Fireside Chats: Behind The Build

MustardHub
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Explore what truly creates workplace happiness, builds a better culture, and drives greater engagement for the entire workforce — from the suits in the C-suite to team members on the frontlines. Get real-world insights and practical strategies to recognize, retain, elevate, and empower teams. From engaging interviews with thought leaders in our Voices web series to step-by-step how-tos, MustardHub helps you operationalize great culture and design the workplace of tomorrow... today. MustardHub Voices: Behind The Build addresses these hot topics and more with business leaders, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, consultants, coaches, researchers, and other brilliant minds committed to building, engaging, and elevating culture-driven, high-performing teams.

  1. Kurt Schmidt on Growth, Trust, and Getting Out of Your Own Way as a Leader

    FEB 10 · VIDEO

    Kurt Schmidt on Growth, Trust, and Getting Out of Your Own Way as a Leader

    Scaling a service business isn’t about leadership, trust, and clarity. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Kurt Schmidt, founder of Schmidt Consulting Group, to explore why so many agencies struggle to scale and what actually helps them move forward. Kurt shares his unconventional path from professional BMX rider to agency founder and advisor, and how those early experiences shaped his approach to leadership and resilience. The conversation dives into why many agencies don’t truly have a lead problem, but a positioning and trust problem, and how misalignment quietly leads to stalled growth and burnout. Kurt explains the risks of scaling without intention, why over-systematizing can erode value, and how leaders often get in their own way by confusing activity with strategy. They also discuss common sales mistakes, why proposals fail to close, and why leadership growth must start with honest self-reflection. This episode is a must-watch for agency founders and consultants who want to grow with intention — not ego. About Kurt: Kurt Schmidt is the founder of Schmidt Consulting Group, a business advisor, author, and former pro BMX rider with over 20 years of experience helping creative and tech companies grow through better strategy, positioning, and operations.

    47 min
  2. Kyle Lagunas: AI Literacy — Not Tools — Is HR's Real Advantage

    FEB 5 · VIDEO

    Kyle Lagunas: AI Literacy — Not Tools — Is HR's Real Advantage

    AI isn’t HR’s biggest challenge — confusion is. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Kyle Lagunas, founder and principal analyst at Kyle & Co., to unpack what’s really happening inside HR, talent, and people technology today. Drawing from his journey from blogger during the Great Recession to trusted industry analyst, Kyle brings clarity to one of the most overhyped conversations in business. They explore why AI adoption is moving slower than expected, why capacity and capability — not resistance — hold HR teams back, and why AI literacy has become a critical leadership skill. Kyle also explains the growing disconnect between what vendors are building and what HR teams can realistically implement, especially in lean organizations and teams of one. The conversation looks ahead to second-generation AI adoption and why leaders must shift their focus from pure efficiency to quality, experience, and human outcomes. Throughout, Kyle emphasizes partnership, trust, and creating space to think — not just react. This episode is a must-watch for HR leaders, founders, and operators who want to cut through the hype and make smarter, more human decisions about technology and the future of work. About Kyle: Kyle Lagunas is the Founder and Principal Analyst at Kyle & Co, a modern research and advisory firm rethinking how we understand transformation in HR, talent, and technology. Known for his sharp analysis, candid point of view, and practical guidance, Kyle helps HR tech and talent leaders cut through hype and build strategies that actually work. Today, he’s bringing research to reality and helping the industry tackle its biggest questions with clarity, credibility, and heart.

    52 min
  3. Satish Kumar on Why Performance, Learning, and Pay Must Finally Work Together

    FEB 3 · VIDEO

    Satish Kumar on Why Performance, Learning, and Pay Must Finally Work Together

    Performance management only works when it’s connected to how people grow and how they’re rewarded. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Satish Kumar, Head of PerformSpark at Trainery, to explore why traditional performance reviews are broken and what modern organizations need instead. Coming from a finance and private equity background, Satish brings a first-principles perspective to HR tech — questioning long-standing assumptions and rethinking how systems should actually work together. The conversation dives into why once-a-year reviews no longer make sense, how AI can surface patterns managers miss, and why learning, performance, and compensation should never live in silos. Satish also shares insights on distributed and frontline workforces, manager enablement, and why intellectual curiosity and AI fluency are quickly becoming non-negotiable skills. This episode is a must-watch for HR leaders, founders, and operators looking to move beyond fragmented tools and build talent systems designed for the future of work. About Satish: Satish helps lead PerformSpark (fka ReviewCloud), Trainery’s performance management module. His philosophy is simple: learning, performance, and pay only make sense when they’re connected. PerformSpark is the “performance” piece of that triangle — the part that makes goals, feedback, and growth feel real instead of something that just happens once a year. His job is to make the tool useful, simple, and tied to how people actually work.

