Talent Wins

Chris Mursau is the President of Topgrading, a proven system that helps organizations build and maintain high-performing teams through hiring, development, and promotion strategies. Since 2001, Chris has been consulting and teaching organizations and individual managers how to pack their teams with A Players.

Chris has conducted over 2,500 in-depth Topgrading assessments for internal and external candidates, helped hundreds of people achieve their A potential, and trained thousands of people in the guaranteed methods for improving their success. His client list is broad and diverse, including Fortune 500 companies, small to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

In this episode…

What makes a good leader? How do you hire and retain the right people for your company? What steps can you take to strengthen your entire team? 

Over the last year, Chris Mursau has been digging deep into these questions and talking with successful leaders, from CEOs to business coaches, to get the answers. Whether you’re looking to scale by hiring new talent or focusing on growing your current team, there are many factors that can impact your success. Tune in to Chris’ must-listen interviews to learn how to lead, hire, and strengthen your team the right way. 

In this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, host Chris Mursau is interviewed by Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Co-founder of Rise25, to talk about the top lessons learned throughout the past year. Together, they go back into the podcast archives to highlight top tips on hiring practices, culture work, communication techniques, leadership models, and more! 

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Dr. Jeremy Weisz on LinkedIn 
• Rise25
• Talent Wins Podcast archives

Nick Araco is the Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of AchieveNEXT, a provider of talent development performance solutions and peer learning networks. Nick is an expert at making connections that count, and he’s used this skill over the past two decades to empower leaders and grow their organizations. 

Nick is also the host of the Level Up podcast, where he has conversations with business and industry trailblazers on how to take growth, diversity, and leadership to the next level. Before founding AchieveNEXT, Nick served in senior leadership roles at leading global law, accounting, and business advisory firms.

In this episode…

What’s the secret sauce for a successful company? How can organizations improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives? What’s the number one driver of shareholder value and performance?

According to Nick Araco, the answers lie within your people. Whether it’s your employees, clients, or peers, it’s always helpful to gain feedback and create a dialogue around the things that impact your business. That’s why Nick’s company offers executive coaching and access to peer advisory networks —  because it’s difficult to tackle the big questions and challenges alone. What other advice does Nick have for achieving next-level growth?

In this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, Chris Mursau sits down with Nick Araco, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of AchieveNEXT. Together, they discuss how Nick’s company helps others drive performance through talent acquisition, the importance of reaching out to peers and partners, and how companies can take action towards better diversity, equity, and inclusion structures. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Nick Araco on LinkedIn
• AchieveNEXT
• Level Up podcast
• Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
• Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want From Your Business by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters

Kevin Akeroyd is the CEO of PROUnlimited, a workforce management solution that leverages AI, machine learning, data visualizations, and analytics. The company is the first vendor-neutral managed services program (MSP), employing the most innovative vendor management software.   

Kevin began his career at R.R. Donnelley, eventually rising to VP of Sales and leading the company’s first software division. He later took on sales leadership roles at several marketing, technology, and e-commerce companies. Kevin would go on to become the CEO and GM of Data.com at Salesforce, the GM and SVP of the Oracle Marketing Cloud, and the CEO of Cision, a $780 million SaaS company which he eventually sold back into private equity for $2.8 billion.   

In this episode…

How can leaders embrace change and guide their teams through challenges? What goes into successfully implementing new systems and programs?

Kevin Akeroyd, who became the CEO of PROUnlimited in the midst of the pandemic, knows how to lead effectively and help a company evolve. Before making any changes as the new CEO, Kevin spent two months listening and learning from the team. Within a year, he’s been able to develop a five-year plan, foster growth, and implement innovative systems. How did he do it? By declaring his objectives, communicating clearly, investing in his ideas, and measuring success. 

In this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, Chris Mursau is joined by Kevin Akeroyd, CEO of PROUnlimited, to talk about powerful leadership techniques. Kevin shares how his company has been successful in the COVID era, the four key tactics leaders need to follow for effective innovation, and tips for improving company culture and welcoming change. Stay tuned! 

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Kevin Akeroyd on LinkedIn
• PROUnlimited

Jill Belconis is a strategic business coach and business leader who helps CEOs and other business leaders reach new heights and scale their companies through her practice, Jill Belconis Enterprises. Jill has more than 30 years of experience growing and scaling companies, developing leadership teams, and enhancing strategic planning and organizational alignment. 

Jill is the former International Chairman of the Board of the Young Presidents Organization. She speaks at professional conferences, including TEDx, where she gave the talk “Succeed Like a Man, Lead Like a Woman”. Jill is also Scaling Up Certified as a member of Scaling Up Coaches. 

