Suits and Sneakers: Leadership Unfiltered – Details, episodes & analysis

Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Jamie L. Smith

Two words sum up this episode with Jamie L. Smith: caring candor!

Jamie is co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of Amplify Advisors. She used those words to describe her leadership style and Jamie demonstrated caring candor in speaking of how her fractional CFO’s support clients. Jamie puts client experience as a top priority and shares how the business model she and her partner chose ensures high satisfaction.

Jamie discusses some of the ways Amplify overcomes the challenges of managing a remote team and helps team members feel like a unit. She also shares an honest story about how a leader can create stress when giving choice. Wow, it’s a great insight.

I think you will appreciate Jamie’s reflection on learning to understand individual team members' needs and how they work best.

According to Jamie, leaders’ success in achieving growth goals requires mindful attention to the three-legged stool. Listen in if you don’t know what that is because she gives solid advice on where to focus your attention! These are incredible lessons.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

• "You're always going to hit a ceiling in your growth and then you have to reinvest in order to move that ceiling up."
• “It's deliberate effort to earn that trust and earn that influence…then, you can challenge [team members]"

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Amplify Advisors focuses on financial strategy for small and medium businesses.
• The understanding of fractional CFO services has evolved significantly since 2018.
• Client experience is a top priority and is driven by company values.
• Investing in technology and processes early can save time and costs in the long run.
• Managing remote teams requires deliberate effort and effective communication tools.
• Client feedback highlights the importance of integration into their culture.
• Leadership should be tailored to the needs of team members, not just personal preferences.
• Empowering employees can lead to ambiguity and stress if not managed properly.
• Delegation is crucial for business growth and should be embraced by leaders.
• Continuous investment in team structure and technology is necessary to break growth ceilings.

LINKS FROM EPISODE: Jamie L. Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamielsmithcpa

Amplify Advisors website: https://amplifyadvisors.ca/ Amplify Advisors on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplifyadvisors/

AmplifyTech on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplifytech/

Amplify Advisors on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/XvBjYtsttrPVkrJ3/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Amplify Advisors on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amplifyadvisorsinc?igsh=MWVtcWNrZHpxcmN0ag%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

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Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Judith Virag

In this Suits & Sneakers conversation with Judith Virag, CEO of Clean Club Calgary, and a 2024 AB Business Award of Distinction winner, we talk about hiring newcomers, enforcing clear company policies and the big/little things that show she cares. She has a great BHAG (Big, Hairy Audacious Goal) too!

Judith shares her journey from being a refugee to becoming a successful entrepreneur and her approach to training with hands-on, experiential creativity. Her honesty is humbling. As a hard worker herself, she documented the standards of excellence and her expectations, so language translation isn’t a barrier for her staff.

Judith takes customer service very seriously and I think you’ll find the clear lines of communication she has set for customers and team members an interesting example. She explains the importance of company culture, employee engagement, and the considerations of leading a diverse team of newcomers. Judith is a leader willing to get “dirty”, but not in the way you think!

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

• "Know your team members and know some of their dreams."
• "[Making their dream happen is] an investment because you're getting them engaged and then you're showing them the company cares, beyond the work"
• "The biggest trust factor is when a customer hands you their keys to their home… We take that very seriously."

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Judith's journey from refugee to entrepreneur highlights resilience.
• Company culture is crucial for business success and employee satisfaction.
• Involving team members in core values development fosters ownership.
• Hiring newcomers requires understanding their unique challenges.
• Creating a supportive work environment enhances employee engagement.
• Training and development are essential in high-turnover industries.
• Team-building activities can significantly improve morale and cohesion.
• Authenticity in leadership leads to better communication and trust.
• Difficult conversations are beneficial for team growth.
• Investing in employees' personal goals strengthens company loyalty.