    46 min
  4. Why Leadership Growth Starts with Self-Awareness with Mary Stieber Reinout

    JAN 29 · VIDEO

    Why Leadership Growth Starts with Self-Awareness with Mary Stieber Reinout

    Most people problems at work are really leadership problems. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Mary Stieber Reinout, ICF-certified executive coach and founder of Threshold Coaching & Consulting, to explore what truly drives leadership effectiveness in today’s workplace. Drawing on decades of experience in executive development, talent strategy, and counseling psychology, Mary shares why self-awareness — and reducing self-deception — is the foundation of great leadership. The conversation dives into why communication breakdowns derail teams, how leaders can develop healthier feedback loops, and why organizations often underinvest in leadership development. Mary also offers thoughtful insights on executive transitions, learning cultures, neuroinclusion, and what employees are really asking for in the future of work. This episode is a must-watch for leaders, HR professionals, and founders who want to build stronger relationships, more resilient teams, and workplaces where people genuinely feel seen and supported. About Mary: As an ICF-certified executive coach and talent consultant, Mary specializes in executive development, assessment, leadership effectiveness, career management, and personal life transitions. With a rich career working in a variety of environments and industries, she’s led learning functions and talent development in several organizations, including a national nonprofit. Internationally, she designed leadership development programs on multiple continents and led new executive onboarding globally. Recognized as a Top 15 Coach in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she excels in coaching leaders toward leveled-up performance, increased resilience, and adaptability. With a counseling background and commitment to psychological well-being, she customizes coaching engagements to respond to whole person needs. Finally, combined with her ability to align and mobilize teams to implement organizational change, Mary is an expert designing executive transition strategies.

    43 min
  5. Paul Ebert on Building People-First Franchise Brands That Actually Scale

    JAN 27 · VIDEO

    Paul Ebert on Building People-First Franchise Brands That Actually Scale

    Franchising only works when people come first. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Paul Ebert, Group President at Home Franchise Concepts, to explore what it really takes to scale franchise brands without losing culture, trust, or humanity. Paul shares his unconventional journey from Big Four accounting to leading multiple high-growth home services brands. The conversation dives into why franchising is fundamentally a people business, how investing in frontline workers drives customer outcomes, and what franchisors can (and can’t) do to support franchisees without crossing legal lines. Paul also explains why time — not money — is the modern customer’s most valuable currency, and how strong culture becomes a competitive advantage in labor-intensive industries. This episode is a must-watch for franchisors, franchisees, and leaders who believe long-term growth depends on building systems that work for people — not just around them. About Paul: Paul Ebert is Group President at Home Franchise Concepts, where he leads several high-growth franchised brands including Two Maids, Aussie Pet Mobile, AdvantaClean, and Lightspeed Restoration. Paul has steered impressive growth through operational excellence, innovation, and a people-first leadership style.

    47 min
  6. Ryan Dalton on What Leaders Get Wrong About Employee Motivation

    JAN 22 · VIDEO

    Ryan Dalton on What Leaders Get Wrong About Employee Motivation

    Skills matter, but motivation is what determines whether people actually thrive. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Ryan Dalton, co-founder of TalentMotives, to explore how intrinsic motivation shapes performance, engagement, and workplace culture. Drawing on his background in education, counseling, and behavioral science, Ryan explains how the Motivation Quotient (MQ) helps leaders understand what truly energizes — or drains — their people. The conversation dives into why disengagement often has less to do with competence and more to do with misalignment, how AI can be used to strengthen (not replace) human connection, and why self-awareness is the most underrated leadership skill. Ryan also shares how Talent Motives’ AI-powered coach, Sherpa, helps leaders communicate more effectively, build better teams, and reduce unnecessary friction at work. This episode is a must-watch for founders, HR leaders, and operators who want to move beyond surface-level engagement strategies and build workplaces where people feel understood and motivated. About Ryan: Ryan’s career began in education, helping students plan for college, where he first recognized the importance of understanding human potential. He went on to work in college counseling and career guidance, helping students and professionals find clarity and purpose. With a background in international relations and fluency in Mandarin Chinese, he gained a broader perspective on what truly motivates people across cultures. That insight led him to help architect the Motivation Quotient (MQ) and shape its impact in organizational settings. Today, as Co-Founder of TalentMotives, he leads the vision behind Sherpa—their AI-powered coach that integrates MQi into daily management and leadership.

    48 min
  7. Why Losing HR Data Is a Bigger Risk Than You Think with Gabe Bell

    JAN 20 · VIDEO

    Why Losing HR Data Is a Bigger Risk Than You Think with Gabe Bell

    When companies switch HR systems, critical data often gets left behind — and the consequences can be serious. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Gabe Bell, VP of Channel Sales at ResNav Solutions, to unpack why historical HR and payroll data matters more than most leaders realize. Drawing on more than 20 years in HR tech, Gabe shares what happens when organizations change platforms every few years without a clear data retention strategy. The conversation explores compliance risk, litigation exposure, M&A complexity, and why “out of sight” data can quickly become a business liability. Gabe also explains how HR, finance, and IT leaders can be more proactive during system transitions, what questions they should be asking before implementation begins, and how historical data can become a strategic asset — not just an insurance policy. This episode is a must-watch for HR leaders, CFOs, and operators navigating platform changes, compliance pressure, and the growing importance of people data in an AI-driven world. About Gabe: Gabe Bell is the VP of Channel Sales at ResNav Solutions, where he leads new partner development and strategy and is building out the company’s channel sales ecosystem. He began his career at ADP, where he was quickly immersed in the (ever-changing) world of employer compliance, gaining firsthand insight into the risks and challenges businesses face when managing their workforce data. Over the past 20+ years, Gabe has held sales, business development, and partnership roles at DailyPay, Jobvite, and Joynd, helping build go-to-market strategies and partner programs that deliver real impact. At ResNav, he’s focused on enabling partners to offer secure, scalable, and compliant historical data solutions to their clients. Gabe lives in Spearfish, South Dakota with his wife and three children.

    53 min
  8. Dr. Dennis Hill on Why Speed Is Destroying Trust at Work

    JAN 15 · VIDEO

    Dr. Dennis Hill on Why Speed Is Destroying Trust at Work

    In a world racing toward AI adoption, trust is quietly falling behind. In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Dr. Dennis Hill — lifelong educator, technologist, author, and founder of Sagacity — for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, learning, and the human cost of moving too fast. With more than 50 years spent helping organizations navigate change, Dennis brings a rare long-view perspective on technology, work, and society. They explore why leaders often mistake speed for progress, how unmanaged technological change erodes trust inside organizations, and why lifelong learning is the most important leadership commitment of the future. Dennis also shares thoughtful insights on data ownership, AI as a labor-displacing technology, and why wisdom — not just knowledge — must guide decision-making. This episode is essential viewing for leaders who want to navigate AI-driven change without losing trust, humanity, or perspective. About Dennis: Dr. Dennis Hill—a lifelong builder, teacher, and connector who has spent fifty years helping people make sense of change before the rest of the world even realized it was coming. He grew up in a fatherless working-class family that demanded resilience, a life approach he never abandoned. It shows in how he listens, mentors, and leads. Dennis is an engineer by training, a technologist by practice, and an objectivist at heart. As the founder of Sagacity and Chair and CEO of IHRIM (pronounced 'eye-rim'), he’s worked across industries and continents—creating strategic partnerships and shaping businesses, educational programs, and emerging workforces—always with a steady hand and a long view. He’s also an international bestselling author and editor, but what people remember most is his calm, grandfatherly way of making even the most advanced ideas feel human and accessible. At the center of everything he does is a belief he’s carried since his days as an undergrad: that lifelong learning is our greatest force for social progress. It’s not just something Dennis teaches—it’s something he lives, every day.

    54 min
See All (64)

About

Explore what truly creates workplace happiness, builds a better culture, and drives greater engagement for the entire workforce — from the suits in the C-suite to team members on the frontlines. Get real-world insights and practical strategies to recognize, retain, elevate, and empower teams. From engaging interviews with thought leaders in our Voices web series to step-by-step how-tos, MustardHub helps you operationalize great culture and design the workplace of tomorrow... today. MustardHub Voices: Behind The Build addresses these hot topics and more with business leaders, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, consultants, coaches, researchers, and other brilliant minds committed to building, engaging, and elevating culture-driven, high-performing teams.

Information