Leadership Levers
This podcast spotlights leaders' actions so they may enhance their organization’s performance and culture. We feature CEOs and industry-recognized Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who share their experiences and insights on three key challenges: people, performance, and profit. If you are a leader who wants to learn from your peers about improving performance and financial returns, please join us.
Episodes
What happens when empowered leadership goes unchecked - and everyone "starts running with scissors?"
In this episode of Leadership Levers, Joshua Miller, Founder & Principal of Remarkable Foods, shares how his food service consulting work revealed a hidden leadership trap - giving too much freedom without clear frameworks.
Joshua’s journey started with scrambled eggs at age eight and evolved into executive leadership in...
What happens when rapid growth exposes cracks in your structure - and you decide to rebuild from the inside out?
In this episode of Leadership Levers, Jimi Gibson, VP of Brand Communications at Thrive Agency, shares how his team preserved culture while scaling fast - and what marketing and magic have in common.
Jimi's leadership journey spans from graphic designer to creative director to executive leader. Along the way, he’s sta...
What happens when leaders stop pretending and start leading with vulnerability?
In this episode of Leadership Levers, Tucker Graves, CEO and co-founder of Pineapple Academy, shares how his content training company unexpectedly pivoted into the world of SaaS - and the leadership lessons that came with it.
With roots in a multi-generational family business, Tucker brings a grounded perspective on culture, growth, and people. When faced...
Is bigger always better?
In this episode of Leadership Levers, we sit down with David Mandel, Managing Partner at Emerging Ventures Capital, to explore how culture, capital, and leadership collide in high-growth environments.
David shares his journey from aspiring AI researcher in the 1980s to serial entrepreneur and now venture investor - offering a rare, full-circle view of leadership evolution.
Having built and exited four underwr...
The relationship between organizational culture and business success has never been more critical - or more complex. How can today’s leaders strengthen culture in ways that drive performance and connection, especially across remote and hybrid teams?
In this Leadership Levers episode, we sit down with Charles Windsor, CEO of Oakwood Systems Group and TalentPort Inc, to unpack the connection between culture, performance, and leadershi...
What does it take to build a winning culture - on the court and in the office?
Highlights Covered
- Why process and mindset matter more than results
- How a “Pyramid of Success” model shaped team performance at KU
- The hidden cost of one bad actor on a high-performing team
- Leadership takeaway - be a star in your role, even if it’s behind the scenes
- Mindset principle: Live life in the hills and valleys, not at the peaks or the bottom
...
What happens when you shift from a culture of “can’t” to a culture of “can”?
Highlights Covered
- How a new leader used the first 90 days to map change across an entire organization
- The power of listening, documenting, and acting to build trust and momentum
- Why transitioning from a mindset of “can’t” to “can” unlocks empowerment, innovation, and accountability
- Real-world example - a $150 sponsorship request turned into a catalyst for ...
Is your next level of growth a process problem or a people problem?
Highlights Covered
- How a three-tier, national franchise model adds complexity to culture alignment
- The difference between handing out handbooks and living your mission
- Why the right senior hire is often the real unlock for growth
- How Covid forced consistent, system-wide communication and culture buy-in
- Leadership takeaway - most plateaus aren’t solved with how - they...
What happens when the market isn’t the problem - but the messenger is?
Highlights Covered
- Why product strategy often turns into culture therapy
- A case study - success metrics masked a deeper cultural breakdown
- How fear of leadership can quietly derail execution
- Leadership takeaway: Start every meeting with “How are you doing today?”
Summary
This episode reveals how behind every market-facing issue - there may be a deeper cultura...
What would you do if your organization faced a media firestorm, financial setbacks, and internal culture challenges—all at the same time?
In this episode of Leadership Levers, Rich Schaus, Executive Director at Gospel Rescue Mission, shares his firsthand experience leading through crisis and rebuilding trust - both within his team and the broader community.
Following a wave of public scrutiny from an embezzlement scandal and declinin...
Would you like to discover the secrets behind fostering a thriving & engaged workplace culture?
In this episode, we sit down with Brian Waldron, President & CEO of Dort Financial Credit Union, to discuss how leadership actions directly impact employee engagement, culture, and organizational performance.
Brian shares his leadership journey - from starting as a teller in college to leading a $2.3 billion credit union...
Curious how fostering trust, alignment, and growth opportunities can help leaders tackle talent challenges in high-growth organizations?
In this Leadership Levers Podcast episode, Jim Tolbert, CEO of Adelante Education Group, Chancellor of Universidad Santander USA & the Managing Director at PL3, shares his journey from investment banking to leading education-focused organizations.
Drawing on his extensive ex...
How do you create a culture that attracts top talent and inspires them to stay and thrive?
In this Leadership Levers Podcast episode, Stephen Wills, CEO of Knoxville Pediatric Associates, explores the pivotal role of culture in overcoming organizational challenges and enhancing performance.
Stephen shares his unique journey from journalism major to healthcare management, emphasizing how networking and adaptability...
Can being a 'business artist' spark improvisation and creativity to ignite innovation and transform how you lead and cultivate culture?
In this episode of the Leadership Levers, we are joined by Adam Boggs, CEO of Meahana.io and author of The Business Artist, to discuss the intersection of culture, creativity, and organizational growth.
Adam shares insights from his extensive experience consulting for m...
Is your organization prepared to turn a crisis into an opportunity while protecting its reputation and driving performance?
In this episode of the Leadership Levers, we sit down with Stephanie Craig, President of Kith.co, to explore the critical importance of crisis preparation and reputation management for organizations.
Stephanie shares her unique background, from growing up in Canada’s Arctic to working in bot...
Want to strengthen workplace culture and organizational performance by developing active listening skills, building shared intelligence, and improving intentional communication?
In this episode of the Leadership Levers, we are joined by Brant Lingle, Process and Strategic Consultant at Scott Hackman Ventures, to explore the intersection of leadership, culture, and performance.
Brant shares his passion for simplif...
What if nonprofits could break free from traditional constraints to achieve greater impact through visionary leadership and a strong performance-driven culture?
In this episode, Nicole Lawson, CEO and President of Orchards Children's Services, shares her journey of leading an organization that serves over 8,500 children with the support of a dedicated 350-member team.
With a background in behavioral healthcare, Nicole...
Can lessons from a family business and EOS principles transform your leadership and drive organizational performance?
In this episode of Leadership Levers, Kyle Danner, CEO of Kyle Danner Consulting and a Professional EOS Implementer, shares his journey from managing the complexities of a family business to guiding organizations in building thriving cultures.
Drawing from his personal experience in the family bus...
Can a strongly aligned culture and focused financial performance drive sustainable growth at your organization?
In this episode of Leadership Levers, we explore this with Lindsay Guzowski, CEO and founder of The Crucible.
Lindsay highlights her journey from private equity deal-making to developing a leadership assessment tool tailored for the Private Equity (PE) sector, drawing on her background in quantitative sociology. ...
Curious how a +25-year banking veteran turned personal homeowner frustrations into a thriving business — and why she believes a strong company culture is the key to success?
Discover the remarkable journey of Diane Carney, Founder & CEO of FI Home Services Inc - who transitioned from a 25-year banking career to the role of successful entrepreneur & leader!
You'll hear how her struggles with home ma...
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