The Frontline Industry Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Frontline Industry Podcast
Each week we spend up to 30 minutes with top senior executives to learn what it takes to effectively lead high-performing frontline teams in 2022 and beyond.
Managing Director at CareerCircle, Kim Sneeder, explains the power of authenticity and being true to yourself as a leader and the impact of human connection through small gestures for your team, especially in a remote work environment. If you’re looking to make that critical pivot from being a manager to being a leader, this episode is for you.
Joel is joined by prolific leadership author, Martha Finney, to chat about how to create workplaces that are safe during this tumultuous election season, what you and your team should focus on when everyone and everything seems so divided, how to lean into compassion in the face of misunderstandings, and much more. Are you prepared to help your employees feel safe to be themselves at work, or are you uncertain about how to handle political differences in such a way that it brings you together rather than drawing you apart? This might be a really important podcast for you to listen to...
The CEO and Founder of The Investment Club Network, Owen O’Malley, joins Joel to unveil how to truly feel wealthy regardless of what’s in your bank account. Owen goes on to explain how those who don’t think they have much money right now are just a few steps away from changing their financial future if they made just a few different choices (surprising how far $20/mo can go!), and much more.
Join leadership and culture expert Eric Brooker as he reminds you that you are enough and that you need to separate self-worth from external achievements. We talk about the value of shared pain in building bridges with others, the criticality of building strong relationships at work, the ripple effect of small actions, and much more. You won't want to miss it.
We live in a world where people attack and demonize others who disagree with them, rather than listening and seeking to understand with an undercurrent of love and respect. In this episode, Joel dives into a constructive debate with Ellen Rice Chever, covering challenging topics like pursuing tolerance vs. respect, or whether or not real equity should be pursued as an end. You’ll truly see what mutual respect and admiration can look like even when you disagree with others, and maybe restore a little hope in humanity!
Joel continues his conversation with Garry Ridge, Former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40 as Garry tells his story of transitioning from "smart Alec" to servant leader, how to make the workplace a mental health refuge, the power of genuine "How Are You?" questions, and his hopes of continuing to make a difference in the latter stages of his career.
Joel sits down to chat with Garry Ridge, Former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40. Known the world-over for their incredible company culture, WD-40 has done what some find impossible…created a community of passionate employees who daily go to work with purpose, a purpose that motivates the company in a way that pursuing profits alone never will.
Joel is joined by Dr. Josh Wymore, an author, executive coach, keynote speaker, and trainer.
- Do you want to understand the impact of humility on personal growth and leadership effectiveness?
- Want to learn the 4 key aspects of humility and whether or not you have them?
- Do you want to kill pride in your life?
If so, this episode is for you.
Joel continues his powerful discussion with Ryan Bond, CPO at Thrive Restaurant Group (a restaurant company with over 170 locations and 10,000+ employees). Ryan uncovers the sneaky ways that fear might be manifesting in your life, how to remove fear from your management team and the way they lead every day, his message for leaders who doubt that Thrive's unique approach to leading with love and release would work for them, and much more. Ryan is our most popular guest of all time, so you certainly won't want to miss this incredible two-part episode.
Our most popular guest of all time is back again! Listen in to Ryan Bond, Chief People Officer at Thrive Restaurant Group, with 170+ restaurants and 10,000+ employees. Ryan reveals how to help employees reach their potential, to become a gardener at work by nurturing the environment for your employees to thrive, how to release fear and the need to control things as a leader, and much more. You won't want to miss the practical and powerful insights from this most-requested guest on the podcast!
On this podcast focused on cultivating great frontline leadership, JD Dillon (Chief Learning Officer at Axonify) reveals who holds the keys to creating great employee experience, how many companies think short-term vs. long term and hinder their results, what truly creates improved retention, engagement, and better customer experience, and much more.
Adam is the CEO and Co-Founder of Carbliss, the handcrafted premium cocktails that are taking the US by storm. In his conversation with Joel, Adam explains why you should build your personal brand, why it's important to create a culture of appreciation within your company, and how CEOs must stay connected to the frontlines of their business (and much more).
In this insightful episode, Joel continues talking with Martha Bird, the audacious cultural anthropologist. Throughout, you’ll learn to question your leadership assumptions and embrace new ways of thinking, understand the limitations of survey data and what to do instead to truly assess the strength or weakness of your company culture, and how better culture leads to greater company profitability.
Martha Bird is a renowned cultural anthropologist who looks at the world of leadership and company culture a little differently, and after listening to this podcast you'll look at those differently, too. In part 1, Martha discusses the significance of generous human connections, overcoming perfectionism, going beyond data to understand your company culture, and much more.
Aspiring executive leaders, this one's for you.
Joel has an important conversation with Tom Burns, one of our most popular guests of all time, as he reflects on the critical concept of power mentorship as a defining relationship that you must have to make it into senior leadership roles in your career. Working hard and having a great resume alone aren’t enough to propel you to the C-Suite or other senior roles. Don't miss this one, and send it to an aspiring leader in your life to help them maximize their opportunities.
Joel continues his conversation with Carolyn Swora, an expert on trauma-informed practices in leadership. Carolyn talks about the impact that "small t" trauma can have on our relationships, mental health and overall well-being. She emphasizes the need for self-compassion, vulnerability and making intentional changes to address our emotions, and as always, much more as well.
On today's episode, Joel talks with Carolyn Swora, an expert on the ways that trauma impacts our daily leadership. Carolyn shares the importance of recognizing the wounds we all carry and how they impact our bodies and behavior. She then shares tips for honoring the signals from our bodies to create healthier, more connected work environments, how to listen to your body wisdom, and much more.
The powerhouse story alchemist, speaker, author, and master coach, Celinne Da Costa, joins Joel in conversation no leader will want to miss. Celinne talks about how high-achieving individuals can become confident, fully expressed leaders, how you should let go of the need to "accomplish" and become your authentic self, rewiring your definition of success so you feel fulfilled, and much more.
Charles Redd is the highly respected DEI Officer for Berkshire Health Systems, the largest employer in Berkshire County, Massachusetts with over 5000 employees. In this vulnerable, raw episode, Charles describes the adversity and pain he went through as a young man, the power of his faith that led to healing, and how his story impacts the way he leads, treating others with dignity and creating a safe, inclusive environment. If you could use inspiration and maybe a good healthy cry, this episode is for you.
Scott Springer is an accomplished executive consultant and former VP of Operations for the viral nutrition brand Vital Proteins, and in this episode he elaborates on his secret formula for building a positive culture, the importance of cultivating personal relationships with your team, the book and philosophy he recommends for making work more fun, and much more.
In this episode, Joel continues his chat with employee engagement expert Jim Hauden, founder and former CEO and President of Root Inc. Jim uncovers the 5 blind spots you might have as a leader that you’re totally unaware of (you'll definitely want to learn about those), what it really looks like to practically engage hearts and minds of your employees, how to cultivate a culture of truth tellers, and much more.
Jim Haudan is a world-renowned leader and company culture expert, and was the founder and former CEO and President of Root Inc, which was acquired by Accenture in 2021. Jim talks about why employees are engaged everywhere in life but work (and how to change that), what he means by the need for "hard lines, guidelines, and no lines" in the workplace, how to unleash the potential of your people, and much more.
Mike Lynch is a well-known Diversity Strategist & Practitioner, Speaker, Coach, Facilitator, and HR & DEIAB Consultant. In this episode, Mike addresses the criticality of white men being actively involved in DEI, how to create a culture of “speaking up”, what it means to go “all in” vs just being an ally, the power of conversation in driving change, and much more.
Susan Schmitt Winchester picks up where she left off last week in Part 1. Listen as she shares a vulnerable story about how she was triggered at work as a senior executive and how she handled it, how just because you’re damaged doesn’t mean you’re doomed, the power and importance of self-acceptance, and much more.
