Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL

In this episode, Justin McMenamy concludes his examination of Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management with a focus on Johnson's unwritten 15th rule. He explains the intricacies of creating and maintaining a 'Skunk Works' organization within a larger corporate entity, noting the challenges that come with resource and business model acquisitions. He highlights the importance of aligning with like-min...

In this episode, host Justin McMenamy interviews Steve Pierz, a friend and fellow corporate misfit, who shares his unconventional strategies and experiences from a long, innovative career. Steve recounts his daring approach in large meetings, his early passion for mechanical engineering inspired by his creative upbringing, and his impactful yet rebellious career at Caterpillar where he frequently...

In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, host Justin McMenamy & Brad Stoller explore the concepts of asymmetric warfare and the infinite games, focusing on how small organizations like Precision Planting can compete against much larger competitors.  The conversation delves into the importance of selecting the right leaders with characteristics such as mission-driven mindset, independence...

In this episode, host Justin McMenamy and guest Brad Stoller delve into the history and strategic growth of Precision Planting, an innovative agricultural company from Central Illinois. Founded by a resourceful farmer in 1993, the company prioritized improving planting equipment through unique solutions, fostering a loyal customer base and rapid technological advancements.   The episode highlights...

In this episode, host Justin McMenamy and guest Caleb Schleder share critical insights into team building and leadership, drawing from their extensive corporate experience. They discuss the importance of trust, psychological safety, and culture curation in building effective teams.   Strategies for hiring, including prioritizing the right fit over filling positions quickly, and innovative approach...

In this episode, host Justin McMenamy interviews Billy Samoa Saleebey, a former Tesla and SolarCity employee, about his experiences working in Elon Musk's companies. The discussion delves into Saleebey's roles in Global Sales and Product Training, and Leadership Development.   The episode explores Elon Musk's leadership style, the rigorous work culture at Tesla, and the unique onboarding and inter...

In this special anniversary episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' host Justin McMenamy and guest Jeff Snowden discuss various types of leadership styles by humorously comparing them to different birds. They explore the traits and behaviors of each bird type and relate them to characteristics found in management and corporate environments. The episode covers a range of bird analogies—from seagul...

In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, Justin McMenemy discusses his experiences and insights on leadership, drawing parallels with Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management from Skunk Works. Emphasizing the importance of organizational structure and environment, McMenemy explains how creating and maintaining distinct cultural and operational ecosystems within a company can enable both innova...

In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, host Justin McMenamy interviews Jim Weber, an award-winning inventor, mentor and friend. They discuss Weber's extensive career, his passion for mentoring, and his innovative and humorous approaches to leadership.   Weber shares stories of inspiring his team through unique team-building exercises, like crafting a Dr. Seuss-style poem and making a team...

In this episode, the fifth installment of the SkunkWorks mini-series which draws from Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management, Justin discusses the importance of clear specifications in product development. He examines the critical 10th rule of management, emphasizing the need for precise scope and proactive communication with clients and among co-workers to avoid scope creep and inefficiencies.  ...

In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' host Justin McMenamy and guest Brad Arnold discuss valuable leadership lessons they've learned across their careers. They delve into transitioning from individual contributors to leaders, navigating significant corporate changes, dealing with acquisition uncertainties, and fostering a culture of transparency and empowerment. Brad Arnold shares perso...

In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL', Justin McMenamy continues to explore the practical applications of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management in addition to Gordon MacKenzie's book 'Orbiting the Giant Hairball'. The discussion delves into the balance between stability and creativity within corporate structures, contrasting startup autonomy with the rigid norms of established companies...

In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy is joined by guest Jeff Hancher.  The discussion highlights Jeff's journey from a challenging upbringing in rural Pennsylvania to becoming an executive at Cintas, a publicly traded company, then later an author and speaker on numerous leadership topics. Jeff recounts the impact of his military service in shaping his character an...

In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy continues his survey of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management through the lens of his own 20-year career both leading and working within various product organizations.   Focusing on Rules #5-7, McMenamy critiques the overuse of metrics and status meetings in large organizations, providing anecdotes from his tenure at Precision...

In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy is joined by Jeff Snowden to discuss leadership lessons drawn from the career of Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the nuclear Navy. They explore Rickover's famed career, including his ascent from an immigrant family to a naval officer known for his meticulous work ethic and unorthodox leadership style. The conversation cove...

In this episode of 'Grody and UnPrOfEsSiOnAL' Justin McMenamy delves into how principles from rocket science can inform organizational architecture, particularly in disruptive startup environments. Using Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management from Lockheed Martin's Skunkworks, McMenemy emphasizes the importance of organizational elasticity, embedded project management, and the value of small teams...

In this episode of "Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL" Justin McMenamy interviews Lon Stroschein, a former corporate executive who transitioned to writing and coaching after a pivotal season in his life. Lon shares his journey from feeling unfulfilled despite a successful career to finding purpose through helping others. Topics discussed include the emotional struggles of mid-career, the importance of fi...

In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, Justin McMenamy kicks off a seven-episode mini-series focused on his experiences as a curator of a market disruptive technology division housed within a Fortune 500 company.  Each episode in the series is built from the framework of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management.  This list, authored in 1954, is the cultural charter document for Skunk Works...

In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, Justin McMenamy discusses leadership lessons with his friend and colleague, Juan Roncoroni.  The conversation covers topics like authenticity, transparency, balancing chaos with structure, and the importance of personal relationships in leadership. Roncoroni shares amusing anecdotes, such as accidentally filling a gasoline rental car with diesel while...

In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' Justin McMenamy critiques the modern employee opinion survey by questioning the effectiveness of employing broadbrush survey results and anonymous free text feedback to gauge employee morale. McMenamy points out that such surveys often fall short of their aim due to participation coercion, the psychology of anonymous comments, and leadership's creat...

In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' Justin McMenamy discusses leadership lessons with Bryce Baker, focusing on distinguishing principle from preference and integrating insights from different domains into your leadership approach. Bryce shares his journey from field sales representative to marketing manager at Precision Planting, emphasizing the importance of sales and marketing syner...

Justin McMenamy, host of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, shares his experience as a design engineer in a highly regulated and complacent company within the diesel engine industry. He discusses the aristocratic leadership style that stifled creativity, fostered fear, and led to a toxic workplace environment. Through personal stories and reflections, he details how this environment fostered bitterness a...

In this episode of 'Grody and UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' host Justin McMenamy is joined by longtime friend and colleague Benoit Blateyron.  Across the conversation, they discuss international business expansion, adapting strategies to different cultures, the significance of cultural understanding in team dynamics, and experiences working with diverse teams in Europe. The conversation delves into personal an...

Justin McMenamy, the host of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, shares his journey of stepping down from a VP role at Precision Planting, part of a Fortune 500 company. He details his decision to take a season of unpaid leave in search of personal balance, and re-prioritization. McMenamy explains his career path from engineering to leadership, the evolving demands on leaders within growing businesses, an...

In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL' Justin McMenamy interviews Matt Morgan about leadership experiences accumulated across his wide ranging career. They discuss Matt's journey from joining Precision Planting, including a mishap with a security gate, to his hands-on leadership style likened to a submarine captain. Matt emphasizes the importance of leading from within the challenge and b...