Talent Wins
Chris Mursau
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The Talent Wins podcast features top CEOs and business leaders as they share their stories of the trials, tribulations, and successes in building great teams.
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Sep 6, 2023
Topgrading: A Proven Method for Hiring High Performers
Scott Clawson is the Chairman and CEO of Culligan International, an 80-year-old global brand leader in water services and solutions, serving over 140 million consumers. Under his leadership, he spearheaded the acquisition of Culligan by BDT Capital Partners for $6 billion. Scott began his career at Alcoa, and since then, he’s led The GSI Group—a $700+ million global manufacturer—and RYKO Enterprises—the largest North American vehicle wash provider—as President and CEO. Scott also served as President of Danaher, an international science and technology corporation. In this episode…
A vacant position has negative consequences for a company, especially if it remains unfilled for an extended period. Perhaps it’s one of the reasons why organizations fill jobs hastily. So, how can hiring managers ensure they make the ideal acquisitions?
Business leader and veteran CEO Scott Clawson was introduced to the Topgrading methodology several years ago during his first tenure as an executive leader. Since then, he’s adopted the hiring process as the gold standard. Scott recommends that hiring teams mandate processes such as assessments, tandem and competency interviews, scorecards, and work history references. These procedures evaluate candidates' abilities, observe body language, verify achievements, and eliminate red flags. Additionally, if candidates advance to the next stage of the hiring process, recruiters should arrange a lunch or dinner interview to gauge an aspirant's cultural compatibility with the company. The topgrading approach aims to be a foolproof interview practice that guarantees attracting, hiring, and retaining top performers.
In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau chats with Scott Clawson, Chairman and CEO of Culligan International, about the significance of acquiring A-players, common hiring mistakes, and why it’s vital for a CEO to have a partnership with the CHRO. Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Topgrading (How to Hire, Coach and Keep a Players) by Brad Smart
* Brad Smart on LinkedIn
* Scott Clawson on LinkedIn
* Culligan Water
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Aug 16, 2023
Maximizing Results Using Lee Benson’s MIND Methodology
Lee Benson is the CEO of Execute to Win (ETW), a consulting firm helping organizations improve results through fostering intentional leadership, strategy, execution, and culture. He has over 25 years of experience as a CEO and has founded seven companies with exits ranging from low-figure millions to over nine figures. After selling Able Aerospace Services to Textron Aviation for nine figures, Lee committed to helping leaders maximize their potential. In June 2022, he published his first book, Your Most Important Number: Increase Collaboration, Achieve Your Strategy, and Execute to Win. In this episode…
It is unlikely that most employees can recite their company's core values. Even for those who are familiar with the values, they may not fully understand them. So, do company values contribute to an organization's success?
A company's mission statement aims to persuade customers to use its products or services and to serve as a reminder to employees. If employees do not add value to an organization, their jobs may be at risk. That’s why Lee Benson, a veteran CEO, created the MIND Methodology (Most Important Number and Drivers Methodology), a practice that focuses on behavior over value. This approach encourages employees to complete assigned tasks on time and in sequence. The MIND methodology is effective in increasing employee engagement and productivity. When employees understand and believe in their company's values, they are more likely to be motivated to do their best work.
In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau sits with Lee Benson, CEO of Execute to Win (ETW), a consulting firm for high-achieving leaders, to discuss how organizations can better run a business using the MIND Methodology. Lee elaborates on the Leadership Audit Checklist, MIND Methodology, and understanding the most important number. Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Lee Benson on LinkedIn
* Evaluate To Win (ETW)
* Your Most Important Number: Increase Collaboration, Achieve Your Strategy, and Execute to Win by Lee Benson
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Jul 12, 2023
Maximizing Merger Integration Success Using Proven Methods of Dr. Price Pritchett
Dr. Price Pritchett is the Founder and CEO of Pritchett, LP, a consulting firm with 40-plus years of proven expertise in merger integration, corporate culture, and change management. He’s an authoritarian on growth strategies, and his first book, After the Merger: Managing the Shockwaves, is the cardinal book on merger and acquisition integration. Upon its successful reception, Dr. Pritchett went on to pen additional 30-plus books, which have collectively sold over 14 million copies, making him one of the best-selling business authors in the world.
