Unscripted with Versique

St. Paul Area Chamber President & CEO B. Kyle brings a unique perspective to her role as a leader for over 1700 Twin Cities companies. A veteran Army officer and mother who worked her way up from an admin to leadership roles in the private sector, her focus is always on servant leadership. In this download, she shares her inspirational life journey with Kathy & Dardy, and also explains why...

From a modest upbringing with high standards, to key leadership roles in Twin Cities non-profits, Joy King gets results. In just 15 months as the new CEO of Animal Humane Society, she already has a three-year strategic plan in place after detecting "mission creep" when she took over. In this inspiring episode, Joy sits down with Kathy & Dardy to share her journey from small towns to...

A true entrepreneur will admit that you have to be a dreamer and often ignore the status quo in your quest to disrupt an industry and change the world. In this episode, Kathy & Dardy invite John Hutchinson to share his journey from growing up in the family sporting goods business to founding and selling CARE Counseling. John proves that perfectionism can hold you, your teams and your company f...

Growing up with a struggling single mom had a profound impact on Great Clips President & CEO Rob Goggins. At the outset of his professional career, he vowed that his family would be better off. Thanks to his work ethic and straightforward approach to business leadership, he's now leading one of America's greatest and most successful franchise companies with over 4,400 locations servi...

The term "entrepreneur" wasn't a cliche when Alexis Walsko founded her PR firm as a 21-year-old, it was just what dreamers did when nobody else was doing it. Her passion has always been connecting people & products, solving problems and the hustle. In this download, she shares her backstory with Kathy & Dardy, and opens up about leadership, strengths, shortcomings and believ...

If there's one word to describe Lisa it's "growth"- both professional, personal, and non-stop. She's been a key player in the growth and transitions of companies including Twin Cities staffing company Salo, which was acquired by Korn Ferry. In this episode, Lisa joins Kathy & Dardy to share her career journey, key takeaways in leadership and what inspires her. Connect...

As the President & CEO of Hospitality Minnesota, and an advocate for thousands of business owners and workers across the state, Angie Whitcomb can't possibly micromanage her team or those she represents. In this episode, she joins Kathy & Dardy to share how her experience in executive recruiting helped her to step back, trust others, and let everyone grow. Connect with Versique 

It's not always the big decisions or key moments that make a difference. In fact, those moments are often set up by a series of incremental events. That's why Pulte Homes Minnesota Division President Jamie Tharp encourages her team to improve by 1% per day. In this download, Jamie shares her path to leadership with Kathy & Dardy, a journey that required grit, determination and strong...

Founded as Farmer's State Bank in the small town of Arnegard, North Dakota, First International Bank & Trust has grown to serve rural and urban communities across Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. In this episode, it's all about family as Kathy & Dardy welcome fourth generation family CEO Peter Stenehjem to share how his family has kept banking in their bloodline...

PJ Hill has been a winner at all levels and in multiple professions by simply never, ever giving up. No money? No worries... No car? He'll find a way. Every time opportunity has called, he's answered, no matter what it takes to make it happen. In this inspiring episode, Kathy & Dardy let PJ's game do the talking. The NorthRock Partners financial advisor shares how he found succe...

James Hereford grew up in rural Montana, and while helping his father birth a calf realized that wasn't his calling. While he didn't know it at the time, it was the end of his ranching career and the beginning of a successful career in health care. Kathy & Dardy welcome the Fairview Health Services President and CEO open the fall season of Unscripted by Versique Connect with Versique...

Karla started college at age 24, taking her little boy with her to Michigan State University where she earned her degree in Public Resource Management in just four years. She gained significant experience serving under Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, who led the revitalization of the Motor City. In this impactful episode, PPL President & CEO Karla Henderson sits down with Kathy & Dardy to share h...

She's held high level HR roles at Whirlpool, Pepsi (twice), Citibank, and in tech, financial services and food & beverage. So "lifequakes" come with the territory when you're navigating the world of big business. In this download, Anne Sample joins Kathy & Dardy to share her journey through corporate America to small business owner, and why communication is the key to s...

