What's Up At Work?

What's Up At Work?

By Sam Clyde SchroederBusinessEntrepreneurshipCareersManagement
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What's Up At Work? episodes

  • Jess Jung (President, Oswald Companies): Magnetic Culture, Game-Changing Insurance & Superpowers
    In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Jessica Jung, President of Oswald Companies, to talk about her path to leading one of the country’s top insurance firms.
    Jessica shares how rolling up your sleeves can model the kind of leadership people want to follow, how to find anyone’s “superpower,” and how leaders can create safe environments where people feel comfortable challenging the process.
    And don’t miss how she realized that outworking everyone isn’t sustainable (sound familiar?). This episode is part leadership masterclass, part reality check, and all about building a workplace people are drawn to.
    Timestamps & Topics
    00:54 Jessica’s nontraditional career path to business
    03:00 Managing people right out of college
    05:45 The moment that changed her career trajectory (and her confidence)
    10:58 Why “rolling up your sleeves” still matters in leadership
    13:25 Advice for those stuck between wanting to grow and needing to keep learning
    14:40 The importance of inviting doers and diverse voices into decision-making
    16:40 How Oswald helps employees discover and apply their “superpowers”
    19:10 What it takes to create a culture where people feel safe speaking up
    22:00 Behind Oswald’s big move to a new HQ
    25:00 What it means to be an employee-owner
    27:30 How to make a less-than-glamorous industry feel magnetic
    32:00 Supporting women and underrepresented voices
    33:10 HR Hot Seat: Mel Robbins, staying grounded, and how to stop working your life away
    If you liked this episode, be sure to follow What’s Up at Work? wherever you get your podcasts. And if you’re enjoying the show, leave us a review or share it with a colleague, it helps more listeners discover the conversations we're having with real leaders building better workplaces.
    🔗 Learn more about ERC: https://www.yourerc.com
    🔗 Visit Oswald Companies: https://www.oswaldcompanies.com
    40 min
  • Dave Banyard (CEO, MasterBrand, Inc.): Fighter Jets, Bold Leadership & Lessons from Winston Churchill
    There’s a side of military leadership most people never see—one built on trust, delegation, and learning through failure. Dave Banyard brings those lessons straight into his position as CEO.
    In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Dave Banyard, President and CEO of MasterBrand, the largest residential cabinet manufacturer in North America.
    Before running a multi-billion-dollar company, Dave flew F/A-18 fighter jets for the U.S. Navy, and he brings a refreshingly candid take on leadership, decision-making, and culture from the cockpit to the factory floor.
    Hear how Dave translates military lessons into business leadership, builds trust across thousands of employees, and empowers his employees to make bold decisions. You’ll get his thoughts on delegation, transparency, coaching, and why being a CEO is a lot like building a jigsaw puzzle while finding all of the pieces.
    Timestamps
    00:50 Dave’s path from fighter pilot to CEO
    03:00 Motivating 18-year-olds to clean toilets and why presence matters in leadership
    07:50 “No ranks in the air”: Decentralized decision-making and trust under pressure
    09:30 Translating military purpose into company culture at MasterBrand
    11:00 Why every process can be examined and designed for a better outcome
    13:40 How manufacturing and military environments are more similar than you’d think
    15:30 Breaking the habit of “delegating up” and teaching decision ownership
    20:00 Transparency, failure, and why dancing around problems kills progress
    22:30 Why every CEO needs a coach (and how Dave uses his)
    25:00 The Churchill-inspired communication strategy Dave uses with his team
    29:30 Becoming a public company: Dave’s take on leadership through transition
    33:00 Redefining career paths with experiences over titles
    If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe to What’s Up at Work? and leave a quick review, it helps others find us and keeps these conversations going. New episodes come out regularly with insights from real leaders making an impact in their workplaces.
    🔗 Learn more about ERC: www.yourerc.com
    🔗 Visit MasterBrand: www.masterbrand.com
    41 min
  • Kelly Keefe (President & CEO, ERC): Networking Hacks, Leading with Curiosity & Strangers on the Ski Lift
    Kelly Keefe, President and CEO of ERC, shares the highs and lows of stepping into a new leadership role 30 days before the world shut down. She also shares strategies she’s used to connect more deeply, lead more intentionally, and tap into the power of her peers.
    You’ll hear about her non-traditional career path from Deloitte consultant to part-time HR volunteer to leading ERC, and how she navigated the organization through the worst of the pandemic. Kelly also shares why she believes data-driven decision-making is the secret sauce behind building better workplaces.
    During the conversation, she dives into lessons learned from her kids, explains how she structures her week to stay confident walking into any room, and gives insight into creating safe spaces for CEOs to swap stories (even tough ones like handling layoffs with dignity).
    Timestamps:
    1:00 Career path and non-traditional entry into HR: Kelly’s journey from Deloitte to eight hours a week at ERC, eventually growing into a full-time leadership role.
    3:00 Taking the CEO role just before COVID: stepping into a new leadership role in January 2020 and managing ERC’s shifting business model.
    6:00 Shifting from reactive to proactive leadership: what “recovering” looked like by 2022 and why moving past return-to-office debates was important.
    8:00 Building a professional network as a business strategy: why Kelly dedicates roughly 30 percent of her role to networking, and how she balances travel-heavy relationship-building with a leadership team she trusts.
    11:00 Walking into any room with confidence: Kelly’s Sunday calendar prep ritual, scouting attire, looking up LinkedIn profiles, and her “look people in the eye” mantra her dad instilled.
    13:00 Creating CEO peer groups and tackling layoffs: why it’s lonely at the top, how peer conversations help shape messaging for employees impacted by cuts, and why it’s important for leaders to have sounding boards.
    17:00 Data-driven decision-making at ERC: how Kelly uses NorthCoast 99 survey data, compensation benchmarks, and ERC engagement scores to guide everything from mental health days to compensation philosophy.
    20:00 Learning from the next generation: how Kelly’s son Connor runs a $2.7 million student-led venture at the University of Dayton, and why CEOs should listen to what young people are doing in business.
    22:00 Trusted advisors outside the workplace: the value of gut checks with fellow CEOs, how to keep feedback confidential, and why “control what you can control” is important.
    24:00 HR Hot Seat rapid-fire: pick-up-the-phone lessons; mom’s advice to “be stubborn enough to make it work”; core value of “facts over noise”; what drives Kelly crazy (left-lane slowpokes); and the wisest thing her kids have said.
    If Kelly’s perspective on leading through uncertainty, creating intentional peer spaces, or using data to build better cultures resonated, please subscribe to What’s Up at Work? and leave a review. It helps us reach more HR and business leaders who are looking for real-world strategies to improve their workplaces.
    34 min
  • Matt Dailey (CEO, Royal Chemical): Due Diligence, Discipline & the Magic of a Midday Stretch
    What convinced Matt Dailey to leave private equity and buy a chemical company on a handshake deal—would you take that leap?
    In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Matt Dailey, President and CEO of Royal Chemical, to talk about his bold transition from investment banker to manufacturing executive.
    You’ll hear how Matt targeted acquisition opportunities with disciplined daily outreach, won over a team through humility and trust, and then introduced a data-driven mindset into a 85-year-old chemical business—complete with digital scheduling, real-time dashboards, and an engagement reboot.
    Timestamps:
    00:00 Introduction & Matt’s winding path from PE advisor to CEO
    01:00 Why stepping into manufacturing “transcends industry” fundamentals
    02:00 The six-month “dating process”: 10 outreaches a day until Royal Chemical
    04:00 Winning employee trust on day one (and why that matters)
    12:00 Resetting engagement post-COVID with engagement surveys
    14:00 Moving from paper-based to digital workflows on the plant floor
    19:00 Tangible wins: shortening setup times and reducing rework
    22:00 Advice for owners eyeing automation—expect friction, recruit the right champion
    29:00 HR Hot Seat rapid-fire: caffeine, curveballs, and “I trust you” moments
