Executive Evolution

"When you're growing, it's really easy to lose connection with people."   In this episode, Craig P. Anderson welcomes Phillip Wambsganss , President of Higher Education Servicing Corporation (HESC) , to explore how mentorship, humility, and intentional connection shape great leadership. Phillip shares how early career failures, strong mentors, and self-reflection guided his evolution from a young...

"It's not just about winning clients. It's about building a culture where people want to stay and grow." In this episode, Craig P. Anderson welcomes Cassie Dunn , Managing Partner at Haines, Isenbarger & Skiba LLC , to share her journey of leadership in the accounting world. Cassie opens up about the lessons she's learned leading through growth, acquisitions, and client transitions, including why...

"Sales success isn't about the perfect pitch. It's about building trust that lasts." In this episode, Craig P. Anderson welcomes Mandy Minitello , sales coach and host of Chasing Impact, Not Sales , to explore what it takes to sell and lead in today's world. Mandy shares how being "volun-told" into training others sparked a passion for teaching and coaching that shaped her career. Craig and Mandy...

"Leadership is about turning people into doers."   In this episode, Craig Anderson talks with Marc Rust , CEO and Founder of Consequently Creative , about the intersection of creativity, leadership, and vision. Marc shares his journey from creative director to business owner, highlighting the importance of setting clear standards, fostering initiative, and balancing passion with structure. He talk...

"It's not about being the smartest in the room—it's about creating space for others to contribute." In this episode, Craig P. Anderson welcomes Tricia Naddaff , President of Management Research Group , to explore what it really means to lead through change, complexity, and feedback. Tricia shares how her earliest leadership lessons—like being a fourth-grade bus stop monitor—shaped her approach to...

"It's okay to not know the answers, but it's not okay to sit on that." In this episode, Craig P. Anderson speaks with Sean McDonald , President of MOR Associates , about navigating leadership in the face of autonomy, uncertainty, and change. Sean shares how his early experiences taught him to step into responsibility before he had a title - and why that mindset remains critical today. Sean and Cra...

"Enjoy the process and don't just focus on the future and the outcomes so much." In this episode of Executive Evolution, Craig Anderson sits down with Dan Fahrner , founder and CEO of Shake Up Cocktails and Hi & Mighty Distillery . From touring the country in a van with his band to leading a fast-growing canned cocktail brand, Dan shares how his leadership style evolved across wildly different sta...

"Leadership is influence with purpose and direction and service to others." In this episode, Craig P. Anderson speaks with Dr. Lani Jones , Owner and Founder of HBL Advisory Group , about the mindset shifts leaders must make when stepping into positions of influence, regardless of whether they hold the title. Dr. Jones reflects on her early leadership experience training interpreters in a clinical...

"True leadership isn't about doing it all yourself. It's about helping others rise to the occasion." In this episode, Craig P. Anderson talks to Brian Wheeler , the President and Chief Visionary Officer of The Vertical Life , for an insightful conversation about leadership. Brian shares his leadership journey, from high school entrepreneurship to leading a faith-based nonprofit organization focuse...

"Leadership starts with clarity—and the courage to act on it." In this episode, Craig Anderson takes the mic solo to share the three leadership mistakes he sees time and again: outsourcing your vision, waiting for certainty, and over-indexing on empathy. Drawing from decades of experience and recent coaching conversations, Craig reflects on why leaders must stop looking for consensus and start s e...

"Leadership is about building others up while getting out of their way." In this episode, Craig Anderson talks with Peter Dunn , founder and CEO of Your Money Line , about what it really takes to grow into a leadership role. Pete shares candid reflections on how he went from a self-focused leader to someone committed to empowering others through trust, transparency, and support. He opens up about...

"Leadership is about authenticity, vulnerability, and building strong connections." In this episode, Craig Anderson talks with Dr. Debra Chromy , President and CEO of Trellis Company , about her evolution as a leader and the lessons she's learned over her career. Debra shares her journey from early leadership roles to becoming a CEO, emphasizing the importance of being your authentic self and lead...

