Leading Through Growth

In this episode of Leading Through Growth, Tony Sanders sits down with Scott Whitaker, Director of Human Resources at Ryan Fire Protection, to explore what it really takes to scale a company without losing its culture.Over the past four years, Ryan has experienced rapid growth—expanding from just under 300 employees to nearly 700. Scott shares what that growth looks like from the inside, and how intentional leadership, shared ownership, and people-first thinking have helped them preserve and strengthen their culture along the way.They dive into:Why culture can’t live in HR aloneHow leadership must scale across the organizationThe challenge of integrating cultures through acquisitionWhy growth breaks companies that aren’t intentionalAnd what leaders can do to build a culture that actually scalesIf you’re leading a growing team or organization, this conversation offers a grounded, real-world look at how culture fuels sustainable growth.

Most leaders don’t avoid empathy because they don’t care.They avoid it because they were never taught how to handle it.In this episode of Leading Through Growth, Tony sits down with Workplace Empathy Expert Liesel Mertes to unpack what empathy actually looks like in leadership—and why so many well-intentioned leaders miss the mark.In this episode, we explore:- Why empathy in leadership is about emotion, not shared experience- The common patterns executive leaders fall into (like “fixing” instead of seeing)- How your own empathy patterns show up under pressure- What to say—and what not to say—when people are struggling at work or in your personal life- Simple, practical ways to build empathy as a leadership skillThis isn’t about empathy as a soft skill. It’s about becoming more effective in how you lead people.

In this episode, Tony sits down with Michelle Baker, Chief People Officer at Forum Credit Union and co-host of the Career Dreams podcast, to explore what it really means to grow into leadership.Michelle shares the mindset shifts that shape how leaders experience the same challenges differently—why some feel energized while others feel overwhelmed—and how that perspective influences everything from decision-making to team dynamics.They also unpack the tension between speed and effectiveness, the importance of adapting your leadership to others, and why modeling behavior is one of the most overlooked responsibilities leaders carry.At the center of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea:You don’t have to fill someone else’s shoes—you have to create your own footprint.This episode is for leaders navigating growth, identity, and the responsibility that comes with both.

What got you here won’t get you there.In this conversation, Kevin Gearheart, President of Rehab Medical, reflects on what leadership must become as an organization grows—especially when the instincts that once drove success begin to create friction.Early in a company’s life, control drives performance. But as complexity increases, that same control can turn leaders into bottlenecks. What replaces it is not less leadership—but a different kind: clarity, structure, and trust.Kevin shares how his role has evolved over two decades of leadership and a decade in the president seat—leading through sustained, rapid growth while maintaining culture, talent quality, and operational discipline.This episode explores:The shift from control to clarity—and why it mattersHow leaders unintentionally become bottlenecksWhy culture at scale requires structure, not just intentionThe role of purpose in sustaining performance under pressureBalancing transparency with confidentiality as a senior leaderWhy trust accelerates executionThe hidden cost of ego in growing organizationsHow a single comment from a leader can carry unintended weight

Growth doesn’t just scale your business.It exposes you.In this episode of Leading Through Growth, Tony sits down with Marcie Anderson to explore what happens when leadership pressure reveals something deeper — ego, resistance, and identity.Marcie shares the pivotal moment when a system implementation forced her to confront her own reaction… and how that shift reshaped how she leads. From learning to operate inside “the sandbox” you’re given, to building trust that lowers fear instead of standards, this conversation reframes empathy as discipline — not softness.You’ll hear:Why purpose matters more than positionThe difference between training leaders and developing themWhy strong leaders don’t lead with policyHow ego quietly undermines growthWhy proximity still matters in a remote-first worldIf you’re scaling a team, navigating rapid change, or feeling friction between conviction and constraint, this episode will challenge how you show up when growth gets uncomfortable.Because sometimes leading through growth starts with leading yourself.

What if the most important leadership lesson starts at the register?In this episode of Leading Through Growth, Tony Sanders sits down with Demekya “Mekey” McAllen, who began her 33-year career at Walmart in an entry-level role and went on to become Chief People Officer at Girl Scouts of Central Indiana. Her story isn’t about titles. It’s about perspective.Mekey reflects on how seeing value in “small” roles shaped her leadership philosophy, why complexity increases as you grow — and how easy it is to lose sight of what matters most. She shares hard-earned insight on burnout, perfectionism, and the quiet pressure high performers place on themselves.This conversation is a reminder that growth rarely starts with knowing everything. It starts with recognizing the value of where you are, taking the next step before you feel fully ready, and trusting that leadership is built over time — often in places others overlook.If you’re early in your career, sitting in a role that feels small, or navigating a demanding season of growth, this episode offers a grounded perspective on how confidence actually begins.0:00 Favorite Girl Scout Cookies0:17 Intro0:55 I see greatness in you2:03 33 years at Walmart4:34 Walmart culture taglines6:01 The little things6:56 Growth8:16 Know your people9:25 Burnout13:04 Present over perfection16:29 Don't limit yourself

Growth changes everything—especially leadership.In this trailer episode of Leading Through Growth, host Tony Sanders shares the intent behind the podcast and what listeners can expect from future conversations.Leading Through Growth features thoughtful, executive-level discussions with leaders and operators navigating the complexity that comes with scaling organizations. Each episode explores how leadership evolves as teams grow, decisions become more consequential, and culture must stretch without breaking.This is not a tactical how-to show or a promotional podcast. It’s a reflective, peer-level conversation designed for executives who value perspective, experience, and thoughtful insight as they lead through growth.If you’re a CEO, operator, or senior leader navigating scale—and thinking carefully about how leadership, people, and culture evolve—this podcast is for you.