Shows
Growing with PurposeZach Mercurio: Creating a Mattering MovementOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Zach Mercurio, a researcher, author, and leadership development facilitator specializing in purposeful leadership, mattering, meaningful work, and positive organizational psychology. His latest book, The Power of Mattering, is available now.
Zach is an expert in the importance and implementation of mattering in the workplace, but it’s a path he had to carve out for himself. The desire to explore this topic was sparked in him after his first job out of college. Working in advertising sales, he noticed the jarring fact that he...2025-05-2848 min
Growing with PurposeGreg Toback: Bringing Smiles to the Healthcare IndustryOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Greg Toback, Founder and CEO of Resolute Dental Partners.
As a periodontist and member of the healthcare community, Greg has seen various areas of the industry become consolidated over the years. In 2018, he decided to do his part in keeping practices doctor-owned. When two fellow dentists in his community felt they had no other option but to sell to a private equity organization, Greg stepped in and purchased their practice. This eventually led to Resolute Dental Partners, and they now have seven locations, a...2025-04-0653 min
Growing with PurposeKevin Schnieders: Living the Servant Leader LifeOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Kevin Schnieders, Chief Servant Leader and CEO at Educational Data Systems, Inc. (EDSI).
From sports broadcaster to English teacher to owner of the family business, Kevin has tried on several seemingly different careers, but he’s always had a throughline: a passion for connecting with people. When he stumbled into working for his father’s business, he realized he could make an impact, and enjoyed the opportunity to work with his dad. EDSI has grown from a team that was in the single digit...2025-02-0445 min
Growing with PurposeAmy Courter: Flying High and Staying GroundedOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman sits down with Amy Courter, the Principle of Azimuth Centers of Excellence and a Certified EOS Implementer.
Amy grew up outside of Flint, MI with humble beginnings and parents who lived out their heart-first, community values. She adopted those same values and wanted to find ways to be a part of and give back to her community. After excelling at a law enforcement program in high school and wanting to stay involved, she enrolled in the Civil Air Patrol, and has been a member ever...2025-01-0749 min
Growing with PurposeKyle David: The Doogie Howser of Tech ConsultingOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman sits down with Kyle David, CEO of The Kyle David Group. He is also a graduate of the Small Giants Leadership Academy Class of 2021.
Kyle got his professional career started earlier than most. Due to childhood autoimmune issues, he couldn’t participate in a lot of physical activities, and instead turned to reading – mostly books about technology and business. This self education led to a job with a consulting firm at just 14 years old. Thanks to a meritocracy culture and supportive mentors, Kyle was able to g...2024-12-0141 min
Growing with PurposeBill Roark: ESOPs and IntegrityOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman sits down with Bill Roark, co-founder of Torch Technologies, Inc., as well as the founder of Starfish Holdings, Inc. and Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC. He is also the author of Built with Purpose.
Bill grew up in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, in a small community where people looked out for one another. From a young age, he learned the importance of a strong work ethic and treating people with kindness and respect. By the time he had gained some defense work ex...2024-11-0546 min
The Freedom Experience with Jean MoncrieffEpisode 27 - Culture as Strategy: How Purpose and Values Drove a 22X Valuation with Paul SpiegelmanPaul Spiegelman is the co-founder of the Small Giants community, a peer group of purpose-driven business leaders. As the former chief culture officer of Stericycle and co-founder/former CEO of Beryl Health, Paul has pioneered approaches to building culture-first organizations. His journey from founding a medical alert business in the mid-1980s to selling Beryl Health for 22x EBITDA demonstrates how purpose-driven leadership can create exceptional business value while prioritizing people.
In this episode of The Freedom Experience, Paul and I explore the connection between purpose, culture, and business success. We discuss how putting employees first creates...2024-11-021h 00
Growing with PurposeDanielle Krischik: Love, Loss, and a Chocolate FactoryOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman sits down with Danielle Krischik, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer of Knight Agency.
It’s no wonder that Danielle has a passion and a talent for storytelling, because her life has all of the trappings of a good story: joy and heartbreak, struggle and triumph. Danielle grew up in a house alive with love, family, and even a chocolate factory in the basement! But in a condensed amount of time, she lost all of the most important adults in her life, and was forced to gro...2024-10-0842 min
Growing with PurposeDavid Friedfeld: Clear Vision, Full HeartsOn this live recorded episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with David Friedfeld, president of ClearVision Optical, one of the largest family-owned eye distributors in North America.
The Clear Vision story starts with David’s father, a Navy veteran who was looking for his next chapter in life, and found it in a six-week optometry program. After becoming licensed and working for someone else for several years, he began his own business, looping family in along the way. Now the company is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and with David and his...2024-09-0353 min
Growing with PurposeMatt Hoying: The Value of StargazingOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Matt Hoying, President of Choice One Engineering.
Matt grew up on a farm in Ohio with a loving and supportive family. And while both his parents held jobs in addition to running the farm, Matt’s mom always found the time to go out to the edge of their rural property with him and look up at the stars. This ritual not only taught Matt the value in slowing down, but showed him that he was a part of a world much...2024-08-0652 min
Growing with PurposeMikel Berger: Investing in Good BusinessOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Mikel Berger, a self-proclaimed uncertified entrepreneur and Chief of Staff of Little Engine Ventures.
Mikel grew up on a farm in northern Indiana, and while his upbringing taught him to love building things and problem solving, he also wanted to distance himself from that lifestyle. He saw his father, a farmer, as somebody whose livelihood was reliant on the weather and other things out of his control. So Mikel went into software engineering, or “typing for a living”, and eventually wound up cr...2024-07-1652 min
Growing with PurposeSabrina White and Tom Walter: Meet our Inaugural Hall of Fame InducteesOn this very special episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with the inaugural inductees of the Small Giants Hall of Fame: Sabrina White and Tom Walter!
Alongside celebrating 15 years of the Small Giants Community, we’re happy to share the creation of the Small Giants Hall of Fame. What will be an annual award moving forward has now seen its first batch of nominees, finalists and inductees - a process that heavily involved Small Giants Community members.
Sabrina White is the Hall of Fame inductee representing Next G...2024-06-2529 min
Growing with Purpose15 Years in the Making: A conversation with Bo Burlingham & Paul SpiegelmanIt’s hard to believe that it has been 15 years since Bo and Paul started the Small Giants Community! Like many of us, Paul was inspired by Bo’s book and that started a series of conversations, leading to them bringing purpose-driven leaders together as a Community.
