515: The Accidental Executive - Megan Gluth-Bohan

To establish yourself as dependable and reliable, leaders must go beyond titles like "CEO" or "Founder." In today's landscape, genuine leadership is characterized by unwavering integrity, steadfastness, and a consistent commitment to one's values and responsibilities.

In this episode, I speak with Megan Gluth-Bohan, the CEO and owner of TRInternational, Inc. and ChemBlend of America. TRInternational, Inc. is one of the largest certified female-owned suppliers in North America. In my conversation with Megan, we discuss her diverse and challenging background, having grown up in poverty in Iowa, becoming an attorney, and unexpectedly taking over a business. 

Tune in as we discuss how leaders must evolve with their teams and the importance of being steady in the day-to-day, so you can be steady in moments of crisis.

In this episode:

• Meg provides insight into her two businesses, TRInternational, Inc. and ChemBlend of America, and the forthcoming merger of these two entities.
• Meg describes her upbringing in a small farming community in Iowa, facing financial struggles and challenges. She attributes her success to tenacious hard work and the support of influential figures in her life.
• Meg details her professional transition from a practicing attorney advising businesses to becoming the owner and CEO of TRI.
• Drawing from historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Margaret Thatcher, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, Denis and Meg emphasize how leaders handle crises and the pressures of being under global scrutiny.
• Meg and Denis discuss that while challenges evolve, the principles of leadership remain steadfast.

Main takeaways:

• Leadership can emerge in unexpected journeys. Meg's transition from an attorney to a CEO exemplifies how varied paths can lead to leadership roles.
• Importance of adaptability in careers. It’s important to adapt and seize opportunities that present themselves despite how “equipped’ you may seem for them at the time. Skills may be more transferable than you realize. 
• Leadership development often starts with leading oneself and seeking continuous improvement.
• Critical moments in history often shine a light on a leader's true character.
• Authentic leadership is about being consistent, reliable, and steady in both day-to-day operations and in crises.
• A leader's presence and the duration of their commitment play pivotal roles in establishing trust and understanding within their team.
• Many leadership attributes, such as trustworthiness and reliability, are timeless, even though leadership styles might evolve over time.
• Establishing inner calm and focus, possibly through meditation, can equip leaders to make better decisions in fast-paced situations.
• Historical trends and events can serve as guidance for contemporary leaders, reminding them that challenges are cyclical.
• Personal growth and adaptability are essential for leaders to navigate future uncertainties effectively.

Quotes:

“There's one thing that leaders need to understand is the fact that what we say and what we do has an impact on people. People remember those things years later. And so We've got to be careful with what we do and say.” – Denis Gianoutsos 

“The best thing I can do is to be unchanging, steady, reliable, and consistent. I would argue that that is a timeless value that people place on their leaders.” – Megan Gluth-Bohan

“You can't develop trust in your team that you will be steady and reliable in a crisis if you're not steady and reliable in the business as usual day to day.”  – Megan Gluth-Bohan

“As the leader, I should be working harder than anybody on my team.” –  Megan Gluth-Bohan

Connect with Megan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-gluth-bohan/ 

TRInternational: https://www.trichemicals.com 

ChemBlend of America: https://chemblend.net 

Connect with Denis: 

Email: denis@leadingchangepartners.com

Website: http://www.leadingchangepartners.com/

Leadership Is Changing Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LeadershipIsChanging/

Leadership is Changing LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-is-changing-podcast/