Unpacked with Ron Harvey

We break down why the first 90 days in a new executive role matter more than most leaders expect, and how earned authority is built through visible, consistent behavior. We share practical ways to start strong, win trust fast, and avoid misreading the moment when everyone is watching. 

• why getting the right leader hired is only half the battle 
• using intentionality to set tone and expectations early 
• “be quick but don’t hurry” as a first-90-days mindset 
• symbolic acts that signal values, humility, and respect 
• examples like walking to meet leaders, removing executive parking, and leading without announcing a title 
• the 25-50-25 rule and how to win the middle 50% early 
• managing ego by keeping truth-tellers close and staying open to feedback 
• why boards face a leadership pipeline gap and what demographics change in recruiting 
• what executive search looks for beyond a resume, including executive presence 
• why you cannot change culture in 90 days, but you can earn the right to influence it 

Share this with someone, let people know we are business owners. Continue to follow us on LinkedIn. And if you know someone that you think would be a great guest for the podcast to share with the audience that we are catering to, please feel free to reach out to us.

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

We break down why leadership is the real growth engine in business and why results only scale when trust does too. Chip Higgins shares a momentum model for small business owners and the people-first habits that keep culture strong under pressure.

• Chip’s path from banking to small business coaching and consulting
• Business momentum as mass times velocity and how leaders influence both
• The leadership test that comes with bigger scope and culture responsibility
• Avoiding manipulation by leading with authenticity and emotional intelligence
• Handling poor performance with honesty, dignity, and clear standards
• What to do when a leader does not enjoy people
• Repairing leadership mistakes through apology, accountability, and composure
• Closing the gap between client-facing excellence and internal team care
• Incentives and culture design that prevent diva behavior
• Moving from peer to supervisor using trust, coaching, and clear reality
• Leading through rapid change by studying deeply and evaluating AI wisely
Tag someone, share this link, tell them about Unpack with Ron Harvey.

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, host Ron Harvey sits down with Stephanie Vera, Supplier Development and Engagement Operational Lead at BMW Manufacturing, to talk about the leadership it takes to build something authentic from the ground up. Stephanie owns the concept, approvals, and execution of the BMW Supplier Exchange, and she pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to bring a 2,500-person event to life while keeping it genuine and homegrown.

The conversation moves from Stephanie's start in logistics to leading a team and a flagship community event, and it lands on practical wisdom any business owner or emerging leader can use.

In this episode, Ron and Stephanie discuss:

• Why leadership starts, runs, and ends with people
• How BMW weaves small businesses into a large-scale event so it stays authentic
• The economic impact mindset behind BMW's investment in the Greenville-Spartanburg community
• The high standards and ethics suppliers must meet to grow with a major manufacturer
• How to actually work a conference room without burning out or chasing only the "big" contract
• Pro tips for refining your pitch and knowing exactly where you fit before you walk in
• Why the road less traveled and an optimistic mindset can become your next big opportunity

The BMW Supplier Exchange takes place May 13 at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Registration is open at BMWSupplierExchange.com and closes in mid-April. For buyer pro tips, follow BMW Supplier Network Purchasing Americas on LinkedIn.

Connect with Stephanie Vera on LinkedIn. This episode is brought to you by Global Core Strategies and Consulting, a professional leadership firm based in Columbia, South Carolina, where Ron Harvey serves as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Connect with Ron on LinkedIn, and if you know someone who would add value to the audience, reach out about being a guest.

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

In Episode 177 of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, host Ron Harvey of Global Core Strategies and Consulting sits down with David Fung — executive coach, founder of Coach Full Coaching, and 23-year veteran of the tech industry, including a leadership tenure at Salesforce. Based in Toronto, Canada, David now works with executives and teams navigating major transitions and chaos, helping them find clarity when the stakes are highest.

Ron and David dig into the real, often uncomfortable work that separates titled managers from trusted leaders. From the metaphor of playing soccer at the edge of a cliff to the belief systems that quietly steer behavior, this conversation gives leaders practical language and frameworks they can put to work immediately.