Years later, the principles Bo wrote about in his book are stronger than ever, and we’ve seen the focus on culture and values become company differentiators. All of us continue to benefit from relationships and learnings with like-hearted leaders.
In this episode - a special live recording of the...2024-06-0439 min
Growing with PurposeDawn Abbott: Turning Grief into GratitudeOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Dawn Abbott. Dawn is an author, EOS implementer, and owner of three businesses: Fun Productions, Connections Team Building, and Abbott Coaching.
Early on in their marriage, Dawn and her husband, Tim, knew that they weren’t going to be able to get where they wanted to go in life by working for others. So, they saw a niche and a need in the special events space and created Fun Productions, an amusement rental company.
In 2013, with their two s...2024-06-0239 min
Growing with PurposeRon Alvesteffer: Balancing Growth & CultureOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Ron Alvesteffer, President and CEO of Service Express, a data center solutions provider. While they started as a small IT company in Grand Rapids, MI, Ron has led Service Express to become an international team of over 1,000 employees, all while sustaining a unique performance-driven and care-focused culture.
Ron didn’t start with a background in IT. Rather, he had a teaching degree and experience in sales. But when he was hired on as a sales manager at Service Express, he felt ther...2024-04-2855 min
Growing with PurposeChelle Neff: Changing the industry, one haircut at a timeOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Chelle Neff, CEO and founder of Urban Betty, an award-winning salon and spa with three locations in the Austin, TX area.
Chelle grew up without a lot of opportunity; her parents had her when they were very young, and didn’t have a lot to support her financially. But one opportunity Chelle did have, and took on wholeheartedly, was a cosmetology program offered through her high school. Seeing as this program was a fraction of the price of a standard cosmetology sch...2024-03-3142 min
Growing with PurposeBritt Wiedemann: A Teacher, Mountain Guide, and Restaurateur Walk into a Bar…On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Britt Wiedemann, president and owner of IWI Ventures, a company that runs various organizations in the hospitality industry. Britt is also a mentor in the Small Giants Sounding Board program.
Britt grew up in an entrepreneurial family and was raised on a horse and tobacco farm. Early on, he began adding more and more tools to his toolbox by way of new experiences. From working on his family’s farm, to being an English teacher in Korea, to being a mountain guid...2024-03-0348 min
Growing with PurposeTony + Tony Sr. Maione: Making a Father-Son Business ShineOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with our very first father-son duo. Tony Maione Sr. (henceforth called Senior) is Co-founder and Executive Senior Consultant of Core America, a janitorial and environmental services consulting and software company. Tony Maione, his son, is currently President of Core America, as well as an alum of the Small Giants Leadership Academy.
While studying at Cornell University, Senior paid his way through school by cleaning buildings at night. By the time he graduated, he and his brother had a fully functioning business. They ke...2024-02-0445 min
Growing with PurposeJean Pitzo: Building a Culture of Conscious IntelligenceOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Jean Pitzo, CEO of Ace Metal Crafts, a stainless steel fabrication company. Jean is also a mentor in the Small Giants Sounding Board program.
In the 1980s, Jean’s entrepreneurial father bought a metal fabricating business. And even though her brothers had no interest in joining the family business, Jean leapt at the opportunity to work with her father. Six years later, Jean and her sister, Mary, bought the company. It continues to have that family business spirit, as Jean’s daugh...2024-01-0746 min
Growing with PurposeHeidi Baumgart: Empathy and Elbow GreaseOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Heidi Baumgart, COO of Skidmore Studio, a 65-year-old branding firm.
As an only child growing up in rural Ohio, Heidi observed generations of her family work hard to build their businesses, be it a dairy farm or a home renovation business. She took these values with her through her academic career, and into her first job after college at an advertising agency. Soon enough, though, when Heidi and her now-husband were planning their wedding, she pivoted her career to run her ow...2023-11-2645 min
Growing with PurposeEric Jones: The heavy lifting of purposeful leadershipOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Eric Jones, co-owner of Adamantine Spine Moving, a local and long-distance moving company based in Iowa.
Eric didn’t always dream of owning his own moving business. In fact, for a long time he didn’t know where he wanted his career to take him. His prior path stretched from coast to coast of the US, and involved time as a teacher and soccer coach at a boarding school, completing an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Iowa, and workin...2023-11-0545 min
Growing with PurposeAndrew Barry: Building a Culture of LearningOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Andrew Barry, founder and CEO of Curious Lion.
Andrew got his start on the accounting side of business at KPMG. But as his passion for learning grew, he embraced his own courage by moving from his home country of South Africa to the United States, where he started his own training services business. Even though the road wasn’t always smooth, Andrew had mentors (including several standout female leaders in a male-dominant industry) to back him up, as well as his own...2023-10-0949 min
Growing with PurposeJason Fried: ”Out-teaching” the CompetitionOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Jason Fried, co-founder and CEO of 37 Signals, as well as the co-author of several books such as Shape Up and It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work.
As soon as Jason was old enough to work at the age of 13, his parents encouraged him to do so. From a young age, he was able to observe – and learn from – various management styles. Jason also took on an early interest in developing software, and freelanced and sold his own products through...2023-08-1350 min
Growing with PurposeBeck Sydow: Removing the MaskOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Beck Sydow, the Founder of HumanKind Business Leaders, and former CEO of StickerGiant.
Beck’s passion is bringing people-hearted and business-minded leadership beliefs to individuals, teams, and organizations. A self-proclaimed “business geek” as well as a longtime mindfulness practitioner, Beck’s aim is to help people understand the importance of weaving together business and leadership, and to do so by showing up to work as their full selves. And Beck finds that sharing their personal story is a helpful illustration of this belie...2023-07-1850 min
Growing with PurposeCorey Rosen: Mailbag Episode - Dispelling the Myths of Employee OwnershipOn this mailbag episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Corey Rosen to answer listener questions about the world of employee ownership. Corey is the founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), a nonprofit membership and research organization that is an authoritative source on broad-based employee ownership plans.
Corey founded NCEO in 1981 after working as a staff member in the US Senate, where he was first introduced to and intrigued by the concept of employee ownership. As he tells us, employee ownership was legislatively recognized in 1974, and is a...2023-06-2846 min
Growing with PurposeCarl Erickson: Give a Sh*tOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Carl Erickson, the recently retired Executive Chairman of Atomic Object, a design and development software consultancy he co-founded in 2001.
