Ep. 06: Leadership, Legacy and Building Stronger Companies: Insights from Amilya Antonetti

What if the real secret to business success isn’t about being the smartest in the room—but about asking the right questions and being brave enough to say, “I don’t know”?In this unmissable episode of Codified Wisdom, host Eric Eager sits down with world-renowned human behaviorist and serial entrepreneur Amilya Antonetti, whose leadership has driven over $2 billion in business growth and impacted tens of thousands globally.Amilya shares her remarkable journey from starting her first construction business at 17 (as one of the only women in the field!) to building the iconic Greenworks brand and leading global teams of over 50,000 employees. But beyond the impressive stats, this conversation is packed with shocking insights that will make you rethink everything about leadership, technology, and what it means to create a thriving business in a rapidly changing world.Key revelations from this episode:Why most business deals die in “diligence”—and how to spot where your business might fail before it’s too late.The reason AI and technology often spark chaos in organizations—and why “people-first” is the new tech strategy.How generational shifts in the workforce are blowing up old notions of loyalty, work ethic, and what motivates employees (Hint: It’s NOT just about promotions and pensions anymore).The powerful mindset shift leaders must make to create authentic engagement, loyalty, and innovation—even if it means embracing vulnerability and surrendering control.Why the true value in the age of AI lies not in having all the answers, but in the quality of your questions—and how this changes everything about your work and your worth.Plus: Amilya opens up about the hardest leadership lesson of her career, the importance of “trading” wisely (not just succeeding), and practical tips for business owners—from startup to enterprise—who want to harness collective wisdom without losing themselves to the grind.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or simply want to crack the human code of business, this episode will challenge, inspire, and arm you with codified wisdom you won’t hear anywhere else.Episode Overview:[00:00:00] – Introduction & Amilya’s unique entrepreneurial journey[00:02:00] – Breaking barriers in construction, hospitality, and the origin of Greenworks[00:04:50] – What kills business deals? Insights from mergers & acquisitions[00:09:00] – People vs. tech in business growth: What most leaders get backward[00:11:25] – Cracking the code on generational shifts in the workplace[00:16:00] – The age of AI: Why answers are cheap, and great questions are gold[00:21:00] – Thinking vs. doing: The habit of high performers[00:25:00] – The power of intention, authenticity, and relational leadership[00:30:00] – Tactical advice for leaders of small-to-mid-sized teams[00:37:00] – The art (and fear) of surrendering control as a leader[00:43:30] – Self-care, legacy, and leading by example[00:47:50] – Amilya’s advice to her younger self—and to every aspiring leaderDon’t miss these hard-earned lessons and visionary strategies to help you (and your business) get further, faster.