18 | Family First Doesn’t Mean Business Last: A Conversation on Family, Leadership, and Life as a Co-CEO with Jeff McAloon

Running a business with family isn’t for the faint of heart. In this episode, Jess talks with Jeff McAloon, co-CEO of The Smart Energy Company, about what it takes to lead alongside his brother. From trust and tough conversations to knowing when to lean in (and when to back off), they explore how strong relationships can power strong leadership — especially when family is part of the equation. Chapters (00:00:00) - Unlocking Your People(00:00:58) - Welcome to the Podcast(00:02:04) - In the Elevator With My Brother(00:02:48) - How a Partner Changes Their Life(00:07:18) - In the Elevator With Mark(00:08:20) - Does a Co-CEO Make the Right Decisions?(00:12:08) - The Importance of Trust in Organizational Conversations(00:12:59) - Discussing Co-CEO Culture(00:17:04) - The Culture of Scaling(00:18:27) - Having a Personality Assessment?(00:22:42) - Smartergy: The Farm Experience(00:25:45) - Where's the Passion in Your Career?(00:30:52) - What Have Been the Differences Between Being an Entrepreneur and a Corporate(00:33:46) - Jeff Bezos on the Power of Belief(00:35:28) - How to Give Bad News to a Friend(00:39:50) - How to Get Through a Unhappy Employee Talk(00:41:45) - Ask Jess Scenarios