In this special milestone episode of Nuts & Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren turns the spotlight on longtime co-host and producer Hali Gibson as she steps into a new leadership role beyond Threaded Fasteners. Hali reflects on her journey from intern to marketing leader, sharing the key lessons and "nuggets" she's gathered from nearly 50 episodes - like the importance of curiosity, embracing imperfection, and the value in surrounding yourself with subject matter experts. Hali opens up about her move to Milwaukee and her excitement (and nerves) about leading a new marketing team at RF Technologies. The conversation explores leadership language, navigating transitions, and empowering emerging leaders to take the initiative and "raise their hand" for new opportunities. This heartfelt farewell is packed with wisdom for anyone navigating change or growing as a leader. Don't miss Hali's insights and the team's commitment to carrying the podcast - and its legacy - forward!
3 Key Listener Takeaways
The Value of Curiosity and Teamwork in Building Something New
Both Billy and Hali reflect on how their podcast's growth hinged on staying curious, asking lots of questions, and bringing knowledgeable people into the fold—like their podcast engineer, Johnny. They emphasize that embracing imperfections and learning together as a team led to a more successful and enjoyable podcasting journey.
Language and Culture Matter in Leadership
Hali discusses how certain language and cultural habits they developed at Threaded Fasteners—like "constructively discontent," "practicing the pause," "bootstrapping," and using "we" language—became integral to their work. She anticipates carrying these language nuggets with her to her new role, illustrating how shared language shapes team culture and personal leadership style.
Growth Through Stretch Opportunities and Safe Environments
A major theme is Hali's career journey: she moved from intern to leadership, largely by raising her hand for new challenges (like creating a marketing department and launching the podcast). Billy and Hali both stress the importance for emerging leaders to seek out new opportunities—even if unprepared—and for established leaders to create safe environments where it's okay to fail, learn, and grow. This supportive culture was portrayed as essential for both individual and organizational development.
Show Overview
00:00 Podcasting: Learning, Growth, and Fun
03:34 Podcast's Impactful Guest Stories
08:31 Milwaukee Move Sparks New Opportunity
11:30 Explaining Bootstrapping in Marketing
13:35 Leadership Journey and Language Insights
18:21 Marketing Role Development Journey
21:11 Empowering Emerging Leaders
25:25 Encouraging Growth Through Leadership Challenges
27:35 Farewell Tribute to Hali
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