Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit

What's the cost of the conversation you keep avoiding?

In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, I sit down with Tessa White, founder of The Job Doctor, former Fortune 50 executive, and author of The Unspoken Truths for Career Success, to explore how you can speak up, build trust, and navigate your career with greater confidence—without going silent or scorched earth.

Tessa brings practical tools and honest stories from her corporate career and entrepreneurial journey. We dig into the invisible communication shifts that come with career growth, why leaders need people who will tell them the truth, and how curiosity can turn a difficult conversation into a chance to solve a problem together.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The communication shifts behind career growth. Tessa introduces her five-stage career growth framework and explains why the way you communicate needs to evolve as your responsibilities grow.
• Three questions for difficult conversations. Learn how "Is that what you intended?" "Do you see it differently?" and "Is there something missing that would help me understand?" can help you replace blame with curiosity.
• Building a listening ecosystem. We discuss why senior leaders need to seek honest feedback from across the organization—not just rely on the reports that reach their desks. Choosing to speak up.

Tessa shares a personal experience of workplace exclusion and the decision to address the deeper issue rather than stay silent. Focusing on the few. We explore what it means to reassess your priorities, make room for life's hardest moments, and lead people as human beings—not just job titles.

One thought from Tessa that stays with me: "You can't always give 110%." That opens the door to a deeply personal conversation about family, mental health, and giving yourself—and the people around you—permission to step back when life needs your attention.

Tessa shares how a family crisis reshaped her priorities. Whether you're navigating a career transition, leading a team, or preparing for a conversation you've been putting off, this episode offers tools you can put to work—and a reminder that performance and humanity belong in the same conversation.

What's one question from this episode you could bring into your next difficult conversation?

Content note: This episode includes discussion of mental health, suicide, and the impact on individuals and families. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, support is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

#YourEpicPursuit #TessaWhite #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #workplacecommunication

What does it take to lead a growing city, preserve its legacy, and bring diverse stakeholders together around a shared vision?

In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, Mike Mooney sits down with Steve Bagwell, CEO of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA). Steve's story began more than 25 years ago as a warehouse manager at the newly opened Charlotte Convention Center. Since then, he has held leadership roles spanning operations, food and beverage, finance, technology, and venue management—giving him a true 360-degree perspective before stepping into the CEO role.

Steve offers an inside look at the people, partnerships, and long-term investments driving Charlotte's visitor economy. From major convention and venue investments to the ongoing evolution of iconic spaces like Bojangles Entertainment Complex, he explains why the city's success depends on more than buildings and events. It depends on alignment.

The conversation also explores Steve's leadership philosophy: build consensus, make room for differing perspectives, recruit great people, learn from mistakes, and stay relentlessly curious. Whether you lead a large organization, manage a cross-functional team, or are early in your career, this episode offers a practical reminder that progress is cumulative—and that the experiences in front of you today may be preparing you for opportunities you cannot yet see.

1. Your starting point does not define your ceiling. Steve's path from warehouse manager to CEO reinforces the value of doing excellent work, staying patient, and treating every role as an opportunity to build capability and credibility.

2. Broad experience creates better leaders. Working across operations, finance, technology, food and beverage, and venue management gave Steve the perspective to lead with a whole-organization mindset—not just from one functional silo.

3. Consensus building creates stronger execution. Steve emphasizes that leaders do not always get unanimous agreement, but they should create space for people to share their perspectives, understand the decision, and move forward together.

4. Legacy assets can be reinvented. The turnaround of Bojangles Entertainment Complex shows what can happen when leaders combine strategic investment, the right anchor partner, talented operators, and a long-term commitment to renewal.

5. Curiosity is a leadership advantage. In a fast-changing environment, the leaders who keep learning—through research, innovation, technology, and the experiences of others—are better positioned to adapt and lead well.

What if the fastest way forward is to slow down first?

In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit™, Mike Mooney sits down with NASCAR Pit Crew Champion and Deck Leadership co-founder Mike Metcalf to unpack what high-performance teams can teach every leader about speed, trust, mistakes, and change.