Pritchett, LP’s client list consists of mainly Fortune 1000 companies, including American Airlines, Honeywell, NASA, Sony, Texas Instruments, and Wells Fargo, to name a few. As a thought leader and keynote speaker, he’s addressed executive groups such as the American Medical Association, John Deere, Mattel, and General Motors. In this episode…
Statistics reveal that 50-70% of executives fail within the first year and a half of taking on a role. In a merger environment, that percentage increases. Mergers and acquisitions are more than pristine bookkeeping and performing due diligence. It can be a politicized process chock-full of risks, and its success rate depends on leadership competency.
Dr. Price Pritchett, author of the best-seller After the Merger: Managing the Shockwaves, warns that executive leaders are at higher risk of termination during a merger. On the contrary, a merger is more likely to fail when premier talent prematurely flees for fear of losing their job. Other factors to consider are company cultures, organizational structure, and operational costs. Though these are key responsibilities placed on department heads, Dr. Pritchett cautions that an aloof CEO reflects the company’s leadership.
In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau sits with Dr. Price Pritchett, Founder and CEO of Pritchett, LP, to discuss strategies for a successful merger. Dr. Pritchett explains how premier talent plays an integral role in the success of merger integrations, why CEOs need to be more involved in the recruiting process, and M&A best practices. Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Email Topgrading: info@Topgrading.com
* Dr. Price Pritchett on LinkedIn
* Pritchett, LP
* Merger Integration
* After the Merger: Managing the Shockwaves by Price Pritchett
* The Employee Guide to Mergers and Acquisitions by Price Pritchett
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May 10, 2023
Streamlining the Onboarding Process to Enhance Productivity
Brad Giles is the Founder and Managing Director of Evolution Partners, a top strategic and leadership advisory firm. As a serial entrepreneur, Brad has founded multiple fast-growth companies and supported hundreds more. He is also an author, speaker, and leadership coach with over 20 years of experience. He helps CEOs build, execute, and maintain accountability over their strategic plans. In this episode…
Research shows that 84% of companies have an onboarding process of 14 days or less. But this hinders employees’ success since performance accelerates after 30 days of onboarding. So how can you empower top talent with the knowledge and opportunities to thrive in their roles?
Leadership expert Brad Giles advocates for a 90-day onboarding process divided into three pivotal stages. The first month should include weekly induction meetings communicating position and organizational expectations. The second phase transitions from mentoring to practical skill application to overcome the learning curve. As the new hires progress in their roles, leaders should build and nurture relationships and encourage consistent practice. This strategic system mitigates knowledge gaps and promotes productivity.
In this episode of Talent Wins, Brad Giles of Evolution Partners joins the host Chris Mursau to discuss best practices for hiring and onboarding. He explains onboarding debt, hiring strategies and tools, and the difference between onboarding, orientation, and induction. Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Brad Giles on LinkedIn
* Made to Thrive: The Five Roles to Evolve Beyond Your Leadership Comfort Zone by Brad Giles
* Evolution Partners
* The Growth Whisperers podcast
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Apr 12, 2023
People Are Everything With Scott Scully
Scott Scully is the Founder and CEO of Abstrakt Marketing Group, a B2B lead generation and business growth agency. Under his leadership, Abstrakt Marketing Group has achieved an impressive annual growth rate of 20% for the past 13 years, resulting in a current team of 550 members and a projected revenue of $78 million for the year. Over the past 30 years, Scott has started, invested in, or played a major role in several companies in the marketing and lead generation space, three of which have exceeded $12 million in annual revenue. He is also the co-host of The Grow Show, a podcast for business leaders and entrepreneurs with a growth-driven mindset. In this episode…
Scott Scully of Abstrakt Marketing Group is proud to have a team that differentiates his company from the rest. He’s so confident in his people that Abstrakt offers guaranteed results — and clients don’t have to pay until these results are achieved. How does he develop a team of A players that take Abstrakt to the next level?
