Lead It Like Lasso with Marnie Stockman & Nick Coniglio

"Question everything and see it from every perspective." What happens when a high school math teacher and a computer programmer leave the corporate grind, write books inspired by Ted Lasso, and create a personal leadership app? In this episode, I talk with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio about building businesses, books, and better leaders. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie welcomes co-authors, entrepreneurs, and leadership coaches Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio. From opposite ends of the U.S.—Marnie on Maryland's Eastern Shore and Nick in Georgia—they've joined forces to write Lead It Like Lasso and The Business of You, books that blend leadership frameworks with pop culture touchstones to help people live and lead authentically . Marnie began her career as a high school math teacher before moving into administration and customer success in ed tech. Nick started as a computer programmer, eventually moving into leadership roles where he learned firsthand what ineffective and authentic leadership looked like. Their paths converged at a company where values didn't match reality, and from that misalignment came the spark to build something of their own . Together, they've built Scaled, authored award-winning books, and are now developing Blue, an app that helps young people build their personal leadership brand. They share stories of book festivals, awkward signings, and creative ways to connect with readers, like Marnie signing books as bathroom passes. They also talk about resilience in business, why storytelling is 22 times more effective than facts, and how job seekers can stand out in a sea of sameness . Outside their professional world, Marnie knits and walks like it's an Olympic sport, while Nick swears by stretching and a daily dose of Wordle. They swap stories about crabs in Maryland, golf in Georgia, and how authenticity, curiosity, and humour fuel both their partnership and their writing . Their advice to "rebels in waiting" is simple but powerful: find your people, question everything, and keep rewriting your own story. Quoteable Quotes "Leadership is life—it doesn't just happen in the boardroom." — Marnie Stockman "Question everything and see it from every perspective." — Nick Coniglio "Find your Diamond Dogs—your personal board of advisors." — Marnie Stockman "The game is reviews. That is the game." — Michael Dargie Episode Highlights Lead It Like Lasso | Why Ted Lasso became the perfect framework for leadership. The Business of You | Helping young people build a brand that stands out. Math Meets Code | How a teacher and programmer became co-authors. Misaligned Values | Leaving corporate life to build something better. Diamond Dogs | The importance of personal advisors and support networks. Leadership is Life | Why it matters in classrooms, living rooms, and boardrooms. Book Signing Stories | Bathroom passes, LA Times Book Fest, and awkward empty tables. Stretching & Knitting | Daily practices that fuel creativity and wellbeing. Job Hunting Truths | Why resumes aren't enough and storytelling matters. Advice to Rebels | Be authentic, be curious, and keep building community. Links From Episode Lead It Like Lasso ( https://www.leaditlikelasso.com/) Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/leaditlikelasso) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-it-like-lasso) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/leaditlikelasso/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/leaditlikelasso) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@leaditlikelasso) Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com