Changemakers Collective

When you’re over-capacity, stuck in the weeds, and questioning your value - you don’t need a productivity hack. You need a new perspective. In this episode, we sit down with Novice Studios founder Kristen Stegall to talk about the quiet burnout that crept up on her, how she almost disqualified herself from doing Prepping for Everest… and why going through it ended up changing everything. Kristen s...

You’re making bold moves, chasing growth, and doing the hard work to get better… but what if the “progress” you’re pushing for is actually doing more harm than good? In this episode, we’re diving into the difference between healthy discomfort and damaging decisions. Scott and Steff introduce the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act), a powerful decision-making model adapted from fighter pilots...

There’s the pain of being broken, and the pain of getting better. One leaves you stuck, the other moves you forward. But both can hurt. In this episode, Scott and Steff unpack the difference between pain that signals something’s wrong, and pain that means you’re healing. Whether it’s the slow work of rebuilding a team or the brutal honesty of realizing you can’t fix it alone, this conversation goe...

Anybody can point out problems and call out what’s not working, but fewer people actually take the time to meaningfully solve those problems. In this episode, we discuss the importance of being a problem solver, not a problem identifier. This includes the necessity of leadership humility, which involves listening to team members, embracing their ideas, and sharing decision-making authority. We als...

When we ask business owners and teams what they need to get closer to their mission and vision, 99% percent of the time they all say “money.” And 99% percent of the time, that’s not actually what they need. In this episode, we explain why more money isn’t going to solve your problems, and why crafting a clear vision and aligning your existing financials to that vision is going to take you way furt...

Are your board and staff working together harmoniously… or are they butting heads at every turn? In our experience, it’s usually the latter, so in this episode, we’re sharing how you can take steps to create more harmony between your staff and board. From getting aligned on the same vision to making sure the right people are in the right seats, this episode has everything you need to ensure your p...

Change is hard, but changes in leadership are another beast altogether. In this episode, we’re diving into how to navigate leadership changes in your organization in a way that keeps everyone aligned on the big picture vision. Plus, we share some behind the scenes intel on our Leadership Challenge workshop and how it facilitates a smooth and exciting leadership transition. Links mentioned: Vision...

It’s no secret that many kids are slipping through the cracks of the education system, but with the right engagement, we can turn this ship around. In this episode, David Spellmon Jr. shares how his organization, Positive Archer Solutions, solves this problem through hip-hop music. Yes, you read that right: David connects with students through music to build social and emotional learning skills to...

Can a cup of coffee change the world? A product-based business can absolutely be impact-driven, and Bryan Boan’s coffee company, Rock Hill Coffee, is living proof of that. In this episode, Bryan shares the wild stories behind starting and scaling his company, how keeping collaboration and connection at the forefront has supported his growth, and his vision to make a global impact with Rock Hill Co...

Having an advisory board or a board of directors for your organization can multiply the impact of your organization’s mission… but only if you have the right people in the right seats. In this episode, we discuss the legal requirements for a board, our hot take on pay-to-play boards, and how to serve on a board if you want to make an impact for a cause you care about. Links mentioned: Oakworth Cap...

Have you ever showed up to an event as a volunteer, ready to put some time and energy into a cause you’re excited about, only to arrive and be unsure of what to do? We’ve all been there, and it’s not only a bad look for the organization, it’s also a lost opportunity to make an impact. In this episode, we discuss how to lead your volunteers to success, protecting yourself and your volunteers legall...

If we had a dollar for every time we heard someone say “we’ll just hire an intern to do that,” we’d be living on the beaches of Tahiti right now. So many people see interns as unpaid (or cheap) laborers that will solve all the problems in their business. In this episode, we’re breaking down some of the myths about interns, what an intern can and can’t do in your organization, and how to build an i...

We wanted to end our financial literacy series by sharing the weekly practice that helped Steff and her husband pay off credit card debt, build savings, and maintain their financial gains. Having a weekly budget might not sound fun or glamorous, but it’s the key to making financial changes that will set you up for less stress, big future purchases, and a stronger relationship with your spouse. Tha...

There is a lot of uncertainty about the economy right now and how it will impact people personally and in their businesses. Some good news: you still have control over your financial future. In this episode, we discuss the ways you can take control of your financial future through intentional tax planning, building up savings accounts, and making smart (emphasis on smart) investments that will set...

Talking about money can be difficult, especially if you grew up in a family that never talked about it. That’s why we’re running a financial literacy series on the podcast to help you understand the basics, starting with our money stories, how (and why) we tend to rack up debt, and our own experiences of financial hardship and how we worked through it. This series was inspired by Scott’s young adu...

Team inefficiencies can be incredibly frustrating for you, your customers, and your team members. In this episode, we’re sharing how to spot those team inefficiencies and remedy them through strategic operational shifts. If you’re ready to get your team aligned on their roles, responsibilities, and processes so you all have more time and less frustration, this episode is for you! Links mentioned:...

Entrepreneurship and leading a company is such a fun ride, but man… It gets lonely sometimes. In this episode, we’re speaking directly to that feeling. Whether you’re just now starting your business, or you’ve led a company for decades, you’ve probably felt that loneliness at one point on your journey. In this episode, we’re talking through how to cope with those feelings, surround yourself with p...

Figuring out what to charge for your products and services is one of the trickiest tasks for many entrepreneurs. Looking at what your competitors are charging is just one piece of the puzzle - and not even a helpful piece at that! In this episode, we dig into exactly what to include in your pricing, how to factor in unexpected expenses, and raising your prices with existing customers in a way that...

Faith can be a very divisive topic, but it is a core value of our business at Silverback Ventures. It doesn’t have to be in yours, but if you’re curious about what it looks like in our business, we’re sharing how we balance being open about being Christian without becoming street preachers, why surrounding ourselves with people with different beliefs is important, and how you are bringing faith to...

As a consulting firm specializing in impact-driven businesses, we work with a lot of nonprofit organizations to help them scale their mission. Nonprofits tend to get really good at doing more with fewer resources, so in this episode, we’re passing some of those skills onto you as a for-profit business owner. If you feel held up because you don’t have enough team members, capital, or some other tan...

Starting a business can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we break down the most critical - and commonly missed - elements of starting a strong business. We use concrete examples throughout so you can see exactly what each step looks like in practice. We cover a ton of strategies in this episode, but we created a free resource for the logistical steps so you’re fully c...

If we asked you what your vision statement is, could you tell us right this second, or would you have to look it up? If your vision statement isn’t strong enough that you have it ready to share at all times, it probably isn’t strong enough to align your team on the impact you want to have. In this episode, we share how to overcome the common pitfalls of crafting a vision statement so you can maxim...

If there’s one thing we can agree on about work-life balance, it’s that it doesn’t exist. That being said, prioritizing time for family and self-care shouldn’t always feel like an uphill battle. In this episode, we discuss the unique challenges entrepreneurs face when it comes to spending time with their family while growing their business. We cover strategies from time blocking to boundary settin...

In an ever-growing business world, it might feel difficult to find a competitive advantage, especially if you’re in a saturated market. Your competitive advantage is the thing you do better, differently, or more targeted than anyone else, and it’s what can propel your business forward at lightning speed. In this episode, we talk through how to find your competitive advantage, then how to communica...

Anybody can point out problems and call out what’s not working, but fewer people actually take the time to meaningfully solve those problems. In this episode, we discuss the importance of being a problem solver, not a problem identifier. This includes the necessity of leadership humility, which involves listening to team members, embracing their ideas, and sharing decision-making authority. We als...