The first thing Scott does is define the traits of A players and hire based on these characteristics. Once these A players are on the team, Scott holds weekly meetings and appoints A player scores to ensure employees are on the right track. On the company side, he helps create an innovative culture that fosters employee growth, happiness, and constant development. How else does Scott attract and retain top talent?
In this episode of Talent Wins, Chris Mursau chats with Scott Scully, Founder and CEO of Abstrakt Marketing Group, about hiring and retaining a team of A players. Scott digs deep into his MAP meetings, tips for improving culture, and the value of creating opportunities for your people. He also shares advice for growth-minded CEOs who want to scale! Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Scott Scully on LinkedIn
* Abstrakt Marketing Group
* The Grow Show: Business Growth Stories from the Frontlines
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Mar 22, 2023
Revamping Workspaces, Talent Acquisition Processes, and DEI Initiatives With Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas is the Chief People Officer at Curative, where he’s responsible for talent acquisition, leadership training, professional development, and employee engagement and retention. Curative is the healthcare staffing arm of Doximity, the largest and fastest-growing professional medical network.
Michael, a seasoned healthcare staffing and recruiting professional with over 25 years of experience in the industry, has been with the company for nearly three years, previously holding C-Suite roles at Allied Staffing Network, Medestar, and Fidelis Partners, LLC. In this episode…
Talent pools are constantly changing, and so are their expectations for how companies attract, hire, and retain employees. How can you adapt to the changes and ensure you’re finding the perfect candidates for your company?
The pandemic made talent acquisition challenging, especially for Michael Douglas and his team at Curative. But instead of letting tough times get the best of them, the Curative team pivoted. They revamped their work environment with a new office, implemented the Topgrading system for a consistent hiring process, took to social media to discover new candidates, and improved their culture through DEI initiatives. How did the Curative team do it, and what strategies can you take from their experience?
In this episode of Talent Wins, Chris Mursau is joined by Michael Douglas, Chief People Officer at Curative, to talk about revamping work environments and talent acquisition processes. Michael discusses the shifting landscape of the talent pool, tips to attract and retain A players, and how to strengthen your hiring methods. Stay tuned! Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Michael Douglas on LinkedIn
* Curative
* Curative on TikTok
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Mar 8, 2023
Using Topgrading To Scale Your Business With Shamit Khemka
Shamit Khemka is the Founder and CEO of SynapseIndia, a software development outsourcing company. SynapseIndia has been in business for over two decades, offering e-commerce solutions, website and mobile app development, CMS solutions, and more. Over the last 23-plus years, the company has delivered over 10,000 projects for clients such as the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), Steve Madden, IBM, 3M, and Johnson & Johnson.
Additionally, Shamit is a member of YPO and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and is a Partner at FoodCloud. Hailing from a business family, Shamit has always been passionate about launching his own company and building expertise in executive management, business ownership, and project management. In this episode…
In today's competitive job market, finding the right employees can be a challenge. But even with a pool of applicants, how do you choose the right candidate? Are you relying on an instinct or gut feeling to hire employees?
Shamit Khemka was in this same position, using his interview questions to try and sift through potential employees. But ever since he discovered the Topgrading system 15 years ago, Shamit and his team can hire better candidates who fit the company culture. Instead of simply hoping to hire an A player, the Topgrading system helps ensure you hire the best of the best.
In this episode of Talent Wins, Chris Mursau is joined by Shamit Khemka, Founder and CEO of SynapseIndia, to talk about how the Topgrading methodology helped him scale his company. Shamit discusses the benefits of Topgrading, including transparency, clarity, and feedback, how Topgrading has transformed over time, and his advice for building a company of A players. Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Shamit Khemka on LinkedIn
* SynapseIndia
* Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
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Jan 18, 2023
Year in Review — Assembling an Incredible Team To Help Your Company Scale
Chris Mursau is the President of Topgrading, a proven system that helps organizations build and maintain high-performing teams through hiring, development, and promotion strategies. Since 2001, Chris has been consulting and teaching organizations and individual managers how to pack their teams with A Players.