Dan Schwarz can thank his wife Katie for at least pointing him in the right direction for success. She was the one involved in the neighborhood book and wine clubs, so Dan decided to start a poker party. That's where he met Brad Glynn, who shared his dream of owning a brewery. The two teamed up to found the popular Lift Bridge Brewing Company. Then, just over a year ago, Dan decided to return...

He's not only climbed the corporate career ladder, he's explored exotic and faraway places on his journey to become CEO and Publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Stops in Tanzania, Japan, Thailand and India, then back in the US, hired as employee #85 at Google. Ultimately, like most Minnesotans who leave their home state, he found his way back and wrote a fascinating book about it. In...

Integrity, collaboration and listening: Those three key words describe how District Energy St. Paul CEO Luke Gaalswyk motivates and inspires his team. The U.S. Air Force veteran has made the most of his engineering experience and teamwork in the military, ascending to the C-Suite at Ever-Green Energy in September 2022. Luke shares his life and career journey with Kathy & Chris in this inspirin...

He grew up in a small Iowa town and wasn't even sure he'd go to college. But that changed one day after stocking shelves at Hy-Vee, and led Chris on an amazing career journey that combined his curiosity and tech savvy with his endless appetite for learning and growth. The Fortra Executive Chairman sits down with Kathy & Dardy to offer why being a vulnerable and transparent leader res...

Her journalism and mass communications degree (with three minors) at Nebraska led to a role in... sales. That pivot at the outset of her career put Tia Newcomer on an ascending path through with the titans of industry- Revlon, Clorox, Frito Lay, HP, and later venture capital. Ultimately, a "life quake" led her to join Caringbridge as CEO. In this episode, she sits down with Kathy & D...

Her title reads CEO of Girl Scouts River Valleys, but in reality, she's a coach, cheerleader and accountability partner for her team and corporate partners. In this episode, Marisa Williams shares how she's channeled her strengths and transformed from a leader in the corporate world, to transforming the Girl Scouts across the Twin Cities and beyond. Connect with Versique 

As many of us have experienced throughout our careers, the best way to learn is by doing- whether you have experience with the task at hand or not. Never led a private company into an IPO? No worries, you'll figure it out! In this episode MJ shares what inspired her career trajectory, and the unique challenges she's overcome thanks to her natural curiosity. Connect with Versique 

He grew up near the farming community of Willmar in Western Minnesota, and despite deep family ties to a rural lifestyle Adam Duininck always aspired to live, work and move the needle in a big city. So how did a kid from the country become such a force in the city as President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council? In this episode, Adam explains how he navigates today's challenging po...

There's comfort in a C-Suite corporate role, but it can also trigger the question of "what if?" Andre Creighton has successfully played on both sides of the ball. He's a visionary finance leader, with high profile past roles at Cargill and SPIRE Credit Union. He's also launched a startup and now is charged with the CFO and revenue role at PB&J TV. In this download, Kat...

Her unique background, experience, and curiosity led from academia to consulting, then leadership roles at Best Buy and Cargill. And then, in that "what's next?" moment, the opportunity to devote her experience to advancing women's leadership led her to Menttium. In this episode Missy Chicre joins Kathy & Dardy to retrace her path to professional success, while foregoing wo...

He followed in his father's footsteps, and during a decade at Mortenson rose from an intern to a market sector leader at the Minneapolis construction giant. David Wood could've settled in for a long and lucrative career with few career risks. Instead, he chose to start from scratch, founding his own construction company, Ancoats. In this revealing episode, Coats shares key events from hi...

The word "entrepreneur" has become a cliche in a world where almost everyone has a side hustle. But Scott Burns in truly an entrepreneur in every sense of the definition: an individual who's created and built successful businesses from scratch, while assuming all risks of the enterprise. In this episode, the general partner at Mairs & Power VC shares insight from a lifetime of i...