Amazing Teams Podcast
We started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.
Line of Sight: How Transparency in the Workplace Builds Aligned Teams – With Martin Gourdeau
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Have you ever asked a question at work and once you got the answer, wished you hadn’t?
If so, you might not be the right fit on Martin Gourdeau’s team. He doesn’t do performative transparency in the workplace; it’s a true core value. Martin is the CEO of Vacation Tracker, a fully remote SaaS company with a team distributed across seven countries. He finds that being clear and candid about the status of a business is an effective method for building trust in teams, as well as driving...
How to Scale Remote Work Culture Without Forcing It – With Camilla Booth
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Ever had an awkward time at a poorly attended Zoom mixer? It’s practically a rite of passage in remote work culture these days.
Camilla Booth has felt your pain. Throughout her eight years as VP of People at Coder, she’s hosted everything from paint-and-sips to tarot card readers, but nothing stuck. All the while, Coder was exploding from a team of 20 to nearly 200. Camilla finally settled on an authentic startup culture driven by simplicity, Slack, and strict attention to surveys. Toss in a sprinkle of tinker, plush tacos, and an al...
From Taco Trophies to Culture Clubs: Building Teams That Thrive
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What does it actually take to make people feel seen at work — and keep it going?
In this episode, Una from HeyTaco sits down with Sheena, a longtime culture builder and HeyTaco admin, to share what actually moved the needle for her team. Not theory. Real tactics, real stories, real results.
They walk through four pillars of building culture with peer recognition — Connection, Visibility, Engagement, and Culture — and for each one, they dig into the symptoms to watch for and the specific things you can do about them.
You...
Taco Bytes: 10 Lessons for 10 Years of Building HeyTaco
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To celebrate HeyTaco’s 10th birthday, Una sits down with HeyTaco founder Doug Dosberg for a heartfelt and hilarious trip down memory lane. In this special Taco Bytes episode, Doug shares 10 powerful lessons from a decade of building a gratitude-powered business—complete with taco costumes, customer stories, and Beyoncé GIFs.
If you’re a startup founder, team builder, or taco enthusiast, this one’s for you.
Highlights from the Episode
The Big 1-0: Doug reflects on what it feels like to hit the 10-year mark and why it do...TacoBytes: Inside the HeyTaco Hall of Fame
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In this episode of Taco Bytes, Doug and Una dive into what truly makes workplace cultures thrive: givers.
Together, they explore why the most impactful people on teams are often the quiet, consistent supporters—the ones who notice effort, celebrate progress, and lift others up without expecting anything in return.
The conversation centers on the HeyTaco Hall of Fame, an annual recognition honoring individuals (not teams!) who embody the spirit of gratitude day in and day out. Doug and Una share wh...
TacoBytes: Celebrating the Days That Matter – Introducing HeyTaco Milestones
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In this episode of TacoBytes, Una and Doug take you behind the scenes of HeyTaco’s newest feature: Milestones—a fun and effortless way to celebrate your team’s birthdays and work anniversaries, right in Slack.
They explore why recognition on these personal milestones matters more than we often admit, how it used to be done (balloons, cakes, and jackets, anyone?), and how HeyTaco is making these celebrations feel authentic—even when they’re automated.
You’ll hear how customer stories shaped the feature, why it’s more than just a calenda...
The ROI of Delight & the Power of a Well-Thought-Out Gift with Katy Carrigan
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Katy Carrigan, CEO of Goody, to explore how thoughtful gifting drives employee engagement and recognition. They discuss the power of personalization, celebrating milestones, and building a culture of appreciation. The conversation also delves into leadership transparency, empowering teams, and how Goody navigates growth while keeping the recipient experience at the heart of it all.
We dive into:
Why physical gifts often have more impact than monetary onesThe common oversight of missing work anniversariesHow remote work calls for more...You Can’t Clap with One Hand: Lessons from 55 Startups with Sanket Merchant
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Sanket Merchant, a partner at PeakSpan Capital, who shares insights from his career journey in the software investment space. He discusses the importance of culture, clarity, and support in building high-performing teams and organizations. Sanket emphasizes the value of trust, agility, and gratitude in leadership and how these elements drive the success of entrepreneurial ventures. He also highlights the importance of evaluating entrepreneurial teams based on shared values and mutual respect, and the role gratitude plays in cultivating a positive work...
