104. Culture, Growth, and Hard Truths with Martell Media’s COO Tod Melnyk

In this episode of The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast, Dwayne sits down with Tod Melnyk, COO of Martell Media. Martell Media is the powerhouse company behind bestselling author Dan Martell's high-impact content and coaching ecosystem. Together, Dwayne and Tod explore what it really takes to scale a business while staying true to culture and values.

Tod shares his journey from the brewing industry to running operations at one of the fastest-growing media companies in North America. Together, Dwayne and Tod break down:

• Why one-on-ones and quarterly check-ins are non-negotiables.
• How Dan Martell Media uses its three core values—Build the People, Be the Example, and Simple Scales—to grow globally while keeping culture intact.
• Why discipline can be both a strength and a weakness in leadership.
• The pivotal role of self-belief and internal work in becoming a stronger leader.
• The handoff process between visionary founders and strong integrators that unlocks true scale.

Packed with real-world leadership lessons, this episode is a masterclass in operational excellence, culture building, and personal growth.

Timestamps

00:00 – 02:30 | Intro: Dwayne welcomes Tod and frames Dan Martell Media’s mission.

03:00 – 06:30 | Why building people comes before building business.

07:00 – 11:30 | The structure of one-on-ones, quarterly check-ins, and the 5-15 tool.

12:00 – 15:30 | Culture and core values at Martell Media: Build the People, Be the Example, Simple Scales.

18:00 – 22:00 | Kind warriors: balancing high performance with empathy.

23:00 – 28:30 | Tod’s leadership evolution: from hard-driving sales manager to authentic, self-aware leader.

29:00 – 34:30 | Going internal: how self-belief and reflection shift everything.

36:00 – 39:00 | The upside—and downside—of discipline.

41:00 – 45:30 | Scaling through others: why leaders must default to outcomes, not inputs.

47:00 – 49:30 | Common roadblocks leaders face when scaling: delegation, systems, and leadership.

50:00 – 55:30 | Visionary vs. Integrator: how Tod and Dan divide roles to scale.

57:00 – 58:30 | Closing thoughts & teaser for Part 2.

Notable Quotes

• “Build the people, because the people build the business.” – Tod Melnyk
• “You’ve got to be good to get on the team. You’ve got to be great to stay on the team.” – Tod Melnyk

Resources & Mentions

• Book: Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
• Book: Worthy by Jamie Kern Lima
• Book: Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman & Mark C. Winters
• Frameworks Referenced: EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), Visionary vs. Integrator

Key Takeaways

• Culture is everything. Core values—Build the People, Be the Example, Simple Scales—drive hiring, retention, and performance.
• One-on-ones and quarterly reviews are vital to aligning goals, uncovering obstacles, and fostering accountability.
• Outcomes over inputs. Hold people accountable to results, not just activities.
• Leadership evolves. Authenticity, empathy, and self-belief matter more than hard-driving tactics alone.
• Delegation and trust are the keys to scaling beyond founder-driven businesses.

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