C Suite and Sour

🔥 Dive into Sam Moses' Sock Journey!

👔 From a high-end necktie store in Toronto... 🧦 ...to introducing the crowd-favorite Happy Socks... ✨ ...and then launching Sockrates, an international custom sock sensation.

Behind the scenes: 🌐 A global pivot during COVID, with a boost from online sales. 🚀 Wife’s ad genius + challenges like shipping & quality control = Growth. 🛠️ Their mantra? Invest in tech and always be prepared for change.

A must-listen for those riding the entrepreneurial wave! 🎧

#SockratesSaga #EntrepreneurialSpirit #BusinessPivot

Are great leaders born or made? Our guest in this episode gives her take on this age-old question.

We’re joined by Val Grubb, a seasoned Keynote Speaker, Author, Executive Coach, and Trainer, who’s held leadership roles at powerhouses like Oxygen Media and NBC Universal.

Listen along as Val dives into the transformative shift from tactical thinking to strategic leadership, exploring the notion of who can—and should—be a leader. We also discuss the fundamental role of education in molding competent leaders and share insider tips on how CEOs can cascade effective leadership down through every layer of their organization.

This episode is a little different. We dive deep into the life of Kourtney Rincon and see how from a very difficult childhood she has become successful, not only in life but in business.

We then dive into diversity in the workplace, specifically diversity of thought and how to act in the workplace with people who think differently than us because of their genetics. The answer will shock you. Or maybe it won't. ;)

Ever wondered why even the best strategies sometimes fall flat in execution? Ali Schwanke has helped countless companies pinpoint what they’re missing and steer them in the direction of growth.

Ali is the CEO & Founder of Simple Strat, which helps businesses leverage HubSpot and scale. With her consulting background, Ali reveals the two main culprits behind most business problems, and the pivotal importance of identifying the root issue.

Listen along as we discuss:

• The great divide between strategy understanding and execution prowess.
• The future of AI and how it will impact modern businesses.
• The ongoing debate: Hybrid vs. Remote vs. In-person. Which reigns supreme in 2023?
• Tips and tricks to leverage social media in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Fill in the blank. In terms of leadership, “Every company needs a ___________.”

Hint: It’s not a CEO.

Listen to our in-depth discussion with Andrea Sampson, master storyteller and CEO of Talk Boutique. Andrea explains which role in a business is easily overlooked but essential to establishing a strong presence, and how to identify who it should be within your team. With a background in marketing and advertising, she shares how individuals can unleash their storytelling capabilities to create meaningful change. We explore the evolution of advertising and how companies can use it today in a way that works for them specifically.

As a neurodiverse leader, Andrea shares how individuals can embrace their unique mindset and use it to be thought leaders who drive impactful transformation.

There are many answers to the question, "What sets successful businesses apart from the rest?" But two of the most evident are a company’s values and its leadership.

Alina Vandenberghe reveals the #1 Core Value of her company, Chili Piper, and how she empowers her team to bring it to life each day. From the age of 9, Alina’s entrepreneurial spirit has inspired her to drive impact and provide benefit to people’s lives. She explains how she grew Chili Piper and the tools she finds most useful to run the show. Leaders, listen up. This is how you grow an idea into a powerhouse business.

We’re gonna let you in on a little secret: All great business leaders have doubted themselves at some point along the way…even this week’s guest who has industry giants like Salesforce, Meta, and Amazon on her resumé.

Lindsey Fine, B2B SaaS and Sales Expert, reflects on her transformative journey and reveals how early-career influences inspired her to become a leader herself. She shares insights around overcoming imposter syndrome, and how leading with transparency might be the secret ingredient to a thriving team.

Whatever business you’re in, you’re in the business of people. 

Em Kintner, People Ops & Talent Acquisition Leader, joins us to share her take on the ever-evolving landscape of hiring and firing, exploring the current trends shaping the employment market. 

Em reveals the most common challenges that come with building and retaining a team of A-Players, and provides actionable tips for CEOs and managers to cultivate fruitful relationships with employees.

Emotional intelligence is a vital trait for CEOs, but how big of a role do emotions actually play in the workplace?

In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Aime, CEO and intuitive mentor for high-achieving executives. Danielle dives into the several ways that emotions affect our working relationships, from facing the reality of gender biases to the necessity of creating a safe space where employees feel valued. Danielle provides tips for enhancing team morale and fostering healthy communication by connecting with your people on a human level.

Sure, CEOs lead organizations. But our guest in this episode believes that leaders have a special ability to create impact through authority that goes beyond business success.

Join us as we talk with Jeff Tetz, CEO of Results, a business consulting company. Jeff delves into the bigger-picture role of leaders outside of driving revenue – the responsibility to grow others, empower and initiate change, and create a legacy that will influence the world in ways you might not think of.

When you think of a tech expert, you probably think of some genius working behind the scenes buried in a computer 24/7. But being a CEO in the tech space requires a rare combination of skills that most people don’t have – encompassing both the technical side and the business acumen side.

In this episode, we are joined by Warner Moore, Founder of Gamma Force. Warner shares his insights on everything from managing development teams to AI, exploring the unique mindset required to be a leader in tech, where innovation is paramount.

Anyone with the right skills can lead a team. But what separates good leaders from great leaders is the ability to combine interpersonal and intrapersonal skills to develop meaningful business acumen.

Beck Sydow, business coach and former CEO, shares what it takes to strike the perfect balance between people-oriented and task-oriented leadership. From embracing diversity to adopting habits that support team members, Beck explains how your approach makes all the difference in your organizational performance.

One thing that all great business methodologies have in common is that they are based on proven results.

Herb Cogliano, Scaling Up Certified Coach, drills down on the most important assets of the proven Scaling Up methodology and how businesses around the world use it to create long-term success. He explains the most common challenges he’s seen in his 35 years of experience, from understanding the key levers that impact business profitability to why you might be hiring candidates based on the wrong checklist.

Many thriving businesses credit their success to effective leadership and proper coaching. Our guest in this episode is an expert in both.

Rich Armstrong, President of The Great Game of Business, reveals the strategies and insights behind the Great Game methodology that have helped him bring teams to success throughout his 30 years of experience as a coach and executive.

We know hybrid work is here to stay, but are businesses doing it right?

Join us for lucky #13 as we sit down with Jeff Wadholm, Senior VP of Revenue Operations at MeridianLink. Jeff shares his favorite leadership word and its impact, tips to achieve the perfect blend of hybrid work, and why diversity could be the key to a happier, more productive team.

Could intrapreneurship be the answer to success after the pandemic? Dr. Chitra Anand is here to break it down. In great businesses, you don’t have to be a CEO to feel and act like an owner within your company. In EP 12, Dr. Anand (Award-Winning Marketing & Communications Executive) discusses her take on developing an entrepreneurial mindset and the impact it can have on any individual’s success.

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a one-person marketing team for a half-billion dollar company? Kevin Nolan tells all. As the former VP of Marketing at Sagility (previously part of Hinduja Global Solutions Healthcare), Kevin discusses the perks and challenges (or the sweet and sour, if you will) of marketing healthcare in 2023.

There are three simple words that will change your life, according to David Meltzer. In this mini episode, David discusses how he was able to defy the odds and bounce back after going bankrupt. As a founder, 3X bestselling author, and renowned keynote, David knows what it takes to be a great leader and create a legacy that will set up any team for success.

Do you know what the single most important leadership trait is? Vaughn Sigmon has an idea or two. Join us for EP 9 as we sit down with Vaughn, Co-Founder of Results Driven Leadership. We discuss all-things leadership – from how leaders can get hiring right by focusing on candidates’ competencies rather than experience, to the importance of balancing management with leadership in running a team.

In EP 8, we are joined by Dan Kelsall, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Offended. Offended puts a twist on the world of marketing by defying social norms, taking risks, and embracing the uncomfortable. Dan discusses his journey in marketing and reveals how he was able to write and publish a bestselling book within 20 hours. This episode is edgier than the ones before it (complete with a few F-bombs), and delves into creating success in the unlikeliest of ways while maintaining strong professional relationships and growing a powerhouse team.

In EP 7, we are joined by Anne Pao, Fractional Operations Executive for High Growth Startups. Anne discusses her “empowerment and enablement” leadership style and how businesses can build team cohesion by optimizing the strengths of individual employees. She discusses being a people-driven leader by promoting employee autonomy, overcoming team conflict, and identifying top performers as early as the hiring process.

In EP 6, we are joined by Sam Jacobs, CEO & Founder of Pavilion, a community and career development platform for high-growth leaders and their teams. Sam discusses overcoming imposter syndrome and bouncing back after failure, explaining how business leaders can best navigate the modern workforce. He expands on how to combat the challenges that come with hiring in 2023 to ensure businesses can build strong teams and sustainable organizations.

In EP 5, we sit down with Karen Mangia, WSJ Bestselling Author, Salesforce Executive, and TEDx speaker. Karen delves into her non-traditional approach to leadership and discusses how old playbooks only limit people from reaching their full potential. She encourages c-suite leaders to create meaningful change instead of imposing mandates through less traditional means. She advises how business leaders can use available resources to supercharge their teams and accelerate during times of crisis.

In Episode 4, we sit down with Kirk Barnes, CEO & Co-Founder of TransPharMed. We delve into networking as a vital skill that is often overlooked, but has become increasingly more important amid mass layoffs and uncertainty in the workplace. Kirk explains how technological advancements have helped drive effective networking, and how professionals can utilize these resources to navigate their lives and careers. He also discusses how business leaders can accept and embrace diverse work styles and drive alignment among a team of both introverts and extroverts.

In Episode 3, we are joined by Joe Martin, VP of Marketing at Scorpion. Joe discusses how his years of management experience at Adobe helped shape his creative approach to marketing and leadership and provides strategic guidance on building the right stack to prompt growth.

In the second episode of "C Suite and Sour," we interviewed Gord Smith, CEO of Alta Consulting. Gord has extensive experience working with North American organizations and has trained and empowered countless sales teams. He also coaches business leaders on driving profitable growth.

Gord believes the next generation of leaders should inspire their team members instead of relying on outdated command and control methods. The pandemic has led to a significant people problem in many businesses, with staff feeling disconnected and uninspired by traditional management techniques. To scale up post-pandemic, Gord suggests prioritizing a strong culture focused on learning and development opportunities, coaching skills, building relationships between employees, and focusing on core competencies and strategies aligned with priorities. Join us as we delve into Gord's insights and learn how to become a better leader in the post-pandemic world.

In our first episode, guest Barrett King discusses how his winding career journey and early-stage struggles motivated him to pursue success in the sales industry, eventually landing him a senior role leading HubSpot’s GTM Strategy. Barrett reflects on his experiences and advises how up-and-coming sales executives can take advantage of continuous learning, capitalize on understanding customers and human behavior, and develop strategic communication skills.