“You're setting the direction. But how you get from Point A to Point B is really up to that person.”

In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Chrystal Struben, President and CEO at AYS Inc, to share her journey as a leader navigating the complexities of nonprofit organizations. Chrystal reflects on her experience following a 34-year founder, sharing how she developed her unique leadership style while building trust and driving organizational growth.

Chrystal shares the challenges of balancing compassion with accountability and emphasizes the importance of clear communication and empowering teams. With her leadership philosophy, “Be the compass, not the map,” and inspiration from thought leaders like Gino Wickman, she offers practical insights on building trust, managing change, and communicating vision effectively.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Chrystal Struben on LinkedIn

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

• Subscribe to Craig’s "The Evolving Leader" newsletter

Key Takeaways:

• Set the big vision for your team. Guide, and don’t micromanage

• Embrace structure. Consistency builds trust and clarity, reduces chaos, and aids in smoother operations

• Learn from mentors. Their insights can provide invaluable support and perspective on your leadership journey

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(02:36) Lightning round with leadership insights

(07:13) Be the compass, not the map

(08:28) Building structure to guide your team

(12:39) Why vision must come first in leadership

(16:04) Balancing compassion with leadership authority

(19:51) Leading in mission-driven organizations

“If you have discipline around your actions, discipline around your, your, your schedule, you're gonna, you're gonna find success.”

After an unbalanced start to his professional life, Patricio Daneri, Managing Director of Energy Harness Corporation, discovered the power of empathy and discipline, transforming his team and ultimately developing a successful business empire. Now he has a keen eye for unlocking potential in others and helping them surpass their own expectations.

In this episode, Patricio shares his story of moving to the United States from Argentina at 16 and how he brings this unique cultural understanding and dedication to his work now. Listen in to hear how Patricio came to understand the importance of self-awareness and nurturing individual strengths and what you can do to become an advocate for discipline and empathy within your team.

After You Listen:

• Check out “Good to Great” by Jim Collins

• Get your copy of “Rocket Fuel” by Gino Wickman

• Connect with Patricio on LinkedIn

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

• Subscribe to Craig’s "The Evolving Leader" newsletter
  
  

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on your empathy and discipline skills to drive successful business management

• Research the benefits of data analytics for optimizing energy management

• Don’t take work home with you, business isn’t personal

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Intro
(00:22) Lightning round
(07:57) Patricio’s first leadership role
(14:52) Balancing work and personal life
(23:38) How to balance visionary and integrator roles
(24:42) Patricio’s advice for his younger self
(28:10) Craig’s takeaways

“Leaders are meant to serve. It's not an ego trip. It's how you serve your team.”

When Kyle Lacy, now CMO of Jellyfish, took on his first leadership role, it was all about him and his performance. But over time, he's learned to check his ego at the door and focus on pouring into his people instead to achieve more success than he ever thought possible.

In this episode, Kyle shares his insights on investing in team members' career growth, managing stress, and understanding how to effectively lead and motivate people. Listen in for a deeper understanding of what servant leadership looks like and how to put it into practice.

After You Listen:

• Check out “Do Better Work by Max Yoder” and “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie”

• Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

• Subscribe to Craig’s "The Evolving Leader" newsletter
  
  

Key Takeaways:

• Take the ego out of leadership and focus on serving your teams

• Work to understand how your team members work best and what motivates them

• Go big picture: to best support your people think about their careers, not just their daily tasks

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Intro
(02:35) Lightning round with Kyle
(05:30) Mentoring your team for their career growth
(12:04) Understanding the weight of leadership
(15:55) Navigating constant change without getting burnt out
(18:23) Kyle’s advice for his younger self
(19:07) Craig’s takeaways