Previously a tenured professor at Grand Valley State University, he enjoyed teaching, but didn’t so much appreciate the affinity in academia for sticking to the status quo. So, when a former student asked him to help manage a team for a startup, Carl took a sabbatical, and eventually resigned, to pursue the new opportunity. The innovation happening in such a new industry was th...2023-03-1543 min
Growing with PurposeLauren Adams: Financials with HeartOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Lauren Adams, the Director of Operations at the Center for Financial Planning, a privately held wealth management firm.
Lauren has always had a strong work ethic that combines with a passion for working towards a greater good. Even as she pursued education, and then a career, in financials, she wasn’t interested in the large public firms and the Wall Street culture. Rather, she focused on finding a work environment that fit her mission of working towards a greater purpose. And in the tw...2023-01-2940 min
Growing with PurposeTaylor Vanden Hoek: Problem-Solving Through ArtOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Taylor Vanden Hoek, a delivery lead at Atomic Object, a custom software consultancy. Along with one of her colleagues, Taylor is currently working towards opening and managing Atomic Object’s fourth office, which will be located in Raleigh, NC.
From a young age, Taylor had a love for art, largely thanks to her dad’s own passion for creativity. But it wasn’t until her senior year in high school, when she enrolled in a graphic design program at a tech center, when she rea...2022-10-1642 min
Growing with PurposeDevyn Bachman: On the Road AgainOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Devyn Bachman, Vice President of Research at John Burns Real Estate Consulting.
Devyn grew up surrounded by the entrepreneurial spirit. While her parents ran a 20-seat hair salon in Colorado, Devyn grew to love the idea of creating something on your own, but also to respect the relentless hard work that it takes to make a business a success.
Devyn was the first in her family to attend college, and, for the majority of her academic career, was also a dancer on...2022-09-2736 min
Growing with PurposeLauren Eckhardt: ”You don’t have to be a celebrity to share your life journey.”On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Lauren Eckhardt, founder and CEO of Burning Soul Collective.
Lauren grew up in rural Missouri with plenty of space to let her imagination roam. She took a detour from her creativity in college, and began her career in Human Resources roles. And while she enjoyed certain aspects of HR, like identifying and celebrating individual’s strengths, her priorities shifted after the birth of her first child, and she knew she wanted to do something different.
After a scary bout of covid in...2022-08-2151 min
Growing with PurposeAaron Montgomery: Making Car Dealerships FunOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Aaron Montgomery, the CEO of Montgomery Development Group, Co-Founder of CarLotz and author of Suspend Your Disbelief: Short Stories That Are Long On Wisdom.
Aaron grew up in Detroit, raised by his mother, as well as her large family. From them, he learned the value of education and stories, and even got a lifelong, prophecy-filling nickname: Mr. President.
After going to a private high school thanks to a scholarship, and eventually Harvard Business School, Aaron recognizes that he’s benefited from exp...2022-07-1147 min
Growing with PurposeHai Nguyen: The Amateur AficionadoOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Hai Nguyen, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Text-Em-All, an automated call and text company.
For a man with such a calm, even presence, Hai’s life began with a lot of turbulence. When he was very young, and with the fall of Saigon, he and his family fled Vietnam. It was a dangerous journey to get to America, and one that took longer than anticipated, but fortunately, he and his family made it safely to Pennsylvania. While he only remembers the journey thr...2022-06-1953 min
Jake and Gino Multifamily Investing EntrepreneursBecome A Small Giant w/ Paul SpiegelmanPaul Spiegelman is the co-founder of the Small Giants Community, a peer-group of purpose-driven business leaders. He is the former chief culture officer of Stericycle, the co-founder and former CEO of BerylHealth and the founder and chairman of The Beryl Institute. Paul is a New York Times best-selling author and has been honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Key Insights: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Paul's entrepreneurial story 05:05 Building a business 08:50 Meaningful growth 13:40 How much do you care 17:39 People first 21:40 Commitment to values 27:44 Working with Jake and...2022-06-0247 min
Growing with PurposeMassimo Backus: Finding Integrity Through VulnerabilityOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Massimo Backus, Chief Coaching Officer of Massimo Backus Leadership.
Massimo’s path to leadership was not a straightforward one, and was heavily influenced by his struggles with dyslexia growing up. As he says, “that challenge both motivated me and put a chip on my shoulder.”
Despite having a supportive family, he felt “othered” in school, and so, understandably, his relationship with academia was fraught with resistance. After entering and then dropping out of college, he picked up several jobs...2022-05-2251 min
Growing with PurposeValerie Webster: Learning Through the Ups and DownsOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Valerie Webster, President of HealthWorks, a Cincinnati based health and well-being company.
When Valerie first stepped into the role of president in a new company, she took it upon herself to meet with every employee for a one-to-one conversation within the first 30 days. For her, trust is one of the most important aspects of being a good leader and building a successful team.
Even though Valerie is still fairly new to her current position, she’s had a lon...2022-04-2438 min
Growing with PurposeEric Rieger: Unpacking the PastOn this episode of the Growing With Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman talks to Eric Rieger, founder and CEO of WEBIT Services, a people-focused IT strategy, service, and support company based in Naperville, IL.
After working for other software companies with poor culture, Eric decided to take matters into his own hands and start his own company. 25 years later, WEBIT Services is a Better Business Bureau accredited company, and has made it onto the Inc. Best Workplaces list.
“There’s harmony and vision and unity with the leadership team, which then translates down to...2022-03-2045 min
Growing with PurposeAndy Fowler: The Accidental EntrepreneurOn this episode of the Growing With Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman talks with Andy Fowler, CEO of Nutshell, an all-in-one CRM and email marketing platform based in Ann Arbor, MI.
“My trajectory in life was never to start a business, or even to lead a business,” says Andy. “I was always motivated by my own curiosity and making things, that’s what always made me tick.”
This curiosity for learning was instilled in Andy at an early age. He was homeschooled by his mother all the way through high school, which gave him the flexibility to really di...2022-02-2053 min
Growing with PurposeKate McCrea: The Sweet Side of LeadershipOn this episode of the Growing With Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman talks with Kate McCrea, CEO and “Chief Caramel Visionary” of McCrea’s, a quality candy confectioner. Kate is also a longstanding member of the Small Giants Community.
At a glance, Kate’s road may be a very windy one. From being an avid dancer as a child, to training as a scientist and living in places like remote Alaska to conduct fieldwork, to now being at the helm of a rapidly growing candy company, Kate has worn a lot of hats in her life. But to her, thes...2022-01-3041 min
Growing with PurposeAngela Barbash: Empowerment Through Financial LiteracyOn this episode of the Growing With Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman talks with Angela Barbash, CEO of Revalue Investing, a values-based investment advisory firm. She is also a current participant in the Small Giants Leadership Academy as well as a recipient of our inaugural LIFT scholarship.
For Angela, all roads lead to making an impact. Growing up, she observed how her separated parents both struggled financially to navigate a society that didn’t allow them access to resources or knowledge. This, along with her love for math and the stories from her activist grandmother, Maria Elena Lucas, set...2021-10-2746 min
Growing with PurposeMel Gravely: Reframing How We Think and Talk About RaceOn this episode of the Growing With Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman talks with Mel Gravely, majority owner and CEO of TriVersity Construction. He is also the author of nine books, including his most recent, Dear White Friend.
As a self-proclaimed product of Affirmative Action, from an early age Mel understood not only that his presence as a black man in professional settings was met with negative perceptions, but also that the intentionality of inclusion offered him opportunities that the systems in this country would not have naturally led to. After a successful career at IBM, earning his...2021-09-2756 min
Growing with PurposeConni Reed: From ”Un” to FunOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Conni Reed, founder and CEO of Consuela.
Starting with a computer science degree, Conni had a steady career in the corporate tech world. But she was feeling uninspired, unhappy, and, in her own words, “I was pretty much just un.” After a self-proclaimed “early mid-life crisis at 35,” she left her job to start her own business. What began as making one-of-a-kind art in her garage has grown into a multi-million dollar company selling joyously colorful handbags, as well as the mission “make today ridiculous...2021-08-2347 min
Growing with PurposeDrew Patrick: The Company Is Yours NowOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Drew Patrick, owner and CEO of Skidmore Studio in Detroit, Michigan. In March 2020, Drew also founded Michigan Fields, an online specialty market that delivers the best of Michigan food and beverage directly to Metro Detroit homes.
Drew's story is one of passion, resilience, and a feeling that all entrepreneurs can identify with: shit happens. On this episode, Paul sits down with Drew to delve into his winding road into entrepreneurship, which culminated in him becoming the owner of Skidmore Studio under the worst of all...2021-07-1848 minGrowing with PurposeLeslie DeMent & Sabrina White: Dodgeball, Friendship, and Shonda RhimesOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Sabrina White, Head of People & Customer Experience at Text-Em-All, and Leslie DeMent, Managing Director at Tailwind. Sabrina and Leslie are graduates of the Small Giants Leadership Academy who found lifelong friendship in one another and with the other leaders in their class.
On this episode, Paul sits down with Sabrina and Leslie to dive into what makes their friendship so special. Sabrina and Leslie were in the same class of the Small Giants Leadership Academy, but they didn't really get to know one another un...2021-06-1446 minGrowing with PurposeTorey Carter-Conneen: Our Work ContinuesOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO of the The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and a graduate of the Small Giants Leadership Academy, to talk about his leadership journey, his experiences as a Black leader, and his perspective on the important role business can play in our nation's fight for racial justice.
Like all of us, Torey and his colleagues at ASLA were deeply impacted by the murder of George Floyd last summer. "The 8 minutes and 46 seconds murder of George Floyd brought ASLA — and the wor...2021-05-161h 06Growing with PurposeColin Quinn: Every Leader Needs a Sounding BoardOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Colin Quinn, Founder/Co-Director at Be Positive in Edinburgh, Scotland. Be Positive is an IT services company that provides consulting, staffing, and training in the area of business analysis.
Colin's role at Be Positive is the head of vision and strategy. Away from work, Colin is the Director of the Glasgow City Football Club, Glasgow's most successful women's football team. Colin's relationship with host Paul Spiegelman is a special one: the two are paired together in the Small Giants Sounding Board, a...2021-04-2546 minGrowing with PurposeBonus Mailbag with Mackey McNeill: How to Thrive, Not Just Survive This YearOn this bonus mailbag episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman answers listener questions all about small business finances with special guest Mackey McNeill, CPA, PFS, and Founder and CEO of the private business financial coaching firm, MACKEY.
If the events of the last year taught us anything, it's that unexpected things happen and as business leaders, we need to be prepared for them. Right now, many leaders in the Small Giants Community are facing more questions than answers, especially when it comes to the economy and financial planning.
That's why we’re...2021-03-2845 minGrowing with PurposeJim Hume: The Harsh Wake-Up Call That Changed EverythingOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Jim Hume, Owner and Principal of Phire Group, a research and brand strategy firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Under Jim's leadership, Phire Group delivers complete research and brand strategy along with creative and comprehensive digital and traditional capabilities to uncover a brand’s full potential. Jim founded Phire Group when he was just twenty-six years old, and over the years Jim has done a complete 180 on his approach to leadership, business and life.
After he was blindsided ten years ago by a multi...2021-03-1452 minGrowing with PurposeKhalilah "KO" Olokunola: From the Block to the BoardroomOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Khalilah Olokunola, Chief People Officer at Tru Colors, a for-profit start up brewery owned & operated by active gang members with a social mission to unify and decrease gang violence across the country.
KO was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She spent much of her teens active on the streets of Brooklyn and Troy, New York with what many view as the cities’ most notorious street gangs — Bloods, Crips and Folks. She eventually faced the consequences of her activities and lost her name for...2021-02-1446 minGrowing with PurposeAri Weinzweig: While the World Gets Louder, Humility Can Quietly HelpOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of the Zingerman's community of businesses.
The Small Giants movement began in 2003 when author Bo Burlingham wrote an article for Inc. magazine dubbing Zingerman’s The Coolest Small Company in America. The idea to start a community for like-minded, purpose-driven business leaders took root from there, when a group of leaders gathered at Zingerman's deli to try its famous corned beef sandwiches and to see for themselves what made this small company so special.
In this conversation, hear Zinger...2021-01-1749 minGrowing with PurposeJay Wilkinson: Fired as CEO of Your Own CompanyNote: This interview was recorded at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
On this encore episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Jay Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Firespring, an inside-out marketing agency and Nebraska's first B Corp. Firespring is also a 2020 Forbes Small Giant.
With a team of more than 200 employees, Jay spends most of his time working on the culture at Firespring and helping leaders in other companies become purpose-driven. But in the early 2000s, Jay experienced a pivotal moment in his life and career when...2020-12-1354 minGrowing with PurposeBo Burlingham: What Makes a Company Great?On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Bo Burlingham, author of the Small Giants book among many others, former executive editor of Inc. Magazine, a Forbes contributor, and co-founder of the Small Giants Community.
When Bo Burlingham published Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big, he didn't know he was starting a movement. In the years since, entrepreneurs around the world and from across industries have picked up the Small Giants book and had a lightbulb moment.