Chris has conducted over 2,500 in-depth Topgrading assessments for internal and external candidates, helped hundreds of people achieve their A potential, and trained thousands of people in the guaranteed methods for improving their success. His client list is broad and diverse, including Fortune 500 companies, small to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofit organizations. In this episode…
As organizations strive to scale and achieve growth, the ability to hire the right talent is of paramount importance. So, how do you hire the right people so that you can scale quickly? What does it take to avoid toxic work environments and attract A players?
This past year, Chris Mursau dove deep into the processes and strategies of other exceptional leaders to hear how they’re building top teams and fostering a healthy culture. From principals and partners to presidents and founders, Chris highlights their insights on talent, mistakes they’ve made along the way, and how they grew their team (and company).
In this episode of Talent Wins, host Chris Mursau is interviewed by Chad Franzen of Rise25 to reflect on the past year and pull out the most interesting podcast stories. Together, they look back on the best practices for interviewing, hiring, setting team goals, and developing strong company culture. Plus, Chris gives us a glimpse of what’s to come in the new year! Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Chad Franzen on LinkedIn
* Rise25
* “How To Build Strong Teams That Deliver Great Results in Challenging Situations with Bruce Cazenave”
* “Why the Interview is Key to Develop an Outstanding Business” with Chuck Cohen
* “How To Build A Winning Team with Todd Bradley”
* “How To Hire Employees That Fit Your Company’s Culture with Todd Perlman”
* “Eliminating Toxic Leadership with David Macknin”
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Nov 9, 2022
How To Build Strong Teams That Deliver Great Results in Challenging Situations
Bruce Cazenave is the Founder and Principal of Inflection Management LLC, a company that specializes in helping businesses survive challenging periods and mentors freshmen CEOs. Before Bruce founded Inflection Management LLC, he held multiple leadership roles at companies including Black and Decker, Timberland, Dorel Juvenile Group, Nautilus, and Bluestem Brands. Bruce takes pride in being a turnaround specialist with a proven track record of uplifting organizations and their leadership. In this episode…
Are you a leader of an organization that’s facing tough times? Have you been able to identify the problem?
As a veteran turnaround specialist, Bruce Cazenave has experienced many crises, from bankruptcy to negative work cultures to high turnover. So, how does senior leadership rise above when it seems there is a point of no return? Bruce explains that it starts with diagnosing the situation.
In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, host Chris Mursau sits down with Bruce Cazenave, the Founder and Principal of Inflection Management LLC, to talk about building competent teams when organizations face detrimental challenges. Part of rebuilding includes integrating a thriving company culture, a rigorous hiring process, and a CEO and CHRO partnership. Plus, Bruce offers CEOs advice on how to scale a company and more. Let’s get started! Resources mentioned in this episode:
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Email Topgrading: Info@topgrading.com
* Talent Wins podcast
* Bruce Cazenave on LinkedIn
* Inflection Management
* Six Sigma
Special Mentions
* Culligan Water
* Capital One
* TD Industries
Books Mentioned
* The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success by William N Thorndike
* That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph
* Work Stronger: Habits for More Energy, Less Stress, and Higher Performance at Work by Pete Leibman
* The Story of the Wright Brothers: A Biography Book for New Readers by Annette Whipple
* Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W Chan Kim
* The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary by Mark Sanborn
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Oct 19, 2022
Why the Interview Is Key To Develop an Outstanding Business
Chuck Cohen is the Managing Director of Benco Dental, the nation’s third-largest dental distributor with customers across the US. Benco was founded in 1930 by Chuck’s grandfather and now has 1,500 employees across all 50 states. They were recently recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the “Top 20 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.” Chuck is a results-oriented leader who enjoys developing and executing strategies and coaching others to grow. In this episode…
Benco Dental is a highly successful company, achieving almost a billion dollars in sales this year and making it on the list of “Top 20 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.” How did it reach this level of success, and how can your business do the same?
It starts with the interview. Using the Topgrading system, Chuck Cohen was able to level up his interview skills, hire candidates who exceeded expectations, and shape a cohesive and skilled team. Chuck says that Topgrading isn’t just for high-level interviews and big companies — it’s for every interview at any size company.
