Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts)

The Whiskey Secret  Fawn Weaver, visionary CEO and founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, has made history by creating the fastest-growing American whiskey brand ever. She stands among a rare group—one of only five African American women to lead a $1B+ company in U.S. history. But Fawn's journey is about more than building a business... ...it’s about resurrecting the untold story of Neares...

Moving 28 Million People by Train. Robert Grasty, Amtrak’s EVP and CHRO, is driving the transformation of a dynamic workforce, essential to keeping millions of passengers moving across the country every day. With a clear focus on shared purpose, innovation, and operational excellence, you'll hear his strategy for reshaping Amtrak’s growing organization. Amtrak's unprecedented expansion is fueled b...

The President’s Time Secret Anthony Viglietti, President at theSkimm, dives into a game-changing approach to leadership that can immediately elevate your effectiveness. His strategy led to incredible revenue growth... 100%+ at theSkimm A massive leap from $60M to $400M at Univision. 200% growth at BET Digital. What You’ll Discover in this Episode: ✅ How to Thrive in a Leadership Shake Up. ✅ When...

The Vision Spark Jesse Cole, founder and owner of the Savannah Bananas, has unlocked a trailblazing approach that sparks creativity and inspires a whole new way of thinking—not just in sports, but in life. His relentless drive to innovate could reshape how we tackle the world’s toughest challenges. Imagine if we all approached problems with this kind of fearless ingenuity. The Savannah Bananas are...

The WOW Leader! Jason Parker, Co-Founder of K9 Resorts and CEO of K9 Resorts Franchising, shares his remarkable journey of becoming one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the franchising world. At just 12 years old, he and his brother identified a need — and they never looked back and continue to generate "WOW" experiences for their customers (which include families and their dogs). Today, K9 Resort...

Leadership by All David Zeman is Chief Strategy Officer at ENT and Allergy Associates... THE Nation’s Largest ENT, Allergy & Audiology Practice . He shares the incredible story of a hospital system that was struggling. Everything was chaotic until one leader introduced a simple but powerful mantra that changed everything. It united the staff work and the hospital became much better place for b...

A Remarkable Rise to CEO Get inspired by the extraordinary journey of Tatyana Zlotsky, the CEO of A Place for Mom.... the leading senior care advisory service in North America. Tatyana's story is a powerful lesson in resilience, adaptability and leadership. When she and her family arrived in the US as refugees, she faced many tough obstacles. Despite these challenges, she persevered to become a to...

The Accountability CEO Scott Wine, has 16 years as CEO and top executive at major public companies like CNH, Polaris, UTC Fire and Security, Danaher, and Honeywell. He shares his proven approach for instilling accountability across organizations and teams at all levels. Just wait until you hear how this one strategy... ...delivered REMARKABLE results and success for thousands. Without accountabili...

The Groove Leader Aaron Nursey, Founder and CEO of Direct Components, reveals how his DJ'ing for the team infuses the workplace with an electrifying energy. This vibrant approach not only boosts morale but also sparks outstanding performance, making the 26-year-old company a standout hub of creativity and enthusiasm in its industry. ----  Direct Components has experienced exponential growth a...

Food Fight! Join Brandon Rhoten, Chief Marketing Officer at GroundTruth, as he shares his most compelling stories and lessons from the world of bold, snarky marketing. You'll discover how he revolutionized Wendy's brand with viral Twitter feuds, turning the fast-food giant into a social media powerhouse. You'll also get an insider’s look at the creative strategies that sparked growth at Papa John’...

The CAULIPOWER Founder, Gail Becker ... ...took a bold leap of faith. She traded an illustrious corporate career and went ALL In on a singular vegetable. Driven by a moment of profound inspiration, she forged a groundbreaking category in the "better-for-you" frozen food industry. Under her leadership, CAULIPOWER skyrocketed to over $100 million in revenue in just three years, transforming the mark...

No Fail Leadership Garry Schwartz, COO of Mission Technologies, is a Marine Officer Veteran and has seen his fair share of high-pressure situations. AND in this interview you'll hear how he navigated one that is toughest beyond the battlefield... ...when a leadership shakeup challenged the organization, Garry knew he had to take a risk. Facing an uncertain future, he boldly presented the new leade...

