CANDOR with Tish

Tish Squillaro

Tish Squillaro is the CEO and Founder of CANDOR Management Consulting, specializing in leadership effectiveness, strategic talent management, and team alignment. With over 17 years of experience, she partners with executives and organizations to uncover the root causes behind business challenges and deliver practical, results-driven solutions. Known for her candid and approachable style, Tish focuses on helping leaders build self-awareness, navigate change, and overcome the behavioral barriers that impact performance. She is also a keynote speaker and co-author of the HeadTrash series, where she explores how mindset and emotion shape leadership and decision-making.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Thomas G. Ferro – Chief Executive Officer, Steps2Walk, Inc.

    What separates leaders who build lasting, high-performing teams from those who simply manage people? In this episode of CANDOR with Tish, Tish Squillaro sits down with Thomas G. Ferro, CEO of Steps2Walk, Inc. and a global medical device executive with leadership experience at organizations including Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, DePuy Synthes, and Zimmer Biomet. Drawing from decades of leading global teams, business turnarounds, and multicultural organizations, Tom shares why leadership starts with humility, trust, and genuine relationships - not titles. Together, Tish and Tom explore how great leaders earn respect, create psychological safety, navigate cultural differences, and build organizations where people feel empowered to do their best work. Whether you're leading a startup, a growing business, or a global enterprise, this conversation offers practical leadership lessons you can apply immediately. In this episode, you'll learn: Why respect must be earned - not assumed. How casual conversations build stronger teams. The leadership habits that create trust and accountability. When patience with an employee becomes the wrong decision. How to lead effectively across different cultures. Why the best teams focus on strengths instead of titles. How empowering people leads to better business outcomes. If you want to build stronger teams, create a healthier culture, and become a more effective leader, this episode is for you.

    Thomas G. Ferro – Chief Executive Officer, Steps2Walk, Inc.

  2. Aug 5

    Maddy Niebauer - Founder & Co-CEO, vChief

    In this episode of CANDOR with Tish, Tish Squillaro sits down with Maddy Niebauer, Founder and Co-CEO of vChief, to explore what it really takes to scale a business without sacrificing your life in the process. Maddy shares how she built a five-time Inc. 5000 company while working fewer hours than most founders believe is possible. The conversation dives into the power of fractional leadership, finding the right executive talent, letting go of control as a founder, and helping leaders focus on their true zone of genius. Tish and Maddy also discuss the growing role of AI in business, why most leaders spend too much time in meetings, and how organizations can work smarter instead of simply working longer. Along the way, they uncover practical lessons on delegation, leadership capacity, team dynamics, and building a business designed to support both growth and quality of life. If you're a founder, executive, or business leader looking to scale effectively while creating more freedom, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and candid leadership lessons.

    Maddy Niebauer - Founder & Co-CEO, vChief

  3. Jul 22

    Jeffrey Ornstein – Founder & CEO, J/Brice Design International

    What does it take to build a business that thrives for nearly four decades? In this episode of CANDOR with Tish, Tish Squillaro sits down with Jeffrey Ornstein, Founder and CEO of J/Brice Design International, a globally recognized hospitality design firm responsible for more than $5 billion in projects across five continents. Jeff shares the remarkable story of launching his company at just 29 years old and growing it into one of the industry's most respected firms. Along the way, he reveals why relationships have been the foundation of his success, how he has navigated major industry shifts, economic downturns, and changing workforce dynamics, and what leaders must do to evolve alongside their organizations. Tish and Jeff explore the importance of communication, accountability, mentorship, and culture, discussing why great leadership is less about control and more about investing in people. They also dive into the challenges facing today's workforce, the role of honesty in leadership, and why organizations that prioritize people alongside technology will be best positioned for the future. This conversation is filled with practical leadership lessons for founders, CEOs, and anyone looking to build a business, a team, and a legacy that lasts.

    Jeffrey Ornstein – Founder & CEO, J/Brice Design International

  4. Jul 8

    Akram Khalis - Founder, Building AI Solutions (Aida™)

    What separates great leaders from everyone else? In this episode of CANDOR with Tish, Tish Squillaro sits down with Akram Khalis, Founder of Building AI Solutions, to explore what it really takes to build leadership teams that can scale with a growing business. Drawing from his journey from engineer to founder and CEO, Akram shares practical insights on creating a culture of trust, empowering leaders to make decisions, and avoiding the trap of becoming the bottleneck in your organization. He explains why leaders should stop bringing problems without solutions, how to identify when someone is no longer the right fit for a role, and why communication is often the difference between a team that thrives and one that struggles. The conversation also dives into the role of AI in hiring and talent development, the importance of self-awareness, and why culture will always be a competitive advantage in high-growth organizations. Whether you're building your first leadership team or leading an established organization, this episode offers valuable lessons on trust, accountability, communication, and leadership at scale.

    Akram Khalis - Founder, Building AI Solutions (Aida™)

  5. Jun 24

    Dr. Kevin Rindal - CEO & Co-Founder, Vimocity

    What can business leaders learn from Olympic athletes? In this episode of CANDOR with Tish, Tish Squillaro sits down with Dr. Kevin Rindal, CEO and Co-Founder of Vimocity, to explore how the principles of elite athletic performance can transform workplace culture, leadership, and team effectiveness. Drawing from his experience with the U.S. Olympic Sports Medicine Team and his work helping utility, construction, and energy organizations build stronger workforces, Kevin shares why employees should be treated like "workforce athletes" and how leaders can improve performance by focusing on readiness, recovery, communication, and care. The conversation explores burnout, injury prevention, AI's impact on the workforce, leadership accountability, workforce development, and the critical role communication plays in creating high-performing teams. Kevin also shares practical strategies leaders can use to build trust, improve engagement, and help their teams perform at their highest level. If you're a leader looking to strengthen your culture, improve team performance, and create a workforce that is physically, mentally, and operationally ready for success, this episode is for you.

    Dr. Kevin Rindal - CEO & Co-Founder, Vimocity

  6. Jun 9

    Ashish Bisaria - Operator, Board Member & AI Strategist

    In this episode of CANDOR with Tish, Tish Squillaro sits down with Ashish Bisaria, Operator, Board Member, and AI Strategist with more than 30 years of experience spanning six industries and seven countries. Together, they explore what separates organizations that scale successfully from those that become trapped by their own growth. Ashish shares lessons from transitioning out of Big Four consulting into operational leadership, why human-first leadership is actually a performance strategy, and the leadership mistakes that often prevent executive teams from reaching their potential. The conversation dives into accountability, authority, founder-led businesses, building high-performing leadership teams, and the importance of putting the right people in the right seats. Ashish also offers a practical perspective on AI, explaining why leaders should think of it as an operating capability rather than simply another software tool. If you're a CEO, founder, or executive looking to build stronger teams, create scalable leadership structures, and implement AI without losing the human element, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

    Ashish Bisaria - Operator, Board Member & AI Strategist
  • 6 Episodes

About

Tish Squillaro is the CEO and Founder of CANDOR Management Consulting, specializing in leadership effectiveness, strategic talent management, and team alignment. With over 17 years of experience, she partners with executives and organizations to uncover the root causes behind business challenges and deliver practical, results-driven solutions. Known for her candid and approachable style, Tish focuses on helping leaders build self-awareness, navigate change, and overcome the behavioral barriers that impact performance. She is also a keynote speaker and co-author of the HeadTrash series, where she explores how mindset and emotion shape leadership and decision-making.

Information

  • Creator
    Tish Squillaro
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CANDOR with Tish
  • Show Website
    CANDOR with Tish