Leaders & Legacies

Damon Raque is the founder of Bottle Bank and former financial services executive. Damon shares how his once-comfortable life in financial services left him restless, questioning his purpose. Forced out of his corporate role during the pandemic, Damon used the opportunity to reflect on his life’s impact and chose to pursue something more meaningful. Now, as a leader in the hospitality industry, he...

Jon Browne is a specialist in Direct Primary Care (DPC). He discusses a revolutionary approach to health benefits for small and medium-sized businesses. Browne explains how business leaders can offer health care options without breaking the bank through DPC. He details how DPC allows physicians to step outside the insurance system, providing better care at lower costs. Browne emphasizes that busin...

Aswand Cruickshank shares how his early experiences in football shaped his leadership philosophy. After a traumatic event as a young player, where his coach passed away on the field, Aswand learned the true value of teamwork and resilience. He uses those lessons today to help businesses develop a culture of teamwork and accountability. He emphasizes the importance of coaching in leadership, noting...

Michael Roderick shares his unique framework—the triple-threat leadership model of Celebrity, Scientist, and Magician—to help leaders understand and leverage their core strengths. Drawing from his eclectic background, Michael reveals how knowing and embracing your natural talent can drive success. He also dives deep into the concept of reciprocity, showing how aligning with the right connections a...

Dr. John Duldner, known as "The Data Doc," brings his unique leadership perspective to healthcare. With a background as a Marine and a medical professional, Dr. Duldner combines rigorous data analysis with compassionate patient care to transform health outcomes. In this episode, he discusses the importance of evidence-based medicine, explaining how good data, physician expertise, and patient prefe...

Rusty Fulling, founder of Fulling Management and Accounting, delves into the essential elements of leadership in a remote-first world. Rusty shares his journey of building a resilient team that continued thriving even when he was unexpectedly out of commission. He highlights the importance of trust, purpose, and consistent communication in fostering a cohesive team culture, despite physical distan...

Joe Travaglione, founder of Future State Cyber, shares unconventional leadership insights inspired by his upbringing around Italian immigrants and his surprising connections to the Mob. Travaglione discusses how the Mob's structured approach to leadership and development has shaped his management style. From self-managing teams to providing clarity in goals, Joe emphasizes the importance of develo...

David Contorno, founder of E Powered Benefits, sheds light on how business leaders can significantly reduce healthcare costs while improving employee outcomes. Contorno explains that the current healthcare system is not broken—it’s working as designed, benefiting insurers and hospitals while leaving employers and employees with skyrocketing costs. His solution? Leaders need to start asking differe...

David Buck, founder of Kairos Management Solutions, reveals how leaders can optimize their time and delegate effectively to create lasting impact. Buck emphasizes the difference between "Chronos" (clock time) and "Kairos" (the quality of time), urging leaders to focus on purposeful, quality-driven time management. By flipping the traditional reactive approach to time, Buck advocates for proactive...

Kevin Barona’s leadership journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of purpose. In this episode, Kevin shares his path from Capitol Hill to becoming the founder of Cycore Secure, a cybersecurity firm. He emphasizes the critical role leadership plays in shaping a company’s culture, particularly in high-pressure environments like cybersecurity. Drawing from personal expe...

Lori Saitz is the founder of Zen Rabbit and the Zen Leadership Program. Lori shares how leaders can enhance productivity, reduce stress, and improve retention through intentional actions and workplace well-being practices. Drawing from her experience, Lori emphasizes the importance of grounding exercises, deep breathing, and gratitude to foster a calm, productive environment. She explains how bein...

Christian Brim, founder of Core Group, talks about the realities of leading a business through growth and financial challenges. Christian shares his journey of scaling back to grow intentionally, emphasizing the importance of sound accounting processes and focusing on margin improvement. He dives into the role of a leader in guiding a company towards meaningful goals, not just growth for its own s...

