Growth Think Tank

Gene Hammett is a Speaker, Executive Coach, Inc Columnist, and Host of "Gr
  • 4.9 (171)
  • Management
  • Updated Semiweekly

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.

  1. 12h ago

    Leading Change in the Age of AI with Mike Thompson at SVI

    In this episode, we sit down with Mike Thompson, founder of SVI, ranked No. 3,013 (2025) on Inc, and Learner Mobile, to explore how AI is transforming how frontline workers access critical information when they need it most. Mike shares why frontline employees are essential to business success, how SVI is breaking down barriers to learning and information, and how technology can help people work smarter, faster, and safer. We also discuss SVI's evolution from a services-based company to a services-and-software model, along with the importance of culture, agility, continuous improvement, and thoughtful leadership. Discover how combining innovation with care can empower people and drive lasting business growth. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 4:55 Frontline AI in Action 7:02 Culture Through Change 11:13 Services and SaaS Balance 13:18 Loving People at Work 18:21 Hiring for Agility 20:40 Authentic Leadership Today In This Episode, You'll Learn: ✅How AI is changing the way frontline workers access information ✅Why a strong mission makes organizational change easier ✅How to build a culture of agility and continuous improvement ✅Lessons from SVI's transformation from services to SaaS and AI ✅Why overdependence on a major customer can become a serious business risk ✅How to balance love, trust, recognition, and accountability ✅What to look for when hiring people who can thrive through change ✅Why grit and the ability to move quickly matter in today's business environment ✅How authentic leadership can help organizations navigate complexity ✅Why successful AI transformation ultimately starts with people Connect With Today's Guest Mike Thompson is the founder of SVI, whose flagship product, Learner Mobile, is an AI-powered knowledge ecosystem designed to help frontline workers access critical information in the moment of need. SVI works with organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, helping frontline teams access the knowledge and resources they need to perform at their best. How to Connect with Mike Thompson LinkedIn: Mike Thompson (LinkedIn) Company Website: www.sviworld.com– to learn more about his work and platform Get In Touch with Mike at learnermobile.com

  2. 12h ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Ben Shapiro Show

    Introducing Ep. 2517 - The Hijacking Story Just Got More Insane. Here's The Latest. from The Ben Shapiro Show. Follow the show: The Ben Shapiro Show New details emerge about the FlyDubai attempted hijacking, and the heroism of the Israeli passengers and Indian pilot who stopped it; we talk about the West’s choice between standing up and surrendering to radical Islam; and Pete Davidson is keeping his Hillary Clinton tattoo. Ep. 2517 - - - Today's Sponsor: ZipRecruiter - 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Try it for FREE today at https://ZipRecruiter.com/DAILYWIRE - - - DailyWire: Become a Daily Wire Member and watch all of our content ad-free: https://get.dailywire.com/infidels 40% off annual plans with code FIGHT 🍿 Watch Run Hide Fight: Infidels https://www.dailywire.com/videos/run-hide-fight-infidels 📲 Download the free Daily Wire app today on iPhone, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Samsung, and more. 📰 Follow me on the Daily Wire app or DailyWire.com to read my daily articles and receive my Friday newsletter. 📘 My book "Lions and Scavengers: The True Story of America (and Her Critics)" is available here:  https://dwplus.shop/LionsandScavengers 👕 Get your Ben Shapiro merch here: https://dwplus.shop/BenShapiroMerch - - - Socials: YouTube — https://youtube.com/@BenShapiro Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/officialbenshapiro Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/officialbenshapiro Snapchat — https://www.snapchat.com/officialbenshapiro TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@real.benshapiro X — https://twitter.com/benshapiro - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Sep 28

    Avoid this Big Leadership Mistake for More Company Growth with Gene Hammett, Founder Coach

    In this episode, we explore the challenges founders face when their businesses become too dependent on them, creating bottlenecks in decision-making, execution, and growth. As companies scale, internal leadership must evolve alongside external priorities like hiring, sales, and new product development. We discuss how a founder's leadership style can shape company culture and how reactive or misaligned behavior can create friction and push talented people away. We also highlight the value of having honest conversations with trusted advisors, mentors, or peers. Ultimately, we examine how shifting leadership, mindset, and decision-making can unlock stronger teams, healthier growth, and greater business effectiveness. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:19 Founder Growth Starts Within 1:25 The Founder Freedom Book 1:47 External Plans, Internal Blind Spots 3:37 Rethinking Leadership First 4:50 The Founder Is the Solution What You'll Learn in This Episode By listening to this episode, you'll discover: ✔️Why successful businesses can become founder-dependent ✔️How founder dependency creates bottlenecks in decision-making and execution ✔️Why hiring more people may not solve an underlying leadership problem ✔️How a founder's behavior can influence employee engagement and retention ✔️Why external growth strategies need to be supported by internal leadership growth ✔️How to recognize potential leadership blind spots ✔️Why your leadership style needs to evolve as your company scales ✔️How trusted advisors and coaches can help founders see what they can't see themselves ✔️Why becoming more self-aware can make your growth investments more effective ✔️How founders can create greater freedom by changing the way they lead Resources Mentioned 📘 Founder Freedom Download the book for free and learn more about breaking through founder dependency: https://getfounderfreedom.com/ 🎙️ Founder Freedom Strategy Call If you're a founder who has built something significant but still feels too deeply involved in the day-to-day, Gene offers a free 30-minute strategy call to explore what's keeping you stuck. https://schedulewithgene.com/

  4. Sep 21

    Leading During A Crisis with Henry J. Evans at Dynamic Results

    In this episode, we explore what it takes to lead effectively through crisis and why disruption is becoming faster, more complex, and more intense. We discuss why past experience alone isn't enough when leaders face unfamiliar challenges, and why a practical crisis management system matters. We explore Henry J. Evans's background in C-suite coaching and his business failure after 9/11, which shaped his approach to crisis leadership. Henry shares his framework for managing crisis, beginning with self-management and simple techniques like box breathing to help leaders stay calm and make better decisions under pressure. We also discuss the three phases of crisis, why decision-making should move to the lowest intelligent level within an organization, and why crisis plans should focus on the most critical actions. Finally, we explore simulations, scenario planning, pre-mortems, and the value of including pessimists to identify risks before they become problems. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:09 Crisis Leadership in a Faster World 1:08 What Counts as a Real Crisis 4:40 Henry's Counterterrorism Background 7:09 Why Old Successes Stop Working 10:09 Lead Yourself First 15:04 Three Phases of Crisis 20:27 Decision-Making in Crisis 24:57 Building Trust Before Crisis 27:52 Stress-Test Your Team 29:42 Pre-Mortem Planning Works 31:04 Final Thoughts on Crisis Prep Key Takeaways ✅Past crisis experience is valuable, but it isn't enough by itself. ✅Leaders need a repeatable system for managing disruption. ✅Self-management is the starting point of effective crisis leadership. ✅Learning to respond rather than react can improve decision-making under pressure. ✅Crises can be viewed through three phases: incubating, emerging, and acute. ✅Decision-making should move toward the people with the most relevant expertise. ✅Crisis teams should focus on the few actions that matter most. ✅Leadership teams should practice crisis scenarios before a real crisis occurs. ✅Pre-mortems can help organizations identify vulnerabilities before they become problems. ✅Pessimistic perspectives can be valuable for identifying risks and blind spots. Connect With Today's Guest Henry J. Evans is a C-suite coach, strategic planning facilitator, and author with extensive experience in crisis leadership and national security. He has accumulated more than 16,000 hours of C-suite coaching and approximately 6,000 hours facilitating strategic planning sessions for multinational organizations. He also spent 22 years working with national security threats, primarily in counterterrorism. Henry's perspective on crisis leadership is also shaped by personal experience. After building a successful company, his business experienced a significant decline in revenue following 9/11 and ultimately went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. That experience led to a new chapter in his career involving national security and counterterrorism work. He is the author of Bombs, Bacon, and Bankruptcy: The Art of Crisis Leadership, a book focused on the principles and systems leaders can use to navigate crisis more effectively. How to Connect with Henry J. Evans LinkedIn: Henry J. Evans  (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/henryevansdynamicresults/ Company Website: dynamicresults.com– to learn more about his work and platform Get In Touch with Henry: henryjevans.com 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. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

  5. Sep 14

    The Journey of Self-aware Leadership with Gene Hammett, Founder Coach

    In this episode, we discuss self-awareness in leadership and why it becomes important when old ways of leading no longer work. We talk about how founders can get stuck doing too much themselves and how that can affect alignment, focus, and team performance. We also look at the question of "Who am I being?" as a way to notice reactive or unfocused behaviors that may hold a leader back. We share a personal example from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to show how recognizing unhelpful traits can lead to more consistency, discipline, and intention, and we close by encouraging listeners to think about the kind of leader they need to become. Episode Highlights & Timestamps 0:11 Self-Awareness in Leadership 2:18 The Hero Complex Trap 4:07 Who Are You Being? 5:47 Lessons From Jiu Jitsu 7:58 Becoming a Better Leader What You'll Learn ✅Why self-awareness is essential for effective leadership and business growth. ✅How the habits that helped you succeed can eventually hold you back. ✅How the "hero complex" can keep founders too involved in the day-to-day. ✅The importance of asking, "Who am I being that is getting in the way of what I want?" ✅How to identify the qualities you need to develop to become the leader your company needs. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com and getfounderfreedom.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

  6. Sep 7

    Stop Blaming Your Team Members and Lead More Powerfully with Gene Hammett

    What does powerful leadership look like when a business is growing and challenges arise? In this episode, we explore how founders, CEOs, and business leaders can take ownership instead of blaming employees. We discuss practical leadership strategies, including clear communication, active listening, empathy, feedback, accountability, and setting expectations. We also examine the people and culture challenges that come with growth, including employee performance, organizational chaos, and difficult conversations. Finally, we address when coaching and support aren't enough and how leaders can recognize when it's time to part ways. A practical conversation about leadership, company culture, accountability, and building high-performing teams. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:10 Leading Without Blame 1:49 Lead Powerfully, Not Reactively 3:48 The Four Phases of Tough Talks 5:41 Knowing When to Let Go What You'll Learn ✅Why blaming employees rarely creates meaningful change ✅How powerful leadership begins with personal ownership ✅When to listen, show empathy, communicate directly, or give tough feedback ✅How unclear expectations can contribute to employee performance issues ✅Why different situations require different leadership approaches ✅How to have difficult conversations that actually create movement ✅When coaching and accountability aren't enough ✅How to recognize when it may be time to part ways with an employee Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com and getfounderfreedom.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

  7. Aug 31

    Breaking Founder Dependency and Building Leadership That Scales with Andrew Razumovsky with CANDA Solutions

    Featuring Andrew Razumovsky, co-founder of CANDA Solutions, this episode of *Growth Think Tank* explores what it takes to scale a company, develop leaders, and build an organization that can operate beyond the founders. Founded in 2008, CANDA Solutions has grown into an Inc. 5000 Rank No. 538 (2026) company serving federal government needs in vetting, adjudication, and investigations management. Andrew shares lessons from CANDA's growth journey, including bringing in outside coaching to sharpen strategy, establish metrics, and strengthen leadership. He also discusses using AI to analyze data while keeping human judgment at the center and empowering teams to solve problems independently. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:03 Founder Growth Challenge 4:06 Building Kenda Solutions 5:01 AI and Human Judgment 7:58 Early Growth and Founder Dependence 10:19 Learning to Ask for Help 14:02 Growing Leaders Internally 18:08 Starfish Leadership Model 21:15 Advice for Scaling Founders In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why founder dependency can become the biggest barrier to growth How founders can transition from doing everything to developing leaders Why investing in your own leadership development matters How outside coaching and perspective can accelerate organizational growth Why internal leadership development creates a stronger organization How to create a culture where employees bring solutions, not just problems What the starfish leadership model looks like in practice How AI can complement human judgment rather than replace it Why founders need to become comfortable letting go of decisions How to build a company that can operate and scale beyond the founder The ultimate goal isn't to make yourself less important to your company. It's to build a company that no longer depends on you for everything. Connect With Today's Guest Andrew Razumovsky is the Co-Founder and Principal of CANDA Solutions, a technology and risk management company serving national security and federal government organizations. With more than two decades of experience in technology, enterprise architecture, risk management, and business development, Andrew has helped lead CANDA's growth and product innovation. He is also focused on using technology and AI to improve risk management while keeping human decision-making at the center. How to Connect with Andrew Razumovsky LinkedIn: Andrew Razumovsky(LinkedIn) Company Website: CANDA Solutions – to learn more about his work and platform Get In Touch with Andrew: Contact 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. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

  8. Aug 24

    Why Being Always Available Kills Employee Decision-Making

    Your team won't make decisions because you're always available to make them. Employee decision-making is the critical element that separates founder-dependent companies from team-driven ones. In this episode, Gene shares a breakthrough from one of his founder clients who discovered that strategic unavailability forces his team to think independently. By blocking off time and removing himself from the equation, his leadership team started making decisions without him and built the ownership and grit required to scale. You'll learn why your availability is the enemy of employee decision-making, how to design strategic unavailability as a delegation framework, and why stepping back is the fastest way to move from bottleneck to freedom. Employee decision-making isn't given. It's claimed when your team has no choice but to think for themselves. If you want a business that runs without you, start here. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:09 Too Available Hurts Decisions 3:53 Absence Forces Growth 6:09 Strategic Unavailability Works What You'll Learn ✅Why being too available can unintentionally create employee dependency ✅How leaders can empower employees to think and make decisions for themselves ✅Why confidence and ownership grow through real decision-making experience ✅How to create decision-making frameworks that employees can actually use ✅The importance of distinguishing between decisions employees can make and decisions that require leadership involvement ✅How strategically stepping away can accelerate team development ✅Why founders should schedule intentional time away from the business ✅How the concept of one-way doors and two-way doors can help teams make decisions faster ✅Why mistakes and setbacks are essential to developing leadership capacity ✅How to move from working in the business to working on the business Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ and https://freebook.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: https://training.coreelevation.com/ 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Gene Hammett is a Speaker, Executive Coach, Inc Columnist, and Host of "Gr
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.3K
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2014-2021
  • Show Website
    Growth Think Tank