Even more, these entrepreneurs felt a sense...2020-11-071h 10Growing with PurposeDelcie Bean: On a Mission to Make I.T. FunOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Delcie Bean, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT.
Delcie Bean started the company that became Paragus when he was only 13 years old. Although he didn't flourish in the traditional school environment, he found great success in entrepreneurship at an incredibly young age. By his high school years, Delcie's business required an office space and employees of its own to meet client demand.
Today, Paragus has become one of the most successful, fastest-growing IT firms in the region and was named a 2020 Forbes S...2020-10-0848 minGrowing with PurposeElizabeth Glasbrenner: Can a Leader Care Too Much?On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Elizabeth Glasbrenner, co-founder and President/CEO of Smiley Technologies, Inc.
Smiley Technologies, Inc. (STI), is a group of entrepreneurial, service-centric software developers and support staff in Central Arkansas, with business practices and traditions that recall those who ushered in the first big wave of bank technology innovation a half century ago. Smiley Technologies is also a 2020 Forbes Small Giant: Best Small Companies in America.
Although Elizabeth co-founded the business with her brother seventeen years ago, she never envisioned herself as CEO. A...2020-09-1839 minGrowing with PurposeTravis Slisher Interviews Paul Spiegelman: Take Care of the Person In Front of YouOn a very special episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, the tables are turned and host Paul Spiegelman is in the hot seat.
Small Giants Leadership Academy graduate Travis Slisher interviews Paul about his life journey and shares with Paul the impact of the Small Giants Scholarship Fund, which allowed him to embark on a journey to grow as a leader.
Travis has a story that many emerging leaders can identify with: he believes in a different, more purposeful style of leadership but he often feels isolated in his beliefs. Where could he find...2020-08-2851 minGrowing with PurposeLisa Wise: Empathy Is My EngineOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Lisa Wise, who leads Flock DC, a family of service companies with an innovative approach to real estate management and preservation.
Over the last 25 years, Lisa Wise’s professional experiences have all been anchored in empowering individuals as consumers, building stronger communities, and creating forward-thinking businesses. Growing up surrounded by love but short on resources, Lisa began seeking security by building businesses from a young age, starting with her first enterprise, The Sherlock Holmes Detective Agency in her parents' backyard toolshed.
2020-08-0346 minGrowing with PurposeJay Wilkinson: Leading with the Heart FirstNote: This interview was recorded at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Jay Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Firespring, an inside-out marketing agency and Nebraska's first B Corp. Firespring is also a 2020 Forbes Small Giant.
With a team of more than 200 employees, Jay spends most of his time working on the culture at Firespring and helping leaders in other companies become purpose-driven. But in the early 2000s, Jay experienced a pivotal moment in his life and career when he...2020-07-1954 minGrowing with PurposeEmily Tetto: Tap Into Your Inner JourneyNote: This interview was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Emily Tetto, Vice President of Talent and Culture at Acceleration Partners.
Emily is also a Small Giants Leadership Academy facilitator, lending her expertise on how to hire and onboard top talent to emerging purpose-driven leaders. Early in her career, Emily worked in event planning and management, but she's always had a passion for people. As she moved into talent development, Emily realized that company culture is an event in itself: it's...2020-06-0745 minGrowing with PurposeBlair Kellison: Be Inspired to Be Like YouOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Blair Kellison, CEO of Traditional Medicinals, a mission-driven, organic and fair trade wellness tea company based in Sonoma County, California.
Blair Kellison made the best decision in 1995 by taking a 70 percent pay cut to leave the corporate world and take a job at a mission-driven, vegetarian tea company. As a four-time non-founder CEO, Blair has a reputation for being able to go into companies and transition them from a traditional, command-and-control style of leadership to a collaborative, values-driven team approach.
At...2020-05-1745 minGrowing with PurposeCrisis Response: Take the Fear Out of the Workplace with Jack StackOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Jack Stack, Founder, President and CEO of SRC Holdings Corporation and a pioneer of the leadership model known as open-book management.
The coronavirus pandemic has ushered in a new wave of fear and uncertainty: about our own health and the health of our loved ones, our safety, and our economic security. For entrepreneurs and business owners, there's tremendous pressure to make the right decisions to navigate this crisis successfully. In this candid conversation, Jack and Paul draw on their personal wisdom as purpose-driven...2020-03-2951 minGrowing with PurposeTom Walter: "Change, Or We're Leaving"On this re-broadcast of the inaugural episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Tom Walter, serial entrepreneur and founder of Tasty Catering.
Tom is a founding member of the Small Giants Community and has served as a Small Giants Leadership Academy facilitator to share his expertise with emerging leaders in the Small Giants Community. Throughout his life, Tom was a painfully shy, introverted person. He never wanted to be a leader, but he found himself thrust into the role time and time again. Despite his best efforts to remain #2, Tom became an ent...2020-02-1048 minGrowing with PurposeRaman Chadha: Smarter, Healthier LeadersOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Raman Chadha, founder of the Junto Institute. Raman is a Small Giants Leadership Academy facilitator who shares his expertise on emotional intelligence training with emerging leaders in the Small Giants Community.
Most of us know that emotional intelligence is an important skill in leadership — but is it a skill that can be learned? Raman Chadha's life work is dedicated to answering that very question. Raman was the founding director of DePaul University’s entrepreneurship center where he was also on faculty. Today, Raman is th...2020-01-1345 minGrowing with PurposeAdam Witty: Why Should Entrepreneurs Write Books?Adam Witty is the founder and chief executive officer of Advantage|ForbesBooks. Adam has built Advantage Media Group, The Business Growth Company™, into one of the largest business book publishers in America, serving over 1,000 Members in 40 U.S. states and 13 countries. Most recently, Advantage has partnered with Forbes to create ForbesBooks, the first book-publishing imprint for the global media company.
In this episode, hear Adam talk with host Paul Spiegelman about how he fell into the world of publishing and why he believes that all entrepreneurs should write books. Plus, hear Adam's perspective on how companies can grow...2020-01-0248 minGrowing with PurposeDan Sachs: If Company Culture Pays, Why Doesn't Everybody Do It?On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Dan Sachs, a professor at DePaul University Kellstadt School of Business, where he teaches classes on Restaurant Entrepreneurship and Service Leadership. Dan is also the founder and owner of the BIN36 restaurant and wine brand. Recently, Dan published his first book, The Million Dollar Greeting: Today’s Best Practices for Profit, Customer Retention, and a Happy Workplace.