    If you enjoyed Matt’s story and actionable leadership tips, be sure to subscribe to What’s Up at Work? and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps us bring you more conversations with the people shaping Northeast Ohio’s top workplaces.
    Learn more about ERC’s HR tools and resources at https://www.yourerc.com and explore Royal Chemical’s custom manufacturing solutions at https://www.royalchemical.com.
    37 min
  • Kristin Warzocha (CEO, Greater Cleveland Food Bank): Community Impact, Employee Love & Roller Skates
    Is it possible for a nonprofit to pay above-market wages and still thrive?
    Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, says yes—and she’s got the results to prove it. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Kristin joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to talk about building an award-winning culture in one of Northeast Ohio’s largest nonprofits.
    She shares how the Food Bank prioritizes competitive pay, builds connections across warehouse and office teams, and brings frontline staff into major strategic decisions. You’ll also hear about creative benefits, honest leadership habits, and how her team is responding to funding cuts with grit and heart.
    Timestamps
    01:45 Kristin’s 24-year journey from volunteer to CEO
    05:00 How the Food Bank distributes 54 million pounds of food a year
    08:00 What makes the Greater Cleveland Food Bank a NorthCoast 99 winner
    10:00 Why they raised their wage floor to $20/hour—and how they did it
    12:45 Keeping culture strong across 180 staff and 16,000 volunteers
    14:30 How quarterly shutdowns became a communication superpower
    17:00 Supporting wellbeing with Calm app access, First Friday happy hours, and more
    21:00 A fund for employees facing personal crises—modeled after Progressive
    24:00 Leading through food program funding cuts and rising demand
    27:30 Behind the scenes of their new Community Resource Center
    32:00 Kristin’s advice for any leader: “Just love on your people.”
    If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to What’s Up at Work? on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review—your support helps other leaders find the show and build better workplaces.
    Learn more about today’s guests:
    ERC: https://www.yourerc.com
    Greater Cleveland Food Bank: https://www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org
    42 min
  • Scott Allen, PhD (Leadership Consultant): Career Jumps, Setting the Weather & the Two-Email Rule
    "Leaders create the weather." That simple mindset, along with setting clear leadership expectations, continuous development, and defining the ideal leader can help you bridge the gap between training and real performance.
    Join host Sam Clyde Schroeder as she sits down with Scott Allen, PhD—a leadership consultant, educator, keynote speaker, and podcast host. In this episode, Scott shares his journey from academia to executive training and coaching, and dives into building effective leadership pipelines, aligning HR strategies, and creating a sustainable leadership development system that delivers measurable ROI.
    Listeners will hear everything from the challenges with one-off training sessions to real-world projects that drive organizational change, along with candid insights on turning small wins into bigger cultural shifts.
    Timestamps:
    01:00 Scott’s background and his shift from teaching to working with leaders and professionals.
    02:00 How Scott’s evolving career shapes his approach to leadership education.
    06:00 Discussing conflict resolution, team building, and designing engaging workplace cultures.
    07:00 Why sporadic training might not be enough and the need for a continuous leadership development system.
    09:00 Aligning recruitment, onboarding, and performance management to boost ROI.
    15:00 Measuring leadership growth with 360 feedback and hands-on projects.
    19:00 The "leaders create the weather" mantra and its impact on workplace dynamics.
    23:00 A rapid-fire HR Hot Seat session covering email habits, corporate buzzwords, and more.
    26:00 Unexpected lessons from working with passionate leaders and the power of small wins.
    If you enjoyed these insights, be sure to subscribe to our channel and leave a review—it helps us continue delivering valuable conversations for HR and business leaders.
    Learn more about ERC at https://www.yourerc.com and learn more about Scott at https://www.scottjallen.net.
    28 min
  • Chris Adams (CEO, Park Place Technologies): Scaling Culture, Construction & 'Why Cleveland?'