Mike spent years in an environment where fractions of a second can determine the outcome. But his lesson for leaders is counterintuitive: sustainable performance is not about going all out—it is about finding the pace where your team can execute with consistency, confidence, and trust.

You'll learn how to:

• Find the "fast enough" pace that protects quality and raises performance

• Support the team member who may be slowing the whole group down - without leaving them behind

• Turn mistakes into data points instead of blame points

• Build the reps, rhythms, and communication needed before the pressure hits

• Lead through change fatigue by grounding people in a shared identity and a sense of possibility

As Mike says, winning does not mean everything went perfectly. Often, it means the team handled failures more efficiently than anyone else.

Watch now and consider: Where might your team need to slow down in order to move forward together?

This episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit will change the way you think about communication. Mike Mooney sits down with Carlo D'Amore - actor, director, and founder of Live In Theater - to explore what business leaders can learn from the stage.

Carlo has spent more than 17 years creating immersive, interactive experiences that transform audiences from passive spectators into active participants for organizations including Apple, Meta, Netflix, Spotify, Goldman Sachs, and Peacock.

The core lesson? Great communication is not about delivering information perfectly. It is about creating an experience that makes people lean in. Carlo shares how he built Live In Theater by refusing to wait for permission, turning a true-crime story from New York's Lower East Side into an interactive experience where audiences helped solve the mystery.

He also explains how the company pivoted during COVID - taking immersive performances virtual and delivering hundreds of experiences annually for teams around the world.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

* Why you cannot "half-do" a message—commitment, conviction, and presence are what make people believe you.

* How to prepare like an actor: rehearse out loud, repeat the material, invite credible feedback, and get comfortable before the moment matters.

* Why knowing your material gives you the freedom to adapt when the room, the technology, or the energy changes.

* How to listen with more than your ears by watching body language, noticing energy, and responding to what the audience is telling you.

* Why we often make up stories about people's reactions—and how curiosity keeps us from misreading the room.

One powerful reminder from Carlo: "You can't half-do something." Whether you are leading a meeting, pitching an idea, delivering a keynote, or having a difficult conversation, people can feel whether you are truly committed to the message.

If you want to communicate with greater presence, credibility, and impact, this episode is for you.

Connect with Carlo D'Amore on https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlodamore-creator/ and learn more about Live In Theater at https://liveintheater.com/.

What happens when the leader you're searching for… doesn't exist?

In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, Mike Mooney sits down with Brooke Faw, SVP, Strategic Partnerships at Publicis Groupe, a 20+ year veteran of the sports and entertainment industry and a leading executive voice in women's sports.

Brooke opens up about:

• How she threw imposter syndrome out and claimed her seat in a male-dominated industry.

• Why "just doing your job" is not enough—and what she expects from people who want raises, promotions, and real responsibility.

• The emotional moment her 5-year-old son said, "But mama, that's you," and how it made her realize she had quietly become the role model she'd been looking for.

• The realities of leading in sports: nonstop schedules, high-stakes activations, and the need to address issues now—not "after things calm down."

You'll also hear Brooke's story of building a career while being a mom, navigating marriage in a relentless industry, and intentionally paving a path for the women coming behind her so they never have to feel alone at the top.

If you care about real leadership, women's sports, and high-performance culture, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

🔔 Subscribe for more E.P.I.C. conversations on Excellence, Presence, Intentionality, and Curiosity.

From the boardroom to the pit lane, and from beauty to race cars – this is what purpose at full throttle looks like.

In this episode of Your Epic Pursuit, host Mike Mooney sits down with Shay Hoelscher, CEO and founder of privé products, an award-winning clean, high-performance beauty brand built on kindness, inclusivity, and transformation. Shay pairs nearly 40 years of leadership in the professional beauty industry with her life as a Porsche GT3 Cup race car driver, breaking stereotypes and inspiring women to chase their dreams at any age.

Together, we explore how racing becomes a petri dish for leadership and life:

• How learning to look multiple corners ahead on track sharpens your strategic thinking in business.