In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau talks with Chuck Cohen, Managing Director of Benco Dental, about his hiring strategies and advice for other business leaders. Chuck shares his experience using the Topgrading system, why you should invest in hiring processes before you have talent issues, and tips for winning as a team. Resources Mentioned in this episode
* Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
* Topgrading on LinkedIn
* Topgrading
* Chuck Cohen on LinkedIn
* Benco Dental
* Topgrading (How To Hire, Coach and Keep A Players) by Brad and Geoff Smart
* Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't by Jim Collins
* Brad Smart on LinkedIn
* “Ep. 10: Kyle hires a super team” with Brad Smart on This is Small Business
* George Rable on LinkedIn
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Oct 12, 2022
How To Build a Winning Team
Todd Bradley is an Operating Partner at One Equity Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on transformative combinations within the industrial, healthcare, and technology sectors in North America and Europe. Todd is also a member of the Board of Directors at Mattel, Commvault, and Spartronics.
Before One Equity Partners, Todd was the CEO of Mozido, President of TIBCO Software, Inc., and EVP at Hewlett-Packard. He also held senior management positions at GE Capital, Palm Inc., Gateway, and AC Nielsen. In this episode…
Early in Todd Bradley’s career, he learned a very simple (yet valuable) philosophy: If you take care of your people, they will take care of your service and your customers, who, in turn, will take care of your profits.
But what are the best ways to look after your people and create a winning team? According to Todd, you must assess your weaknesses and turn them into strengths, give your team effective performance feedback, and be exceptionally honest.…
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Oct 5, 2022
How To Hire Employees That Fit Your Company’s Culture
Todd Perlman is the President of BT Partners, a technology consulting company that delivers impactful solutions and services. As the President, Todd strives to establish trusted relationships with clients and is focused on going above and beyond to help them achieve their goals.
Before joining BT Partners over 20 years ago, Todd worked in public accounting as a Controller and Operations Manager for several companies across industries. He’s also served as Committee Chair for the Illinois CPA Society and is currently a member of AICPA and APICS. Additionally, he’s a Board Member of the Information Technology Alliance. In this episode…
When an employee leaves or is not a good fit, it can greatly disrupt your business. It takes a lot of energy to manage this issue, and even worse, it puts more pressure on the rest of your employees. So how do you retain top employees, and how do you ensure that you’re hiring the right candidates in the first place?
Todd Perlman faced the same ch…
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Aug 30, 2022
Eliminating Toxic Leadership With David Macknin
David Macknin is the Principal of ChicagoRisk, a company that helps businesses, nonprofits, and individuals identify evolving risks and emerging challenges. David is also the President of The Owens Group, Inc., an insurance and risk management company. Previously, he was an Expert Panelist for FilmUtah, the President of Alper Services LLC, and the Executive Vice President for JMB Insurance. In this episode…
Great leaders are focused, flexible, and put the health and well-being of their team at the forefront of the company. As David Macknin points out, there are so many different ways to manage a company, but there’s one common denominator: your people. However, one experience showed David how not to be a leader — and why it’s so important to have a strong, valued team.
Find out on this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, where Chris Mursau is joined by David Macknin, Principal at ChicagoRisk and President of The Owens Group, Inc. David talks about his journey managing the Alp…
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Jul 27, 2022
Redefining the Interview Process
Chris Mursau is the President of Topgrading, a proven system that helps organizations build and maintain high-performing teams through hiring, development, and promotion strategies. Since 2001, Chris has been consulting and teaching organizations and individual managers how to pack their teams with A Players.
Chris has conducted over 2,500 in-depth Topgrading assessments for internal and external candidates, helped hundreds of people achieve their A potential, and trained thousands of people in the guaranteed methods for improving their success. His client list is broad and diverse, including Fortune 500 companies, small to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofit organizations. In this episode…
The interview is one of the first steps in hiring a candidate. However, most hiring managers aren’t experts at interviewing. So, what can you do to improve the interview stage and ensure you’re hiring the perfect people for the job?
This is where the Topgrading methodology can help you.…
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Apr 7, 2022
How to Hire and Retain “A Players” During Periods of Growth With Kristine Jacobson
Kristine Jacobson is the CEO, Founder, and Chief Marketing Strategist at Conveyance Marketing Group, a Virginia-based consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs achieve measurable success through comprehensive marketing solutions. Kristine founded the company in 2009, bringing years of experience in the marketing field.
Before Conveyance Marketing Group, Kristine was the Vice President of Marketing for Surety and an independent consultant for various companies, including Concert Technology, Inc and Digicon. Currently, she volunteers her time as an Advisor for Loudon County Chamber of Commerce and Warriors4Wireless, a Board Member for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and an Instructor for Young Entrepreneurs Academy, Inc. In this episode…
What are the top strategies for attracting and retaining top talent? And how should you plan to hire and strengthen your team during times of growth?
Kristine Jacobson knows these challenges all too well. Her company, Conveyance Marketing Group…
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Jan 26, 2022
[Year in Review] The Best Strategies to Strengthen Your Team
Chris Mursau is the President of Topgrading, a proven system that helps organizations build and maintain high-performing teams through hiring, development, and promotion strategies. Since 2001, Chris has been consulting and teaching organizations and individual managers how to pack their teams with A Players.
Chris has conducted over 2,500 in-depth Topgrading assessments for internal and external candidates, helped hundreds of people achieve their A potential, and trained thousands of people in the guaranteed methods for improving their success. His client list is broad and diverse, including Fortune 500 companies, small to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofit organizations. In this episode…
What makes a good leader? How do you hire and retain the right people for your company? What steps can you take to strengthen your entire team?
Over the last year, Chris Mursau has been digging deep into these questions and talking with successful leaders, from CEOs to business coaches, to g…
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Dec 8, 2021
Driving Growth Through a People-Centered Approach
Nick Araco is the Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of AchieveNEXT, a provider of talent development performance solutions and peer learning networks. Nick is an expert at making connections that count, and he’s used this skill over the past two decades to empower leaders and grow their organizations.
Nick is also the host of the Level Up podcast, where he has conversations with business and industry trailblazers on how to take growth, diversity, and leadership to the next level. Before founding AchieveNEXT, Nick served in senior leadership roles at leading global law, accounting, and business advisory firms. In this episode…
What’s the secret sauce for a successful company? How can organizations improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives? What’s the number one driver of shareholder value and performance?
According to Nick Araco, the answers lie within your people. Whether it’s your employees, clients, or peers, it’s always helpful to gain feedback and create…
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Nov 24, 2021
How to Become an Innovative Leader
Kevin Akeroyd is the CEO of PROUnlimited, a workforce management solution that leverages AI, machine learning, data visualizations, and analytics. The company is the first vendor-neutral managed services program (MSP), employing the most innovative vendor management software.
Kevin began his career at R.R. Donnelley, eventually rising to VP of Sales and leading the company’s first software division. He later took on sales leadership roles at several marketing, technology, and e-commerce companies. Kevin would go on to become the CEO and GM of Data.com at Salesforce, the GM and SVP of the Oracle Marketing Cloud, and the CEO of Cision, a $780 million SaaS company which he eventually sold back into private equity for $2.8 billion. In this episode…
How can leaders embrace change and guide their teams through challenges? What goes into successfully implementing new systems and programs?
Kevin Akeroyd, who became the CEO of PROUnlimited in the midst of the pandemic, knows how to lead…
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Aug 25, 2021
Improving Leadership Style and Hiring Top Talent with Jill Belconis
Jill Belconis is a strategic business coach and business leader who helps CEOs and other business leaders reach new heights and scale their companies through her practice, Jill Belconis Enterprises. Jill has more than 30 years of experience growing and scaling companies, developing leadership teams, and enhancing strategic planning and organizational alignment.
Jill is the former International Chairman of the Board of the Young Presidents Organization. She speaks at professional conferences, including TEDx, where she gave the talk “Succeed Like a Man, Lead Like a Woman”. Jill is also Scaling Up Certified as a member of Scaling Up Coaches. In this episode…
Are you a CEO struggling to scale your company? Does your team contain top talent? How can you ensure that your new hires fit your company culture? Jill Belconis can help.