Million Dollar Klicks Ryan Slipakoff, Chief Transformation Officer at Klick, shares the incredible story of how his company awarded $1,000,000 to motivate team members to leverage AI. The results were powerful... ...innovation accelerated. ...productivity sky rocketed. ...customers and industries were transformed. While some leaders consider AI a "headcount reducer", Ryan is leveraging to maximize...

The Breakthrough Leader Doug Hardesty, COO at MycoWorks, shares where leaders can consistently source the best ideas for their teams and companies. You'll hear the story behind his strong track record of success and innovation, leading a biotech company that is growing an incredible new category of materials from mycelium–the root structure of MUSHROOMS! Leadership can be isolating and you may fin...

240 Miles of Discomfort Jonathan Edwards, CEO - Americas at iC Consult, shares the unexpected lesson he uncovered through grit and endurance. This distance is like running 9 marathons consecutively and let's just say there is a lot to learn about leadership of yourself and others when you put yourself through this kind of extreme conditions. His message is incredible and no doubt you'll be engaged...

The Viral CEO Joseph Stinziano, President and CEO of First Orion, recounts the daunting moment in his career that transformed a crisis into a monumental success for both him and his organization. It involves Mark Cuban, legendary filmmaker Michael Bay, and a disastrous viral video. However, what emerged from this chaos was extraordinary. This demonstrates that even in the face of catastrophe, ther...

The North Star Negotiable Pavlos Pavlidis, President & Chief Operating Officer Medix Infusion, shares the secret behind his leadership success. Many leaders and their teams rush into making change then risk confusion, wasted resources, and decreased morale. But when you clarify your absolutes you provide a leadership "North Star" that helps guide your team in turbulent times, AND... ...acceler...

24/7 Media Titan Amanda Smith, President of Fairchild, has led at giants like the WSJ, NYT, and VOGUE. Now she's at the helm of Fairchild… the oldest and largest source of fashion news and analysis for industry leaders, and the global fashion industry. Their brands include WWD, Beauty Inc, Footwear News Sourcing Journal and Rivet. She unveils the powerful strategies that drive her success in runni...

Ever been on an executive cruise? This episode is brought to you by UnCruise Adventures Small Ship Cruising that connects guests with nature and wildlife while exploring some of the most remote and scenic destinations on the West Coast of the Americas including Alaska, Baja, and Hawaii. Get the latest deals benleads.com/cruise ------ Team-First Leadership Get inspired by Kirsty Bozlee, VP of Opera...

Barrier Breaker Sarah Chavarría, first female CEO in Delta Dental of California and Affiliates' 68-year history, is spearheading a major transformation from a traditional dental insurance company to an innovative healthcare organization centered on oral health. With extensive executive leadership experience, Sarah has identified a critical obstacle that often hinders leadership and team performanc...

Mentorship Power Michael Yamartino , CEO of Route , shares an INCREDIBLE strategy to work with a top mentor! Out of hundreds of interviews on Lead the Team, having at least one helpful mentor is an absolute common success factor. They inspire and accelerate your success. And you need to hear Michael's perspective here and the stories of how he quickly rose through the ranks at Pinterest, Microsoft...

Grow Your Next Gen Leaders Tom Mertz, COO of T5 Data Centers. shares his strategy for cultivating talent, fostering mentorship, and building a resilient leadership pipeline. Next Generation leaders are pivotal for your organization's future, offering fresh perspectives, challenging the status quo, and offering ideas on emerging technologies. With Data Centers driving the tech world forward, Tom pr...

Discomfort Power. Drayton Virkler, President and Chief Commercial Officer at Fortrea, shares his guiding mantra that's led to ground breaking initiatives and results in his 23 years in the life sciences industry from the US to Singapore. This leadership philosophy pushes boundaries and drives innovation and excellence. Just wait until you hear the stories for how he's applied it... ... from his wo...

Monumental Results! Joe Quinn, CHRO at Vision Technologies, reveals his top strategy for achieving extraordinary success in both his personal and professional life. A passionate life-long learner, Joe's journey is nothing short of inspiring. His first appearance on Lead the Team was packed with invaluable tips, practical gadgets, and a contagious enthusiasm that left me and our listeners craving m...

The Simplicity Secret Joe Conley, CTO at Trilogy, shares the guiding principle that transformed his leadership style and accelerated remarkable outcomes. Now simplification has become the North Star of his career. The alternatives are traps... ..."Shiny-object syndrome" that damages performance when you and your team get distracted. ...complication that creates confusions and slow your progress. T...