    In our latest episode of “What’s Up at Work?” we talked with Chris Adams, President and CEO of Park Place Technologies. Host Sam Clyde Schroeder dives into Chris’s journey from CFO to CEO and how his data-driven approach is fueling the company’s exponential growth.

    You’ll hear firsthand insights on scaling culture during rapid expansion, integrating acquisitions, and creating a workplace that attracts and retains top talent—all while balancing remote work and in-office culture.

    Timestamps & Topics:

    • 00:00 – Introduction: Tackling leadership challenges and the importance of people in business growth
    • 01:00 – Chris’s evolution from CFO to CEO and the value of financial acumen
    • 02:00 – Transitioning operational roles: CFO to COO insights
    • 04:00 – Merging sales and operations 
    • 06:00 – Scaling a company without losing the unique culture
    • 00:08 – Strategies for smooth M&A integration and employee onboarding
    • 14:00 – The role of employee recognition and the impact of a well-executed incentive program
    • 20:00 – Balancing remote work and in-office collaboration for innovation
    • 25:00 – Investing in state-of-the-art headquarters and employee amenities
    • 31:00 – HR Hot Seat: Rapid-fire Q&A on leadership, feedback, and work-life balance

    If you enjoyed this episode of What's Up at Work?, be sure to subscribe and leave a review to help more leaders discover these valuable insights.

    Learn more about ERC at https://www.yourerc.com and Park Place Technologies at https://www.parkplacetechnologies.com.

    40 min
  • Blake Babcock (VP, Client Engagement, Staffing Solutions): The Cost of Hiring, Proactive Recruiting & 'Clarity’ as a Superpower
    Is your hiring process losing you top talent before you even make an offer?
    If you’re still waiting to “see just one more candidate,” you might already be too late.
    In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde-Schroeder sits down with Blake Babcock, Vice President of Client Engagement at Staffing Solutions Enterprises, to unpack the realities of today’s hiring landscape.
    They discuss the biggest hiring mistakes that slow employers down—like waiting too long to make an offer—and how to fix them before losing great candidates.
    Blake shares tactical advice on how to stand out in a crowded job market, why defining what makes your workplace special is critical, and how to craft job offers that don’t get ignored.
    Plus, he breaks down the biggest missteps employers make when evaluating candidates and why the best hire might not check every box on your list.
    Episode Highlights & Timestamps:
    00:00 – Introduction to Blake Babcock and his accidental entry into the recruiting industry
    02:30 – Are we in a candidate’s or employer’s market? Blake’s take on why hiring remains competitive
    04:15 – The #1 mistake employers make when trying to attract talent
    05:50 – Why hiring decisions mirror the sales funnel—and what to do about it
    07:10 – The toughest roles to fill (and why it’s not about job titles)
    09:00 – Compensation, benefits, and what really makes an offer competitive
    12:45 – When to use a staffing firm vs. internal hiring teams
    16:00 – How to ensure new hires don’t leave within their first 90 days
    19:00 – Is AI coming for your job? The reality of automation in recruiting
    23:30 – HR Hot Seat: Hired or Fired? Blake weighs in on Zoom cameras, unlimited PTO, and Gen Z lingo
    Hiring the right people starts with the right strategies. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to What’s Up at Work? and leave a review to help more leaders create thriving workplaces.
    🔗 Learn more about ERC: https://www.yourerc.com
    🔗 Learn more about Staffing Solutions Enterprises: https://www.staffingsolutionsenterprises.com
    27 min
  • Josh Marx (CEO, Medical Service Company): People-First Growth, 'You Days' & Transformative HR Culture

    Episode Highlights & Timestamps:

    • 06:30 - Shaping a culture with core values: why guardrails matter more than lengthy mission statements
    • 12:15 - Retention, recruitment, and the power of investing in HR
    • 18:45 - Rapid growth: going from 300 to 600 employees in six months—what Josh learned
    • 21:25 - NorthCoast 99 recognition: how wellness benefits and employee groups pay off
    • 28:15 - Working with an executive coach: Josh’s “metronome” approach to consistent, clear strategy
    • 33:40 - Why it’s lonely at the top—and how to stay balanced, curious, and open to feedback
    • 36:30 - Rapid-fire “HR Hot Seat”: from Josh’s “cooler” to mandatory returns to the office

    Like what you heard? Don’t forget to subscribe to What’s Up at Work? and leave us a review. Your support helps us reach more HR and business leaders looking to create workplaces where people and profits thrive.

    • Visit ERC:https://www.yourerc.com
    • Learn about Medical Service Company:https://www.medicalserviceco.com
    45 min

About What's Up At Work?

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Welcome to What's Up At Work?, the podcast that's all about real talk with the company leaders shaping Northeast Ohio's top workplaces. We're diving into the stories, strategies, and sometimes…