In the most emotional, vulnerable, and raw episode of 2024 so far, the CEO and Founder of Healing At Work, Susan Schmitt Winchester, joins Joel on the podcast. Formerly the CHRO at Applied Materials, and also the former CHRO for Rockwell Automation, Susan discusses being an "Adult Survivor of a Damaged Past" (and how you can figure out if you are one too), overcoming broken relationships and addiction, how to deal with being emotionally triggered, and much more. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss the powerful finale of Part 2!
The charming, elegant, inspiring Donnebra McClendon (Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Dayforce) explains the key trait in effective leadership, the person who will supercharge your career the most (and how to find them), the importance of reading, how believing in the goodness of people can lead to forgiveness and growth, and much more.
I this juicy episode, Joel sits down to talk with Monigo Saygbay-Hallie, Chief People Officer at Checkers and Rally Drive-In Restaurants. Monigo describes her work in driving industry-shattering retention improvements in a fast-food dining environment, how to create a sense of belonging in your company, the power of love and care at work, how to go about recognizing the potential of every individual, and much more.
John Boudreau might just be the most intelligent individual to grace the Frontline Industry Podcast. You will learn more in these 48 minutes than you may learn at any other time in your week. Take a listen to learn more about how:
- People can (and should be) be THE competitive advantage for organizations.
- Many leaders lack the necessary frameworks and models to effectively manage and leverage their people.
- Leaders should take ownership of people-related responsibilities and develop evidence-based approaches to decision-making. Decision frameworks and models can help leaders navigate uncertainty and make better decisions about talent.
- Leaders need to change their focus and prioritize understanding the decision frameworks for talent.
- The deconstruction of jobs and understanding the impact of automation can help organizations plan for the future of work.
- Continuous upgrading of skills and being adaptable to change are crucial in the evolving work landscape.
She's the founder and CEO of the Devon Group and one of the most widely respected voices in HR. In this episode, Jeanne Achille covers topics like 1) how to have effective communication and boundaries at work, 2) prioritizing employees’ holistic wellbeing, 3) positive trends in workplace tech that you should consider, 4) the dynamics of working with her daughter every day, and much more.
Meg Bear, former President and Chief Product Officer at SAP SuccessFactors, a leading HR software company, joins us on this new episode. She shares her efforts to bridge opportunity gaps, advocates for embracing diversity with courage, and discusses leveraging individual strengths for collective impact.
Key Highlights:
- Embrace diversity and be brave in your endeavors
- Identify and utilize your unique strengths to serve others
- Prioritize self-care and take time for reflection to align with your aspirations
- Seek support and offer feedback to gain clarity on your strengths and influence
Don't miss out on recognizing and maximizing your unique talents to contribute to a more equitable world. Tune in to this episode with Meg Bear!
Thomas is a VC investor, noted former executive at SAP SuccessFactors, and ongoing advisor of top HR tech companies. In this episode, Thomas discussed the origin story of his lifelong learning (he has more degrees than a thermometer), whether or not we should view the explosion of AI through a doomsday lens, the criteria VCs use when investing in a startup, top moments in his career, and much more.
Influencers are everywhere these days, and Steve Goldberg is a leading influencer in the HR Tech space. He joins Joel to talk about his unusual childhood, the impact of losing his family at 33 years old, how HR can deliver strategic value to their organizations, and much more.
Don't miss mentions of Al Sharpton, blind mountain climbing, and money laundering in this great episode!
J.J. Cutler, Partner at Heidrick and Struggles, joins Joel for his second time around on the podcast.
In this episode J.J. shares:
- The key to managing someone older than you
- What the “clay layer” of management is in your company and why it matters (HUGELY important to understand and work through)
- What you can learn from his mistakes throughout his career
- What really makes a "good" manager
Don't miss it.
The legendary Monica Rothgery (first woman to become COO for KFC in the US) literally wrote the book on frontline leadership.
In this episode, Monica:
- Unveils a sneak peek into her brand new book written directly to frontline managers.
- She gives her Top 2 reasons you should become a restaurant GM
- The REAL secret to reducing your turnover (shocker!)
