Hortence Le Gentil is an esteemed author, coach, and speaker, specializing in leadership transformation. She is the author of "The Unlocked Leader" and a member of the prestigious MG 100, a group of top coaches under the mentorship of Marshall Goldsmith. With a diverse background in show jumping, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Hortence has coached numerous CEOs and senior executives, helping them unlock their potential and lead with empathy.

In this captivating episode of the Strategy and Leadership podcast, host Anthony Taylor engages with Hortence Le Gentil, a renowned leadership coach and author of "The Unlocked Leader." Hortence shares her multifaceted journey from being a show jumper to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the recycling steel industry, eventually finding her calling as a leadership coach. With clients ranging from industry leaders like Ralph Lauren and the president of Levi’s, Hortence's insights offer profound wisdom on overcoming personal and professional mind traps.

Hortence delves deep into the concept of "mind traps," which are obsolete beliefs that hinder personal and professional growth. Using her own experiences and client stories, she illustrates how identifying and overcoming these limiting beliefs can lead to unlocking one’s full potential. Hortence emphasizes the importance of listening to one's inner voice and pursuing paths that align with one's true self, a philosophy that has guided her dynamic career.

• Recognizing Mind Traps: Understand that mind traps are outdated beliefs that restrict growth and how identifying them is the first step towards self-improvement.

• Overcoming Trauma: Both significant and subtle traumas can create limiting beliefs. Addressing these is crucial for personal growth.

• Listening to Your Inner Voice: Finding your path requires tuning into your inner voice, which guides your true desires and ambitions.

• Leadership and Empathy: Effective leadership today extends beyond traditional metrics; it involves genuine empathy and human connection.

• Personal and Professional Growth: Breaking free from mind traps not only enhances professional performance but also enriches personal life.

This Episode is supported by Cascadia Partners Fleet Electrification Consulting Practice. Are you interested in learning how you can electrify your fleet? Learn more at https://www.cascadiapartners.ca/resources/fleet-electrification-consulting

Karryn Christopher is the Executive Vice President of Marketing and Preferred Partnerships at Signature Travel Network. For over 23 years, She has played a pivotal role in marketing, technology training, and creating preferred partnerships to optimize travel agency profitability. Her dedication to the company and extensive experience in the travel industry have made her a key figure in supporting the network's members and ensuring their success.

In this insightful Strategy and Leadership podcast episode, host Anthony Taylor catches up with Karryn Christopher, the Executive Vice President of Marketing and Preferred Partnerships at Signature Travel Network. Karryn, who has been part of the organization for over two decades, shares her journey and the importance of staying mission-focused, the dynamics of the travel industry, especially during crises, and the pivotal role of communication and community in effectively serving their members.

Karryn talks about Signature Travel Network's structure and mission, emphasizing how being a member-owned cooperative has fostered resilience amidst industry turbulence. She discusses how the pandemic reshaped their operations and business models and how their commitment to communication and best practices has enabled them to support their network. Karryn also touches upon the importance of embracing change and the challenges of working with external partners to drive technoloy

• Staying Mission-Focused: Signature Travel Network’s unwavering commitment to its mission of serving members has been crucial in navigating the unstable travel industry.

• Strong Communication: The organization’s multiple communication channels, including daily emails, Facebook communities, and an intranet, ensure members have access to valuable information and support.

• Member Collaboration: Community and member-driven committees are instrumental in providing valuable insights and fostering collective growth.

• Embracing Change: Challenges like the pandemic highlighted the need for adaptability and leveraging external expertise to innovate and grow.

• Leadership and Support: Effective leadership involves creating space for others to grow and being committed to the success of colleagues and partners.

Summary

In this episode, Anthony Taylor interviews Rob Beer, the managing partner at Trellis and author of Smooth Scaling. Rob shares his insights on building great companies and the importance of being all in. He discusses the challenges of managing growth and the need for balance between operational and cultural needs in high-growth companies. Rob also emphasizes the importance of aligning incentives and timelines and shares lessons from his experience at Smart Money Group. He provides advice for CEOs on transitioning from a 'get shit done' mindset to building an organization that gets shit done. Rob concludes by sharing his personal hobbies and where to connect with him.