"Great leaders know when they're wrong." In this episode, Craig Anderson talks with Ben Pippenger , Co-Founder and Staff Product Manager of Zylo , about the evolution of leadership and the lessons learned from building and scaling a company. Ben shares his journey from an individual contributor to a leader, emphasizing the importance of understanding what truly motivates a team. He discusses how r...

"Leadership is about turning people into doers."   In this episode, Craig Anderson talks with Marc Rust , CEO and Founder of Consequently Creative , about the intersection of creativity, leadership, and vision. Marc shares his journey from creative director to business owner, highlighting the importance of setting clear standards, fostering initiative, and balancing passion with structure. He talk...

"What you put out as a leader will be heard and will affect every level of the organization." In this episode, Craig Anderson talks with Ian McCoog , Assistant Professor of Medical Education at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and author of Leadership Bites . Ian explores the challenges healthcare professionals face when transitioning from clinical expertise to leadership roles. Drawing f...

"A good leader is someone who is helping others become the best of themselves."   In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Brook Gratia , President of Edgewater CPA Group , to explore the realities of leadership, scaling a business, and the challenges of integrating new teams. Brook shares her journey from launching her firm to leading a team of 20, reflecting on key leadership lessons—like...

  "Oftentimes, positive reinforcement training ability translates well to humans too."   In this episode, Craig Anderson talks with Mandy Stetzel and Kathleen Schonsheck , Co-owners of Uptown Pup , about how they built a successful pet care business by prioritizing transparency, trust, and a strong team culture. Mandy and Kathleen share their journey from passionate dog lovers to business owners d...

"It's our job to make sure that we hire someone who is the right fit. Because not being a good fit is a terrible thing for someone who you offer a job to."   In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Jack MacKenzie , President of CollegeAPP to discuss his journey as a leader and the lessons he's learned from building successful teams. Jack reflects on stepping into his first major leadership...

"You can't build trust without relatability and authenticity—when your team knows you're genuine, trust naturally follows."   In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Kyle McDowell , author of Begin With We and founder of Kyle McDowell Inc. , to discuss his evolution as a leader and the principles that have shaped his leadership philosophy. Kyle shares how his transformative journey led to t...

"You can't lead an organization unless you have people coming alongside you to accomplish that task."   In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Christiana Thornton , CEO of Granite Edvance , to talk about her evolution as a leader and the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership philosophy. Christiana reflects on her journey, from stepping into her first major leadership role to assemblin...

"You're setting the direction. But how you get from Point A to Point B is really up to that person."   In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Chrystal Struben , President and CEO at AYS Inc , to share her journey as a leader navigating the complexities of nonprofit organizations. Chrystal reflects on her experience following a 34-year founder, sharing how she developed her unique leadershi...

"If you have discipline around your actions, discipline around your, your, your schedule, you're gonna, you're gonna find success." After an unbalanced start to his professional life, Patricio Daneri , Managing Director of Energy Harness Corporation , discovered the power of empathy and discipline, transforming his team and ultimately developing a successful business empire. Now he has a keen eye...

"Leaders are meant to serve. It's not an ego trip. It's how you serve your team." When Kyle Lacy , now CMO of Jellyfish , took on his first leadership role, it was all about him and his performance. But over time, he's learned to check his ego at the door and focus on pouring into his people instead to achieve more success than he ever thought possible. In this episode, Kyle shares his insights on...

"A true challenge in leadership is learning when to step back and let others find their own path from A to Z."   In this episode of Executive Evolution, Craig Anderson talks with Adam Hayes, owner of Hayes Group Marketing , about the journey of leading and scaling a small business. Adam shares how he transitioned from a hands-on approach to a visionary role, focusing on empowering his team through...

"A really powerful lesson is knowing that it is okay to admit when you've made a mistake. That shows people that your ego isn't getting in the way of you showing up as a good human."   In this episode of Executive Evolution, Craig Anderson sits down with Susan Baroncini-Moe , Executive Coach and CEO at Baroncini-Moe Executive Coaching , about leadership grounded in empathy, self-awareness, and aut...