• Why precision, focus, and mental toughness are the real competitive edge behind the wheel and in the C‑suite.

• The mindset shift from "attacking the corner" to being patient and setting up the exit – and how that applies to growth, strategy, and leading teams.

• What it means to truly run a company with purpose over profit, especially in turbulent seasons like launching a brand before and during COVID.

• How Shay navigates doubt, the "monkey mind," and tough days by focusing on the activity, not just the outcome.

If you care about leadership, performance, resilience, or you're just fascinated by the intersection of business, beauty, and motorsports, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

🔔 Subscribe to Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit for more conversations on excellence, presence, intentionality, and curiosity – and how to live your own epic pursuit

👇 Let us know in the comments: What's one lesson from racing or high-pressure environments that you've applied to your leadership or life?

In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, Mike Mooney sits down with Emily Chang, Chief Commercial Officer for CHAGEE North America and former executive at Apple, Starbucks China, P&G, and Intercontinental Hotels Group.

Emily shares how she came out of retirement to join a founder-led mission, why she rebuilt an "unremarkable" hotel brand from the inside out, and the moment she left a CMO title to write her bestselling book, The Spare Room.

The conversation dives deep into leadership under pressure, the danger of "job hugging" in today's workforce, and Emily's powerful "caringly assertive" leadership matrix — the four-box model that separates cold commanders from truly effective leaders. She also unpacks the difference between gut instinct and wisdom, and challenges listeners with one question that could reframe how they see their own purpose: Do you believe you were made for something special?

Whether you're leading a global team or redefining your next chapter, this episode offers real, actionable insight on intentional leadership, authentic living, and building a social legacy that outlasts any title.

#Leadership #EmilyChang #SocialLegacy #YourEPICPursuit #WomenInLeadership

What does it take to lead boldly when the world is telling you to stand down?

In this episode of Your Epic Pursuit, host Mike Mooney, CSP sits down with Dr. Connie Book, President of Elon University — a trailblazing leader who made some of the boldest institutional decisions in higher education during one of the most uncertain periods in modern history.

Under Dr. Book's leadership, Elon has been ranked #1 in the nation for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report — five consecutive years. But the real story is how she got there.

In this episode, you'll discover: ✅ The "force power" framework she learned at The Citadel — and how it saved Elon during COVID ✅ Why she signed a $50 million construction deal during the pandemic (and why it was the right call) ✅ How a nursing program launched in crisis is now sending graduates to Yale, Mass General & Johns Hopkins ✅ The "swing and miss" culture that makes teams more innovative — not less accountable ✅ The 3 Rs every great organization must maintain (from Bank of America CEO Hugh McCall) ✅ Why the wisdom is always in the group — and how to harness it without losing speed ✅ The renting vs. owning mindset shift that will change how you lead, live, and build

Whether you lead a team of 5 or an institution of thousands, this conversation will challenge you to stop planning your exit and start building your legacy.

🎙️ Your Epic Pursuit is a podcast hosted by Mike Mooney, CSP — leadership performance coach, keynote speaker, and former NASCAR performance professional. Each episode filters through the E.P.I.C. lens: Excellence, Presence, Intentionality, and Curiosity.

📌 Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction: Dr. Connie Book & Elon University 3:00 – The childcare center: A 20-year idea that finally happened 6:00 – Innovation is a process, not an aha moment 12:00 – Swing and miss: Building a culture of bold risk 18:00 – The 3 Rs: Relevance, Reputation & Reward 20:00 – The pandemic decision nobody expected 28:00 – Signing a $50M deal during COVID 31:00 – Launching nursing during a crisis 33:00 – The wisdom is in the group 38:00 – Renting vs. owning: The ownership mindset

What separates leaders who chase trophies from those who build lasting legacies? In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit™, host Mike Mooney, CSP welcomes Chad Biagini, President of Excel Search and Advisory — one of the most respected executive search and leadership consultancies in global sports, media, and entertainment.

