Lead. Learn. Grow.

Richmond Times-Dispatch writer Eric Kolenich joins Robin on episode 41 of the Lead. Learn. Grow. podcast. After a short stint working for the FBI, Eric joined the RTD staff and hasn't looked back. He has written about high school sports, higher education, business, health, and real estate in his nearly 15-year career. Eric is a professional storyteller and it's obvious in our conversation. Midway...

In Episode 40, Robin has a great conversation with Brad Eure of Eure Consulting . Brad learned business the hard way, through 30+ years of experience in the small and family business world. Now he's sharing what he learned with clients so that their companies have a smoother ride. Brad's three decades of operations and management experience have given him a sharp eye for what it takes to succeed i...

Richard Coughlan, Ph. D., is an associate professor in the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond. In addition to being an award-winning educator, he has consulted and advised many Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Coughlan also hosts the highly-acclaimed "C-Suite Conversations" at the University. A master interviewer, he has interviewed notable leaders from all parts of the business, no...

Andres Marquez-Lara is the Founder & CEO of UFacilitate, a leadership development and facilitation training organization that helps leaders be more effective. He has developed his growing company through a methodology that is a dynamic and inclusive blending of design thinking, improv theatre, and systems thinking. He and his team host workshops that help groups connect, collaborate, create, and c...

In episode 37, I walk through this week's  The Huddle,  a weekly leadership newsletter. If you like this format, let me know.      It's an age-old dilemma. We know exactly what we should do...yet, we don't do it. Being able to bridge the gap between knowledge and action may be the key for you and me reaching our goals.  The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote, "To know and not to do is really not to...

Todd Bradberry is the CEO of Parallel Management Company , located in Richmond, VA. Todd is a noted Business Coach, management consultant, trainer, and speaker. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here and Twitter here .  In Episode 36, we talk about Todd's journey in putting a lifelong practice of reading and learning into his first book, which he is currently writing. Todd shares a funny and me...

Join host Robin Green as he chats with Andrew Wright. Andrew is the Minor League Field Coordinator for the Boston Red Sox. I met Andrew a few years ago, and in some ways, we continued that conversation.  Andrew is a former college baseball coach who is now in professional baseball. Before his current role, Andrew was the Director of Operations at the New York Yankees Dominican Republic complex.  I...

Join me as I chat with Scot McRoberts, the Executive Director of the Virginia Council of CEOs.  Scot shares insights from a career of leading volunteer organizations, from the Boy Scouts of America to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, to founding VACEO 22 years ago.  We talk about the challenges of leading volunteers, what mentors have taught Scot about leadership, and various other topics.  If yo...

Join Kaley Klemp and me for an interesting conversation on the Enneagram. What the heck IS the Enneagram, and why are people using it to become better versions of themselves? Kaley shares insights on each of the 9 types and how she uses the Enneagram as a development tool with her corporate clients.  Kaley is a best-selling author and a leading Executive Coach based in Denver, CO. She co-authored...

In Episode 32, I talk with Jeff Fitch . He shares his journey from a high school teacher and coach in Hopewell to working for a local non-profit (SportsBackers) that has put Richmond on the radar as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. He was there when many of the significant events were in their infancy.  Jeff is now an employee of the PGA Tour and is a key member of the team that hosts the Do...

Tom Prusak , a Maryland native who came to Virginia to study and play lacrosse at Randolph-Macon College, joins us in Episode 31. Tom talks about his expectations coming into his first sales role and how great leaders around him have fueled his success.  This is a great message for people interested in starting a sales career and also for leaders who seem to struggle to find productive, entry-leve...

When a college student interns in a sales training and consulting business, what are the things that surprise them? What are some of the lessons that someone without experience in sales learns while being around sales every day?  I had an interesting conversation with my son Casey about his experience so far this summer. If you are a young professional and looking to get into sales, you may learn...