Robert Hunt, a leader who believes in the power of accountability and vulnerability to drive true leadership. Hunt, known as “the accountability guy,” emphasizes that leadership isn’t about self-glory but about equipping others to succeed. He draws on personal experiences, discussing how embracing accountability changed his life, business, and relationships. Hunt stresses the importance of vulnera...

Lenora Edwards, Chief Knowledge Officer at Better Speech, shares her insights on leadership through the lens of speech therapy. In this episode, Lenora discusses how effective communication is crucial not only for personal well-being but also for leadership in any setting. She explains the broad scope of speech therapy, which extends far beyond speech clarity to include cognitive skills, memory, a...

Mitch Carson, a seasoned media expert, talks about the vital role of media exposure in leadership. Carson, who cut his teeth on the Home Shopping Network, shares his journey from a nervous beginner to a confident pitchman, emphasizing the importance of practice and preparation. He discusses the fear many leaders face when stepping into the spotlight, particularly on live television, and offers pra...

Scott Springer, founder of Chelwood Consulting Group, discusses the critical steps needed to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and make it globally competitive. Springer emphasizes the importance of automation in maintaining cost efficiency and product quality. He highlights how Germany and Japan have excelled by focusing on high-quality production and extensive automation. Springer also unders...

Jed Harris, CEO of Puretec Industrial Water, discusses his unique approach to leadership within the challenging water purification industry. Harris, whose company handles water essential for manufacturing processes, shares insights into steering a family business inherited from his grandfather and expanded by his father. His journey has been marked by innovation, resilience, and a strategic pivot...

Gail Martino, founder of Leapfrog Advisory, dives deep into her unique career journey and insights into leadership and technology. Starting with her unexpected role sniffing armpits at Gillette to evaluate deodorant efficacy, Gail explores the intersection of scientific evaluation and product development. She details her experiences at major companies like Procter & Gamble and Unilever, emphas...

Seasoned entrepreneur Sean Languedoc shares his extensive experience in building companies and navigating the treacherous waters of leadership in tech. Sean discusses the importance of letting go of the ego to foster a culture of innovation and adaptation, a principle that has guided his journey in establishing five successful companies. Sean highlights key leadership challenges and the critical e...

There's something that differentiates people who stay stuck as opposed to those who break free. Lenora Edwards has seen this first-hand from her years of clinical experience. Lenora uses the S.H.I.F.T Protocol to help people break free from the critical inner voice that spirals us into negative behavior. But first, she tackled her own emotional eating disorder. Now she uses her personal experience...

Justin Fortier, a seasoned tech entrepreneur, delves into the highs and lows of leading multiple startups. Fortier, CEO and CTO of FYC Labs, shares his journey from starting with minimal resources to leading successful tech ventures. His candid recount of entrepreneurial challenges highlights the importance of resilience and strategic planning in leadership. Justin emphasizes the critical aspect o...

Sean Quigley, a former Marine turned business consultant, delves into the core of leadership shaped by adversity. Starting with his time in the Marine Corps, Quigley emphasizes the importance of resilience and crisis management, attributes that he later applied in the corporate world at Deloitte and now at his own consulting firm, Knighthawk Consulting. Throughout the discussion, Quigley shares po...

HR Huntsman, founder of Your Leader's Edge, shares his transformative journey from a tumultuous childhood to becoming a beacon of leadership and mentorship. Huntsman discusses how his difficult upbringing fueled his desire to invest positively in young leaders and the broader community. His leadership philosophy centers on unlocking human potential, fostering gratitude, and encouraging generosity—...

Mickie Kennedy shares his journey from a creative writer to the founder of eReleases, underscoring the unconventional paths leadership can take. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling in leadership, particularly how presenting data with a compelling narrative can captivate attention and drive significant media coverage and business growth. Key leadership qualities such as adaptability, visio...

Drewbie Wilson is the founder of "Call the Damn Leads". Drewbie shares his journey of overcoming personal challenges, including significant weight loss and battling addiction, to emerge as a resilient leader. His story is not just about personal transformation but also about the power of disciplined leadership in driving business success. Drewbie emphasizes the importance of valuing time, the most...