“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

“You can’t lead an organization unless you have people coming alongside you to accomplish that task.”

In this episode, Craig Anderson sits down with Christiana Thornton, CEO of Granite Edvance, to talk about her evolution as a leader and the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership philosophy. Christiana reflects on her journey, from stepping into her first major leadership role to assembling a high-performing team that drives organizational success. She shares the challenges of navigating isolation as a new leader, balancing people-pleasing tendencies with the need for decisiveness, and learning to trust and delegate effectively.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Christiana Thornton on LinkedIn

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

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

Key Takeaways:

• Build trust with your team by fostering confidence and collaboration to unlock greater potential

• Lead with confidence by making tough decisions and acting decisively, even when it’s unpopular

• Delegate effectively and empower others by leveraging your team’s strengths to achieve more together

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(02:10) Leadership lightning round

(07:01) The power of trust in leadership

(10:16) Overcoming isolation as a new leader

(13:30) Lessons in delegation and collaboration

(17:45) Balancing ambition with boundaries

(22:20) Building aligned teams for long-term success

“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

“A true challenge in leadership is learning when to step back and let others find their own path from A to Z.”

In this episode of Executive Evolution, Craig Anderson talks with Adam Hayes, owner of Hayes Group Marketing, about the journey of leading and scaling a small business. Adam shares how he transitioned from a hands-on approach to a visionary role, focusing on empowering his team through trust, clear communication, and structured systems.

Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Adam emphasizes the importance of balancing guidance with autonomy, building a solid organizational framework, and using regular check-ins to maintain alignment with the company’s vision.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Adam on LinkedIn
• Check out Hayes Group Marketing
• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to Craig’s "The Evolving Leader" newsletter
• Check out Craig’s monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Key Takeaways:

• Define a clear vision. Make sure your team understands it, so they can align their actions with your business goals
• Encourage team ownership. Let them be part of the solution, which drives engagement and accountability
• Learn to balance empathy with tough conversations. Compassionate leadership fosters trust and better outcomes

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(02:01) Leadership influences and favorite books

(06:29) First experiences in leadership and early lessons

(09:18) Balancing guidance and independence

(12:35) The importance of structured communication

(17:30) Scaling a small business with a vision-driven approach

(20:01) Goals for the future and stepping into a full-time visionary role