In this episode…

Are you a CEO struggling to scale your company? Does your team contain top talent? How can you ensure that your new hires fit your company culture? Jill Belconis can help.

Jill is a strategic business coach with over 30 years of experience growing companies and being a successful leader. She has helped countless CEOs and business leaders with their leadership, scaling, and attracting top talent. Today, she’s here to give you some top tips for making you a better CEO.

On this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, Chris Mursau talks with strategic business coach, Jill Belconis, all about scaling companies and hiring top talent. They discuss what it takes to be a successful CEO, strategies for attracting top talent that fits your company culture, the evolution of leadership in the digital age, and much more. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Jill Belconis on LinkedIn
• Jill Belconis Enterprises
• “Succeed Like a Man, Lead Like a Woman” TEDx Talk
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni
• CAPA PRO by Table Group
• The 6 Types of Working Genius by Table Group
• Young Presidents Organization

Sean Magennis is the CEO of Capital 54, a private equity firm that focuses on investments in boutique professional service firms. Sean started his career at Dow Chemicals before running a professional services firm that focused on organizational development consulting and executive search for 14 years. His expertise includes real estate platforms, electricity infrastructure development, and financing.

Previously, Sean was the global President for both Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and YPO (once known as the Young Presidents’ Organization). He is now Chairman of two professional membership organizations, LUMINI and Collective 54. Sean also co-hosts a podcast, The Boutique, with Greg Alexander, the Chief Investment Officer at Capital 54.

In this episode…

Did you know that top players and exceptionally high performers always want to work in companies with great cultures? What is the value of building rapport with new employees from the time they are hired? Do you have strategies in place for building a top-tier team?

Sean Magennis, the CEO of Capital 54, knows the priorities that leaders need to have. Sean says that it’s paramount for CEOs to build an attractive culture in their organizations and provide employees with a quality working atmosphere. From his storied career in management, Sean understands how to develop healthy and valuable working relationships with his teams — now you can, too. 

On this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, Chris Mursau interviews Sean Magennis, the CEO of Capital 54, about his process for identifying and hiring top talent. Sean also explains how LUMINI helps with strengthening CEO-EA partnerships and talks about the benefits that come with joining a leadership community.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Capital 54
• Sean Magennis on LinkedIn
• LUMINI
• The Boutique podcast
• The Boutique: How To Start, Scale, And Sell A Professional Services Firm by Greg Alexander
• Greg Alexander on LinkedIn
• SBI
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO)
• YPO (formerly known as Young Presidents' Organization)
• Vistage 
• The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues by Patrick M. Lencioni
• Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
• Do What Matters Most: Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time by Rob and Steve Shallenberger
• Robert Ludlum's books

Michael Schweitzer is a seasoned financial services executive with extensive experience building and leading diverse teams in companies such as HSBC, UBS, and Merrill Lynch. Over the past 30 years, Michael has fortified his skill set when it comes to talent, building great teams from scratch, and inheriting developing a group into a high-performing team.

In this episode…

Finding great employees can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Entrepreneurs and recruiters alike are constantly looking for ways to make the hiring process more effective and efficient. So, wouldn’t it be nice if you had a list of potential candidates ready to go every time a role opened up? 

Michael Schweitzer actually recommends creating that list in advance — way in advance. Rather than waiting until he needs to hire someone, Michael is constantly meeting with talented individuals and planning how they could contribute to the company. He finds it’s much more effective than the old-fashioned “post-and-pray” approach of using online job boards, not just for your time, but for your team. 

On this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau talks with Michael Schweitzer, a seasoned financial services executive, who’s built and led winning teams for companies like HSBC, UBS, and Merrill Lynch. Together, they discuss how to develop an ongoing list of great candidates, the essential attributes Michael looks for in future employees, why his final interviews are three hours long, and the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation of leadership.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Michael Schweitzer on LinkedIn
• Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times by Donald T. Phillips
• Harvard Business Review
• Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Andy Bailey is the Founder, CEO, and Head Coach at Petra Coach, a coaching company dedicated to empowering leaders and their teams to scale their organizations through proven methods and habits. Andy has been building businesses since he graduated college and is also the Founder and General Manager of his vacation rental company, 30AVHP. 

Andy is a Member of the Forbes Coaches Council and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. Before starting Petra, Andy was the President at NationLink Wireless.

In this episode…

The hiring process can seem like the most tedious aspect of business ownership to some executives. However, it is often the most important — and ultimately, what will attract more A Players and top talent to your company. So, how do you assemble an industry-leading team?

Andy Bailey is the Founder, CEO, and Head Coach of Petra Coach, a coaching company dedicated to empowering leaders and their teams to scale their organizations through proven methods and habits. Andy built his first business right out of college, and now he uses his expertise to coach other fast-growth entrepreneurs and executives on building better businesses. He’s here to share his tips and tricks, and give some killer book recommendations along the way.

On this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, Chris Mursau talks with Founder, CEO, and Head Coach of Petra Coach, Andy Bailey, about what it takes to successfully scale a business. They discuss how to attract A Players through a strategic hiring process, the slow pace of success, why extensive hiring routines are worth it, and much more. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Andy Bailey on LinkedIn
• Petra Coach
• Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
• Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness by Tim Grover
• The Last Dance, TV Mini Series

Edward Logan is the CEO of Sport Clips Haircuts, a franchise dedicated to giving men the ultimate haircutting experience while having the ultimate sport experience. Edward has had many roles at Sport Clips, most recently being the VP of Operations, COO, President, and eventual CEO after his father and Founder Gordon Logan stepped down from the role. 

Edward is a Member on the Board of Advisors for Total Men’s Primary Care. Before his career at Sport Clips, he was the President of Vent Blotique and a participant of the International Franchise Association. 

Allyson Young is the Chief People Officer at Sport Clips Haircuts. She has over 25 years of experience in human resources management, leadership, and performance management. 

Before joining Sport Clips, Allyson was the HR Director at K N Management. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from HRCI.

In this episode…

Are you struggling to maintain your top talent? How can you attract A Players to your company? Why does everyone have a different idea of excellence? Edward Logan and Allyson Young can tell you.

Edward Logan is the CEO and Allyson Young is the Chief People Officer at Sport Clips, a franchise dedicated to giving men the ultimate haircutting experience while having the ultimate sport experience. Edward and Allyson are experts at keeping their employees happy and valued, even in a franchise company. They’re here to share their top tips on hiring and grabbing the best frontline talent out there.

On this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, Chris Mursau has a conversation with Edward Logan, CEO, and Allyson Young, Chief People Officer, of Sport Clips. They discuss how leadership positions alter perceptions of talent, why company culture matters, managing talent, and much more. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Edward Logan on LinkedIn
• Allyson Young on LinkedIn
• Sport Clips
• Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• Innovation Engine Podcast

Larry Borden is the Founder and CEO of Aardvark Group of Companies, which includes Aardvark Mobile Tours and Aardvark Mobile Health. Aardvark Mobile Tours is a one-stop-shop mobile tour vendor service that produces experiential marketing programs, retail activations and product launches, and of course, mobile tours. Aardvark Mobile Health was started in the middle of the pandemic and offers mobile testing clinics, vaccine sites, and healthcare units. 

Before starting Aardvark, Larry was the CEO of The Borden Agency and Vice President of Client Services at Spevco, Inc.

In this episode…

What qualities should you look for in a potential employee? How can a CEO implement core values into their workplace? What’s a mobile tour and how can you rent one?

Larry Borden has been supporting himself since the 11th grade. Through many part-time jobs and career paths, Larry found his entrepreneurial spirit and went on to found two companies. He’s confident in his executive abilities and wants you to be, too. That’s why he’s here to offer tips and tricks to hire the right people, be a better leader, and get five-star reviews on Glassdoor. 

On this exciting episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau talks with Founder and CEO of Aardvark Group of Companies, Larry Borden. With over two decades of experience in the mobile tour and design agency industries, Larry discusses his key rules to being a successful CEO, the core values he places at the forefront of his workplace, how to hire the best people, and much more. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Larry Borden on LinkedIn
• Aardvark Mobile Tours
• Aardvark Mobile Health
• HubSpot
• Tesla

Chris Mursau is the President of Topgrading, a proven system that helps organizations build and maintain high-performing teams through hiring, development, and promotion strategies. Since 2001, Chris has been consulting and teaching organizations and individual managers how to pack their teams with A-Players. 

Chris has conducted over 2,500 in-depth Topgrading assessments for internal and external candidates, helped hundreds of people achieve their A potential, and trained thousands of people in the guaranteed methods for improving their success. His client list is broad and diverse, including Fortune 500 companies, small to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

In this episode…

Research shows that when top performers align with an organization’s core values, they far outperform the team members that don’t. Chris Mursau, the President of Topgrading, knows that hiring these top performers, also known as A-Players, helps organizations improve a number of business metrics and decrease overall costs.

