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S3 E4 - People Focused Leadership
Manage episode 407110611 series 3557869
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Mitch, Gil, and Chris welcome Mitch’s business partner and older sister, Keri Gentry, to the Whole Enchilada Table. After sharing bean burritos and some colorful conversation the team gets down to business talking about Keri’s leadership style, her competitive nature, her desire to empower her employees, and what it’s like to partner with a close family member.
Despite Mitch’s skepticism, Keri chose a bean and cheese burrito as her favorite Mexican food. He gives her a particularly hard time about this choice because Keri is not only Mitch’s 50/50 partner in Executive Scheduling Associates, but also his older sister.
Chris advises that while a bean and cheese burrito may be basic, there are lots of variations that can occur. Loads of cheese, a little salt, and bottles of Jarrito lead the group to question the proper way of dealing with the, um…metabolic effects of a bean burrito meal.
Before they get to the digestive point of no return, Mitch introduces Keri as a great example of an everyday leader. You don’t have to be a famous superstar to be an outstanding leader. Keri’s competitive drive is the topic of conversation when Mitch asks her about how it’s played into her success. Keri talks about her earlier years and why she is the way she is. She also shares how she’s used it in her role at ESA and talks about employees who outperform their leaders. In the end, she says, it’s the moments that matter.
Chris dovetails on the conversation to ask Keri how she went from being a top-notch scheduler to making sure her employees are equally successful. The ideas of employee empowerment and finding a better way become hot topics.
The team goes back to basics to talk about ESA’s start-up days, including suspect office furniture and non-traditional attire.
The conversation turns toward resolving tension, especially when you’re closely related to your business partner. Keri and Mitch both chime in with good ideas, though they admit that wet willies have been doled out a few times.
Keri and Mitch both touch on the topic of their business’ purpose (and it’s not just filling calendars) and Chris wants to know how they became so successful despite not putting the company’s needs before employees and clients.
Every business has a COVID story and Keri shares ESA’s…and how she led through the pain of temporarily cutting wages by 10%.
Finally, prompted by Chris, Keri talks about her leadership legacy and the importance she places on leaps of faith.
Links:
Jarritos
Heart of Business Hubert Joly
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CNMLDH1/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
La Cocina Economica
About Our Sponsors:
Executive Scheduling Associates employs 120 professional schedulers filling the sales calendars of 500 financial wholesalers across North America. And we now provide short-term services dispositioning event and cold contact lists. Ask us for details at esasolutions.com.
The Dayton School of Business at Asbury University offers a small-town campus with a big-impact education for future business leaders. Undergraduate studies include accounting, business administration, finance, marketing, and sports management. There’s even an online Dayton Master of Business Administration program. Learn more at asbury.edu.
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