“Oftentimes, positive reinforcement training ability translates well to humans too.”

In this episode, Craig Anderson talks with Mandy Stetzel and Kathleen Schonsheck, Co-owners of Uptown Pup, about how they built a successful pet care business by prioritizing transparency, trust, and a strong team culture. Mandy and Kathleen share their journey from passionate dog lovers to business owners despite having no formal business or leadership training. They discuss how they learned to lead, the importance of hiring and mentoring the right people, and how staying true to their values has helped them grow a business that serves both people and pets. They also explore how positive reinforcement—used in training dogs—can apply to leadership, the role of financial transparency in building team trust, and why leading by example is the best way to create a thriving workplace.

After You Listen:

• Visit Uptown Pup’s website at uptownpupindy.com
• Follow Uptown Pup on Instagram: @uptownpupindy
• Like Uptown Pup on Facebook: Uptown Pup
• Follow Mandy & Kathleen on BlueSky: The Uptown Girls
• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to Craig’s "The Evolving Leader" newsletter

Key Takeaways:

• Trust your instincts and learn from experience—even when you make mistakes
• Invest in leadership books, mentorship, and financial transparency with your team
• Know yourself, recognize your triggers, and prioritize self-care to be a better leader

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:02) Meet the owners of Uptown Pup

(01:52) Lightning round: leadership books

(05:01) Lightning round: leadership crushes

(09:11) The early days of building Uptown Pup

(12:47) Hiring and team building strategies

(16:29) Growing into leadership roles

(22:36) Maintaining culture and vision

“It’s our job to make sure that we hire someone who is the right fit. Because not being a good fit is a terrible thing for someone who you offer a job to.”

In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Jack MacKenzie, President of CollegeAPP to discuss his journey as a leader and the lessons he’s learned from building successful teams. Jack reflects on stepping into his first major leadership role as a student body president and leading a fast-growing company, sharing insights on hiring challenges, why a 50% success rate can be a win, and the importance of addressing misalignment early. He also emphasizes the power of creating a vision that inspires belief and drives alignment, offering practical advice for cultivating transparency, trust, and accountability within teams.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Jack MacKenzie on LinkedIn

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

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

Key Takeaways:

• Trust your instincts in hiring; red and yellow flags often point to deeper alignment issues

• Lead with vision and conviction to inspire belief and motivate teams toward shared goals

• Balance vulnerability and confidence to build trust while staying true to your vision

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:52) The lightning round

(09:36) Believing so strongly others follow naturally

(13:13) Lessons from leading a student government

(15:39) Biggest takeaways on building strong teams

(22:30) Spotting red flags and trusting your gut

(28:14) Why leaders shouldn’t take themselves seriously

“You can’t build trust without relatability and authenticity—when your team knows you’re genuine, trust naturally follows.”

In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Kyle McDowell, author of Begin With We and founder of Kyle McDowell Inc., to discuss his evolution as a leader and the principles that have shaped his leadership philosophy. Kyle shares how his transformative journey led to the creation of his “10 We’s”—a set of principles designed to foster trust, authenticity, and collaboration within teams.

Reflecting on the highs and lows of his corporate career, Kyle opens up about the mistakes that shaped his leadership style, the challenges of stepping away from the corporate world, and the lessons he learned about relatability and building a culture of excellence.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Kyle McDowell on LinkedIn

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

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

Key Takeaways:

• Earn trust by leading with authenticity and relatability

• Inspire teams by removing barriers and empowering them to excel

• Foster a culture of excellence through shared principles and accountability

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(02:10) Leadership lightning round

(07:30) Lessons from leadership mistakes

(13:40) The power of self-reflection in leadership

(18:15) The “10 We’s” and their impact on team culture

(23:10) Overcoming skepticism and earning trust

(30:00) Balancing empathy and accountability as a leader

(37:00) Advice for new and experienced leaders alike