What you will hear in this episode:

• Why learning to lead yourself is the non-negotiable starting point for leading anyone else
• The "soccer at the edge of a cliff" metaphor for creating safety that fuels innovation
• How to lead with weakness instead of performing strength, and why it draws people to you
• A practical framework for diagnosing where and when trust was broken on a team
• Why the "how will we work together" conversation is the one most teams skip
• Lessons from Salesforce on running a metrics-driven culture without losing your humanity
• How clarity, cadence, and accountability prevent conflict-averse leadership
• Why beliefs — not skills — are what most often hold leaders back
• The four pillars of sustainable leadership: faith, family, friends, and meaningful work
• What the 1937 Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals about community and well-being
• A candid story about how David's biggest strength became the behavior burning out his team

This is a conversation for current and emerging leaders who want to grow without losing themselves in the process.

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

We talk with Hanna Hasl-Kelchner about why fairness at work is a leadership issue that shapes trust, health, and performance. We break down the hidden “unwritten rules” that drag down engagement and share practical ways leaders can build a fairer culture without treating work like a transaction. 
• fairness as a social contract that drives results 
• why power shifts can make good leaders less curious 
• the hidden costs of unfairness: productivity loss, stress, sick days, turnover, lost customer relationships 
• fairness as the foundation of trust, not a wish list 
• five unwritten-rule categories: approachability, recognition, bias, conflict management, workload management 
• how meetings reveal culture through airtime, credit, and interruptions 
• three practices to start now: stronger conflict management, better communication, better listening 
Tell your friends, tag your friends, post it, share. 

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, Ron sits down with Sebastian Page, money manager, marathon runner, and author of The Psychology of Leadership, for a candid conversation about what actually separates good leaders from great ones. After 25 years in finance and after publishing scientific research in quantitative finance, Sebastian turned his attention to a different kind of question: why do high performers stress about stressing, and what can sports psychology teach us about leading under pressure? The answers challenge nearly everything popular culture tells us about leadership.

Key topics and takeaways from this episode:

• Why the "perfect leader" stereotype is often the opposite of what works at the top level
• The difference between ego-driven and mastery-driven performance, and the handball story that explains it
• Strategic patience: the most underrated leadership skill, and the one question that sharpens every decision
• How transparent communication and genuinely getting to know people build trust on high-performing teams
• The Yerkes-Dodson curve: why optimal performance never happens at zero stress, and why the sweet spot depends on the task and the person
• Why simple tasks reward high adrenaline and complex work requires lower activation
• Goal-induced blindness and the danger of obsession with measurable targets in high-performing organizations
• The three-legged stool of self-leadership: sleep, diet, and exercise, and why sleep is usually the missing leg
• What Simone Biles taught the world about building rest into elite performance
• Race-car pit stops as a model for sustainable leadership rhythms
• Pioneers versus settlers: why the fast follower often wins in business
• Why positive relationships are the most robust predictor of happiness in the research, and how to keep them honest rather than people-pleasing
• The audio-video match: why leading by example matters more than what you say about vacation days or boundaries

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

What does it take to walk away from a stable, high-paying career and bet everything on yourself? In this episode of Unpacked, host Ron Harvey sits down with Giuseppe Grammatico, franchise consultant, author, and host of the Franchise Freedom podcast, to unpack the real story behind leaving Wall Street to become a business owner. Just three days after launching his first business, Giuseppe found out he was about to become a father, and what followed was a masterclass in resilience, transparency, and controlling what you can control.

Giuseppe shares the practical mindset and operational decisions that helped him survive the 2008 downturn, build a profitable business, and avoid the traps that derail most aspiring entrepreneurs. From having honest financial conversations with his spouse to sharing P&L statements with his team, his approach to leadership is built on trust, preparation, and clarity of purpose.

In this conversation, Ron and Giuseppe dive into:

• Why Giuseppe left a lucrative Wall Street career and what finally pushed him to "hire himself"
• How to prepare financially and emotionally before quitting your W-2 job
• The role of transparency in marriage, leadership, and team building
• How to lead a small business through economic downturns by pivoting your customer focus
• Why AI is a tool to embrace, not fear, and how leaders can prepare their teams for change
• The difference between revenue growth and profitable growth that most owners miss
• Why your "why" matters more than your business plan when times get hard
• The five freedoms every entrepreneur should pursue, especially time freedom
• Why hiring experts sooner saves more than it costs
• How to avoid the "misery loves company" trap in entrepreneurship

Whether you are a corporate professional considering a leap, a small business owner navigating uncertainty, or a leader trying to build trust with your team, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who has lived it.