As the owner of a Sandler Training business, I get the opportunity to work with great people. People that invest in their success, are growth-minded, and willing to change in order to be more successful.  For the last 2 years, we have selected a Client of the Year. This is an individual that embodies the attitudes, behaviors, and techniques that train and coach on a regular basis. It's a difficult...

In episode 028, René Haines , Founder and President of FocalPath Coaching as she talks about how she got started as a business coach, what kinds of things she helps business owners with, and some ideas on how to weather the storm in a distressed economy. René has been helping business owners from throughout the country reach their potential and prosper. *** If you'd like to schedule a free, initia...

Episode 027 is a bit different. Robin takes to the mic solo and offers some insights from his clients on Best Practices for leading through tough times. With the COVID-19 virus literally changing every aspect of our lives, how do we respond as leaders? 

Jessica Philips , President & CEO of CA Human Services, joins us on episode 026 to talk about her journey that has taken her from working in the organization to leading it. She tells of how an experience she had as a teenager put her on a path she continues today.  Jessica and her organization were recently the recipients of the Sandler Training 2020 Non-Profit Scholarship and we talk a bit about...

Betsy Moore joins us for episode 25 and she shares many of the lessons she has learned as a painter. There are many lessons that entrepreneurs can take from the arts. In many ways, building a company (or even helping grow a team member) are similar to that of an artist. Growth requires us to see things as they can be - with an artist's eye.  You can find Betsy's art at a number of galleries in the...

In Episode 024, join in on my discussion with Jeremy Ford , owner of RVA Restoration.  Jeremy was a GM at the restoration company after spending the bulk of his career in the insurance business. After a massive rebranding effort - including a name change - he bought the company from it's previous ownership group and began his journey as an entrepreneur.  His success has been nothing short of remar...

Keith Reynolds is a native of Culpeper, VA and attended college at the University of Richmond. After a successful career in banking, one that saw him rise through the ranks quickly, he discovered a love for connecting people. He turned that passion into a successful business, as he and a partner founded Synapse , a referral networking organization with a unique twist - partnerships with non-profit...

Tripp Costen is the third-generation of leaders in the successful family business. Costen Floors was founded in 1948 and has survived the many up-and-downs that are prevalent in a family business.  Tripp tells a bit about his entry into the business, some amazing stories about his grandmother and how she ran the business. The stories about grandma are funny, inspiring, and amazing. Tripp shares a...

Join my discussion with Dennis Bickmeier , who became the third President of Richmond Raceway in July 2011. Prior to joining Richmond, Bickmeier spent nearly four years as the Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing at Michigan International Speedway, where he oversaw communications, corporate partnership sales, ticket sales and operations.   His career with International Speedway Corporati...

John Polk left Capital One to start his own consulting company called John Polk & Associates . He is a noted communications expert. Specifically, he helps firms with strategy decks, pitch decks, and other strategy-focused initiatives. He developed one of the most popular learning classes at Capital One and he has now gone out on his own to do the same for other businesses. *** John tells us of a s...

Welcome to Episode 019 of the Lead. Learn. Grow. podcast. In this episode, we chat with Michael Bor , the Founder and CEO of CarLotz .  Michael has an undergraduate degree from Lehigh University and earned an MBA at the Harvard Business School.  Michael takes us on a fascinating journey through an entrepreneurial journey that began as a teenager, putting small screws onto a small box, and led him...

Natalie McNamara is the owner of CreativeMktGroup , a dedicated and fractional marketing department to startups, small businesses and non-profits. They help clients in the areas of branding, digital marketing, business development and public relations.   In this episode, Natalie shares the real-world struggles of being a new business owner and shares how she has built her business from the ground...

On Episode 017, we are joined by Jay Markiewicz, the Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Jay discusses his students passion for entrepreneurship, how he thinks about thinking, and his views on how life is simply a series of mini-experiments. Our discussion was full of interesting insights that you won't want to miss. Get out your notebooks for this one! *** J...