Join Chris Mursau, the President of Topgrading, in this episode of Talent Wins as he sits down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25 Media. Chris shares how his company helps organizations build teams of A-Players. He also discusses how top performers increase business metrics, the traits of an A-Player, and the benefits of developing teams that align with your organization’s core values. Stay tuned.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading 
• Dave Ulrich
• Dr. Jeremy Weisz on LinkedIn
• Rise25 Media

Vijay Sajja is the Founder and CEO of Evergent, a technology company that offers cloud-based revenue and customer management services for customers spanning 175 countries. He has over two decades of experience in building business and operational support systems and management and technology leadership. He is one of the top business and technology leaders in Silicon Valley. 

Before starting Evergent, Vijay was the CEO of Infotech Solutions, Inc., a technology services company that delivered customer care solutions for leading service companies. He has been a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization since 2002.

In this episode…

Are you having trouble finding top talent to hire? How can you start a company without any funding? Does the work space you’ve created affect productivity?

Vijay Sajja has firsthand experience with all these questions and more. As the Founder and CEO of Evergent, Vijay knows the strategies for hiring senior talent with ease and making sure your company is connected through culture, no matter where they are in the world. 

On this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau talks with Founder and CEO of Evergent, Vijay Sajja. Vijay shares his tips on hiring the right people, how Topgrading influenced his employee experience, what it takes to be a standout CEO, and much more. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Vijay Sajja on LinkedIn
• Evergent
• Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy 
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins 
• Beyond Entrepreneurship: Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company by James Collins
• Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley’s Bill Campbell by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle 
• Love is Free. Guac is Extra.: How Vulnerability, Empowerment, and Curiosity Built an Unstoppable Team by Monty Moran 
• Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy by Amy C. Edmondson 

Donald (Donnie) Hampton, Jr. is the Chief Executive Officer of Pace Industries, LLC, an integrated company based in Detroit. With facilities across the United States, Pace Industries provides quality die casting, manufacturing, and engineering solutions worldwide. He has more than two decades of leadership experience for reputable companies like Honeywell International, Hayes Lemmerz International, Rea Magnet Wire, and Faurecia. Before launching his executive career, Donnie graduated from Tiffin University with a degree in Accounting and entered the U.S. Navy. Later, he earned his Master’s in Business and Finance. 

In this episode…

How can CEOs impact workplace culture? What steps can you take to attract A Players to your business? How can you become the right boss for your employees? These may seem like daunting questions, but Donnie Hampton is here to answer all of them and more.

From Navy veteran to CEO, Donnie Hampton has climbed the executive ladder for over 20 years. He knows what it takes to strengthen your leadership and positively impact your company. But the journey to effective leadership hasn’t been without its challenges.

On this exciting episode of the Talent Wins podcast, host Chris Mursau talks with the CEO of Pace Industries, Donnie Hampton, about all things leadership. Donnie shares stories about his personal inspirations and mentors, how to attract and maintain A Players within your company, his values and commitments to his team, and much more. You won’t want to miss this episode of the Talent Wins podcast with special guest Donnie Hampton!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Donnie Hampton on LinkedIn
• Pace Industries
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… And Others Don’t by Jim Collins
• Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan, Charles Burck on Amazon

Fred Bentley is the President and CEO of DexKo Global, the global leader in the production and distribution of highly engineered running gear and structural solutions for the growing towable trailer industry. Since Fred has been the CEO, the company has completed 20 acquisitions, doubled in size, increased margins, and has the leading share in most of their product categories.

Before joining DexKo Global, Fred was the President and CEO of Maxion Wheels, the world's largest wheel manufacturer. During his three years with the company, revenue increased by 250%, with 90% of the top 77 leaders in the company as A-Players. Fred has also held positions at Hayes Lemmerz, Honeywell, AlliedSignal, and Frito Lay.

In this episode…

So, you've hired a top performer to fill a role in your company. But what happens when your organization experiences changes or challenges that your talent isn't on board with? Fred Bentley, the President and CEO of DexKo Global, knows that an important aspect of finding talent is choosing team members that will develop and grow with your organization.

Tune in to this episode of Talent Wins as Chris Mursau is joined by Fred Bentley, the President and CEO of DexKo Global. Fred talks about his perspective on talent and how the concept has changed throughout his career. He also addresses the challenges that come with hiring and managing talent, discusses the importance of finding talent that aligns with your organization's values, and shares his advice for leaders developing their teams.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Fred Bentley on LinkedIn
• DexKo Global
• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
• Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
• Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand