The Leader Formula

Steve Ciprani & Chris LaGarde

The Leadership Formula Podcast is where real leaders have real conversations about what it truly takes to lead with purpose, courage, and authenticity. Hosted by Chris LaGarde and Steve Ciprani, this show dives beneath the surface of leadership success to explore the challenges business owners and leaders rarely talk about — burnout, hiring struggles, team culture breakdowns, decision fatigue, self-awareness gaps, and the loneliness of leadership. Whether you're running a small business with 5–50 employees, leading a fast-growing team, or simply hungry for leadership that doesn’t sacrifice humanity for performance, you'll find yourself at home here. Each week, we bring you honest conversations, practical insights, and vulnerable stories from experienced leaders and guests who share their hard-earned lessons—both their triumphs and their mistakes. Expect real talk on leadership development, building high-performing teams, workplace culture, hiring and retention, emotional intelligence, and how personal growth (and even faith) intersects with leadership. No fluff. No polished masks. Just authentic leadership, real growth, and hope for what’s possible when leaders choose to lead from wholeness. Subscribe today and join a growing community of leaders who are rewriting the rules—and building organizations that thrive.

  1. From Operator to Owner: The Shift That Breaks the Growth Ceiling

    12/26/2025

    From Operator to Owner: The Shift That Breaks the Growth Ceiling

    From Operator to Owner: The Shift That Breaks the Growth Ceiling Most business owners don’t stall because they lack effort — they stall because they’re still operating the business instead of owning it. In this episode, Chris sits down with Josh Dukes and Erin Jones, founders of One Residential, to unpack the lessons that helped them break through that ceiling and build a business that grows through people. Serving the MD / VA / DC market, One Residential will finish 2025 with: 685 closings$308M in volume$7.1M in revenue🔑 What You’ll Learn Why trying to be everything to everyone limits growthHow to balance collaboration with decisive leadershipWhen your “client” shifts from customers to your peopleHow letting go multiplies leadership, impact, and culture🧠 The Big Shift Operators succeed through personal effort. Owners succeed through people, systems, and leadership. Josh & Erin share how making that shift changed everything — and what they’re still learning as owners today. 🎯 Who This Episode Is For Small business ownersService-based operators (HVAC, plumbing, trades, etc.)Leaders who feel like they’re the bottleneck in their business🎙️ Why This Conversation Matters Josh & Erin have broken through a ceiling most operators never escape — and for the past year and a half, Chris has coached them through that transition. If growth has started to feel heavier instead of freer, this episode is for you.

    59 min
  2. Profit Is a System, Not a Hope: Rewriting the Money Story of Your Business

    12/19/2025

    Profit Is a System, Not a Hope: Rewriting the Money Story of Your Business

    In this episode of The Leader Formula, Chris shares a deeply honest conversation about money, leadership, and the hidden financial trap many business owners fall into. Even when a business looks successful on the outside, the reality behind the scenes can be stress, scarcity, and financial confusion. Chris walks through his own story of running a high-producing real estate business, the financial wake-up call that followed, and how discovering the Profit First system completely changed his relationship with money, leadership, and margin. Together, Chris and Steve unpack the psychology behind money decisions, why profit must be protected—not hoped for—and how simple systems can bring clarity, stability, and peace back into your business and life. Key Topics Covered Why revenue growth doesn’t always equal financial healthThe “vanity metrics” leaders hide behind — and the cost of doing soHow ego, identity, and money are often deeply intertwinedWhat happens when a business grows faster than its financial systemsThe difference between hoping for profit vs. protecting profitHow financial stress impacts leadership, relationships, and marriageWhy systems—not willpower—create sustainable profitThe psychology behind avoidance, anxiety, and money behaviorChris’ Story Highlights Scaling a real estate business selling 160+ homes per yearStepping out of production and realizing the numbers didn’t support the shiftBurning through an emergency fund and accumulating credit card debtThe emotional toll financial stress placed on leadership and familyDiscovering Profit First and implementing it in real timeMoving from financial anxiety to clarity, margin, and stabilityThree Core Truths From the Episode Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity. Cash is reality.If you don’t protect your profit, your business will consume it.Your ego will always want to spend more than your business can handle.Who This Episode Is For Business owners who look successful but feel financially stressedLeaders working long hours without the take-home pay to matchOperators ready to think and act like ownersAnyone who wants their business to support their life—not consume itAction Step If you’re overwhelmed by your finances: Start small — create a separate “profit” account and put 1% of revenue into itGet honest about your numbersBuild systems that create clarity instead of stressResources Mentioned Profit First by Mike MichalowiczThe Ultimate Blueprint for an Insanely Successful Business by Keith CunninghamTaming Your Money Monster (Enneagram + Money)Connect With Chris If this episode resonated and you want help applying these principles to your business, Chris offers coaching and conversations focused on clarity, leadership, and financial health. 🌐 Website: thechrisandco.com

    55 min
  3. Leadership Lessons from Nepal: What Orphans Taught Me About Presence

    12/12/2025

    Leadership Lessons from Nepal: What Orphans Taught Me About Presence

    What happens when you travel halfway across the world expecting to give… and instead you’re the one who gets transformed? In this episode, Steve returns from Kathmandu, Nepal, where he spent time serving at a mountain orphanage — and the leadership lessons he brought home are raw, surprising, and deeply human. These children, living with almost nothing, modeled presence, generosity, connection, and joy in ways that challenge everything we think leadership is supposed to look like. Chris and Steve unpack: 🔥 The moment in Nepal that broke Steve open emotionally 👁️ The “soul goggles” experience and what it taught him about presence ❤️ Why these children gave more than they received — and what that reveals about true generosity 🌱 How play, curiosity, and childlikeness shape effective leadership 🤝 Why giving attention is one of the most powerful gifts a leader can offer 🌏 The difference between leading from scarcity vs. leading from abundance 🧘 Practices you can adopt today to become more grounded, present, and connected This is not a typical business episode. It’s an invitation — to slow down, to see people more deeply, and to reconnect with the heart of why leadership matters. Whether you lead a team, a business, a family, or a community, these lessons from a small orphanage in the mountains of Kathmandu will stay with you. 📩 We’d love to hear from you. What stood out to you? What practice of presence or generosity are you going to try this week? Email us or message us to continue the conversation.

    44 min
  4. The Problem That’s Breaking Today’s Leaders - A panel interview

    12/05/2025

    The Problem That’s Breaking Today’s Leaders - A panel interview

    In this powerful panel conversation, Chris sits down with three leaders who have lived success, burnout, achievement, and identity pressure firsthand. Together they explore “the problem” that’s quietly breaking today’s leaders — the cultural push for more, the relentless pace, the pressure to perform, and the internal battles leaders carry in silence. Haro, Tiffany, and Marlo open up about anxiety, sleeplessness, inherited expectations, and the belief that being capable means you should be able to handle everything. Their honesty creates a mirror for leaders who feel stretched thin, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves. This episode dives into what happens when ambition becomes identity, when the hustle stops being healthy, and when the pace of success starts costing more than it gives. It speaks directly to leaders who feel the weight of responsibility, the fear of not enough, and the exhaustion of always having to show up strong. Whether you’re running a small business or leading inside a larger organization, this conversation offers language, clarity, and comfort for the struggles you may not say out loud. 🔥 What We Explore Why modern leadership feels heavier than everHow culture shapes our drive to achieveThe hidden toll of striving, success, and comparisonHow identity becomes wrapped around performanceEarly warning signs of leadership burnoutWhy high-capacity leaders hit the wall fasterThe internal “hamster wheel” leaders struggle to get offThe difference between healthy hard work and self-destructive hustle✨ Standout Insights “We’ve built ourselves a prison for the soul.” — TiffanyHaro shares how anxiety and panic attacks exposed his internal limits.Tiffany reveals why waking up at 2 a.m. became her emotional dashboard light.Marlo explains how being talented became both a gift and a burden.Chris highlights why naming “the problem” is the first step to freedom.👤 About the Guests Haro Setian — A high-performing entrepreneur preparing for a nine-month sabbatical, reflecting on the toll of achievement culture. Tiffany Fykes — Entrepreneur and coach unpacking the pressure of high capability and the journey back to alignment. Marlo Derksen — Business leader exploring inherited expectations, identity, and the cost of constant striving. 🧭 Why This Episode Matters Leaders today are carrying more than they ever have — emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and relationally. This conversation puts words to the pressure, reveals the hidden costs, and offers hope for leaders longing for a healthier, more grounded way to live and lead.

    1h 1m
  5. Leading Though Systems - The Cure for Constant Overwhelm

    12/03/2025

    Leading Though Systems - The Cure for Constant Overwhelm

    Most leaders know they need systems… but keep putting them off. And that avoidance comes with a cost: overwhelm, burnout, confused teams, and constant decision fatigue. In this episode, Chris and Steve sit down with two true masters of operational clarity: ⭐ Linzee Ciprani — Founder & CEO of Ciprani Consulting ⭐ Jerrica Kontos — Director of Consulting at Ciprani Consulting These two bring years of operational expertise across real estate, small business, consulting, and organizational leadership — and they do not hold back. This conversation is practical, honest, and packed with insights that will challenge any leader who’s been running their business without a clear operational backbone. Together, we break down: 💡 What You’ll Learn Why leaders live in reactive mode — and how to escape itHow systems eliminate decision fatigue and create freedomWhat happens when leaders don’t know what their people did today (and why that’s a system problem, not a people problem)Why “I don’t have time to build systems” is a trap that keeps you overwhelmedHow to turn simple recordings into fully documented processesWhy documenting your job is the #1 key to scale — and even promotabilityHow to find the right integrator or operational partnerWhat great system adoption looks like across a team🔥 Standout Moments “If it’s not documented, you’re unpromotable.”“Leaders massively overcomplicate systems — you just need to hit record.”“Your system is your insurance policy for resting at night.”“If you don’t have a way to see what your team did today, that’s your system failure.”🎧 Who This Episode Is For Visionaries who struggle with structureLeaders drowning in decisions and constant firefightingBusiness owners who can’t scale because everything lives in their headAnyone who keeps saying, “I know I need systems… I just haven’t gotten to it yet.”📌 Why This Matters Systems are not about rigidity — they’re about freedom. They give leaders clarity. They give teams confidence. They give businesses the ability to grow without chaos. If you’ve felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to take the next step in your leadership… this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air (and maybe a loving punch to the gut).

    53 min
  6. What Leaders Can Learn from Great Teachers

    11/21/2025

    What Leaders Can Learn from Great Teachers

    If you want to understand leadership, step into a classroom. In this episode, we sit down with Wiaan and Sarah—two veteran educators who’ve spent decades shaping young minds and developing the very skills that leaders often struggle to teach in the workplace: communication, courage, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. This conversation bridges two worlds—schools and businesses—to show how the principles that grow healthy students are the same principles that grow healthy teams. In This Episode, We Explore: Why the classroom is one of the best leadership training groundsHow communication starts long before conflict—and why most adults still struggle with itThe role trust and empowerment play in student growth (and team performance)Why delegating leadership to students prepares them for real-world responsibilityHow technology, social media, and sleep deprivation are reshaping the developmental landscapeWhat business leaders can learn from teachers who lead without titles, authority, or leverageWhy “seeing every student” is a leadership discipline leaders must adoptThe link between personal connection, positive reinforcement, and performanceKey Quotes: “One of the first leadership skills is communication. And communication has to be practiced.” – Sarah “When I wasn’t in the classroom, my students ran the day beautifully. That’s what leadership looks like—trusting people to rise.” – Wiaan “Every student deserves to be seen. If I didn’t get to every kid today, I didn’t lead well.” – Wiaan “So many adults can’t take feedback without making it personal. Our students need practice long before that.” – Sarah Who This Episode Is For: Leaders who want to strengthen communication and emotional intelligenceSmall business owners trying to build more trust and initiative on their teamsCoaches, principals, and educatorsParents raising the next generation of leadersAnyone who believes leadership is more about influence than authorityIf You Enjoyed This Episode: Share it with a leader or educator who needs encouragementLeave a review—it helps more leaders find the showEmail us your thoughts or questions at ______Follow the show for weekly conversations on leadership, growth, and human flourishing

    1h 4m
5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Leadership Formula Podcast is where real leaders have real conversations about what it truly takes to lead with purpose, courage, and authenticity. Hosted by Chris LaGarde and Steve Ciprani, this show dives beneath the surface of leadership success to explore the challenges business owners and leaders rarely talk about — burnout, hiring struggles, team culture breakdowns, decision fatigue, self-awareness gaps, and the loneliness of leadership. Whether you're running a small business with 5–50 employees, leading a fast-growing team, or simply hungry for leadership that doesn’t sacrifice humanity for performance, you'll find yourself at home here. Each week, we bring you honest conversations, practical insights, and vulnerable stories from experienced leaders and guests who share their hard-earned lessons—both their triumphs and their mistakes. Expect real talk on leadership development, building high-performing teams, workplace culture, hiring and retention, emotional intelligence, and how personal growth (and even faith) intersects with leadership. No fluff. No polished masks. Just authentic leadership, real growth, and hope for what’s possible when leaders choose to lead from wholeness. Subscribe today and join a growing community of leaders who are rewriting the rules—and building organizations that thrive.