What happens when you trade corporate comfort for entrepreneurial chaos?

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Dustin Murphy, founder of Pitch Retail, to talk about how he went from working for corporate giants like Walmart, PepsiCo, and Disney to leading a small but mighty team that helps suppliers break into Walmart the right way.

Dustin shares how he turned career uncertainty into ownership, the lessons he learned about trust and communication from his business partner, and what it really takes to build a growing team that doesn’t burn out.

From hiring and delegation to leadership maturity and client trust, this conversation is packed with insight for business owners who are scaling fast and trying to stay sane.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your people engaged while your business grows—or how to build a partnership that doesn’t implode—this one’s for you.

👉 Learn more about building a trust-driven, engaged team: trustbuiltsolutions.com

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – The Question Every Leader Should Ask Their Team

00:30 – Introducing Dustin Murphy & Pitch Retail

01:00 – What Pitch Retail Actually Does

02:00 – Growing Up in a Walmart Family

03:40 – From Intern to Industry Expert

05:00 – Climbing the Corporate Ladder (Rubbermaid, PepsiCo, Disney)

06:00 – The Leap: Leaving Corporate for Entrepreneurship

08:00 – Taking Control of Your Own Exit

09:30 – Buying Out the Business: How Pitch Retail Began

11:00 – Getting Clients and Building Early Trust

13:00 – From Scrappy to Structured: Learning to Lead a Team

14:00 – Why Partnerships Work (When They’re Built on Trust)

16:00 – Learning to Communicate Like a Mature Leader

18:00 – Growing Pains: When to Hire and How to Scale

20:00 – Removing Bottlenecks and Empowering Employees

22:00 – Letting Go: From Doer to Leader

24:00 – The 80/20 Rule and What Really Moves the Needle

25:00 – How Reflection Fuels Growth

27:00 – Lessons from Working with Walmart

29:00 – The “Hug of Death” and Managing Growth Wisely

32:00 – Defining Real Success: It’s About Sell-Through

34:00 – Be Careful What You Ask For (Alan’s Catering Story)

35:00 – Who Pitch Retail Serves and How They Help

36:30 – How to Connect with Dustin Murphy

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Connect with Dustin Murphy

🌐 https://www.pitchretailsales.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-m-84828470/

What happens when trust becomes the through-line of everything you build—your team, your brand, and your business partnerships?

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Windy Elstermeier, CEO of Pivotal Solutions and founder of Jane Wick, to talk about the power of connection, compassion, and trust in leadership.

From her days leading teams at Walmart to launching a women-led gun range bag brand, Windy shares how learning to serve first, build meaningful relationships, and trust others (and yourself) can completely transform how you lead and grow.

You’ll hear:

✅ How authentic connection fuels both team engagement and customer loyalty

✅ The difference between facilitating and leading through storytelling

✅ What it takes to build partnerships rooted in mutual trust

✅ How serving others first can multiply business opportunities

✅ Why compassion is the hidden superpower in every strong culture

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from doing it all yourself to building through people, this conversation is for you.

👉 Learn more about building a business that runs on trust (not stress): www.trustbuiltsolutions.com

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Spotting a Gap: How Jane Wick Was Born

01:00 – From Training to Keynotes: Building Confidence on Stage

04:00 – The Role of Trust—In Yourself and Your Audience

07:00 – Connection and Compassion: The Core of Leadership

10:00 – Turning Speaking into Service: Adding Real Value

14:00 – Storytelling, Authenticity, and Lessons Learned

19:00 – Building Jane Wick: Trusting Partners Across Borders

28:00 – Community, Reciprocity, and the Power of Connection

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Connect with Windy

🌐 https://pivotalsolutions.co/

🌐 https://janewick.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/windy-elstermeier/

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team engagement, building trust, leadership compassion, small business growth, culture that scales

What does it take to move from carrying your business alone… to building a team that’s engaged, trusted, and thriving?

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Steve Toth of Crestline Leaders to explore the foundations of team building, culture, and engagement.

Steve shares his journey from scrappy solopreneur to leading teams inside Fortune 500 companies and startups, and what he’s learned about:

• Why purpose and vision matter for keeping teams aligned.
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• How personal values shape company culture (and why that attracts A-players).
• 
  
• The link between accountability, trust, and employee engagement.
• 
  
• What happens when leaders stop delegating and start abdicating—and how to fix it.
• 
  
• Why a flourishing team is the real key to scaling any business.
• 
  

If you’re tired of carrying your business on your shoulders and want a team that buys in, sticks around, and thrives—this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply right now.

