Podcast Summary: Take Command: A Leadership Podcast

Episode: Empathy, the Hidden Superpower of a Modern CEO

Host: Joe Hart (CEO, Dale Carnegie)
Guest: Nate Rempe (President & CEO of Omaha Steaks)
Release Date: October 28, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Joe Hart sits down with Nate Rempe, the first non-family CEO of Omaha Steaks, to explore why empathy is a crucial yet often overlooked superpower for today’s CEOs. They discuss Nate’s unconventional rise from IT to the C-suite, the challenges and opportunities of leading a storied company through transformation, and the personal experiences that shaped Nate’s empathetic leadership style. The conversation offers practical wisdom on leadership, personal growth, and the value of discomfort and diversity of experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unconventional Path: From IT to CEO

[03:08]

• Nate’s journey began in IT, fueled by a dual interest in technology and business.
• He predicts that technologists will more frequently move into CEO roles, emphasizing that “problem solving is what every business needs now.”
• Early on, he noticed, “The market wasn't ready to put the technology guy into the business leadership role… But as technology skills become more dynamic, CEOs will start to become more technology savvy.”
  — Nate Rempe [05:14]

2. Overcoming Self-Restriction & Mindset Challenges

[06:32]

• Joe and Nate address the self-imposed barriers technical professionals often face.
• Nate highlights the “computer nerd” stereotype's transformation into a strength and how relatable technologists are more likely to step into business leadership.
• “For those technology people… the realization that computer nerd is something exciting and sought after… The gap has shrunk to an all-time low.”
  — Nate Rempe [08:17]

3. Embracing Discomfort & Gaining Confidence

[10:24]

• Nate shares stories on pushing himself out of comfort zones, citing his mother’s insistence on joining a choir as formative.
• He advocates for using personal passions (such as music in his case) to stretch comfort zones and build transferable skills for leadership.
• “What are those things you love that isn’t technology, that isn’t business, that has some of the complexion of putting you in those environments that maybe are a little bit uncomfortable?”
  — Nate Rempe [12:07]

4. Defining and Cultivating Empathy as a Leadership Core

[14:04], [18:39]

• Nate credits his son Connor, who has special needs, with teaching him what real empathy and courage are.
• Personal challenges, especially outside of work, can bring grounding and redefine what “fear” and “hard” mean for leaders.
• “Empathy is absolutely necessary at the CEO level if you want to win hearts and minds. And if you can't win hearts and minds, you can't be successful as a CEO. I truly believe that.”
  — Nate Rempe [18:39], [00:00 reprise]

5. The Balancing Act: Empathy & Confidence in Decision-Making

[21:08]

• Empathy must be balanced with confidence and hard decision-making; an excess can cloud clarity.
• “Being a CEO … is a balance of all kinds of different traits and skills, and it really is mostly about knowing what arrow to pick out of the quiver at a particular time…”
  — Nate Rempe [22:54]

6. Leading Omaha Steaks Through Transformation & Crisis

[23:53], [27:37]

• Nate discusses the pressure of becoming the first non-family CEO and leading during the pandemic.
• He emphasizes deep understanding and partnership with the owning family as key to successful leadership.
• “The first thing I did was really connect with the family to understand what is it about the Simon family that is so special...”
  — Nate Rempe [24:45]
• Nate explains his “play the part” principle: performing a role before officially having the title, so that promotion is a natural progression.

7. Purpose-Driven Leadership & Cultural Renewal

[27:37]

• The pandemic prompted a renewed focus on purpose: “We had the privilege to help people eat during a period of time that they were afraid to leave their house.”
  — Nate Rempe [28:24]
• Strategic changes included improving products, increasing transparency, and empowering leaders.
• “We intentionally changed who we are, and we made our products better, and we created transparency in the culture… That has catapulted us into a trajectory where we see growth numbers that would never have been imagined…”
  — Nate Rempe [28:54]

8. Managing Stress, Nurturing Well-being, & Having Creative Outlets

[31:10], [32:52]

• Nate speaks candidly about the vital importance of outlets and family for stress management.
• He plays in a 90s/2000s cover band ("No Motive"), viewing music as a crucial creative release entirely separate from his CEO identity.
• Regular exercise is a non-negotiable daily practice: “Having a good sweat quote, unquote, right. Is a good way to manage the biology of being a CEO.”
  — Nate Rempe [33:21]

9. Talent, Team-Building & the Most Vital Leadership Habit

[34:25]

• In a question inspired by ChatGPT, Nate boils leadership down to hiring, developing, and empowering exceptional talent.
• “If you could hire all the right people, you would win every time… Good people make all the difference.”
  — Nate Rempe [35:03]
• Empathy is key again, particularly in helping people realize their potential and, at times, guiding them to move on when a role is not the right fit.
• “It is our responsibility as leaders to do that for themselves and for the team.”
  — Joe Hart [37:14]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Empathy is absolutely necessary at the CEO level if you want to win hearts and minds.”
  — Nate Rempe [00:00] and [18:39]

• “People don't care what you know until they know that you care.”
  — Joe Hart [20:46]

• “Sometimes advancement in your career comes as a function of things that are completely unrelated that help you take a different perspective on life.”
  — Nate Rempe [16:43]

• “Being a CEO … is a balance of all kinds of different traits and skills, and it really is mostly about knowing what arrow to pick out of the quiver at a particular time.”
  — Nate Rempe [22:54]

• “If you could hire all the right people, you would win every time.”
  — Nate Rempe [35:03]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Empathy as Leadership Superpower: [00:00], [18:39], [20:11]
• Nate's Entry and Path to CEO: [03:08] – [06:32]
• Overcoming Comfort Zones: [10:24] – [13:01]
• Personal Story—Fatherhood & Empathy: [14:04] – [18:39]
• Balancing Empathy with Decision Making: [21:08] – [23:53]
• Cultural Transformation at Omaha Steaks: [23:53] – [29:43]
• Purpose-Driven Leadership During the Pandemic: [27:37] – [30:53]
• Stress Management and Outlets: [31:10], [32:52]
• Leadership Habit—Talent Development: [34:25] – [36:28]
• Tough Decisions and Team Fit: [36:28] – [37:59]

Final Thoughts

The episode offers a rich, candid view of modern leadership, emphasizing empathy, humility, and the power of combining technical and interpersonal skills. Nate Rempe’s journey is a testament to the role discomfort and authentic connection play in leadership, especially in times of transformation or crisis. For aspiring leaders, the lesson is clear: invest in people, seek growth in discomfort, and never undervalue the power of empathy to drive business success.

Relevant Links:

• Omaha Steaks (20% discount for podcast listeners: omahasteaks.com/frontslash/dale)
• Dale Carnegie
• No Motive Music - Nate’s Band

For questions or further insights:
Contact the Dale Carnegie team at www.dalecarnegie.com.