare.com
• Follow Shane on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanejacksonculture/
• Follow Jackson Healthcare on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jackson-healthcare/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackson_healthcare/?hl=en

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Shane Jackson, [Title at Company], shares their journey of [highlight their leadership philosophy or impact], exploring how [key theme] drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss [1-3 key insights from the conversation], providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• [Insight #1]
• [Insight #2]
• [Insight #3]

Resources Mentioned

• Visit (company URL)
• Follow Shane on LinkedIn at 
• Follow Jackson Healthcare on social media at:
• LinkedIn:
• Twitter / X:
• Instagram: 

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leslie Zinn, CEO of Arden’s Garden, shares insights from her journey growing a family business into a beloved wellness brand. She discusses the tension between her mother Arden's unwavering commitment to health and the practical demands of running a profitable enterprise. Leslie highlights pivotal moments, such as navigating the industry's E. coli crisis and unintentionally establishing successful stores in food deserts. Her reflections reveal the powerful impact of mission-driven decisions, customer loyalty, and the growth mindset that sustains their business today.

Key Takeaways

• Leslie’s early experiences balancing her mother's passion for wellness with business profitability.
• How Arden’s Garden navigated critical decisions during industry-wide health scares without compromising their core values.
• Unplanned strategic moves into underserved communities that led to surprising success and deep community impact.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Arden's Garden at https://www.ardensgarden.com
• Follow Leslie Zinn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliezinn
• Follow Arden’s Garden on social media at:
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/ardensgardenatl
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ardensgardenatl
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ardensgardenatl

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

• Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/
• End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Michael Seitz, CEO of Earthwise Pet Franchise, shares his journey from entrepreneurial roots to leading a franchising powerhouse in the pet industry.

Michael opens up about the critical shifts in his leadership approach, embracing collaboration and stewardship to scale Earthwise Pet to over 200 locations. Michael and Jeff discuss the importance of maintaining humanity in business, balancing innovation with legacy, and navigating the challenging yet rewarding entrepreneurial journey.

Key Takeaways

• Effective stewardship involves collaboration and trusting your team.
• Balancing innovation with respect for legacy and core values is critical in scaling a business.
• Entrepreneurship demands resilience, adaptability, and embracing the realities of leadership challenges.

Resources Mentioned

• Earthwise Pet Franchise
• Michael Seitz LinkedIn Profile

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn at Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Steve Carse, Co-Founder & Franchising Director of King of Pops, shares his journey of building a joyful, community-driven business from a popsicle stand into an iconic Atlanta brand. He explores how intentional culture, community stewardship, and long-term thinking drive meaningful, sustainable growth.

We discuss navigating the balance between fun and responsibility, maintaining culture through growth, and creating impact beyond profit, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Intentional culture-building: How creating space for joy, fun, and community can fuel a purpose-driven business.
• Stewardship through scaling: Lessons learned in maintaining culture and stakeholder relationships while growing King of Pops into a multi-city brand.
• Balancing joy and responsibility: How to lead a business that brings happiness to customers and meaning to employees, while being accountable to the broader community.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit King of Pops official website
• Follow King of Pops on
  • Instagram
  • X/Twitter
  • LinkedIn
• Visit Steve’s official website
• Read Steve’s book, Work is Fun
• Follow Steve Carse on LinkedIn

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

• Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/
• End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Gabrielle Mills, President and Founder of Sourced., shares her journey of leading with intentionality and empathy, exploring how faith, values-based leadership, and strategic delegation drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss how fractional teams can empower small businesses, the evolving role of a founder-turned-CEO, and the balance between personal stewardship and business leadership, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The power of delegation and fractional leadership to scale with integrity
• The personal and spiritual convictions that shaped Gabrielle’s entrepreneurial path
• Why focusing on people before profit builds stronger, sustainable businesses

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.getsourced.me/
• Follow Gabrielle on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellemills
• Recommended reading: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chat With Leaders Podcast is now The Steward Chair.

The Steward Chair is a podcast that explores leadership as stewardship—the responsibility of guiding organizations, people, and industries with integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to doing good while doing well.

Through deep, candid conversations with high-level business leaders, we unpack the challenges, decisions, and strategies that define values-driven leadership. This is a space for leaders who recognize that success is about more than personal achievement; it’s about leaving a lasting, positive impact on their organizations and communities.

Each episode provides real-world insights on how to navigate business challenges while maintaining ethical integrity, long-term sustainability, and a legacy-driven mindset.

This show is a collaboration between Chat With Leaders Media and End of the Line Productions. Learn more at https://chatwithleaders.com/ and https://www.eotlproductions.com/.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Nathan Stuck sits down with Brandy Hall, Founder and CEO of Shades of Green Permaculture, an Atlanta-based company transforming landscapes—and lives—through regenerative design and ecological stewardship. With nearly two decades of experience, Brandy has built a values-driven company that not only restores land but also fosters meaningful jobs and long-term impact in her community.

In this conversation, Nathan and Brandy dig into her journey from solo entrepreneur to visionary leader of a thriving team, how she learned to build systems that support sustainability, and what it truly takes to grow a mission-aligned business in a profit-first world. Brandy shares vulnerable insights about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the realities of running a values-led company, and why she believes in progress over perfection.

Whether you’re a purpose-driven entrepreneur, business leader, or simply someone curious about how business can be a force for good, you’ll walk away inspired and energized.

 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://shadesofgreenpermaculture.com/
• Follow Shades of Green Permaculture on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shades-of-green-permaculture/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shades_of_green_permaculture/
• Sign up for the Shades of Green bi-weekly newsletter at https://shadesofgreenpermaculture.com/newsletter-sign-up

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