LINKS FROM EPISODE:

Judith Virag on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-virag-72b4775/

Clean Club Calgary website: https://www.cleanclubcalgary.com/

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/cleanclubcalgary

On Instagram: www.instagram.com/cleanclubcalgary

Book: Culture Revolution - for purchase in CA: https://buff.ly/3KB0r0w or in USA: https://buff.ly/4cunK8j

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Host: Carrie Tuttle

Guest: Neville Chamberlain

In this episode of Suits & Sneakers, host Carrie Tuttle chats with one of her mentors, Neville Chamberlain, former CEO and CTO, who shares his experiences and insights on leadership and team motivation.

Neville emphasizes the importance of starting with why and simplifying goals to drive team performance. He also discusses the cultural differences in leadership styles and highlights the need for empathy and valuing every individual in a company. He advises aspiring leaders to take risks, embrace failure, and seize opportunities.

Neville is currently working on SoloBOSS, a solopreneur business operating system.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

• "If you're not failing, you're not trying."
• "Start with why. Explain to people why the company does what it does."
• "Give people permission to do the things that make a difference."

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Communicate the why behind your company's goals and mission.
• Set simple and measurable goals that align with your company's vision.
• Measure what matters and focus on external metrics that impact clients.
• Create a culture of performance and teamwork.
• Simplify processes to keep momentum and achieve success. Incentivize employees to resolve outstanding issues by promoting a culture of quality and providing support.
• Take responsibility for mistakes and create a supportive environment to foster employee trust and loyalty.
• Recognize the value of every employee and their contributions to the business.
• Learn from different leadership styles and practices in different countries.
• Don't be afraid to take on new opportunities and embrace failure as a learning experience.
• Consider the well-being of employees and create a work environment that supports work-life balance.

LINKS FROM EPISODE

Neville Chamberlain’s Website: https://www.britewrx.com/

Neville Chamberlain on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevillechamberlain/

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Suits and Sneakers is an interview series featuring candid conversations with leaders from diverse backgrounds and styles. The host, Carrie Tuttle, has a background in sales and marketing and started this series to fill the gap in formal mentorship opportunities and provide valuable insights for aspiring leaders. The main themes of the series include the importance of bravery in leadership, the balance between performance and empathy, and learning from failures. The series features leaders from various industries and backgrounds, showcasing a breadth of leadership experiences.

The guests wear suits, sneakers, and everything in between. They share real-world insights and personal stories that shine a light on how to lead with humanity, foster a culture of accountability, and navigate the complex dynamics of team leadership. They share both their triumphs and their challenges.

If you have a story you think would be valuable for our audience to hear, apply here.

Host: Carrie Tuttle Guest: Erin Hicks

This episode of Suits & Sneakers with guest Erin Hicks, SVP Client Success and Partnerships with Pure IT, has so many leadership nuggets. Her perspective is to address hard conversations directly before they become bigger issues. She is a supportive and collaborative leader who advises you to be true to yourself.

Erin talks about the unique culture of credit unions and the need for alignment and visibility within an organization. She shares her early experience of being a leader without necessarily managing people and the importance of stepping up and driving initiatives.

Erin supports her team members in their goals and makes work enjoyable. I was humbled by the sense of responsibility she feels in leadership. Overall, she emphasizes the importance of being authentic and aligning one's values with their career.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

• “You make the best decision you can and move forward.”
• "Collaboration and transparency are key to driving initiatives and supporting team members' growth."
• "Leading people is probably the hardest but best job that you'll ever have."

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• You can be a leader without necessarily managing people.

• Collaboration and transparency are key to driving initiatives and supporting team members' growth. Culture is critical in an organization and should be aligned and visible throughout.
• Work-life balance is important for personal fulfillment and creativity.
• Stay true to yourself and align your values with your career.

LINKS FROM EPISODE:

Erin Hicks on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinfhicks/

Pure IT website: https://pureitcuso.com/

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Host: Carrie Tuttle Guest: Sean Stratton If you want to be a people-focused technology leader, you’ll want to hear this episode with Sean Stratton. His deep experience and respect for others show. He has led tech teams across legal, financial and petroleum industries. Sean reminds us that no matter what industry you’re in or tech perspective you have, if you are managing people, communication skills are essential. He even talks about how he has used Myers Briggs in understanding and relating to his teams. I appreciated his perspective on mentorship, something he’s very passionate about, and succession planning. Sean’s “tech peeve” might surprise you. We talked a lot about what tech and non-tech leaders need to remember, like matching IT systems to specific business needs. If you are looking for mentorship, give this a listen. There was so much good advice Sean freely shares here. QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS: • "Don’t let your job be your identity.” • "Reflect before making decisions. Understand the business and your team." • "My biggest passion is growing talent and growing people." • "The job of mentoring is to develop their skills so that they independently can do it on their own." • "Knowing your blind spots is really important.” EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: • Focus on the people side of IT and build strong relationships with team members. • Leadership is about setting a direction and empowering others to find their own path. • Recognize and leverage the strengths of team members, especially in technical roles. • Listen, ask questions, and understand the business needs and the people you lead. • Avoid chasing the latest technology trends and align technology with business goals. A mentor should understand the goals and aspirations of their mentees and guide them in the direction they want to go. • Mentors should help mentees develop their own skills and find their own solutions, rather than providing all the answers. • Personality tests, like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, can help mentors understand individual styles and blind spots. • Succession planning is an important responsibility for leaders, and it's crucial to have a plan in place for the future of the team or company. • Leaders should not let their job define their identity. • Building a network and learning from other leaders in various industries is a valuable source of knowledge and growth. LINKS FROM EPISODE Sean Stratton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-stratton-1761972/ ---------- Tell us a topic you’d like to hear more about in the comments. Want to be an expert guest? APPLY HERE

Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Masako Long

Sales leaders, you want to hear this episode with Masako Long, VP of Sales at Janusea in Seattle. She shares her journey from inside sales to leadership, and lots of learnings along the way.

Masako emphasizes the importance of curiosity, problem-solving, and continuous learning in sales. I love how she talks about vulnerability and the significance of creating a safe space for team members to grow and succeed. She suggests putting yourself out there and being willing to make mistakes!

Masako shares her advice for new leaders and the importance of building mutual respect and trust within a team. She encourages leaders to provide opportunities for their team members to stretch themselves and try new skills.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

·      "It’s okay to say you don't always have the answers and you're willing to work with [the team] to figure it out." ·      “Perfection is not the answer here. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow.” ·      “Have confidence in your skills and trust your ability to learn along the way.”

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS ·      Curiosity, problem-solving, and continuous learning are essential in sales and leadership. ·      Bridging the gap between old and new technology is crucial in the financial institution space. ·      Creating a safe space for team members to grow and succeed is important. ·      Vulnerability as a leader means putting yourself out there and being willing to make mistakes. ·      Staying up to date with industry trends and learning from other salespeople is valuable. ·      Success is defined by creating an environment where people feel comfortable and supported, and where they can grow and succeed. ·      Leaders should provide opportunities for team members to stretch themselves and try new skills. ·      Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow. ·      Authenticity and leading with unique strengths are key in leadership. LINKS FROM EPISODE Masako on LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/masako/⁠ Janusea Website ⁠https://janusea.com/⁠ ----------

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Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Lindsay Harle-Kadatz

This episode goes deep on values faster than you can imagine! Lindsay Harle-Kadatz is a business consultant on brand and culture, AKA the ‘Values Vixen’. She connects leaders to their voice to guide, connect, and lead their teams to greatness through values, behaviour, and actions that matter for optimal business performance through optimally performing people. This raw and real conversation about hard topics might trigger you, and hopefully, inspire you to think about the effects on mental health for your or your team when work is misaligned with values.

Lindsay explains that values are not just marketing statements, but underlying beliefs that guide aligned action. When companies are clear and aligned among their leadership team, they can achieve higher engagement, productivity, and understanding.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS: "Values are not just marketing statements, but underlying beliefs that guide aligned action."

"No one's definition of a value, even if it's the same value, is right or wrong."

“Values help individuals and teams connect to a larger purpose and make a positive impact in their work.”

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS ·      Values are not just marketing statements, but underlying beliefs that guide aligned action. ·      Clarity and definition are crucial in values to avoid misalignment and different interpretations. ·      When companies are not clear on their values, they can make poor decisions, experience low engagement and retention, and create a toxic culture.

·      Leaders have a responsibility to create a safe and supportive environment for their team members. ·      Harmful leadership behaviours can include making derogatory comments, not believing or listening to team members, and not providing support for mental health. ·      Leaders should engage in self-reflection and understand their own emotions in order to be more effective leaders. LINKS FROM EPISODE

BRP Consulting Website https://brpconsulting.ca Lindsay on LinkedIn  http://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayharle

Lindsay’s Instagram http://www.instagram.com/quirkylindsayharle/

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Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Phil Roberts

Phil Roberts, CEO of Valo Networks is longtime leader in senior level positions in the energy, telecommunications and software industries. He has started and scaled several companies locally and internationally.

Chatting IRL in a podcast bar, it’s fascinating to hear Phil’s stories of turning an entire company around in an underperforming market. He shares experiences on hiring, cutting workforce, repositioning a product and transparent leadership.

Phil will inspire you to have multiple backup plans and consider volunteering. He is an enthusiastic and active volunteer with civic and economic development organizations, but also talks about serving on a fire crew!

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

• "Always have your plan B, C, D and E in place."
• "The challenge as a leader becomes not only telling the story of how we're going to make it through it, but actually demonstrating the actions.“
• "The answer is always empathy and questions."

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS ·      Transparency and empathy are crucial in leadership. ·      Tying personal goals to team goals can be achieved by breaking team goals into individual performance goals. ·      Scaling a startup requires operational excellence and hiring the right people. ·      Volunteering can provide valuable experience and networking opportunities. ·      Recharging can be achieved through activities like running and traveling. ·      The satisfaction of seeing the growth and success of a company is a rewarding aspect of leadership. ·      Be patient, learn, and focus on implementing good ideas. LINKS FROM EPISODE Valo Networks Website ⁠https://valonetworks.com/⁠

Valo Networks on Linkedin ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/valo-networks/⁠ Kaks Bar & Podcast in Calgary ⁠https://kaksbarpodcast.com/⁠

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Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Anita Lee

Anita Lee, founder of Catch Communications, discusses experiences along her leadership journey from independent marketing consultant to company owner for six years. She highlights the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive work environment, respecting different experience levels, ages and backgrounds. Anita shares her approach to leadership, which is grounded in her company values and her strength of actively listening to team members. She talks about the significance regular feedback and building trust plays.

Anita also discusses the differences between managing employees and contractors and the importance of values alignment in the hiring process. She also shares about a ruptured relationship. Lots of ground was covered in this episode! She encourages emerging leaders like herself to embrace challenges and continuously learn and grow.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS ·      "Create an environment that is safe for team members to come together, feel comfortable, and thrive."

·      "How do we build an environment where someone's job is more than just a job?"

·      "Active listening helps foster relationships where people feel heard and understood."

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS ·      Create a diverse and inclusive work environment to foster innovation and growth. ·      Prioritize active listening and ask meaningful questions to understand others' perspectives. ·      Lead and hire to align with values, such as integrity, respect, care, transparency and accountability. ·      Regularly provide feedback and create a safe space for open communication. ·      Consider the differences in managing employees and contractors and ensure values alignment in hiring. ·      Embrace challenges and continuously learn and grow as a leader.

LINKS FROM EPISODE

Anita Lee on LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitalee1/⁠

Catch Communications Website ⁠http://catchcommunications.ca/⁠ Company LinkedIn  ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/catchcommunications/⁠

Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/weareteamcatch/⁠

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