Rethink Change

How do you get people to believe in something they can’t yet see? It starts with conviction, an unshakable belief in the problem you are solving and the future you are building. When you pour that clarity into one meaningful problem at a time, selling the vision becomes less about persuasion and more about helping others recognize what is possible, especially in fields where progress directly affe...

Some leaders grow through intention. Others grow through fire. And then there are leaders like Julia Chapman, who evolve through a rare combination of curiosity, serendipity, and the willingness to tackle problems most people would run from. Our guest this week doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. She uses her engineering mindset to run full force into challenges and leads her team to do the same...

Navigating financial strain, organizational change, and the isolation of leadership demands courage and clarity. The strongest leaders pivot quickly, stay grounded in their values, and act rather than wait for circumstances to shift.  Growth often emerges in seasons of pressure, when optimism, resilience, and strong relationships become essential tools for navigating the unknown. Our guest th...

What does it really take to simplify complex systems in a world where financial services, customer expectations, and technology evolve faster than most teams can keep up? And as AI unlocks real-time insights and new opportunities, how do leaders balance speed, strategy, and the courage to rethink what’s always been done?  In this episode of Rethink Change , Lily Isham, General Manager, Financ...

There’s something powerful about watching someone lead with both courage and calm, especially when everything around them feels uncertain. The kind of leader who doesn’t chase recognition or perfection, but instead stays anchored to purpose, faith, and the people they serve. Because when you’re building something that’s never been done before, doubt is inevitable, but so is growth. True leadership...

Some leaders build companies. Others build legacies. Charles Tate did both. From investment banking to outdoor hospitality, his story isn’t about following a formula. It’s about trusting your instincts, taking bold risks, and choosing to lead differently when the easy option would be to stay the same. Throughout his career, Charles has shown that doing things differently isn’t just about innovatio...

What does it really take to transform a company that’s stuck in old habits and resistant to change? How do you guide people through a shift they may not fully believe in while keeping culture, clarity, and courage at the center?  Leading through that kind of tension doesn’t happen overnight. But when you get honest with your team about the necessity of creating a new type of culture, rebuildi...

What do handwritten airline tickets, offshore oil rigs, and a mythical Greek creature have in common? They’re all a part of Bob Westendarp’s journey building Griffin Global Group into the world’s largest marine travel agency. When Bob first stepped into the travel business, it wasn’t as a seasoned executive; it was as an accountant looking for free flights. But what started as a small side project...

What do Frank Sinatra’s bulletproof vest, the Rolling Stones’ backstage doctor, and a Japanese insurance giant have in common? They’re all part of Chris Williams’ journey leading Tokio Marine’s international business across 40+ countries. When Chris Williams took on the challenge of leading Tokio Marine’s international business, he stepped into a role that would reshape one of the world’s most res...

When you’ve worked across more than 15 countries, led through multiple acquisitions, and helped steer one of the largest oilfield service companies in the world with over 4 decades under your belt, you learn a few things about change.  For Charlie, change wasn’t something to fear; it was the through line of his 38-year career with Schlumberger. From competitive threats that forced him into ne...

What makes someone stop, listen, and ultimately buy from you? Is it the specs, the price, or is it the story behind the product? In this episode, marketing leader Michael Cheek dives into why storytelling is the key to emotional buying decisions, even in technical, B2B industries.  From flooring and flame-resistant fabrics to firefighter breathing technology, he’s mastered the art of transfor...

If you’ve ever felt like your business is stuck hiding behind a pretty logo or a catchy tagline, you’re not alone. Branding isn’t just surface-level polish; it’s the soul-searching work of figuring out who you are, what you stand for, and how to share that story in a way people actually believe.  Think of it less like a quick elevator pitch and more like a bootcamp for your business: tough at...

A visionary executive with over 35 years of experience, Brian Reinsborough has established an exceptional record of strategic, leadership, and management success across the energy industry. But you don’t get that from playing small.  Throughout his career, he has developed and executed multiple business plans, including the launch of two Deepwater ventures in the Gulf of Mexico that have grow...