Takeaways

• Building great companies goes beyond financial success and high growth; it involves how well the company does what it does.
• The transition from a 'get shit done' CEO to building an organization that gets shit done requires discipline, patience, and the ability to delegate and empower others.
• Growth should be aligned with the operational complexity of the organization; growing too fast can lead to organizational inefficiencies and breakdowns.
• Private equity firms prioritize sustainable growth and profitability, while venture capital firms may push for rapid growth to achieve high valuations.
• Success in scaling organizations requires discipline, alignment of incentives, and a focus on building an efficient and effective organization.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

01:08

Interest in Great Companies

04:17

Success and Failure in Organizational Effectiveness

06:15

Balancing Operational and Cultural Needs in High-Growth Companies

09:02

Driving Fast Growth and Managing Complexity

11:38

Aligning Incentives and Timelines

13:13

Transitioning from a 'Get Shit Done' CEO to Building the Organization

19:32

Lessons from Smart Money Group

22:16

Sustainable Growth vs. Capital Markets Game

24:52

Personal Hobbies and Fun Facts

25:50

Smooth Scaling and Where to Connect with Rob Beer

27:13

Key Takeaways and Conclusion

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About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.

For teams: We can facilitate your strategic planning offsite meeting and strategic plan creation. As well as support your strategic plan implementation.

For individuals leading strategy: Join our community of strategy leaders who have learned SME Strategy’s approach and tools for aligning teams, and driving strategic plans forward.

For more visit www.smestrategy.net/

Summary

In this episode, Anthony Taylor interviews Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge and author of The Ownership Mindset. Kerry shares her journey of becoming a leader at StoneAge and the importance of trust and empowerment in building a successful company. She emphasizes the need for leaders to have an ownership mindset and to surround themselves with smart people. Kerry also discusses the challenges of aligning a large organization and the importance of defining a clear vision and values. The episode concludes with a discussion about Kerry's book, which provides actionable insights for leaders looking to build a great team and culture.

Kerry Siggins is the CEO of StoneAge, a leading manufacturer of industrial cleaning equipment and one of Outside magazine’s top 100 companies to work for. In 2021, she was honored by Industry Era magazine as one of its Top 10 Most Influential CEOs, and in 2017 she was a finalist for Colorado’s CEO of the Year. She sits on the boards of several companies and is member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). She is regularly invited to deliver keynote speeches on several business and leadership topics, including how to create employee-centric cultures in which it’s safe to speak up and show up as your whole self. She is an active blogger and contributor to Forbes, Entrepreneur, Authority magazine, and BIC magazine and hosts several podcasts, including the popular Reflect Forward.

Takeaways

• Trust and empowerment are essential in building a successful company.
• Leaders should have an ownership mindset and surround themselves with smart people.
• Defining a clear vision and values helps align a large organization.
• Regular check-ins and accountability systems are crucial for ensuring success.
• Kerry's book, The Ownership Mindset, provides actionable insights for leaders.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

01:07

Becoming a Leader at StoneAge

07:43

Empowering Others and Building Trust

12:02

Aligning the Company and Ensuring Accountability

14:08

Creating a Unified Culture

16:28

The Ownership Mindset Book

Prefer to get video, subscribe on Youtube. : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1

About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.

For teams: We can facilitate your strategic planning offsite meeting and strategic plan creation. As well as support your strategic plan implementation.

For individuals leading strategy: Join our community of strategy leaders who have learned SME Strategy’s approach and tools for aligning teams, and driving strategic plans forward.

Alan Stein Jr. is an acclaimed keynote speaker, author, performance coach, and consultant with a formidable track record in working with elite NBA superstars such as Kevin Durant and Victor Oladipo. As a former basketball performance coach, Stein Jr. has pivoted his focus to the corporate realm, where he leverages his sports insights to elevate individual and organizational performance. His deep love for basketball and expertise in performance training make him a noteworthy authority in applying sports principles to business leadership and team development. He is also the author of books like "Raise Your Game" and "Sustain Your Game," which explore the parallels between athletic and business excellence.

• Transformational Leadership: Embrace a leadership that focuses on what you want for people, rather than what you want from them, to enhance personal influence and impact.
• Core Values in Decision Making: Use your personal values as a guide to make consistent and aligned decisions that reflect your true self and bolster leadership effectiveness.
• Unseen Hours: Invest in habits and activities during the "unseen hours" — those moments away from the public eye — to become the best version of yourself and set the foundation for success.
• Youth Sports and Leadership: Alan passionately highlights the need to improve the landscape of youth sports, teaching parents and coaches to prioritize process over outcomes and constructively contribute to a child's growth.
• Elevate by Caring: One's dedication to genuinely caring for their work and relationships is the differentiator in achieving professional and personal success.