- And gives YOU a special gift just for you listening to this podcast!
If you care at ALL about customer experience, you must listen to this episode.
Joe Pine is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and management advisor to Fortune 500 companies and startups, and he obsesses over customer experience.
He write books about it.
He lectures about it.
It's his claim to fame.
You won't want to miss this episode, as Joe explains:
1. How companies really get customer experience wrong (and how to get it right)
2. How the best customer experiences leverage the theater of the Freytag Diagram
3. The 3.5 phases of transformation
Joining the podcast is Derek Tufts, VP of HR at SpartanNash, a food solutions company committed to fostering a people first culture, with over 17,000 associates!
Derek gives his best advice on:
1) How to stand out to get promoted
2) The importance of active listening
3) Heartwarming stories about fatherhood
4) How to choose to see the best in others (seeing innocence)
...and much more.
In this final 2023 episode, Joel has a meaningful, heartfelt conversation with the delightful Esther Lee, VP of Global Learning and Development at McCann WorldGroup. For Joel, this episode is one of his absolute favorites in 2023. Esther gets vulnerable and talks about a hard situation that made her cry for weeks as a special ed teacher in the Bronx, the impact of her faith in her professional life, why you should train empathy and kindness in your org (and how!), and much more.
If you listen to any podcast this year, make it be this one.
Listen in to the HR powerhouse, Mike Catanzaro, Chief People Officer at CSC ServiceWorks. Mike reflects on several leadership lessons we can glean from Punxsutawney Phil (yes, the groundhog), the core trait he seeks in a CEO, the impact of being vulnerable with employees about his mental health challenges, and much more.
Jeff Belloli, VP of Human Resources for AEG Presents (one of the largest live music companies in the world) shares his story and unique pivot from pro tennis to HR, how his background in professional athletics differentiates him in his field, the power of meditation that you just might want to try yourself, and much more.
Joel interviews the man, the myth, the retail legend Wes Dudley. Wes is the VP of Customer Experience at Broad River Retail, which owns and operates Ashley HomeStores throughout the Carolinas and Georgia. Wes talks about his take on mentorship, what being a Memory Maker means at Broad River and how that defines the jobs of his employees, the future role of AI for furniture retailers, the most important leadership trait, and much more.
James Cope is the principle consultant for Phillips Consulting Group. In this podcast, James talks about how “people” are his North Star, the difference makers in manufacturing; he challenges us to consider how financial accounting falls short of treating employees as people, how to create the right environment to truly unlock employee potential, how when you treat people as people good things happen, and much more.
Chris Malone in an award-winning author, speaker, thought-leader, strategic adviser and C-level growth executive with experience serving multiple Fortune 500 companies. In this episode, Chris unveils the solutions to the time pressures faced by short staffed healthcare providers, the cost of focusing too much on efficiency, an incredible story of Starbucks workers that will warm you heart, how the key to happiness is serving others, and much more.
Joel has a delightful chat with John Garrett, the Catalyst For Culture Change, comedian, award winning author, podcast host, and keynote speaker.
Garrett discusses how he helps organizations bring out the human behind the job title, how to authentically connect with your employees, the power of show and tell at work, the untapped potential of your employees that you’re ignoring, and how to love your team in transformational ways.
You'll be personally challenged to reflect on who you are, how to truly become the best leader you can be, and how to focus on the things that matter most. You won't want to miss this one.
In this incredibly insightful episode, Joel speaks with Daryl Travis, Founder and CEO at Brandtrust, a brand consultancy offering a more human way to build brands and create meaningful change. Daryl explains why humans don’t really know what they want and how that influences buying behavior and employee experience, why we all keep our Apple device packaging stuffed in drawers, creating brands vs. creating bonds, and much more.
During this heartfelt conversation, Joel talks with Scott Schultz. He's a speaker, executive coach, and facilitator who empowers people to unlock and architect their impact. Scott discusses emotional intelligence and it’s importance for leaders, the huge problem with negative self talk, identifying your core values and truly living them out, and a story he’s never shared before about why he’s so passionate about impacting homelessness. If you've been curious about emotional intelligence and why it's important, this episode is for you.