“Say the Thing”: Claire Lew on Leading with Clarity
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Claire Lew, CEO adn founder of Canopy (formerly Know Your Team), to explore the evolving role of managers and the growing need for leadership development. She discusses the challenges of navigating uncertainty, maintaining morale, and giving honest feedback, while emphasizing the need for clear communication and strong leadership in today’s complex, digital workplace.
We dive into:
How clear, timely feedback builds stronger teamsWhy manager engagement drives morale and cultureThe challenges of growing in...How to Really Move People - and Why Being Nice Ain’t It, with Stephen Lord
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Stephen Lord, discuss the unique role of a Scrum Master, emphasizing the importance of kindness, empathy, and building trust within teams. He shares insights on treating developers as creative artists, fostering a positive team culture, and implementing gratitude practices to enhance team dynamics. The conversation offers actionable steps to improve workplace culture, highlighting the value of listening, authenticity, and recognition. The episode concludes with a heartfelt reflection on the power of appreciation in the workplace.
...
Leading Through Ambiguity: What Startup Leaders Must Learn (Fast) with Hannah Munizza
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Hannah Manizza, VP of Marketing at Forge Biologics, to explore the concept of a “wrong rock boss” and the critical role of effective leadership in team dynamics. Hannah shares her personal journey from a structured corporate environment to the fast-paced world of startups at Forge Biologics, highlighting both her professional growth and the evolution of the company.
We dive into:
Why effective management starts with clear guidance and expectationsHow navigating ambiguity is a crit...The Wake You Leave Behind: Carl Smith on Team Culture, Trust, and Not Being a Control Freak
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sit down with Carl Smith, owner of the Bureau of Digital. Carl shares his journey from agency owner to community leader, reflecting on the role of people, motivation, and creativity in the workplace. He and his guests explore how to balance introversion and extroversion, lead with empathy, and create space for learning through failure. The conversation highlights the power of community, the emotional weight of leadership, and the lasting impact of our actions— “the wake” we leave behind.
We dive i...
TacoBytes: Why Tacos? And Other Big Questions About HeyTaco
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In this bite-sized episode of Amazing Teams, Una flips the mic and interviews HeyTaco founder Doug about the seven most common "why" questions people ask about the platform. From “Why tacos?” to “Why a daily limit?”, Doug dives into the design decisions that shaped HeyTaco into the gratitude-powered, culture-building tool teams love today.
Whether you're a longtime user or taco-curious newbie, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what makes HeyTaco so unique—and effective.
🌮 What We Cover:
Delete Half Your Meetings — and Why Gratitude Beats Cash 75% of the Time
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Marc Cenedella, CEO of The Ladders, to explore the evolving landscape of work culture. We discuss the shift to remote work, the key drivers of productivity, and the power of gratitude in the workplace. Marc shares insights on standing out in a competitive job market, the impact of AI on job applications, and the importance of crafting resumes that highlight measurable achievements. The conversation also touches on the role of meetings and how they can influence creativity and efficiency.
TacoBytes: Cringe No More - How to Make Your Appreciation Messages Actually Mean Something
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In this episode of Amazing Teams: TacoBytes, Una andDoug Dosberg tackle a spicy topic—cringe appreciation messages. You know the ones: "Thanks for all you do," "You're the best," or "Thanks for everything." We’ve all sent them. But are they actually meaningful?
Una and Doug break down why these messages often fall flat—and how just a little more specificity can turn generic gratitude into something personal, memorable, and powerful. Learn a simple framework for writing better thank-you notes and hear real-time rewrites that hit all the right notes.
What Are You Doing on the Fifth Day? How COLAB Made the 4-Day Workweek Work
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sit down with Morgan Witham, CEO of COLAB, about her journey from investment banking to leading a digital agency and how her team embraced a four-day work week. Morgan shares insights on workplace culture, employee retention, and the power of gratitude in building a thriving company.
We dive into:
Morgan transitioned from investment banking to CEO of COLAB to help scale the business.The four-day work week was implemented to combat burnout and attract talent.Retention is influenced by overall workplace...TacoBytes: From Beer Emoji to Taco Nation - The Origin of HeyTaco
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In this episode of TacoBytes, Una Japundza sits down with Doug Dosberg, founder of HeyTaco, to dive into the origin story of everyone's favorite peer recognition tool. From his early days at The Motley Fool to his unexpected leap into building a culture-shaping product, Doug shares the behind-the-scenes moments that brought HeyTaco to life.
You'll hear how a frustrating experience with clunky HR software sparked a big idea, how game design principles helped fuel user engagement, and why Doug chose customer funding over investor dollars. This is a conversation about building...
GIF Wars, Taco Tuesdays & Global Teams: Making Work Fun with Skyler Birk-Stachon
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Summary:
In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sit down with Skyler Birk-Stachon, the go-to-market lead at Optemization, a Notion consultancy that helps startups and businesses organize their Notion pages.
Skyler shares his insights on the importance of enjoying work, the cult following of Notion, and how he built a global team at Optimization. He emphasizes the role of fun in the workplace and discusses his unique approach to team building through community events like pickleball. Skyler also highlights the significance of gratitude a...
TacoBytes: Season 2 reflection Ask-Me-Anything style with Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E32
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In this special "Ask Me Anything" episode, Doug and Una reflect on the journey of the Amazing Teams podcast and the lessons they've learned about teams along the way. They celebrate the podcast’s milestones and engage in a candid discussion about the dynamics that make teams thrive. Together, they delve into the importance of alignment, enthusiasm, and shared goals as foundational elements of successful collaboration.
Doug and Una share personal stories from their leadership experiences, unpacking challenges they've faced and the values that have guided them through pivotal moments. Drawing pa...
Trust, Clarity, and Recognition: Keys to Thriving Teams with Heather Haas - E31
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What makes a team truly amazing?
Heather Haas, CEO of ADVISA, shares her insights on leadership, culture transformation, and the unseen yet critical work that builds thriving organizations.
Heather’s journey from classroom educator to running a 30-person company reveals her passion for helping people discover their strengths and develop self-awareness. In this engaging conversation, Heather dives deep into creating self-aware leaders, fostering trust, and using recognition to transform workplace culture.
Key Takeaways:
TacoBytes: Recognition and Rewards are not the same thing with Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E30
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In this conversation, Una Japundza and Doug Dosberg explore the concept of rewards in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of intrinsic motivation over extrinsic incentives. They discuss the potential pitfalls of calculated rewards and the introduction of gift cards in Hey Taco, highlighting the need for thoughtful implementation. The conversation also touches on different types of rewards, including collaborative rewards, and personal experiences that illustrate the impact of recognition and appreciation in a team culture.
Key Takeaways
On hiring for attitude, measuring outcomes vs tactics and human-first customer support with Lav Crnobrnja - E29
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Is your team culture prepared for the challenges of modern remote work?
Lav Crnobrnja, co-founder and CEO of Vacation Tracker, shares his journey from building a leave management tool to scaling a fully remote, thriving startup.
Learn how Lav’s team grew from a small experiment in Slack to a 19-person global operation, his hiring philosophy, and how he cultivates confidence and gratitude in his team.
Key Takeaways:
Delegation is about accountability, not micromanagement. Lav explains how shifting from overseeing tactics to focusing on out...TacoBytes: The importance of rituals in building teams with Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E28
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In this conversation, Una & Doug discuss the significance of rituals and habits in fostering a culture of gratitude within teams. They share various creative practices that teams have implemented to enhance appreciation and connection among members, including the concept of the 'golden taco' and the annual 'TacoCon'. The discussion also highlights personal experiences with team rituals, emphasizing the importance of shared meals and fun traditions in building strong team dynamics.
Takeaways
The Evolution of Remote Work with Sondre Rasch - E27
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How will countries function in a world without borders?
Join Sondre Rasch, Co-Founder and CEO of SafetyWing, as he discusses building a global social safety net for the future of remote work. Sondre explores how evolving trends in remote work reshape industries, social structures, and even the way we view countries as products.
Alongside co-hosts Doug and Una, Sondre shares insights into leadership, creating company culture, and why remote work is the inevitable future.
Key Takeaways:
● Countries as Products: Sondre predicts a fut...
TacoBytes: Inside CultureCon - fanness and the future of employee engagement with Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E26
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Keywords
CultureCon, organizational culture, employee engagement, leadership, followership, networking, gratitude, team dynamics, company culture, motivational strategies
Summmary
In this conversation, Una and Doug catch up on Una's experience at CultureCon, a conference focused on improving organizational culture. She highlights the importance of being a diehard fan in leadership, the ongoing challenge of employee engagement, and shares actionable insights for businesses to foster a culture of gratitude and connection among employees.
Takeaways
Feedback Loops and Trust Falls: A Designer's Approach to Building a Team with Francesco Vetica - E25
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What does it take to build a culture of feedback that transforms teams and strengthens client relationships?
Francesco Vetica, Head of Design and Employee Experience at Fifth Beat, joins the Amazing Teams podcast to share how his design and business background shape his approach to fostering growth, communication, and collaboration.
From embedding feedback into daily operations to creating open, safe spaces for constructive dialogue, Francesco reveals the strategies that drive his team’s success. Learn how Francesco’s innovative feedback practices create value for employees, clients, and the organization alike...
TacoBytes: Why you shouldn't trust engagement surveys with Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E24
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Join Una and Doug as they discuss insights from a recent webinar with Eddie Geller of SKOR, where they dive into why traditional employee engagement and pulse surveys may fall short in assessing and fostering company culture. Eddie's unique culture assessment approach goes beyond symptom-based questions to tackle root causes, allowing companies to address issues proactively instead of reacting to lagging indicators. They explore ideas around measuring everyday experiences, fostering happiness, and ensuring employees feel valued—key elements to creating a thriving culture.
On Leading Kids vs. Adults, Running Otus Without HR, and Building a Team of Developers and Teachers with Chris Hull - E23
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How can data and technology transform education while keeping the human connection alive?
Chris Hull, Co-founder and President of Otus, joins the podcast to discuss his journey from a seventh-grade social studies teacher to leading an edtech company focused on making student data accessible and actionable for educators.
Chris shares how Otus centralizes diverse student data—grades, attendance, behavioral insights—to support teachers, districts, and families, creating a complete picture of each learner. Chris also opens up about the challenges of building a remote team, fostering a strong culture with...
TacoBytes: myths and facts about workplace happiness with Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E22
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In this episode, Doug and Una dive into the myths and facts surrounding happiness at work. They challenge common beliefs, revealing that workplace happiness goes beyond perks like free snacks and ping pong tables. Instead, they emphasize purpose, recognition, and belonging as the true drivers of satisfaction and engagement. They discuss how productivity and happiness are connected but distinct, exploring research that shows happy employees are 20% more productive and 25% less likely to leave their jobs.
Una and Doug also delve into the power of recognition, with insights on how appreciation fosters...
Why Learning is the Key to Building Your Team (and How to Make it Not Suck) with Lisa Lie - E21
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How can companies inspire a culture of proactive learning?
In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, Doug and Una welcome Lisa Lie, founder of Learna, to discuss the transformative role of proactive learning in building resilient and adaptable teams.
Lisa, who has transitioned from a career in advertising and HR to founding her own company, shares her journey of blending her passions for product development, people operations, and continuous learning. She explores how reframing learning as problem-solving can help employees take initiative and contribute more meaningfully to team...
TacoBytes: Is unlimited PTO a trap? With Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E20
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In this conversation, Doug and Una discuss the concept of unlimited PTO (Paid Time Off) and its implications in the workplace. They explore whether unlimited PTO is a trap or a beneficial policy, with Doug expressing skepticism about its effectiveness. They emphasize the importance of having structured time off to encourage employees to take the necessary breaks without guilt. The discussion also highlights the role of trust and autonomy in high-performing teams, suggesting that a culture built on these principles can lead to better employee satisfaction and productivity.
Takeaways<...
From Startup to 250 Employees: The Power of Culture at Limble with Bryan Christiansen - E19
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Why should companies prioritize culture in growth?
In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, Doug and Una chat with Bryan Christiansen, founder and CEO of Limble, a B2B SaaS company focused on maintenance management.
Bryan discusses the pivotal role culture has played in scaling Limble from a small startup to a 250-person company over nine years. He shares insights into Limble’s core values—embodied by the acronym Moth Tacos—which emphasize merit-based success, customer obsession, transparency, and a strong no-asshole policy, all of which contribute to building...
TacoBytes: Living your company values, actually with Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E18
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In this short Taco Byte, Doug and Una chat about whether software tools are the answer to reinforcing company values, the role of leadership in living the values and how HeyTaco was designed to encourage meaningful and intrinsic value recognition.
Let's Talk Comp (Without the Corporate Snooze-Fest): Fair Pay, Transparency, and What Really Matters with Lola Han - E17
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Why should companies rethink compensation strategies?
In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, hosts Doug and Una sit down with Lola Han, founder and CEO of Kamsa, a company dedicated to helping businesses create data-driven compensation strategies.
Lola, a seasoned expert with experience at companies like Zendesk, shares her insights into how organizations can structure fair, equitable compensation that cultivates employee growth and satisfaction. The conversation dives into the nuances of compensation philosophy, pay transparency, and how to keep employees motivated and appreciated in the long term.
...
TacoBytes: Season One’s Unmissable Moments with Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza - E16
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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, Doug and Una reflect on the journey since the podcast's inception in September 2023. Having interviewed 15 diverse guests, including entrepreneurs, founders, coaches, and team leads, Doug and Una share their insights from season one, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building an amazing team, as each team's path is unique. Empathy emerged as a recurring theme, highlighting the importance of trust and relationships. They discuss the challenges of implementing these values consistently, especially in remote settings, and how the podcast aims to keep such...
Ending with a Question, How to Measure Culture & 3 Things You Can Do Today to Affect It with Eddie Geller - E15
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What are the 3 Cs of Culture, and how can you effectively employ them in your organization? Doug and Una dig into cohesion, clarity, and courage with Eddie Geller, founder and CEO of SKOR, a company focused on measuring and improving corporate culture. His entrepreneurial journey has taken him to founding 3 companies with 1 IPO and 2 exits. SKOR delivers clear insight into your company culture, compared internally and against industry peers, providing a playbook to making the most of your team.
In this episode of the Amazing Teams Podcast, hosts D...
Yes, And… to Better Teams! How Improv Games Boost Confidence and Connection | Jordan Hirsch & Sarah Filman - E14
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Have you considered using improv techniques to improve communication within your organization? After this episode with Jordan Hirsch and Sarah Filman, you’ll want to! Sarah is the Founder of Playful Perspectives, and with experience as a product manager and certified coach, she brings unique insight to team building. Jordan is the Founder and CEO of FishTree who uses his experience in consulting, improv comedy, and public speaking to create “a world where fear doesn’t hold good people back.”
In this episode of the Amazing Teams Podcast, Sarah and Jordan take Doug...
Forget Compliance—Build a Culture of Buy-In & How to Engineer Real Engagement | Aaron Schmookler - E13
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Is your organization keeping up with the company culture revolution? Aaron Schmookler is on a mission to engineer healthy company cultures through his company, YesWorks. As CEO of YesWorks, a consulting firm specializing in training and support for world class collaboration, Aaron, along with his team, work with a variety of organizations to improve their company culture. One of the ways this is done is through Teamification, building foundational structures in your business that support a healthy culture, providing experiential training for your team, and creating a culture of ongoing growth. Aaron’s mi...
How Giving Back Brings Your Team Together: The Power of Shared Experiences | Jason Piasecki - E12
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Did you know that a die-hard baseball fan and CEO of a marketing agency took his team on a 24-hour marketing marathon to give back to the community? But here's the unexpected twist: this CEO's team-building strategy involves not just typical team retreats, but real-time, high-stakes client work! Jason Piasecki, the partner and CEO of Revel, brings his unique marketing expertise to his passion for team dynamics. With a love for baseball and a commitment to his company's values of humility, hunger, curiosity, and helpfulness, Jason's approach to team building is both engaging...
From West Point to Industry, Using Empathy and Discipline to Lead, | Steve Hedrick - E11
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This week we sat down for a chat with Steve Hedrick, Chairman, President, and CEO of AVN Corporation, right in the heart of South Charleston, West Virginia. Now, Steve's not your average CEO. He's got this cool mix of petrochemical savvy and military know-how from his West Point days. And boy, does he have some stories to share! From the importance of being understanding as a leader to the magic that happens when teamwork kicks in, Steve spills the beans on how he's been steering the AVN ship through some tough times. He's...