Chad is a Sports Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree who has overseen 400+ executive placements at organizations including the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Pistons, World Surf League, and leagues spanning the NFL, NBA, MLB, and Premier League.

In this candid, wide-ranging conversation, Chad pulls back the curtain on the bold career bets, servant-leader philosophy, and practical frameworks that have shaped his journey — and that can accelerate yours.

In this episode:

• The trophy isn't the destination — why the pursuit itself is where real fulfillment and growth live

• The "10 out of 10" life mapping exercise — how Chad maps the key areas of his life each January, names the behaviors of a 10/10 in each category, and aligns his daily actions with who he wants to become

• The Excellence, Efficiency & Empathy framework — how Chad's team uses this 3-part model to evaluate organizational health and make smart investments in people and process

• The Go-Giver career pivot that changed everything — how doing pro bono and low bono nonprofit executive placements took Chad from "the young guy down the hallway" to the most connected person in his industry

• Multiple motives in the same direction — why it's okay (and smart) for giving to benefit everyone involved

• Building an authentic network — practical strategies for growing your career through service, curiosity, and genuine connection

• The COVID roundtable that beat the Big Four — how Chad assembled 60+ global sports CEOs during the shutdown and became a strategic partner, not just a vendor

• Deep listening as a superpower — what presence really looks like in leadership and how it deepens every relationship

• Double-dipping your time — Chad's method for maximizing his 24 hours by stacking learning with daily activities

Featured Quote: "Your dreams will come true when you go out of your way to make other people's dreams come true." — Chad Biagini

About Chad Biagini: Chad Biagini is the President of Excel Search and Advisory, a premier leadership consultancy specializing in sports, media, and entertainment. A Sports Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, Chad has led over 400 executive appointments across major global sports leagues and organizations. He is also the host of The Excellent Leadership Podcast, where he interviews sports and entertainment leaders to explore championship cultures, high performance, and transformational leadership.

About Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit™: Hosted by Mike Mooney, CSP, Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit™ is a leadership and performance podcast built around the pillars of Excellence, Presence, Intentionality, and Curiosity. Each episode features real, inspiring conversations designed to empower leaders with actionable tools to accelerate their personal and professional pursuit.

From Bold Decisions to People-First Leadership: Tim Flanagan on Scaling, Strategy & Courage | Your Epic Pursuit Podcast

What does it really take to lead through a strategic inflection point? In this episode, Mike Mooney sits down with Tim Flanagan - third-generation leader, General Agent at the Pelora Group (MassMutual), Charlotte's 40 Under 40 honoree, and Most Admired CEO - for a raw, honest conversation on leadership, courage, and building high-performance teams.

Tim shares the moment he looked across a conference table and realized his team had split into two camps - and what he did about it. He unpacks why hope is not a plan, how to think 10X when the pressure is on, and the "slow down to speed up" strategy he and his business partner use to cut through the chaos without stopping the business.

In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How to apply 10X thinking to compress your vision timeline ✅ Why strategic inflection points demand bold people decisions ✅ The "slow down to speed up" practice for leaders under pressure ✅ What "honoring someone's choice" means in real leadership ✅ How micro moments and experience wakes build (or break) culture ✅ The people-first principle that's driven decades of Charlotte business success

Whether you're a founder, executive, team leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode delivers the kind of practical leadership wisdom you can put to work immediately.

🎙️ Guest: Tim Flanagan | General Agent, Pelora Group | MassMutual | Charlotte, NC 🏆 Charlotte's 40 Under 40 | Most Admired CEO | Best Places to Work

Connect with Tim Flanagan: [Insert Link] Connect with Mike Mooney: [Insert Link] Subscribe to Your Epic Pursuit: [Insert Link]

📌 Chapters: 0:00 – Welcome & Tim's Introduction 2:16 – The Science of Scaling & 10X Thinking 10:37 – The Bold Decision That Changed Everything 24:02 – Slow Down to Speed Up 31:40 – The People-First Leadership Principle 37:33 – Micro Moments & Experience Wakes 39:21 – Closing Thoughts