Joel has an impactful conversation with Troy Morrison, President of North Texas Bells, a 2200 employee quick service restaurant company based in Texas, a big company with a small company feel. Troy shares about his move to franchise owner at 47 years old, his passion for helping people help themselves, the importance of a purpose driven life and what his purpose is, the two principles on which he built his business, and much more.
Joel has a vulnerable discussion with Gary Magenta, Chief Pot Stirrer at The Magenta Mix, where Gary helps leaders and organizations "cut through the BS", get real, and redefine what success looks like for leaders, teams, and customers. Gary talks about why leaders should talk what they suck at with their teams, how to build trust quickly, the epidemic of imposter syndrome in leadership, the advice that gave him goosebumps, and much more.
Joel talks with the innovative Jason Radisson, Founder and CEO of Shift One, a company on a mission to solve the world's largest employment gaps with technology. Jason talks about major demographic macro trends in frontline workplaces, how AI plays into the future of frontline work and tech, his experience with hiring 5000 people a week, his lifelong mission and why he just won’t quit, and much more.
Joel sits down with McLain Hoogland, President of Hoogland Restaurant Group, the largest Marco’s Pizza Franchise in the country. McLain talks about his family history of owning the iconic Family Video, the massive Blockbuster competitor with over 800 locations in the Midwest at its peak, how being a Marine impacts the way he views young employees and how capable they are, the importance of getting your hands dirty on the frontlines as a leader, and much more.
In this meaty episode, meet James O’Reilly, CEO of Smokey Bones, meat heaven for meat lovers, the masters of meat, specializing in good food, good drinks, and good times. James expounds about the restaurant industry leaders he looks up to, the importance of transparency during crisis, the qualities he looks for in employees, the failure he learned from the most earlier in his career, the best compliment he could get, and much more.
The unforgettable Justin Patton is an award winning author, speaker, and executive coach. In this powerful episode, he explains what can be your biggest competitive advantage as a leader, what the most honest part of the body is (and it's surprising), how to diagnose if you need an executive coach, why so many jerks become company leaders, the best sort of company recognition plans, the power of gentleness, and much more.
Joel has a delightful conversation with the charming Bobbi Capps, Regional Vice President of the West Region of Aramark Workplace Hospitality. Bobbi talks about the important three C’s in her world, what she’s learned about leadership through working in management roles since she was 17, opening her own restaurant, her rapid ascension at Aramark and what successes she’s known for, her big career goals, and so much more.
In our inaugural episode for 2023, Joel chats with Said Elkhodary, SVP of Professional Dining at Elior North America, one of the world’s leading operators in contract catering and support services. Said reveals the pivot he made from mechanical engineering to the service industry at the beginning of his career, he reflects on the biggest challenges in corporate dining now, the generational differences in the workforce, what he loves most about his job, and much more.
Joel wraps up the 2022 podcast season with a meaningful conversation with Barb Rooney, SVP of Lodging, Spa and Owner Services at Boyne Resorts. Barb talks about running Big Sky Resort lodging at just 24 years old and the painful but important learnings she experienced, how her change-agent personality has evolved over the years, the important transition Boyne made to focusing on servant leadership, the legacy she wants to leave behind, and much more.
Joel continues his talk with Davin Salvagno, the globally recognized inspirational speaker and author known for connecting purpose, people, and performance. Learn about the “ROI” of focusing on purpose in your company, but how it’s also not the most important reason to pursue it, fulfilling dreams as the number one KPI at a multi-billion dollar company, the decision you can make each day that change the world, and much more. If you've been looking for something life-changing to noodle on over your holiday breaks, this will certainly do the trick.
Joel has a deep and meaningful conversation with Davin Salvagno, the globally recognized inspirational speaker and author known for connecting purpose, people, and performance. We hear a lot about “purpose”, but what does purpose really mean? Davin reveals the answer, and the businesses and leaders who are living out purpose well like WD-40 and Costco, how to self-diagnose if you AREN’T leading well or pursuing purpose the right way, how much pay actually matters to employees, and much more. You won't want to miss this one, and make sure you tune in to Part 2 for the enthralling and remarkably inspiring conclusion.
On our first two-guest episode, Joel has a candid chat with Josh Sevick, President of The Grounds Guys, and John Dobelbower, Director of Franchise Development at The Grounds Guys, a Neighborly company.
Hear about the hard life lesson that changed John’s career path, the Code of Values that guides their company culture and is reviewed daily by their frontline teams, who is the most important role in the company and how they’re identified, and a lot more neighborly advice as well. You won't want to miss this one.
Joel has a wonderful conversation with the iconic and inspiring Jennifer Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man, an international network of locally owned and operated lawn care businesses across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Jennifer talks about the family story of Weed Man, her powerful life purpose, the importance of active listening as a leader, how to build a great brand, the value of being owner operated, the future of robotics in landscaping, and so much more.
Joel sits down for a transformational discussion with Jeff Oddo, owner and CEO of City Wide Facility Solutions, providing over 20 facility solutions, from handyman services to janitorial to parking lot repairs. Jeff shares the divine intervention of Mr. Cho, who inspired their pivot to the franchise model, leading his household how he leads his business, his advice to his younger self, how to chase and pursue the right things in life, and much more.
Joel has a deep discussion with Jackie Ishimaru Gachina, owner of Gachina Landscape Management, one of the most awarded landscape companies in the Bay Area. Jackie shares the incredible challenge of taking over the business when her husband passed, creating a strong culture and winning mentality at the frontlines tied to tangible reward, what she’s most passionate about now, and much more.
Joel has an incredibly engaging talk with Mary Miller, author, speaker, and CEO of JANCOA, a commercial cleaning company run by her, her husband, and soon the next generation. Through efforts to create an environment to attract the best in the industry, they created The Dream Manager program, popularized by Matthew Kelly's bestselling book by the same title. To date, this has been the most life-changing podcast for Joel, and we expect it'll be the same for you. Don't miss it.
This week Joel sits down with Jarrett Walters, President and COO of Hawaiian Building Maintenance, to hear him talk about how basketball created authentic relationships with his employees, how he builds company culture across islands and locations, the way bolstering middle management transformed his business, what motivates him, and much more.
Joel sits down with the delightful Heidi Buske, Transformation Leader at Cargill, the largest privately owned company in the US. Heidi discusses why she loves manufacturing, ho w to create a “winning culture and community” in your company, how losing her best friend at work showed her the power of work relationships, the negative feedback she received early in her career that shaped her forever, and much more.
Joel chats with Jeff Engel, CEO of Location Tech Inc, a software platform providing precise locations 3-dimensionally inside and around buildings to track people, processes, devices, and equipment. Jeff talks of his Navy Seal days and the lessons learned, some stories never before told in the civilian world, he shares his driven approach to life, his passion for identifying and partnering with overachievers, and much more.
Dennis Jenkins joins the show to lay out his motivations and priorities as a man, a leader, and a business owner. Dennis is President of ABC Home and Commercial Services of DFW, providing high-quality, effective pest control services in Texas since 1949. Dennis shares who he is outside of work, how ABC’s unparalleled sense of purpose has led to deep missional investments in their communities, their people, and company culture, who should get into the pest control business, and much more.
On this vulnerable and raw episode, Joel speaks to Edie Freeman, SVP of HR at Thompson Hospitality, the large minority-owned and family-run company that is redefining the art of hospitality. Edie shares her passions outside of work, her deep desire to help people be heard and develop them, her pursuit of boundaries and balance at home and at work, the importance of being vulnerable, and much more.
Joel continues his discussion with Patty Lopez-Calleja, Chief Experience Officer and SVP of Strategic Initiatives at Fiesta Restaurant Group. Patty shares the one thing she wants her in-store teams to know, their unique investment in frontline leadership development, creating a highly customizable employee experience, more about their forward-thinking frontline benefits, and much more.
In this exciting two-part episode, Joel talks with Patty Lopez-Calleja, Chief Experience Officer and SVP of Strategic Initiatives at Fiesta Restaurant Group, parent company of Pollo Tropical, the 138 location restaurant chain headquartered in Miami. Patty discusses creating an actual people-first culture, she reveals the secret and quiet ways they invest in their people and communities, “giving employees what they ask for” when it comes to benefits, what service experience really means, and much more.
On this fiery episode, Joel speaks with the energetic Shannon Coomes, President of Hill Fire Protection, the leading provider of inspection, testing, maintenance, repairs and 24 hour emergency service for fire sprinkler systems. Shannon ruminates about how being raised by a single mom impacted her personally and professionally, the challenge of rebuilding a team when she took her job, being one of the only female executives in her industry, and so much more.
Joel sits down with Josh Bickford, EVP of Strategic Initiatives and 4th generation owner of Clyde’s Donuts, a 102 year old donut manufacturer in Chicago-land. Josh talks about the family legacy and fun culture of Clyde’s, creatively involving the frontlines in ideation, how he wants to be an enabler for frontline employees, the joy of making a product that brings families together, and so much more.
This is Part 2 of last episode, where Joel talks with Ryan Bond, CPO at Thrive Restaurant Group. In this powerful culmination, Ryan discusses helping Thrive employees flourish both at home and at work, the number one thing frontline associates need, how Thrive recognizes employees differently, his powerful message for struggling leaders, his passion for addressing mental health challenges, and much more.
In this extremely authentic and raw episode, Joel talks with Ryan Bond, Chief People Officer at Thrive Restaurant Group, a company with 103 restaurants and over 5000 team members. Ryan discusses the failure of the traditional Human Resources model and the fundamental distrust that too many companies have in their people, how experiences shape our beliefs, the practical ways Thrive cares for their employees, and much more. You DO NOT want to miss this first part of a two-part series with Ryan.
On this incredible episode, Joel speaks with John Alexander, Executive Director of Creative Arts at Eagle Brook Church, one of the largest churches in the country. John shares his perspective on vision casting, stories, and building relationships, he expounds on the one make-or-break meeting his teams do every single weekend, how he tackles the challenge of the omnichannel church experience (including the metaverse!), and much more.
Joel sits down with Deb Coviello, who helps C-Suite leaders take control of their careers, guiding them to navigate challenges with confidence. Deb discusses her passion for elevating leaders and unleashing their potential, the common challenges that leaders struggle with, harnessing the latent potential of frontline employees, the ignorance of calling them “low skilled” workers, why executives need to spend the time on the frontlines of their businesses, and much more.
In this special episode, we look back at the top insights and wisdom shared over the last 16 episodes. The guests and content have been amazing, but you might not have time to listen to every single episode, OR, you have listened but it’s admittedly easy to forget the best parts and takeaways that you loved. So strap in, grab a latte, and let’s highlight my "best of the best."
On this fast-paced episode, Joel talks to Tope Sadiku, Global Head of Digital Employee Experience for Kraft Heinz, the company that absolutely fills your pantry from top to bottom. Tope describes herself as being a corporate doctor and discusses what that means for her and Kraft Heinz, why work-life balance doesn’t really exist, her passion to solve big problems and have big impact, and her sage advice for young professionals.
Joel unpacks a variety of topics with JJ Cutler, Partner at Heidrich and Struggles, the massive international executive search firm. As an expert in frontline leadership and executive search, J.J. talks about viewing training as an R&D function, an analysis of the role (but also problem) of bias in our decisions, how to understand and navigate the generational differences in the workforce, and the crucial traits of an ideal executive today.
On this delightful episode, Joel is joined by Stephanie Stuckey, the incredibly charming CEO of Stuckey Corporation, the roadside oasis since 1937 and home of the original pecan log roll. Stephanie discusses the Gary V secret that makes her go viral on Linkedin, how she looks at the future of work, and her "big hairy audacious goal" to get the pecan into its rightful spot in the snack isle as America’s Native Nut.
Tom Burns, VP of Training and Development at Conn’s HomePlus, a retail company with over 4000 employees and over 150 locations joins Joel this week. Tom discusses Conn’s unique approach to retail, the importance of what Tom calls “Power Mentors”, how necessary it is to be a leader who truly cares, and much more.
This week Joel is joined by Adam Kroener, Co-founder of Carbliss, maker of hand crafted premium cocktails with none of the bad stuff! Adam discusses the Carbliss origin story, the importance of asking good questions, the impact of Dale Carnegie on his life, and so much more! Check it out now.
Joel continues a powerful discussion with Greg Creed, Former CEO of Yum! Brands, including companies we all know and love like KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill. Greg discusses what he calls an “obsession metric” and how it transformed his operations, the key to becoming focused as a leader, how he’s a believer in clarity over being right, and so much more!
On this two-part episode, Joel talks to Greg Creed, Former CEO of Yum! Brands, a monster company with brands including KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill. Greg covers topics like how Yum! Brands use a performance rating and culture rating to measure executive effectiveness, seeing culture through the lens of creating family, and how to go from living the culture to leading the culture at work, and so much more we had to create a second episode!
On this episode, Joel talks to Ken Kozielski, VP of Customer Experience at Orlando Health, a not-for-profit healthcare organization founded more than 100 years ago and Florida’s #1 Health Care Employer. Ken describes the two key elements in unlocking trust, the INCREDIBLE story of a housekeeper giving hope and care, saving the life of a patient with Covid, how fun at work makes us human, and much more.
On this longer, thought-provoking episode, Joel talks to Kevin Henry, EVP and CHRO of Extended Stay America. Kevin discusses the decisions that led to their ability to THRIVE amidst the pandemic, putting the power of recognition & appreciation in the hands of frontline associates, the key to creating intimacy with your employees, and much more. Check it out now!
On this week's episode of the Frontline Industry Podcast Joel welcomes Andy Shirk, President and 3rd generation leader of BEER NUTS Brand Snacks. Andy talks about family legacy, the challenge of innovation, and so much more!
What's a leadership principle that can be applied at the C-Suite level down to the frontline workers? Andrew Main, former CEO of Aramark UK joins us this week and shares this leadership principle, talks about the technology gap within the industry, and so much more!
What's a common trait many successful people have? Adam Povlitz, CEO and President of Anago, joins Joel and shares what he believes it to be! He discusses the unique business model of Anago, making friends with frontline employees, and what he believes would make the world a little bit better, check it out now!
Joining us is Cory Jensen, COO of Marianna Beauty, a leading developer and manufacturer of hair and beauty products for cosmetology schools, salons, retail, and brand owners. Cory discusses the value of getting frontline employees focused on winning and problem solving every day, reversing his 400% turnover, and the criticality of having great daily huddles with your frontline teams.
Join Joel as he chats with Bob Marshall, SVP of Sales at Brightview, the nation’s leading commercial landscape company. Bob discusses the value of being physically present on the frontlines with his employees 40 weeks a year, the essential skill of listening to remove barriers and build community, enabling peer recognition & learning for frontline associates, and his advice to the next generation of leaders.
Mike Hoseus, the author of the Toyota Culture and industry consultant, joins us for our second episode! Mike works with organizations to develop and implement various transformation initiatives. In this episode, he joins Joel to discuss working for 1000 people at Toyota, emulating Toyota culture and leadership in frontline industries, how his Toyota plant maintained less than 3% annual turnover, and how to create an army of problem solvers with your frontline employees.
Join us as Joel sits down with Ari Medoff, CEO of Arosa, to discuss his passion for creating a uniquely flat org structure, working on the frontlines as a CEO, creating a lasting impact on frontline employees, and so much more!
Welcome to The Frontline Industry Podcast! Join our host, Joel, as he shares what to expect coming up this season and a little about his background. He has an invitation waiting for you to join us on the journey of becoming better leaders, together!