👉 Ready to build a team you can trust? Learn more at https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Why maximizing value also maximizes employee happiness

01:00 How Alan & Steve met at a family business event

02:30 Steve’s entrepreneurial beginnings: lawn mowing & Volkswagens

07:00 Lessons learned from W-2 roles and building trust through relationships

09:20 From solopreneur to team builder: why “just me” doesn’t scale

13:20 The People & Culture Model: why culture is the foundation

15:20 Flipping over rocks: uncovering hidden issues in organizations

20:00 Vision: how clarity drives team alignment

23:00 Building sticky, authentic values that attract A-players

26:00 Purpose as the driver of passion and culture

29:00 Why accountability is “purpose’s first cousin”

30:30 How purpose + accountability fuel employee engagement

33:10 Prioritization, scaling, and the “triangle model”

36:00 Enterprise value: why engaged teams grow business value

42:00 The tipping point of trust: what happens when it clicks

45:00 Where to connect with Steve Toth

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Connect With Steve Toth

🌐 https://www.crestlineleaders.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-real-steve-toth/

team engagement, building trust at work, company culture, employee retention, small business leadership

What if your employees didn’t just “do their job”… but felt empowered to lead, make decisions, and act in the company’s best interest without waiting to be told?

That’s the culture Jonathan Brooks has built at Warehouse on Wheels, where his team scaled from 2 locations to 37,000 trailers in just a few years.

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett talks with Jonathan about how he shifted from a CFO mindset to a culture-first leader—and why employee engagement is the true engine behind growth.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why he gives every new hire The Ultimate Expectation letter to empower ownership from day one.

✅ How Gallup’s Q12 framework measures engagement and drives action.

✅ Why Extreme Ownership training became the backbone of their leadership culture.

✅ The role of learning & development in retaining top talent.

✅ How trust, empowerment, and equity create buy-in at every level.

If you’re a business owner looking to scale without burning out—or want your employees engaged like owners instead of clock-punchers—this conversation will change how you think about team building.

🎙️ Subscribe for more real-world stories of building businesses that run without the owner 👉 www.youtube.com/@trustbuiltpodcast

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Why trust matters in leadership

01:00 – Jonathan Brooks’ career path from CFO to CEO

04:00 – Building culture with Gallup Q12 surveys

06:00 – Learning emotional intelligence as a leader

08:00 – Launching a learning & development department

10:00 – The Ultimate Expectation: empowering employees from day one

12:00 – Hiring for attitude vs. aptitude

16:00 – Ritz-Carlton service at the Hampton Inn price

18:00 – Scaling through acquisitions & greenfield markets

20:00 – Onboarding with Extreme Ownership

23:00 – Field training exercises for leadership development

26:00 – Equity & rewards that drive buy-in

30:00 – Scaling easier with systems of trust

33:40 – Local market CEOs & agility at scale

35:20 – Trust + culture = engaged employees & loyal customers

37:00 – Succession planning & running without the owner

42:00 – Owner dependence kills deals (and how to avoid it)

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Connect With Jonathan & Warehouse on Wheels

🌐 https://wowtrailers.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnbrooksiv/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to build your team, encourage employee engagement, & ensure your business can run without you?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

Do you ever wonder if your business could run without you?

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett interviews Steven Schmitt of Willow Financial, about building a trust-driven business that thrives even when the owner steps away.

Steven shares his real-world experience of going from sleepless nights as a solo founder to creating a team and systems that allow his firm to grow without constant oversight. From how to trust your team, to creating business systems that work, to succession planning and exit strategies, this episode is packed with insights for business owners who want freedom from the daily grind.

Whether you’re looking to scale your company, prepare it for sale, or simply take a real vacation without everything falling apart—this conversation will give you practical strategies to build a self-sufficient, owner-independent business.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on how to build a business that runs without you.

00:00 – Radical Trust: Why Willow Shares a Company Inbox

02:42 – From Solo Founder to Building a Scalable Firm

05:22 – Creating “Light Bulb” Moments for Clients

09:41 – Sleepless Nights and Entrepreneur Pressure

11:26 – Hiring Your First Team Member (and Lessons Learned)

13:05 – Planning for Succession & Exit Strategy

15:02 – Building Trust with Clients and Teams

17:17 – Why Transparency Builds Business Value

21:27 – Onboarding Clients with Clarity

23:24 – Helping Owners Face Estate & Succession Planning

27:21 – What the “Right Client” Looks Like

29:31 – Passion, Purpose & Trust Beyond Yourself

31:17 – What Steven Would Do Differently

32:10 – How Willow Uses AI as a Business Thought Partner

34:53 – How to Connect with Steven

Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

business that runs without you | how to trust your team | business systems and processes | succession planning small business | owner independent business

If you're an entrepreneur craving freedom, purpose, and a team you can trust, this episode is for you.

Jessica Crum, founder of Silverlake Design Studio, shares her incredible journey from the high-pressure world of Los Angeles fashion to building a thriving marketing agency in Arkansas.

In this inspiring conversation Jessica opens up about career pivots, the real struggles behind entrepreneurship, building a mission-driven brand, and stepping away from hustle culture to create a sustainable, impact-driven business.

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🔗 Connect with Jessica & Silverlake Design Studio

🌐 https://silverlakestudio.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-crum/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

Thinking about leaving corporate life to build your own business?

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Windy Elstermeier to talk about the courage, risk, and strategies it takes to step out of a steady paycheck and create a business that can thrive on its own.

Windy spent 17 years at Walmart before making the leap into entrepreneurship. She shares the hard lessons she learned—like managing cash flow, setting up systems, and facing the reality of risk—as well as the wins of scaling, hiring, and eventually selling her first business.

If you’re a business owner dreaming of freedom, or if you’re stuck in the grind and wondering if your company could ever run without you, this episode will give you practical tools and inspiration.

🎙️ Subscribe for more stories of entrepreneurs building trust-driven, self-sufficient businesses.

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Leaving Corporate After 17 Years at Walmart

02:14 – The Spouse Conversation: Getting Buy-In at Home

04:50 – Doing the Due Diligence: Numbers, Franchises & P&Ls

06:22 – Taking the Leap: Fear, Excitement, and Risk

08:45 – The Obstacle of Cash Flow and Bookkeeping Mistakes

11:26 – Adjusting from Paychecks to Revenue Fluctuations

13:17 – Lessons on Hiring and Managing Crews

15:27 – Why Every Day as an Entrepreneur Involves Risk

16:14 – Big Wins: Family in the Business & Hitting Sales Goals

19:12 – Selling the Painting Company & Discovering Consulting

22:34 – Finding Passion in Solving Business Problems

23:55 – Launching Jane Wick: Spotting a Market Gap for Women

28:09 – Pitch Competitions, Mentors, and Validating Ideas

33:00 – The Importance of Multiple Mentors in Business Growth

36:10 – Preparing for Investors & Writing the Next Book

38:06 – Advice to Her Younger Self About Entrepreneurship

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🔗 Connect with Windy & discover Jane Wick

🌐 https://janewick.com/

🌐 https://pivotalsolutions.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/windy-elstermeier/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

leaving corporate for entrepreneurship | build a business that runs without you | how to start a small business after corporate | risk and trust in business | scaling and selling a business

What happens when a social worker takes the leap into the logistics tech world?

Deme Yuan, co-founder and COO of Freight Relay, shares her unlikely path from nonprofit leadership to revolutionizing long-haul trucking. In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett explores how Deme's passion for social equity fuels innovation in an industry ripe for disruption.

This is a story of mission-driven entrepreneurship, family partnership, and grit.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Why Not All Feedback Is Equal

01:00 – Meet Deme Yuan & the Freight Relay Mission

03:00 – From Social Work to Startups: Deme’s Unexpected Journey

05:45 – A Book That Sparked a Business Idea

08:00 – Angel Funding, India, and Building a Dev Team from Scratch

10:00 – Startup Accelerator Life & First Traction

12:00 – Bentonville, AR: A Logistics Hub in Disguise

13:00 – Pivoting During the Pandemic

14:00 – Winning Federal Grants (SBIR, DOE, USDA, NSF)

16:00 – How a Nonprofit Background Prepared Her for Startup Life

17:00 – Starting a Business with Your Spouse: The Real Talk

20:00 – Changing Her Mindset Around Business & Impact

21:00 – The Role of Mentorship & Discernment

25:00 – Serving Truckers, Communities & a Bigger Mission

31:00 – Work-Life Balance for Drivers: What Equity Looks Like

34:00 – Busting the Myths of Small Business Ownership

37:00 – The Cost of “Letting Off the Gas” as a Founder

39:00 – Sustainability vs. Hustle: Building for the Long Game

40:30 – A Letter to Her Younger Self (Wise Words!)

42:40 – Where to Find Deme & Freight Relay Online

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🔗 Connect with Deme Yuan

🌐 https://freightrelay.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demeyuan/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact