Growth Think Tank

This podcast started in 2014 to serve leaders on their journey of growth and significance with their work. It is conversations with leaders for leaders. My name is Gene Hammett, host of the show. I am proud to be recognized by Inc Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine for our impact on leaders that are evolving to better serve their teams.

Growth Think Tank - leadership podcast on growth

This is the one and only podcast that inteviews founders and CEOs of Inc 500 companies. The interviews uncover the key principles of fast-growth. You will find topics of growth, culture, leadership and other areas of growth for leaders.

Latest Episodes…

 

Growth Think Tank with Nir Polak

The Egoless Founder Makes Decisions that are Best for the Company with Nir Polak at Exabeam

Every founder is proud of their “baby.” The role of the founder becomes a massive part of their identity. Often the ego gets in the way of being the leader the company needs. Being an egoless founder may sound odd, but it will help you face difficult growth challenges. Today’s guest is Nir Polak, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board at Exabeam. Inc Magazine ranked his company #388 on the 2020, #134 in 2019 and #12 in 2018 Inc 5000 list. Exabeam helps security teams outsmart the odds by adding intelligence to internet security. Nir shares his journey of success and why you be an egoless founder. We discuss the transition his company recently faced. Nir gives you the one question that guided him as he decided the best decision as the company continued its growth path. Being an egoless founder is not easy but necessary if you want the company to succeed beyond you.

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Growth Think Tank with Jonathan Miller

The Courage to Execute The Right Way with Jonathan Miller at Parsonex

Courage is more than just a nice to have part of leadership. The courage to execute is essential to the success of your company. All leaders have to connect to the strength that allows them to overcome their fears. Today’s guest is Jonathan Miller, CEO at Parsonex Enterprises. Inc Magazine ranked his company #2917 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list and No. 4485 in 2019 Inc 5000 list. Parsonex Enterprises is a financial services conglomerate that owns two registered broker-dealers, an SEC registered investment adviser, a private fund group, and more. Jonathan and I talk about the courage to execute in a fast-paced company. We look at the pressures of making it happen. Understanding the courage to execute the right way will give you an advantage.

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c-suite executives

C-Suite Executives Must Unlearn Doing to Be Successful – Behind the Scenes

You are likely where you are today because you have executed consistently at a high level. This is how you rise to the ranks of the C-Suite executives. To perform at the level you are expected to, you have to change how you approach work. We look at the details of less doing and more thinking in this behind-the-scenes episode. When you join the c-suite executives, you are expected to think much more than before. This will be a challenge because part of your identity has been in the act of doing. The executive leadership team has to learn to let go of doing work and spend more time on strategy and developing others. Discover why thinking for C-suite executives is so essential to the growth of the company.

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Growth Think Tank with Josh Teeple

Why the Entrepreneurial Mindset Matters Inside Companies with Josh Teeple at Grobstein Teeple

The most successful entrepreneurs know execution is essential to growth. Yet your entrepreneurial mindset matters more than you may believe. The way you think and what you believe shape how you perform all the work you do. In this episode, we look at why the entrepreneur mindset matters if you want predictable growth from where you are. Today’s guest is Josh Teeple, a partner at Grobstein Teeple. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4004 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list and No. 4688 (2019). Grobstein Teeple provides various services to companies and individuals dealing with complex issues requiring specialized financial expertise. Josh walks us through his discovery of why the entrepreneurial mindset matters. We look at the importance of how you think and what you believe. Josh and I share with you the keys to shifting your mindset.

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Growth Think Tank with Hope Horner

The Messy Middle of a Pivot Change Unlocks New Growth with Hope Horner at LemonLight

CEOs are always looking for what unlocks new growth. My hope is that our interviews with successful leaders will give you new ideas. As companies feel pressure to overcome challenges, you have to open to new ideas. Today’s guest is Hope Horner, co-founder at Lemonlight. Inc Magazine ranked his company #2639 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Lemonlight is a leader in high-quality, affordable video production. Hope and I talk about the need to change and pivot. She shares her strategy that unlocks new growth. Learn from Hope’s ups and downs as her team has changed through new market dynamics.

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close the leadership gap

Close the Leadership Gap with this Odd, Simple Framework – Behind the Scenes

Each of us has two versions that we have to get to known. The easy one is how you see yourself. The hard one is how everyone else sees you. The difference between the two is a gap. You have to close the leadership gap if you want to be a great leader. This is not an easy task. When you close the leadership gap, you increase your self-awareness and improve how others relate to you. Go behind the scenes with me to close the leadership gap that gets in the way you are the leader your team deserves.

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Growth Think Tank with Adam Hergenrother

Improving Employee Retention Requires Leadership Growth with Adam Hergenrother at Hergenrother Realty Group

Growth requires a team. When it comes to fast growth, every team is comprised of talented people. One essential factor to keeping the team intact is improving employee retention. You will struggle to create growth if you can’t keep the people you have. Today’s guest is Adam Hergenrother, founder at Hergenrother Realty Group. Inc Magazine ranked his company #442 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Adam believes leadership has been a critical factor in improving employee retention, which has led to company growth. He talks about his strategies that enhance employee loyalty and engagement. Improving employee retention leads to more employees that take ownership of their work.

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Growth Think Tank with Kyle Francis

The Relationship of Your Ego and Leadership with Kyle Francis at Professional Transition Services

Not many people talk about ego and business. The relationship between ego and leadership determines the health of your company. The real problem happens when our ego gets in the way of you leading your people. Today’s guest is Kyle Francis, CEO at Professional Transition Services. Inc Magazine ranked his company #248 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Kyle’s company has grown 1790 percent over the last three years. Professional Transition Services provides strategic advice on buying and selling dental practices. Kyle shares his perspective on ego and leadership. We look at why you have to give up your ego to lead your people. Kyle’s insights will you be a better leader.

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powerful leadership strategy

A Powerful Leadership Strategy is the Missing Conversation Question

Leading people through challenges and driving growth requires you to do more than get the work done. So let me share with you a powerful leadership strategy that I have used with my clients for years. This one is called the “missing conversation” question. The powerful leadership strategy was born from talking with CEOs about their team taking ownership of their work. When you understand the simple approach, you will be able to take your team to new levels. 

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Growth Think Tank with Derek Hansen

Culture is Everything and Drives Growth with Derek Hansen at Mynt Systems

Companies don’t scale without the right people on the team. So leaders have to craft a strategy for growth and create a place where culture is everything. Believing culture is everything is a shift that can make a top-tier team. Today’s guest is Derek Hansen, CEO at Mynt Systems. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1124 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Mynt Systems transforms commercial real estate into alpha-performing sustainable assets. Derek talks about why he believes culture is everything. He knows the importance of his people to the mission of the business.

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Growth Think Tank with Mike Zani

Leading the Dream Team with Mike Zani at Predictive Index

Do you think about creating your dream team as your company grows? Great leaders know that people are essential to scaling up. It takes more than a great idea and perfect timing. You have to lead your people to be the dream team. Today’s guest is Mike Zani, CEO of Predictive Index. Mike is a co-author of The Science of Dream Teams. He shares his innovative ideas on the future of HR with me. Mike talks about what it takes to lead dream teams. We talk about the importance of knowing yourself. We look at the best way to hire dream team people. Predictive Index provides a robust set of tools and software to help you with your talent optimization strategy.

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difficult conversations

Insights on Difficult Conversations and a Free Tool – Behind the Scenes

Every leader must have difficult conversations. It is the nature of the role. In m conversations with successful founders and CEOs, they often share with me running a business is easy, but lead people is hard. Difficult conversations are a part of life as you ask people to do new things and challenge them to grow. Today’s behind-the-scenes video shows how you can improve in delivering difficult conversations. Let me give you insights that will add to the structure of your difficult conversations. 

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