Podcast
Growth Think Tank
Hosted by Gene Hammett is a Speaker, Executive Coach, Inc Columnist, and Host of "Gr · EN
Develop leadership skills and understand leadership development from expert interviews with transformational leaders. Leaders in the Trenches gives raw discussions that dive deep into new strategies to accelerate your company growth and your leadership abilities. Get interviews from Fortune 100 leaders to experts in various domains of marketing, sales, and leadership that allows you to explode your growth. Learn from their failures and discover the finer elements of significance that will impact your company.
Guests include Daymond John, Les Brown, Michael Gerber, Jonah Berger, Bob Berg, Greg McKeown, and with the host Gene Hammett.
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Episodes
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Scaling Smart with Intentional Leadership with Matthew Rooda at SwineTech
Mar 900:27:34Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Grow Think Tank, Gene Hammett talks with Matthew Rooda, Founder/CEO of SwineTech (ranked No. 247 on the 2025 Inc. 5000), about the real challenges of scaling a business while keeping culture and customers front and center. Matthew shares lessons on why it's critical to address cultural issues early, build a strong foundation for sustainable growth, and truly understand what your customers want, especially in the meat industry. He also dives into the importance of honest customer discovery, hiring the right people, and creating a team environment where collaboration, ownership, and accountability thrive. Matthew also shares practical tips on listening to your team, even in the small things, and why these simple wins can have a big impact on morale and engagement. He closes with advice for leaders on maintaining reasonable expectations, staying adaptable, and continually reinventing themselves and their businesses to navigate growth successfully. If you're a founder or CEO looking to scale without losing your culture or your sanity, this episode is full of actionable insights. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 4:12 The Journey of Swine Tech 9:31 Defining Scaling Smart 11:30 Building a Strong Foundation 15:56 Hiring the Right Talent 21:24 The Cost of Tolerating Culture 24:14 Key Takeaways for CEOs Key Takeaways ✅Culture is foundational small issues left unchecked can derail growth. ✅True product-market fit comes from deeply understanding your customers' real problems. ✅Growth requires balance: business goals, customer satisfaction, and your team's well-being. ✅Hiring isn't just about talent; it's about mindset and alignment with your mission. ✅Small gestures, like payroll frequency or listening to feedback, can significantly improve morale. ✅Leaders must embrace flexibility, continuous learning, and reinvention to sustain growth. If you're looking to scale your business without losing your culture or your mind, this episode is packed with actionable insights and lessons learned the hard way. This episode is a must-listen for CEOs and executives looking to lead innovation with purpose, scale responsibly with AI, and build cultures where people feel empowered to think About Matthew Rooda Matthew Rooda is the Founder & CEO of SwineTech, an ag-tech company developing automation and data solutions to improve pig care and farm efficiency. He is also the host of the Popular Pig Podcast, where he interviews global leaders in the swine industry. Rooda has been recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and is an MBA graduate from Johns Hopkins University. LinkedIn: Matthew Rooda (LinkedIn) Company Website: SwineTech Get In Touch with Matt: https://swinetechnologies.com/contact/
Transcribe →Key Person Risk for CEOs: When Being "Essential" Is Hurting Your Business
Mar 200:06:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I address key person risk for founders and CEOs, highlighting the importance of not having the business hinge on a single leader. I discuss strategies for creating robust systems and empowering teams to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance business value for investors. As a CEO coach, I emphasize transitioning to a team-driven culture that fosters stability and effective communication. I provide actionable insights to help leaders build sustainable growth that persists beyond their involvement. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:09 Introduction to Key Person Risk 1:38 Understanding Your Value in Business 4:06 Transitioning from Work to People Focus 4:55 The Importance of Team-Driven Leadership 5:59 Exploring Solutions to Key Person Risk 6:40 Conclusion and Next Steps The Hidden Threat to Business Value: Key Person Risk If the success of a company depends heavily on one individual — often the founder or CEO — the business becomes less valuable to investors or buyers. A company that cannot operate smoothly without its leader signals higher risk, which typically leads to lower valuation multiples. Gene challenges leaders to ask themselves a tough question: If you're the most valuable person in your company, how valuable is the company itself? Moving from Doer to Leader Reducing key person risk requires a shift in leadership identity. Instead of being the primary driver of sales, marketing, or operations, CEOs must transition from task-focused work to people-focused leadership. This shift can be uncomfortable. Founders often feel they can do things faster or better themselves, which keeps them stuck in daily execution. But long-term growth depends on developing decision-makers across the organization. Gene describes this transition as crossing a "leadership ravine" — moving from hands-on contributor to strategic leader who builds systems, confidence, and problem-solving capacity in others. Building a Company That Runs Without You A business becomes more valuable when it is team-driven rather than founder-dependent. Investors and buyers look for: Strong leadership at multiple levels Clear communication and alignment systems Accountability structures Empowered employees who make decisions Processes that continue generating customers and results without the CEO's involvement When these elements are in place, the company can operate smoothly even if the founder steps away — dramatically increasing scalability and valuation potential.
Transcribe →People-First Leadership for CEOs: The Shift That Unlocks Growth and Accountability
Feb 2300:25:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Growth Think Tank, I chat with Peter, the CEO of Your Your Money Line, about People First Leadership and its role in enhancing organizational success. We discuss the vital link between employee well-being and performance, highlighting financial health as a key stress reducer. Peter emphasizes the importance of empathy, accountability, and open communication in fostering a supportive team culture, leading to improved collaboration and reduced turnover. Our conversation reveals that prioritizing people is both a moral and strategic necessity for sustainable growth in businesses. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 4:08 The Importance of Financial Well-being 6:25 Defining People First Leadership 7:47 Building a People First Culture 12:10 Values That Shape Leadership 16:02 Challenges in Implementing Leadership Values 22:22 The Impact on Bottom Line Key Takeaways ➤People-first leadership drives performance. ➤Employee financial stress directly impacts productivity. ➤Empathy is a leadership skill, not a personality trait. ➤Growth requires courage and accountability. ➤Feedback is an act of care. ➤Culture and accountability must coexist. ➤Retention is the clearest ROI of people-first leadership. About Peter Dunn: Peter Dunn (aka Pete the Planner) is an award-winning financial expert and leader in financial wellness. As CEO and founder of Your Money Line, he has helped shape the employee financial-benefits space. A longtime columnist for USA TODAY, author of multiple books, and host of Pete the Planner Show, Dunn is a trusted national voice on money and workplace financial health. He has also been named one of Indiana's most influential leaders by the Indiana Business Journal. How to Connect with Peter Dunn: LinkedIn: Peter Dunn https://www.linkedin.com/in/petetheplanner/ Company Website: Your Money Line https://www.yourmoneyline.com Blog & Media: https://www.yourmoneyline.com/hr-and-benefits-resources
Transcribe →Leadership Under Pressure: How Great CEOs Minimize Stress Without Lowering Standards
Nov 9Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Grow Think Tank, we dive into the connection between leadership and workplace stress, and how CEOs can minimize stress to create healthier, more productive teams. Research shows that 75% of employees see their boss as a primary source of stress, which makes leadership style more important than ever. We'll talk about how clear communication, aligned priorities, and a psychologically safe environment can transform team dynamics, plus I'll share practical ways to reduce stress through stronger personal connections with your people. This episode will inspire you to lead with greater awareness and intention, helping both you and your team thrive. Be sure to check out my free training on effective leadership to take these ideas even further. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 2:22 The Impact of Leadership on Employee Stress 3:55 Communicating to Alleviate Workplace Stress 4:46 Creating a Thriving Work Environment 5:26 Commitment to Improved Leadership Skills Understanding Leadership Stress Ask your team what they think you could do to improve as a leader. If you truly listen beyond the words, ask follow-up questions, and reflect on their answers. This gives you a much better chance to show up and help your employees feel less stressed. Welcome to Grow Think Tank! This is the only place to gain insights from the founders and CEOs of the fastest-growing privately held companies. I'm your host, Gene Hammett. I help leaders and their teams navigate the defining moments of growth. Today, we're talking about how stressful work can be, especially when you're the leader. Most leaders are used to stress, thrive under pressure, and have faced countless challenges. But a recent Harvard Business Review study shows that 75% of employees view their boss as their primary stressor. Now, I'm not saying that you're causing stress intentionally, but these numbers are eye-opening. Don't just dismiss it as "those other leaders can't manage." Instead, consider: where could you improve? How can CEOs minimize stress for their teams and create a healthier work environment? How Leadership Impacts Stress Stress often stems from unclear communication. If expectations aren't clear, confusion arises. Too many priorities? That's stress. Lack of psychological safety? Employees may hesitate to share ideas for fear of judgment. Think about what stresses you out at work, write it down, and use it as a starting point to make intentional changes. So, how do you reduce stress as a leader? It starts with communication, not just what needs to be done, but why it matters. Connect tasks to the company mission and to your team members' personal goals. Listen actively, ask how they're doing, and reflect on feedback to improve your leadership approach. This is a key way CEOs minimize stress in their teams. Remember, people spend more time at work than almost anywhere else. If 75% of your team feels stressed because of leadership, it's a problem that only you can address. By fostering trust, clarity, and support, you can create a workplace where people thrive. Taking Action to Reduce Stress I hope that you'll commit to being a better leader, improving communication, coaching, conflict resolution, feedback, and clarity. Strong leadership doesn't just get work done. It creates an environment where people can thrive and grow alongside you. If you want to go deeper, join my free training at training.coreelevation.com. It will help you refine your leadership skills, create clarity in your company, and implement a new leadership operating system, all steps that help CEOs minimize stress while driving growth. Invest in your leadership growth and take active steps today to create a workplace where both you and your team can thrive. Key Takeaways Leadership directly impacts workplace stress, with 75% of employees citing their boss as a primary stressor. In this episode, Gene Hammett shares actionable strategies for CEOs to minimize stress, including clear communication, aligning priorities, fostering psychological safety, and building stronger personal connections with employees. By implementing these practices, leaders can create a thriving work environment where teams feel supported, motivated, and empowered to grow. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance.
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