• "Every single decision you make, you need to ask yourself and run through the filter of, is this in alignment with my personal core values or not?"
• "As a manager, if you show up as less than your best self, mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, you give your team and the people that report to you less of a chance to be successful."
• "Stop badgering and berating the officials. Let the officials officiate. Just sit there and enjoy watching your child do something that they love...encourage them, support them, but don’t coach from the sideline."
• "I am a huge advocate of improving parental behavior and decorum on the sideline, teaching coaches how to have a better impact and influence."
• "The more you invest in caring about others, then the more that will be reciprocated and you'll be rewarded with some phenomenal opportunities and some incredibly fulfilling relationships."

Subscribe to our channel for weekly youtube videos on strategy, leadership, business and management.: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1

➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda

// Connect with us:

► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/

// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:

SME Strategy is a Strategic planning consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.

► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

In this insightful episode of the Strategy and Leadership podcast, host Anthony Taylor is joined by Shawn Mohr, the dynamic CEO of Aventus, to explore the intricate relationship between leadership, technology adoption, and organizational growth. Sean delves into the emerging space of blockchain and tokenization, offering a glimpse into how these technologies are shaping the future of business transactions and customer engagement.

The discussion pivots around the significance of cultivating a robust company culture and the importance of hiring the right talent to steer an organization towards its desired milestones. Sean underscores the necessity of looking beyond immediate operations, emphasizing a "spatial thinking" approach that balances high-level strategic planning with ground-level execution.

Key takeaways and notable quotes are woven through the conversation, revealing Sean's philosophy on revenue generation, change management, and the potential of blockchain to disrupt traditional business processes. For those curious about integrating cutting-edge technology into their strategy and staying ahead of the curve, this episode offers compelling insights and practical advice on making that leap effectively.

• Embrace "spatial thinking" by balancing a 30,000-foot strategic view with detailed, 3-foot execution in business processes.
• Change management and talent acquisition are critical components of leading an organization through growth and transformation.
• Tokenization and blockchain will play significant roles in future business operations—enhancing security, efficiency, and interoperability.
• Companies need to adapt to evolving technologies to ensure brand loyalty, customer acquisition, and the retention of Gen Z and Gen Alpha demographics.
• Leaders should consider their long-term technology impacts today and plan strategically for where their industry and customer expectations are heading in the next 10 to 15 years.

• "The questions you typically want to ask these organizations [are]... how do you use technology to create tenx efficiency within your team itself?" - Shawn Mohr
• "The only constant is change... whenever every company is going through these type of changes and approaches, I'd look spatially and ask yourself the simple question..." - Shawn Mohr
• "Oftentimes you start with talent. Talent management is a key component to your ability to be successful." - Shawn Mohr
• "This [blockchain and tokenization] is significantly about brand loyalty and customer acquisition for their standpoint." - Shawn Mohr

• Aventus website: Aventus Homepage

Shawn Mohr is an experienced leader with over two decades of expertise in guiding businesses through strategic transformation and growth. Currently leading the helm as CEO at Aventus, Shawn has a proven track record of propelling companies from early-stage startups to scalable enterprises. His background includes work with both publicly traded companies and private organizations post-funding, where he leverages change management processes and leadership development to drive

We invite you to listen to the full episode to gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between leadership, technological advancements, and business growth. Join us for more episodes of Strategy and Leadership, where we bring thought-provoking content to the forefront, helping today's leaders shape tomorrow's success stories. Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions.

► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/

// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:

SME Strategy is a Strategy Consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

Do you run a family business? Have you ever pondered on whether you’re running a family-first business or a business-first family? It’s time we explore this question, and today’s guest is just the person to talk about it. Rob Ferguson has been a trusted advisor to family businesses since 2010. He takes his decade-plus experience and wisdom to the show to discuss how family business owners can ensure that they’re running a growing and profitable business without losing sight of the things that truly matter. Want more? Tune in!

Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/

channel for weeklyyoutube videos on strategy, leadership, business and management.: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1

➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda

// Connect with us:

► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/

// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.

► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator