The High Performance Herd

David Quick

Welcome to The High-Performance Herd, where CEOs and founders learn to multiply impact without multiplying hours. I'm David Quick—I've been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders through the messy reality of scaling teams and building high-performing cultures. This podcast features peer conversations with business leaders navigating real challenges: being the bottleneck where everything runs through you, managing disconnected leadership teams, working unsustainable hours, or leading teams that need constant direction. We explore how to transition from overextended operator to empowered leader, build teams that perform without micromanagement, and create the leverage that lets you thrive instead of just survive. No guru nonsense—just honest conversations between bulls who've been in the arena. Whether you're scaling from founder-led sales to a real team, struggling with misaligned leaders, or wondering if there's a better way than working 70-hour weeks, you'll find practical frameworks and real stories from leaders who've found their path. This is The High-Performance Herd.

  1. Jul 23

    SE01E21 AI Is Redefining Air Freight for the Next Generation of Logistics | Chris Condon

    He started on a forklift. He rose through Fortune 100 logistics. He turned around a failing freight company, rebranded it, sold it into a $900M Maersk deal, and then walked away from $5 million in annual revenue to start from zero again. Not because he had to. Because he saw the thing the entire $270 billion air freight industry was too comfortable to admit: the quote was never the product. The commitment behind it was. Aircon is the AI decision layer that validates routes, margins, and feasibility before a single promise leaves your desk, and it is rewriting what winning in air cargo actually looks like. What you will explore:📦 The $5M Surrender: Why strategically killing an entire revenue base was the most courageous bet Aircon ever made🧠 Speed Is a Lie: How faster quoting without commitment quality is just expensive noise wearing a new disguise🗣 When Smart People Still Speak Different Languages: The internal alignment crisis that nearly broke a company mid transformation🌍 The Decision Layer Nobody Built Until Now: How Aircon is shifting air freight from reactive execution to proactive commitment intelligence You can get in touch with Chris Condon here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-condon-air-freight-ai/Website: https://aircon.ai I hope you enjoyed this episode of The High-Performance Herd!– David and The High-Performance Herd Podcast team :) Connect with me: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quick-leadership-coaching/ Listen to The High-Performance Herd on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jjo3iCYhMkK7OSnPc19SEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-performance-herd/id1874589807Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/712017ad-55b4-427e-8c88-4942bfb5f1ad #HighPerformanceHerd #DavidQuick #LeadershipCoaching #CEOCoaching #ExecutiveLeadership #ScalingBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamPerformance #CEOBurnout #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStrategy #FounderJourney #TeamAlignment #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadershipThe High-Performance Herd is a podcast for CEOs and founders who refuse to sacrifice everything for success. Hosted by David Quick, an executive coach who's been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders, each episode features candid peer conversations with business leaders navigating the messy reality of scaling teams, building high-performing cultures, and leading without burning out.David brings a bull's perspective to leadership—focused on multiplying impact without multiplying hours, building teams that perform without constant direction, and thriving rather than just surviving. Whether you're a bottleneck CEO where everything runs through you, managing a disconnected leadership team, or working 60-70 hour weeks wondering if there's a better way, this podcast delivers practical insights from leaders who've found their path from overextended operator to empowered leader.

  2. Jul 16

    SE01E20 The Financial Discipline Every Creative Business Must Master | David Clifton

    David Clifton walked into CIP Retail two years ago expecting to close a 50 year old retail design and manufacturing business for good. What he built from the wreckage is one of the most compelling CEO turnaround stories in American small business history. Today CIP Retail is profitable, process driven and built for scale.🎬 The CEO Seat Nobody Warned Him About🔥 The Fridge Analogy That Turned a Company Around📐 When a Numbers Man Had to Lead Creatives🚀 The Scale Plan: What CIP Retail Is Building If you are a grocery retailer, store developer or brand owner ready to transform your retail space, David Clifton and CIP Retail are who you call. You can get in touch with David Clifton here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drclifton/Website: https://www.cipretail.com/ I hope you enjoyed this episode of The High-Performance Herd!– David and The High-Performance Herd Podcast team :) Connect with me: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quick-leadership-coaching/ Listen to The High-Performance Herd on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jjo3iCYhMkK7OSnPc19SEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-performance-herd/id1874589807Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/712017ad-55b4-427e-8c88-4942bfb5f1ad #HighPerformanceHerd #DavidQuick #LeadershipCoaching #CEOCoaching #ExecutiveLeadership #ScalingBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamPerformance #CEOBurnout #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStrategy #FounderJourney #TeamAlignment #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadershipThe High-Performance Herd is a podcast for CEOs and founders who refuse to sacrifice everything for success. Hosted by David Quick, an executive coach who's been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders, each episode features candid peer conversations with business leaders navigating the messy reality of scaling teams, building high-performing cultures, and leading without burning out.David brings a bull's perspective to leadership—focused on multiplying impact without multiplying hours, building teams that perform without constant direction, and thriving rather than just surviving. Whether you're a bottleneck CEO where everything runs through you, managing a disconnected leadership team, or working 60-70 hour weeks wondering if there's a better way, this podcast delivers practical insights from leaders who've found their path from overextended operator to empowered leader.

  3. Jul 2

    SE01E19 Legacy Manufacturers Win When Customer Experience Becomes Their Real Priority | Brett Nelson

    From sorting nuts and bolts on a factory floor at age four to commanding a 100 million dollar retail empire, Brett Nelson, CEO of The Peggs Company, proves that legacy is built, not inherited. This episode of High Performance Heard unpacks raw, unfiltered leadership lessons on family business succession, CEO transition, and scaling a third generation manufacturing company into retail's most trusted partner.What you will explore 🎯 The hidden cost of inheriting a starved business🤝 Why father son succession planning breaks teams⚡ Building an executive leadership team that owns decisions🚀 Turning tariff chaos into a strategic reset yearBrett gets candid about buying out his father, surviving steel tariff disruptions, firing the wrong executive hire, and why retail's number one partner is more than a slogan, it is a growth engine philosophy reshaping company culture from the ground up. Global founders, family business owners, and supply chain leaders will find bold, business succession wisdom here. You can get in touch with Brett Nelson here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettnelsonpeggs/Website: https://thepeggscompany.com/ I hope you enjoyed this episode of The High-Performance Herd!– David and The High-Performance Herd Podcast team :) Connect with me: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quick-leadership-coaching/ Listen to The High-Performance Herd on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jjo3iCYhMkK7OSnPc19SEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-performance-herd/id1874589807Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/712017ad-55b4-427e-8c88-4942bfb5f1ad #HighPerformanceHerd #DavidQuick #LeadershipCoaching #CEOCoaching #ExecutiveLeadership #ScalingBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamPerformance #CEOBurnout #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStrategy #FounderJourney #TeamAlignment #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadershipThe High-Performance Herd is a podcast for CEOs and founders who refuse to sacrifice everything for success. Hosted by David Quick, an executive coach who's been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders, each episode features candid peer conversations with business leaders navigating the messy reality of scaling teams, building high-performing cultures, and leading without burning out.David brings a bull's perspective to leadership—focused on multiplying impact without multiplying hours, building teams that perform without constant direction, and thriving rather than just surviving. Whether you're a bottleneck CEO where everything runs through you, managing a disconnected leadership team, or working 60-70 hour weeks wondering if there's a better way, this podcast delivers practical insights from leaders who've found their path from overextended operator to empowered leader.

  4. Jun 18

    SE01 E18 Trust and Integrity beat strategy when scaling high-growth teams | Ryan Getz

    In this episode, Ryan Getz shares his leadership journey, the lessons learned from scaling a growing organization, and the principles behind building high-performing teams. He discusses how purpose, values, trust, and self-awareness shape strong leadership and sustainable company culture. Ryan explains the importance of developing future leaders, empowering employees, and creating an environment where people can thrive. Together, Ryan and David Quick explore the realities of long-term success, talent development, organizational growth, and the challenges leaders face as companies evolve. The conversation highlights the role of integrity, listening, and accountability in building resilient teams, while offering practical insights on leadership development, team performance, and creating a values-driven organization that can scale successfully. I hope you enjoyed this episode of The High-Performance Herd!– David and The High-Performance Herd Podcast team :) Connect with me: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quick-leadership-coaching/ Listen to The High-Performance Herd on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jjo3iCYhMkK7OSnPc19SEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-performance-herd/id1874589807Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/712017ad-55b4-427e-8c88-4942bfb5f1ad #HighPerformanceHerd #DavidQuick #LeadershipCoaching #CEOCoaching #ExecutiveLeadership #ScalingBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamPerformance #CEOBurnout #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStrategy #FounderJourney #TeamAlignment #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadershipThe High-Performance Herd is a podcast for CEOs and founders who refuse to sacrifice everything for success. Hosted by David Quick, an executive coach who's been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders, each episode features candid peer conversations with business leaders navigating the messy reality of scaling teams, building high-performing cultures, and leading without burning out.David brings a bull's perspective to leadership—focused on multiplying impact without multiplying hours, building teams that perform without constant direction, and thriving rather than just surviving. Whether you're a bottleneck CEO where everything runs through you, managing a disconnected leadership team, or working 60-70 hour weeks wondering if there's a better way, this podcast delivers practical insights from leaders who've found their path from overextended operator to empowered leader.

  5. Jun 11

    SE01 E17 Building a Billion-Dollar Luxury Brand Starts With Rejecting Product Limits | Tanya Golešić

    From a town of 4,500 people in Ontario to the CEO chair of Mackage, one of luxury fashion's most electrifying transformation stories, Tanya Golesic proves that relentless work ethic and radical brand authenticity are the only credentials that truly matter when building a billion dollar global empire.Tanya Golesic, CEO of Mackage, carried the precision of Ralph Lauren, the global sophistication of LVMH and Marc Jacobs, and the brand instincts of Jimmy Choo into one defining mission: evolve a beloved Canadian outerwear label into a global luxury lifestyle powerhouse.This conversation is a masterclass in leadership courage, brand storytelling, and the raw grit behind scaling a fashion house from the inside out.🎯 The Origin Blueprint: From Steaming Samples to the World Stage🏆 The Luxury Code: How Mackage Outgrew the Puffer Jacket Forever🌍 The Culture War: Leading Across Borders Without Losing Your Brand Soul🚀 The Billion Dollar Bench: Building the Leadership Team That Actually Scales You can get in touch with Tanya Golesic here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyagolesic/Website: https://www.mackage.com/ I hope you enjoyed this episode of The High-Performance Herd!– David and The High-Performance Herd Podcast team :) Connect with me: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quick-leadership-coaching/ Listen to The High-Performance Herd on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jjo3iCYhMkK7OSnPc19SEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-performance-herd/id1874589807Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/712017ad-55b4-427e-8c88-4942bfb5f1ad #HighPerformanceHerd #DavidQuick #LeadershipCoaching #CEOCoaching #ExecutiveLeadership #ScalingBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamPerformance #CEOBurnout #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStrategy #FounderJourney #TeamAlignment #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadershipThe High-Performance Herd is a podcast for CEOs and founders who refuse to sacrifice everything for success. Hosted by David Quick, an executive coach who's been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders, each episode features candid peer conversations with business leaders navigating the messy reality of scaling teams, building high-performing cultures, and leading without burning out.David brings a bull's perspective to leadership—focused on multiplying impact without multiplying hours, building teams that perform without constant direction, and thriving rather than just surviving. Whether you're a bottleneck CEO where everything runs through you, managing a disconnected leadership team, or working 60-70 hour weeks wondering if there's a better way, this podcast delivers practical insights from leaders who've found their path from overextended operator to empowered leader.

  6. Jun 5

    SE01 E16 Software Growth Stalls When Leaders Ignore This Critical Hiring Signal | with Justin Newell

    From learning what leadership truly means by watching his father succeed, to building a software empire across an entire continent, Justin Newell, CEO of Inform North America, is proof that extraordinary authority is not given. It is engineered, role by role, decision by decision, and market by market.📍 The Trench Blueprint for Tech LeadershipHow mastering every organizational role builds unshakeable software industry authority📍 From Brand Invisibility to Market AuthorityThe referenceable customer strategy that transformed Inform North America📍 Culture Wins. Always Wins.Why organizational culture and trust are your most powerful talent retention weapons📍 The Next Generation Leadership ContractDecoding the younger workforce and building a scalable leadership team You can get in touch with Justin Newell here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinjnewell/Website: https://www.inform-software.com/en/ I hope you enjoyed this episode of The High-Performance Herd!– David and The High-Performance Herd Podcast team :) Connect with me: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quick-leadership-coaching/ Listen to The High-Performance Herd on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jjo3iCYhMkK7OSnPc19SEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-performance-herd/id1874589807Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/712017ad-55b4-427e-8c88-4942bfb5f1ad #HighPerformanceHerd #DavidQuick #LeadershipCoaching #CEOCoaching #ExecutiveLeadership #ScalingBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamPerformance #CEOBurnout #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStrategy #FounderJourney #TeamAlignment #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadershipThe High-Performance Herd is a podcast for CEOs and founders who refuse to sacrifice everything for success. Hosted by David Quick, an executive coach who's been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders, each episode features candid peer conversations with business leaders navigating the messy reality of scaling teams, building high-performing cultures, and leading without burning out.David brings a bull's perspective to leadership—focused on multiplying impact without multiplying hours, building teams that perform without constant direction, and thriving rather than just surviving. Whether you're a bottleneck CEO where everything runs through you, managing a disconnected leadership team, or working 60-70 hour weeks wondering if there's a better way, this podcast delivers practical insights from leaders who've found their path from overextended operator to empowered leader.

  7. May 28

    SE01 E15 Strong Workplace Cultures Are Built by Leaders Who Show Up During Crisis | with John Oswald

    From a single mother's household with four kids doing laundry at age 10, to leading a defence manufacturing powerhouse trusted with bringing US troops safely to the ground 100% of the time, John Oswald, President and CEO of Mills Manufacturing, proves that real leadership is never chosen. It chooses you.What you will discover in this episode:🪖 The Reluctant Leader Blueprint: How a youth hockey captain became a defence CEO🏭 The Immigrant Workforce Advantage: Five languages, one unstoppable culture🌀 Post Hurricane Helene: 130 of 150 employees showed up. Here is why that happened📐 Strategic Clarity in Defence Manufacturing: KPIs, boards, and the ProfiCo shiftMills Manufacturing does not manufacture product.  It manufactures trust, under the highest military compliance standards, with a workforce most executives would call impossible to manage. John dismantles every conventional leadership assumption in this conversation. Connect with John Oswald here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-oswald-a32ab06/Website: https://www.millsmanufacturing.com/ I hope you enjoyed this episode of The High-Performance Herd!– David and The High-Performance Herd Podcast team :) Connect with me: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quick-leadership-coaching/ Listen to The High-Performance Herd on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jjo3iCYhMkK7OSnPc19SEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-performance-herd/id1874589807Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/712017ad-55b4-427e-8c88-4942bfb5f1ad #HighPerformanceHerd #DavidQuick #LeadershipCoaching #CEOCoaching #ExecutiveLeadership #ScalingBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamPerformance #CEOBurnout #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStrategy #FounderJourney #TeamAlignment #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadershipThe High-Performance Herd is a podcast for CEOs and founders who refuse to sacrifice everything for success. Hosted by David Quick, an executive coach who's been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders, each episode features candid peer conversations with business leaders navigating the messy reality of scaling teams, building high-performing cultures, and leading without burning out.David brings a bull's perspective to leadership—focused on multiplying impact without multiplying hours, building teams that perform without constant direction, and thriving rather than just surviving. Whether you're a bottleneck CEO where everything runs through you, managing a disconnected leadership team, or working 60-70 hour weeks wondering if there's a better way, this podcast delivers practical insights from leaders who've found their path from overextended operator to empowered leader.

About

Welcome to The High-Performance Herd, where CEOs and founders learn to multiply impact without multiplying hours. I'm David Quick—I've been in the CEO seat three times and coached over 1,500 leaders through the messy reality of scaling teams and building high-performing cultures. This podcast features peer conversations with business leaders navigating real challenges: being the bottleneck where everything runs through you, managing disconnected leadership teams, working unsustainable hours, or leading teams that need constant direction. We explore how to transition from overextended operator to empowered leader, build teams that perform without micromanagement, and create the leverage that lets you thrive instead of just survive. No guru nonsense—just honest conversations between bulls who've been in the arena. Whether you're scaling from founder-led sales to a real team, struggling with misaligned leaders, or wondering if there's a better way than working 70-hour weeks, you'll find practical frameworks and real stories from leaders who've found their path. This is The High-Performance Herd.