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

What if the reason your strategy keeps failing has nothing to do with the strategy itself? On this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, Ron sits down with Brooke Dukes, CEO and founder of BMB Consulting, international bestselling author, and a leader with over 24 years of experience in behavioral science, neuroscience, and human design. Brooke has worked with billion-dollar companies, fortune 500 executives, and small businesses alike, and she brings a refreshingly honest perspective on why most leadership challenges are not strategy problems at all.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Brooke breaks down how limiting beliefs sabotage the best-laid plans, why most leaders are the bottleneck inside their own organizations, and how slowing down is the counterintuitive key to scaling results. She also shares the deeply personal story behind her departure from corporate America at 34 — a wake-up call that reshaped her entire approach to leadership, success, and fulfillment.

In this episode, Ron and Brooke unpack:

• Why strategy alone never solves the real problem, and the foundational beliefs that quietly undermine every initiative
• How the best leaders spend 80 percent of their time working on the business and only 20 percent in it
• The cost of being the bottleneck and why control-driven leadership stalls growth
• How human design, behavioral science, and neuroscience work together to reveal a leader's energetic blueprint
• The GRACE communication model and the four core human needs every interaction is built around
• How to move teams from limiting beliefs to consistent results through small, repeatable habits
• Why burnout and disconnection from purpose are signs you have overridden your own internal guidance
• Common signals it is time to call in outside help, from retention struggles to leadership styles that no longer land

Brooke also shares details on Success by Design, her membership community built to make high-level coaching accessible far beyond the executive suite.

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

We sit down with entrepreneur and speaker Ken Miller to talk about identity, truth, and the hard work of rebuilding a life after addiction, incarceration, and years of being stuck. We unpack what leadership really requires when you are scaling a business, earning trust, and trying to stay resilient in public and in private. 

• Ken’s background from foster care to Ivy League to incarceration and entrepreneurship 
• The moment that sparks Ken’s shift toward faith, truth and a new identity 
• Using stories to communicate emotion, lessons learned and vision 
• Leadership as allowing people to choose the mission, not forcing compliance 
• Scaling a business beyond solopreneur limits through hiring talent and systems 
• Getting a coach or mentor to keep ego in check and build a real plan 
• Key leadership traits like confidence, vision, empathy, honesty and visible effort 
• Repairing trust after mistakes through admission, responsibility and integrity 
• Social media, reputation and “playing the game” without losing yourself 
• Resilience for known setbacks and sudden shocks, plus how leaders support teams 
LinkedIn, Ken Miller84. My phone number is 907-250-8488.

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...

Ron Harvey sits down with Kenneth Givens II, Senior Project Manager at Miller Valentine Construction and published author, for a candid conversation about the leadership habits that separate good managers from truly great ones. Kenneth shares the moment he realized he was building robots instead of leaders — and the mindset shift that changed everything.

Key topics and takeaways from this episode:

• Why stepping in to save the day is actually holding your team back — and what to do instead
• The "fourth quarter coach" principle: understanding why a coach never takes the field during a game-winning drive
• How Kenneth intentionally removed himself from a high-stakes proposal to force his team to rise to the occasion — and what happened
• The power of asking for permission before giving feedback and why it changes how people receive it
• Why debriefs should be led by the person receiving feedback, not the leader delivering it
• Focusing on input over outcome: how Kenneth evaluates decisions based on the thinking behind them, not just the result
• Bringing younger generations into leadership without waiting for a title to justify it
• Why the fastest path to the top is bringing people with you — not climbing alone
• The importance of sincere apology and how one poor emotional reaction can require seven positive interactions to overcome
• How to manage conflict in the workplace while leaving people's dignity intact
• Navigating social media as a leader: being the same person online that you are in person
• Kenneth's 90-day leadership commitment: daring to be curious rather than judgmental

Kenneth Givens II is a Senior Project Manager at Miller Valentine Construction based in Columbia, South Carolina. He is also a contributing author to the fantasy anthology Fires of Retribution, available on Amazon.

Connect with Ron

Impact Leadership: A Strategic Guide to Sustainable Leadership, Enhancing Team Engagement, and Leading with the Principle that People Always Matter

“If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.”

Learn more about Global Core Strategies

.
.
.
.
.
Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties ...