Episodios

  • 'The Offcenter of Excellence' w. Jim Weber

    'The Offcenter of Excellence' w. Jim Weber
    Jul 10 2025
    In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, host Justin McMenamy interviews Jim Weber, an award-winning inventor, mentor and friend. They discuss Weber's extensive career, his passion for mentoring, and his innovative and humorous approaches to leadership.

    Weber shares stories of inspiring his team through unique team-building exercises, like crafting a Dr. Seuss-style poem and making a team quilt. The conversation also touches on serious leadership topics, such as avoiding becoming a 'bitter old engineer,' the importance of empathy and honesty, and supporting colleagues through difficult times.

    Weber emphasizes the value of creating a fun and inclusive work environment and concludes with a humorous recount of his memorable retirement email. The episode encapsulates both light-hearted stories and valuable insights into effective leadership.
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    48 m
  • Skunk Works V: The Presumption of Ease

    Skunk Works V: The Presumption of Ease
    Jun 26 2025
    In this episode, the fifth installment of the SkunkWorks mini-series which draws from Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management, Justin discusses the importance of clear specifications in product development. He examines the critical 10th rule of management, emphasizing the need for precise scope and proactive communication with clients and among co-workers to avoid scope creep and inefficiencies.

    Justin then contrasts his experiences working within rigid corporate processes with the adaptable approach taken during his tenure at Precision Planting, illustrating the pitfalls of hierarchical decision-making, the presumption of ease and guilt of others in the organization, and the necessity of flexibility and adaptability in project management. He shares real examples of wasteful efforts due to inflexible specifications and highlights the importance of balancing structure and flexibility for organizational success.
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    40 m
  • Balancing Business & Values w. Brad Arnold

    Balancing Business & Values w. Brad Arnold
    Jun 12 2025
    In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' host Justin McMenamy and guest Brad Arnold discuss valuable leadership lessons they've learned across their careers. They delve into transitioning from individual contributors to leaders, navigating significant corporate changes, dealing with acquisition uncertainties, and fostering a culture of transparency and empowerment. Brad Arnold shares personal experiences, including his transition from a Dow 30 company to a family business, and the profound impact his daughter Libby has had on his perspective on leadership. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trust, candor, and caring in leadership, as well as the transformative business impact that can be seen through empowered teams.
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    54 m
  • Skunk Works IV: Orbiting the Giant Hairball

    Skunk Works IV: Orbiting the Giant Hairball
    May 29 2025
    In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL', Justin McMenamy continues to explore the practical applications of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management in addition to Gordon MacKenzie's book 'Orbiting the Giant Hairball'. The discussion delves into the balance between stability and creativity within corporate structures, contrasting startup autonomy with the rigid norms of established companies. McMenamy recounts his own experience at Precision Planting, emphasizing the importance of maintaining startup culture under larger corporate ownership. The episode also covers insights on continuous improvement, the more-data fallacy, and communications throughout the value chain. By advocating minimal duplication of inspection and encouraging engineers to directly engage with their work's real-world environments, McMenamy underscores the necessity of iterative, collaborative problem-solving within growing organizations.
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    38 m
  • 'Firm Feedback in a Fragile World' w. Jeff Hancher

    'Firm Feedback in a Fragile World' w. Jeff Hancher
    May 15 2025
    In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy is joined by guest Jeff Hancher. The discussion highlights Jeff's journey from a challenging upbringing in rural Pennsylvania to becoming an executive at Cintas, a publicly traded company, then later an author and speaker on numerous leadership topics.

    Jeff recounts the impact of his military service in shaping his character and career, emphasizing the significance of continuous improvement, accountability and engaging one’s motivation as pillars to his success. Post-military, Jeff transitioned to Cintas, rising from a route delivery driver to a senior leadership position across his 20+ year career. The conversation centers on the critical role of feedback in leadership, illustrating through personal anecdotes how effective feedback can transform individuals and organizations.

    Jeff's upcoming book, 'Firm Feedback in a Fragile World,' aims to equip leaders with tools to provide impactful feedback in today’s volatile work environment. The episode underscores the necessity of balancing empathy with accountability to foster professional growth and organizational success.

    For those interested in ordering Jeff's new book, you can go to firmfeedbackbook.com.
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    57 m
  • Skunk Works III: The PowerPoint Class

    Skunk Works III: The PowerPoint Class
    May 1 2025
    In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy continues his survey of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management through the lens of his own 20-year career both leading and working within various product organizations.

    Focusing on Rules #5-7, McMenamy critiques the overuse of metrics and status meetings in large organizations, providing anecdotes from his tenure at Precision Planting and other companies. He underscores the benefits of minimizing bureaucracy and fostering direct, transparent communication, especially in supplier relationships.

    The episode emphasizes the utility of a minimalist approach to budgeting and reporting for fostering a nimble and creative work environment while ensuring accountability and efficiency.
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    41 m
  • "The Cut of His Jib" w. Jeff Snowden

    "The Cut of His Jib" w. Jeff Snowden
    Apr 17 2025
    In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy is joined by Jeff Snowden to discuss leadership lessons drawn from the career of Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the nuclear Navy. They explore Rickover's famed career, including his ascent from an immigrant family to a naval officer known for his meticulous work ethic and unorthodox leadership style. The conversation covers Rickover’s commitment to hands-on experience, his selection of highly competent teams, and his ability to lead from the front. Jeff also shares personal anecdotes and professional insights on leadership, comparing nuanced aspects of various leadership styles. The episode further delves into Rickover's intent to maintain peace in the nuclear age, even as he pushed technological boundaries.
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    56 m
  • Skunk Works II: The Tyranny of Alignment

    Skunk Works II: The Tyranny of Alignment
    Apr 3 2025
    In this episode of 'Grody and UnPrOfEsSiOnAL' Justin McMenamy delves into how principles from rocket science can inform organizational architecture, particularly in disruptive startup environments. Using Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management from Lockheed Martin's Skunkworks, McMenemy emphasizes the importance of organizational elasticity, embedded project management, and the value of small teams consisting of highly competent individuals as building blocks for effective teams. He then contrasts this approach with traditional metric-driven corporate methodologies. McMenemy shares personal experiences from his tenure at Precision Planting to illustrate these points, emphasizing the need for trust, cooperation, and a bureaucratic aversion in driving disruptive innovation.
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    34 m