What if your biggest career breakthrough came not from knowing the answer, but from daring to step into the unknown? In business, it’s easy to think success comes from following the rules and sticking to what’s already been defined. But the real breakthroughs happen when you step into the undefined, when you’re willing to chart a course no one else has mapped yet. That’s where growth lives: in the...

In business, one of the hardest skills to master, especially in a fast-moving capital market, isn’t knowing when to say yes; it’s knowing when to say no. Opportunities come knocking, and it’s tempting to answer every call, convinced that growth means grabbing at everything in reach. But more often than not, saying yes to the wrong things clutters your calendar, dilutes your value, and slows your m...

What if the secret to lasting change wasn’t bold new strategies, but a return to the basics: clarity, focus, and genuine human connection? In business, it’s tempting to think transformation happens through sweeping initiatives and complex processes. But the leaders who succeed don’t try to change everything at once. They know that real impact comes from slowing down, listening more than you speak,...

What happens when a company stops chasing every lead and starts focusing only on the clients that truly fit?  In this episode, Brett Haugh shares how Employee Benefit Solutions (EBS) went from a small firm without a clear market position to an industry disruptor with a 75% close rate on competitive deals. When personal relationships could no longer sustain growth, Brett and his partner turned...

When it comes to leading transformation, Kathleen Margolis, Client Account Manager at Black & Veatch, shows that real change doesn’t require a top-down mandate; it requires clarity, influence, and a relentless focus on the customer. In this episode, she shares how a legacy architecture firm moved from a dated identity to a purpose-driven brand rooted in trust and long-term vision. What started...

What does it take to lead a company through a legal crisis, cultural chaos, and strategic drift—and come out stronger on the other side? And what really happens behind the scenes when you’re brought in to clean up the mess you didn’t create? If you’ve ever stepped into a leadership role mid-firestorm or wondered how to get an entire organization aligned around a single vision, this episode is for...

What does it take to turn seven separate acquisitions into one unified, AI-powered brand? And what's the real ROI of a rebrand when the stakes are this high? If you've ever wondered whether your brand is holding your company back or what it truly takes to lead a transformation that sticks, this episode is for you.  Our guest, Sue Holub, is a trailblazing growth strategist and brand architect...

How does a B-17 bomber shot down over Belgium become the catalyst for one of the world's highest-caliber personality assessment tools? Meet Amy Shepley, third-generation president of Birkman International. From hand-scored Scantrons to AI-powered insights, she's turning her grandfather's war-zone revelation into a modern science of fixing people problems before they explode. Amy brings over two de...

Ever wonder how the kid who swore he’d never sell a thing became the CEO who fires up 3,400 people to out-hustle the market and draft a blueprint to be the next Westinghouse? Meet Brett Cope—ex-ABB deal-maker turned Powell Industries power-broker who bet big on innovation, ditched customers from hell, and made culture his secret weapon. Hold on — change is his comfort zone.  Brett is Chairman...

What happens when a geoscientist-turned-executive carves $1 billion from a super-major’s budget in six months, turns helicopter chaos on four continents into record margins, and converts the loudest anti-sponsors into frontline evangelists? Meet Maggie Montaigne - the strategist who treats resistance like rocket fuel. Strap in; this episode is your masterclass in profitable disruption. Maggie Mont...

Ever wonder what it takes to yank a bleeding Baker Hughes division out of the mothership —in the middle of Covid—flip it to profit in four months, and then aim the same playbook at nuclear energy? Meet Sam Veselka: corporate insider-turned-private equity sharpshooter who runs toward chaos, scales founder-run firms, and proves culture beats capital – every time. Buckle up — change just got wea...

Imagine a Canadian expat who moved to Texas and started a new business by faxing a five-page proposal to Chesapeake Energy. He got a yes in 15 minutes — then leveraged that success to scale his employee benefits startup into one of the nation’s fastest-growing firms. Meet Jim Watt—turnaround addict, “ass-bailing” specialist, and killer of the long sales cycle. Watch out—benefits just went full bea...