Jill is a strategic business coach with over 30 years of experience growing companies and being a successful leader. She has helped countless CEOs and bus…
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Aug 11, 2021
Identifying Top Talent and Strengthening the CEO
Sean Magennis is the CEO of Capital 54, a private equity firm that focuses on investments in boutique professional service firms. Sean started his career at Dow Chemicals before running a professional services firm that focused on organizational development consulting and executive search for 14 years. His expertise includes real estate platforms, electricity infrastructure development, and financing.
Previously, Sean was the global President for both Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and YPO (once known as the Young Presidents’ Organization). He is now Chairman of two professional membership organizations, LUMINI and Collective 54. Sean also co-hosts a podcast, The Boutique, with Greg Alexander, the Chief Investment Officer at Capital 54. In this episode…
Did you know that top players and exceptionally high performers always want to work in companies with great cultures? What is the value of building rapport with new employees from the time they are hired? Do you have strategies…
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Jul 28, 2021
Discovering Your Perfect Candidate and Strengthening Your Team
Michael Schweitzer is a seasoned financial services executive with extensive experience building and leading diverse teams in companies such as HSBC, UBS, and Merrill Lynch. Over the past 30 years, Michael has fortified his skill set when it comes to talent, building great teams from scratch, and inheriting developing a group into a high-performing team. In this episode…
Finding great employees can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Entrepreneurs and recruiters alike are constantly looking for ways to make the hiring process more effective and efficient. So, wouldn’t it be nice if you had a list of potential candidates ready to go every time a role opened up?
Michael Schweitzer actually recommends creating that list in advance — way in advance. Rather than waiting until he needs to hire someone, Michael is constantly meeting with talented individuals and planning how they could contribute to the company. He finds it’s much more effective than the old-fashioned…
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Jul 14, 2021
Reaching Success and Scaling Through Your Top Players with Andy Bailey of Petra Coach
Andy Bailey is the Founder, CEO, and Head Coach at Petra Coach, a coaching company dedicated to empowering leaders and their teams to scale their organizations through proven methods and habits. Andy has been building businesses since he graduated college and is also the Founder and General Manager of his vacation rental company, 30AVHP.
Andy is a Member of the Forbes Coaches Council and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. Before starting Petra, Andy was the President at NationLink Wireless. In this episode…
The hiring process can seem like the most tedious aspect of business ownership to some executives. However, it is often the most important — and ultimately, what will attract more A Players and top talent to your company. So, how do you assemble an industry-leading team?
Andy Bailey is the Founder, CEO, and Head Coach of Petra Coach, a coaching company dedicated to empowering leaders and their teams to scale their organizations through proven methods and habits. Andy built hi…
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Jun 30, 2021
Maintaining and Managing Top Talent with Edward Logan and Allyson Young of Sport Clips
Edward Logan is the CEO of Sport Clips Haircuts, a franchise dedicated to giving men the ultimate haircutting experience while having the ultimate sport experience. Edward has had many roles at Sport Clips, most recently being the VP of Operations, COO, President, and eventual CEO after his father and Founder Gordon Logan stepped down from the role.
Edward is a Member on the Board of Advisors for Total Men’s Primary Care. Before his career at Sport Clips, he was the President of Vent Blotique and a participant of the International Franchise Association.
Allyson Young is the Chief People Officer at Sport Clips Haircuts. She has over 25 years of experience in human resources management, leadership, and performance management.
Before joining Sport Clips, Allyson was the HR Director at K N Management. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from HRCI. In this episode…
Are you struggling to maintain your top talent? How can you attract A Players to your comp…
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Jun 16, 2021
How to Implement Core Values to be a Better Entrepreneur
Larry Borden is the Founder and CEO of Aardvark Group of Companies, which includes Aardvark Mobile Tours and Aardvark Mobile Health. Aardvark Mobile Tours is a one-stop-shop mobile tour vendor service that produces experiential marketing programs, retail activations and product launches, and of course, mobile tours. Aardvark Mobile Health was started in the middle of the pandemic and offers mobile testing clinics, vaccine sites, and healthcare units.
Before starting Aardvark, Larry was the CEO of The Borden Agency and Vice President of Client Services at Spevco, Inc. In this episode…
What qualities should you look for in a potential employee? How can a CEO implement core values into their workplace? What’s a mobile tour and how can you rent one?
Larry Borden has been supporting himself since the 11th grade. Through many part-time jobs and career paths, Larry found his entrepreneurial spirit and went on to found two companies. He’s confident in his executive abilities and wants…
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Jun 2, 2021
How to Hire A-Players and Have Costs Go Down
Chris Mursau is the President of Topgrading, a proven system that helps organizations build and maintain high-performing teams through hiring, development, and promotion strategies. Since 2001, Chris has been consulting and teaching organizations and individual managers how to pack their teams with A-Players.
Chris has conducted over 2,500 in-depth Topgrading assessments for internal and external candidates, helped hundreds of people achieve their A potential, and trained thousands of people in the guaranteed methods for improving their success. His client list is broad and diverse, including Fortune 500 companies, small to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofit organizations. In this episode…
Research shows that when top performers align with an organization’s core values, they far outperform the team members that don’t. Chris Mursau, the President of Topgrading, knows that hiring these top performers, also known as A-Players, helps organizations improve a number of business m…
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May 19, 2021
How to Hire Top Talent and Be a Standout CEO with Vijay Sajja of Evergent
Vijay Sajja is the Founder and CEO of Evergent, a technology company that offers cloud-based revenue and customer management services for customers spanning 175 countries. He has over two decades of experience in building business and operational support systems and management and technology leadership. He is one of the top business and technology leaders in Silicon Valley.
Before starting Evergent, Vijay was the CEO of Infotech Solutions, Inc., a technology services company that delivered customer care solutions for leading service companies. He has been a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization since 2002. In this episode…
Are you having trouble finding top talent to hire? How can you start a company without any funding? Does the work space you’ve created affect productivity?
Vijay Sajja has firsthand experience with all these questions and more. As the Founder and CEO of Evergent, Vijay knows the strategies for hiring senior talent with ease and making sure your company is…
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May 5, 2021
How to be an Effective Leader and Attract A Players
Donald (Donnie) Hampton, Jr. is the Chief Executive Officer of Pace Industries, LLC, an integrated company based in Detroit. With facilities across the United States, Pace Industries provides quality die casting, manufacturing, and engineering solutions worldwide. He has more than two decades of leadership experience for reputable companies like Honeywell International, Hayes Lemmerz International, Rea Magnet Wire, and Faurecia. Before launching his executive career, Donnie graduated from Tiffin University with a degree in Accounting and entered the U.S. Navy. Later, he earned his Master’s in Business and Finance. In this episode…
How can CEOs impact workplace culture? What steps can you take to attract A Players to your business? How can you become the right boss for your employees? These may seem like daunting questions, but Donnie Hampton is here to answer all of them and more.
From Navy veteran to CEO, Donnie Hampton has climbed the executive ladder for over 20 years. He kno…
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Jan 20, 2021
Develop Your Talent with Fred Bentley of DexKo Global
Fred Bentley is the President and CEO of DexKo Global, the global leader in the production and distribution of highly engineered running gear and structural solutions for the growing towable trailer industry. Since Fred has been the CEO, the company has completed 20 acquisitions, doubled in size, increased margins, and has the leading share in most of their product categories.
Before joining DexKo Global, Fred was the President and CEO of Maxion Wheels, the world's largest wheel manufacturer. During his three years with the company, revenue increased by 250%, with 90% of the top 77 leaders in the company as A-Players. Fred has also held positions at Hayes Lemmerz, Honeywell, AlliedSignal, and Frito Lay. In this episode…
So, you've hired a top performer to fill a role in your company. But what happens when your organization experiences changes or challenges that your talent isn't on board with? Fred Bentley, the President and CEO of DexKo Global, knows that an important aspect of fi…
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