Dan Sachs started out with a push broom on the factory floor of his dad's manufacturing business. Not long after, he started working at Union Square Ca...2019-12-0938 minGrowing with PurposeChris Stakich: Walk in the Direction of Your PassionOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Chris Stakich, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Rustic Pathways. Chris is also Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board for Thinking Beyond Borders, the global leader in gap year programs.
After graduating from Harvard University with a degree in economics, Chris felt compelled to get out into the real world and make an impact. In 2002, he abandoned his previous plans to start a career on Wall Street and instead took a job at Rustic Pathways, a global leader in community service travel f...2019-11-1144 minGrowing with PurposeSteve Palmer: Our Growth Is the Story of Our PeopleOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Steve Palmer, Managing Partner of Indigo Road Hospitality Group.
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group operates more than 20 restaurants across the Southeast region of the United States, and in 2019 it was named one of Forbes' 25 best small companies in America. Palmer's career in hospitality began at the age of 13, when he washed dishes at a local Chinese restaurant. From there, he climbed the ranks and worked in several other restaurants and positions — which led to a problem all too common in hospitality: substance abuse. Aft...2019-10-0738 minGrowing with PurposeTy Hagler: Changing the CurrentOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Ty Hagler, founder and Principal of the industrial design firm, Trig.
As a teenager volunteering at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Ty was exposed to the sport of flatwater kayaking for the first time. That was the start of what became a decade-long career: Ty eventually grew into a world-class kayaker and was even an Olympic hopeful in 2004. But there comes a time when every athlete must retire, and when Ty hung up his paddle, he decided to return to earlier passions that he'd...2019-08-1246 minGrowing with PurposeWilliam Vanderbloemen: Create Your Own PartyOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with William Vanderbloemen, founder and CEO of the Vanderbloemen Search Group.
After more than 15 years of ministry experience as a Senior Pastor, William Vanderbloemen came up with the idea to bring the best practices of executive search to faith-based organizations. Prior to his founding Vanderbloemen, William studied executive search under a mentor with over 25 years of executive search at the highest level. Realizing that many churches struggled to find and retain leadership, he brought the idea to his faith community and challenged them to do thi...2019-07-0849 minGrowing with PurposeKornel Grygo: From Delivery Driver to CEOOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Kornel Grygo, the newly-named CEO of Tasty Catering.
Kornel Grygo grew up in Poland until he moved to the United States at the age of ten. His childhood was defined by working hard and taking responsibility, two traits that would serve him well as he climbed the ranks at Tasty Catering. Kornel originally came to Tasty Catering as a front-line employee over a decade ago, working as a brand ambassador and a delivery driver. Kornel was a perfect match for Tasty's values-based, high-performing culture and th...2019-06-0341 minGrowing with PurposeCourtney Kingston: Don't Bet the FarmOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Courtney Kingston, founder of Kingston Family Vineyards in Casablanca Valley, Chile.
Growing up, Courtney Kingston's imagination was constantly captured by her family's 100-year-old cattle ranch in Chile. In the early 1900s, her great grandfather settled on the land, and five generations of Kingstons have since grown up on the farm. Eager to make her own mark on the family legacy, Courtney wrote a business plan to plant a vineyard in the far western hills of the family farm. They planted their first grapevines in 199...2019-05-0642 min
What's The Difference?A Commitment to Culture, with Paul SpiegelmanPaul Spiegelman is the co-founder of the Small Giants Community, a peer-group of purpose-driven business leaders. He is the former chief culture officer of Stericycle, the co-founder and former CEO of BerylHealth and the founder and chairman of The Beryl Institute. Paul is a New York Times best-selling author and has been honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Paul is a sought-after speaker and author on leadership, employee engagement, entrepreneurship, culture, and leading a purpose-driven life. He has made many radios and TV appearances and his views have been featured in...2019-04-1031 minGrowing with PurposeSusan Leger Ferraro: The Time, Attention, and Practice of CultureOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Susan Leger Ferraro, a social entrepreneur and the founder of a family of transformational organizations with global impact.
Susan started her first business at age 17, when she boldly went against her parents' wishes and started her own company instead of attending college. For years, Susan had known that her life's purpose was to develop human capacity and share love, particularly for children and families in at-risk communities. Fresh out of high school, she started Susan's Playpen and became the youngest licensed daycare provider in Massach...2019-04-0847 minGrowing with PurposeKris Maynard: I'm Here to Tell You We Sold the CompanyOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Kris Maynard, co-founder and CEO of Essential Ingredients.
For twenty-three years, Kris Maynard has been at the helm of Essential Ingredients, building it into one of the most successful Small Giants companies around. With $114 million in revenue, 84 employees, and more growth around the corner, it's no wonder Essential Ingredients was named one of 2017's Forbes Small Giants. And although Essential Ingredients is in the chemical business, Kris truly believes that they don't sell chemicals — they sell relationships. So why did Kris walk into a ro...2019-03-1141 minGrowing with PurposeRob Everts: Worker-Owned and Changing the WorldOn this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Rob Everts, Co-Executive Director of Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative and online marketplace for fair trade goods.
Equal Exchange is the oldest and largest fair-trade coffee company in the U.S. and one of the most successful worker-owned cooperatives in the country. Driven by its core principle of people over profit, the co-op has over 120 worker-owners, each with an equal stake — and an equal vote — in the business. From open-book management to an energizing core purpose, Equal Exchange has established itself as one of the most insp...2019-02-1150 minGrowing with PurposeAnisa Telwar Kaicker: Can Leaders Change?On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Anisa Telwar Kaicker, CEO and Founder of Anisa International, a global leader in cosmetic brush design and manufacturing.
Anisa started her company in 1992 at a time when men held most leadership positions in the cosmetics industry. In fact, Anisa International is the only female-owned brush manufacturer in the world. For fifteen years, Anisa worked hard to prove herself and hold her own in a male-dominated industry — and that meant taking a tough approach to leadership. But as the company took off, Anisa realized that sh...2019-01-1438 minGrowing with PurposeDan Kenary: Core Values, ESOPs, and Craft BeerWhat do core values, employee ownership, and craft beer have in common?
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Dan Kenary, CEO and Co-Founder of Harpoon Brewery, a Boston-based craft brewery. Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986 on a strong foundation of values and mission. Today, Harpoon Brewery is a shining example of a Small Giant — the company has nearly $60 million in revenue and is employee-owned through an ESOP (employee stock ownership program). For Dan, it all comes down to embracing a principles-first approach that puts people at the center of the business. As Harpoo...2018-12-1050 minGrowing with PurposeElizabeth Colón: Turn Your Fear Into FuelSince she was a child, Elizabeth Colón has been the voice of the voiceless.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Elizabeth Colón, President & CEO of Metaphrasis, a comprehensive interpreting and translation company. Elizabeth grew up in a Spanish-speaking home with five siblings, two of whom had hearing issues. From an early age, Elizabeth was tasked with adult responsibilities, like translating medical information for her parents and speaking up for her siblings. Today, Elizabeth has transformed her early challenges into a business dedicated to providing high-quality translation services that incorporate the cult...2018-11-2843 minGrowing with PurposeMegan Driscoll: Do It for Your DaughtersMegan Driscoll believes that all people are equal and worthy — and she has the business practices to back it up.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Megan Driscoll, CEO and Founder of PharmaLogics Recruiting, a Boston-based global recruiting firm exclusively focused in life sciences. Megan's career as an entrepreneur is defined by hard work, innovation, and bold decisions that showcase her strong values. Megan is a staunch supporter of female leadership in business and an advocate for wage transparency and equality. Her mission-driven firm is a prime example of the power of busin...2018-11-1448 minGrowing with PurposeMike Draper: You Can't Fake AuthenticityThere's no way to fake authenticity. If you really love your business and care about it, people will naturally gravitate to you. After over a decade of building his t-shirt company, Michael Draper knows firsthand that it takes hard work every day to build a truly great business.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Michael Draper, Founder and Owner of RAYGUN, a clothing store headquartered in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. What started as Michael selling t-shirts on the streets of his college campus has grown into a $4 million business with 70 employees and...2018-10-2557 minGrowing with PurposeTracy Dahlin: Confidence and CompetenceTracy Dahlin is a self-described "bull in a china shop" and a rumored "occasional pain in the ass." She's also a passionate, purpose-driven business leader.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Tracy Dahlin, Owner and President of Iron River Construction, a women-owned, full-service Minneapolis contractor and remodeler. Although Tracy is a licensed contractor, insurance inspector and roof inspector, she frequently deals with looks of disbelief when a woman shows up on the construction site. Still, Tracy leveraged her confident leadership and competence in the industry to build a successful, fast-growing company bui...2018-10-1140 minGrowing with PurposeLester Thornhill: The Answer Is Around the CornerIt doesn't happen often, but it happened to Lester Thornhill: his CEO took him out to dinner and asked Lester to leave his role as IT Director and take over as Chief Executive Officer.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Lester Thornhill, President and CEO of Life's Abundance, a company that provides healthy products for people, pets, and the planet. Although he comes from an IT background, Lester has leveraged his unique perspective to build a people-driven culture that isn't tethered to traditional workplace practices. Not only is Life's Abundance an ESO...2018-09-1340 minGrowing with PurposeDavid Bolotsky: The Hard Way Is the Only Enduring WayUncommonGoods is an award-winning company, most recently winning the 2018 Forbes Small Giants award. But UncommonGoods doesn't do it for the awards — their culture is driven by their core values and using business as a force for good, even when no one is watching.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with David Bolotsky, Founder and CEO of UncommonGoods, an online marketplace for designs and products by independent makers. David leads the company with a focus on long-term sustainability for the company, its employees, and the environment. A certified B Corp, UncommonGoods is leading the cha...2018-08-0742 min
Leading with Genuine CareAre companies with strong cultures more valuable? with Paul SpiegelmanPaul Spiegelman is the co-founder of the Small Giants Community, a peer-group of businesses focused on culture and servant leadership. He is the former chief culture officer of Stericycle, the co-founder and former CEO of BerylHealth and the founder and chairman of The Beryl Institute. Paul is a New York Times best-selling author and has been honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. He is co-owner of the restaurant, Wine Gallery, in Laguna Beach, CA. Paul is a sought-after speaker and author on leadership, employee engagement, entrepreneurship, culture, and leading a purpose-driven life...2018-07-251h 36Growing with PurposeMichael Spinosa: From Corporate Culture to Open CultureCan a high-ranking corporate leader make the switch to purpose-driven leadership? Michael Spinosa, CEO of Unleashed Technologies, hit the reset button on his career to pursue building his own business as a way to escape his unfulfilling career in the corporate world.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Michael Spinosa, CEO of Unleashed Technologies, an award-winning design and development firm in Columbia, Maryland. Though Michael started out in the corporate world and found great success, he felt a pull to build a business with purpose. As he attempted to transition out of...2018-07-2542 min
Onward NationHow to measure the ROI of culture, with Paul SpiegelmanPaul Spiegelman is the co-founder of the Small Giants Community, a peer-group of purpose-driven business leaders. He is the former chief culture officer of Stericycle, the co-founder and former CEO of BerylHealth and the founder and chairman of The Beryl Institute. He’s a New York Times bestselling author and has been honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Paul is a columnist for Forbes.com and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine. What you'll learn about in this episode: How the Small Giants community got its start Th...2018-07-1300 minGrowing with PurposeEllyn Davidson: How Leaders Survive TragedyWhen a leader is struck by personal tragedy, how do you persevere? Ellyn Davidson was diagnosed with breast cancer as a rising leader at her agency and with three kids at home. Today, she is President of Brogan & Partners and a mentor to women facing their own diagnoses.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Ellyn Davidson, President of Brogan & Partners, a full-service marketing and advertising agency in Birmingham, Michigan. Ellyn's business card hasn't changed for 24 years — she was hired as an intern at the company and worked her way up the ladder through a...2018-07-1245 minGrowing with PurposeHoward Spector: Is It Too Late to Find Your True Calling?How late is too late to find your true calling? If you ask Howard Spector, every step we take is a lesson learned and valuable in its own way. Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Howard Spector, Co-Founder and CEO of SimplePractice, a software company serving health and wellness professionals. Howard is something of a late bloomer — he's held many jobs in his life, and for a long time he felt disconnected from his true self. But when Howard decided to go back to school to become a psychotherapist, he uncovered a passion for peo...2018-06-2736 minGrowing with PurposeBetsy Pepine: The Best Lessons Are Learned the Hard WayIf there's one thing that Betsy Pepine knows to be true, it's that all good things come from lessons learned the hard way. But you wouldn't know it from looking at Pepine Realty today — Betsy's award-winning real estate firm has grown to three locations all while maintaining a people-first culture.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Besty Pepine, Broker-Owner of Pepine Realty. When Betsy first started Pepine Realty in 2010, she didn't think much about culture. After she lost a valued employee to a competitor with a great culture, Betsy committed to buildin...2018-06-1240 minGrowing with PurposeZawadi Bryant: Your Team Is Your Best Leading IndicatorAfter building a successful career in engineering and manufacturing, Zawadi Bryant was surprised when her friend, Dr. Anastasia Gentles, approached her about starting an after-hours, pediatric urgent care center — where Zawadi would be the Chief Executive Officer.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Zawadi Bryant, CEO of NightLight Pediatric Urgent Care. In 2007, Zawadi left the engineering world to tackle a new challenge: high-quality, convenient pediatric care for when other pediatric offices are closed. As Zawadi stepped into her new role as a leader, she became a student of her own experiences. She lo...2018-05-2335 minGrowing with PurposeShawn Askinosie: Can Chocolate Change the World?By many measures, Askinosie Chocolate is a small company — they work in small, artisan batches, they focus on developing their 17 employees, and they're not afraid to hit the breaks and decelerate in order to achieve goals other than growth for growth's sake. But the impact of Askinosie Chocolate is anything but small.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Askinosie Chocolate founder and CEO, Shawn Askinosie. Shawn started Askinosie Chocolate in 2006 after leaving a successful career as a criminal defense lawyer. Shawn is the only chocolate maker to work directly with cocoa far...2018-05-1054 minGrowing with PurposeWebb Weiman: What's Left on Your Bucket List?When tragedies touch our lives, we're left to either sink or swim. Webb Weiman, Founder and Executive Director of Jump!, used his personal tragedies as inspiration to start a non-profit organization that helps seniors achieve what's left on their bucket list. Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman interviews longtime family friend and inspiring leader, Webb Weiman.
After building a successful career in Hollywood, Webb made the bold decision to leave the industry and start his own non-profit organization. Inspired by his family legacy, Webb started Jump! to help seniors achieve their dreams. Today, Jump! works...2018-04-2541 minGrowing with PurposeAnese Cavanaugh: How You Show Up in the WorldAs a leader, how are you showing up in the world? Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman interviews Anese Cavanaugh, Creator of the IEP Method® (Intentional Energetic Presence) and author of Contagious Culture: Show Up, Set the Tone, and Intentionally Create an Organization That Thrives. Anese's simple yet impactful methodology taps into the intention, energy, and presence that is key to leadership and organizational success. For 20 years, Anese has been working in the trenches to help leaders unlock their creativity and build incredible company cultures. In this episode, Anese and Paul dig into her early experiences in lead...2018-04-1251 min
Lawyerist Podcast#160: Fostering Culture in Your Law Firm, with Paul SpiegelmanIn this episode with Paul Spiegelman, we talk about what culture in your law firm means, why it is important, and how to create culture deliberately and intentionally. Paul Spiegelman is the co-founder of the Small Giants Community, a peer-group of purpose-driven business leaders.2018-02-2138 min
Growing with PurposeEpisode 11: Chris McKeeToday on the Growing With Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman interviews Chris McKee, Founder & Managing Partner of Venturity. Looking back on his life, Chris never imagined himself becoming an entrepreneur. In fact, his dream growing up was to become an accountant and sit in a cubicle doing reconciliations. What changed? This episode, Chris shares the invaluable lessons he learned while fishing with his grandfather, how he unlearned his authoritative leadership style, and his journey to becoming a purpose-driven leader.
2017-12-1456 min
Leaders Love CompanyNurturing a Culture-Focused, Employee-First Company with Paul SpiegelmanPaul Spiegelman and his two brothers started BerylHealth in the mid-80’s and grew it from just the three of them to over 400 employees and nearly $40 million in annual revenue. Paul believes that the company’s secret sauce was its unique company culture. That is the focus of today’s episode: workplace culture and its importance in helping you grow your business. Paul joins us to share his insight on how leaders can focus on creating an employee-first, culture-focused company. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: Why establishing an employee-focused culture is good for business How Paul...2017-12-1138 min
Growing with PurposeEpisode 10. Anne HedToday on the Growing with Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman interviews Forbes Small Giant, Anne Hed, Co-Founder and CEO of HED Cycling Products Inc. Anne's story is both a business and a love story. It begins with Anne as a young and broke college student with a desire to win the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii. Per her friend's suggestion, she finds herself at a small bike shop in Minneapolis, where she asks the barefoot, shirtless, greasy owner, Steve Hed, for $100 and a bike to enter the triathlon. And that's just the beginning...
2017-11-0850 min
Growing with PurposeEpisode 9. Laura BooneThis episode Paul chats with Laura Boone, a successful entrepreneur who has used her intuitive gifts of clairvoyance and clairsentience to help others grow and thrive for over 25 years. She is passionate about applying astrology, tarot, and the esoteric arts in practical applications and committed to inspiring companies, communities, families and individuals. Paul finds out what has shaped her business and life.
2017-10-1048 minGrowing with PurposeEpisode 8. David DussaultWhen David finished school, he followed the family tradition of working at GE. By 2006, he had decided he wanted to do his own thing, so he founded P1 Industries, manufacturing engineered parts for power plants (like GE). Next up P1 is manufacturing for 3-D technologies. In this episode, Paul chats with David about what has shaped his life and business.
2017-09-1351 min
Built On PurposePaul Spiegelman - Chief Culture Officer at StericycleToday I am interviewing Paul Speigelman, the chief culture officer for Stericycle, a globally traded public company with over 25,000 employees. Prior to that, he was the founder & CEO of BerylHealth, a company that won nine awards as a best place to work. Paul is a New York Times bestselling author of three books about culture and employee engagement, and he speaks often on the topic to convince other businesses about the power of values-driven leadership and the ROI of culture. He also acts as CEO of the Small Giants Community, a membership organization of small-business leaders who believe that as...2017-03-061h 03
Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and LeadershipPaul Spiegelman, Do Patients Come Second in Healthcare? Who Comes First?My guest for episode 200 is Paul Spiegelman, author of the book Patients Come Second: Leading Change by Changing the Way You Lead. Today, we're talking about his book and its provocative title – what do you mean patients don't come first? What about this trend for “patient-centered care” (and why wasn't it patient-centered to begin with?).
In the podcast, Paul talks about:
The book's title and how it was meant to be provocative
Why focusing on engaged employees leads to better patient care and more success for the organization
How do we create engagement?
Why is it important...2014-05-3030 min
Doubt The Doubts | Crazy Cool People Sharing Great Tips, Tactics, & Tools0153 How to Build a Culture Employees Want to Work In with Paul SpiegelmanPaul Spiegelman has so much rubber-meets-the-road wisdom on building a solid company.2014-01-0629 min