talentwins

Hannah Smolinski, a Certified Public Accountant, is the Founder and CEO of Clara CFO Group. This agency, operating on a virtual CFO model, is dedicated to offering small businesses financial clarity and strategies for profit maximization. Hannah's experience at one of the world's largest accounting firms led her to create this service. She wanted to make sure small businesses could benefit from top-level financial advice.

In addition to running Clara CFO Group, Hannah has a YouTube channel with over 55,000 subscribers. She shares practical finance advice and provides valuable business resources on her channel. Her goal is to help organizations understand their financial situation better and work toward commercial success.

In this episode…

In the journey of small businesses to build exceptional teams, numerous trials and tribulations emerge, but so do remarkable successes. Despite the successes achieved in hiring and team-building endeavors, what are some prevalent struggles companies may face in talent acquisition?

Navigating the talent ecosystem presents businesses with myriad challenges, from fierce competition for top talent to the intricacies of remote hiring. Drawing from experiences, business leader Hannah Smolinski underscores the significance of aligning hiring strategies with company values and culture. Values such as integrity, collaboration, and innovation guide her hiring decisions and team-building efforts. By adopting a strategic approach and remaining steadfast in their commitment to company values, businesses can surmount these obstacles and cultivate teams that propel success and foster growth.

In the latest episode of the Talent Wins podcast with Chris Mursau, Hannah Smolinski, Founder and CEO of the Clara CFO Group, shares candid insights into the challenges companies often face when acquiring talent. From financial barriers to the significance of anticipating hiring needs and asking the right interview questions, Hannah provides valuable advice for navigating the hiring landscape.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Hannah Smolinski: LinkedIn | Email
• Clara CFO Group: Website | YouTube
• EOS

Zach Wilcox is the Founder and CEO of Fide Freight, a family-owned domestic transportation company specializing in supply chain technology, logistics, and transportation solutions. In Zach’s role, he oversees all operations aspects, including sales, people development and training, and marketing. Before founding Fide Freight, Zach held project management, operations, and manufacturing roles across different companies. He has a business degree from Grand Valley State University.

In this episode…

To attract great talent, a company must have systems to discuss the candidates in-depth. 

To streamline the hiring process, Zach Wilcox advocates for implementing processes for documenting the hiring process, tracking applicants, and a system for exchanging data and information. Adopting structured and comprehensive hiring practices allows the acquisitions team to streamline quality candidates. Create interview sheets to document special notes about each candidate's qualifications and resumes, which hiring managers can upload into a tracking system. Zach affirms that Monday.com is reliable software to manage all applicants, giving all interviewers access to all interviews, notes, and scorecards.

In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau welcomes Zach Wilcox, Founder and CEO of Fide Freight, for an informational conversation about hiring and interviewing processes. Zach discusses Fide Freight, how to amass new customers, leveraging core values to attract job candidates, and hiring strategies for acquiring top talent.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Zach Wilcox on LinkedIn
• Fide Freight
• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins
• Who by Geoff Smart
• The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg and John David Mann
• Monday

Scott Clawson is the Chairman and CEO of Culligan International, an 80-year-old global brand leader in water services and solutions, serving over 140 million consumers. Under his leadership, he spearheaded the acquisition of Culligan by BDT Capital Partners for $6 billion. Scott began his career at Alcoa, and since then, he’s led The GSI Group—a $700+ million global manufacturer—and RYKO Enterprises—the largest North American vehicle wash provider—as President and CEO. Scott also served as President of Danaher, an international science and technology corporation.

In this episode…

A vacant position has negative consequences for a company, especially if it remains unfilled for an extended period. Perhaps it’s one of the reasons why organizations fill jobs hastily. So, how can hiring managers ensure they make the ideal acquisitions?

Business leader and veteran CEO Scott Clawson was introduced to the Topgrading methodology several years ago during his first tenure as an executive leader. Since then, he’s adopted the hiring process as the gold standard. Scott recommends that hiring teams mandate processes such as assessments, tandem and competency interviews, scorecards, and work history references. These procedures evaluate candidates' abilities, observe body language, verify achievements, and eliminate red flags. Additionally, if candidates advance to the next stage of the hiring process, recruiters should arrange a lunch or dinner interview to gauge an aspirant's cultural compatibility with the company. The topgrading approach aims to be a foolproof interview practice that guarantees attracting, hiring, and retaining top performers.

In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau chats with Scott Clawson, Chairman and CEO of Culligan International, about the significance of acquiring A-players, common hiring mistakes, and why it’s vital for a CEO to have a partnership with the CHRO.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Topgrading (How to Hire, Coach and Keep a Players) by Brad Smart
• Brad Smart on LinkedIn
• Scott Clawson on LinkedIn
• Culligan Water

Dr. Price Pritchett is the Founder and CEO of Pritchett, LP, a consulting firm with 40-plus years of proven expertise in merger integration, corporate culture, and change management. He’s an authoritarian on growth strategies, and his first book, After the Merger: Managing the Shockwaves, is the cardinal book on merger and acquisition integration. Upon its successful reception, Dr. Pritchett went on to pen additional 30-plus books, which have collectively sold over 14 million copies, making him one of the best-selling business authors in the world.

Pritchett, LP’s client list consists of mainly Fortune 1000 companies, including American Airlines, Honeywell, NASA, Sony, Texas Instruments, and Wells Fargo, to name a few. As a thought leader and keynote speaker, he’s addressed executive groups such as the American Medical Association, John Deere, Mattel, and General Motors.

In this episode…

Statistics reveal that 50-70% of executives fail within the first year and a half of taking on a role. In a merger environment, that percentage increases. Mergers and acquisitions are more than pristine bookkeeping and performing due diligence. It can be a politicized process chock-full of risks, and its success rate depends on leadership competency.

Dr. Price Pritchett, author of the best-seller After the Merger: Managing the Shockwaves, warns that executive leaders are at higher risk of termination during a merger. On the contrary, a merger is more likely to fail when premier talent prematurely flees for fear of losing their job. Other factors to consider are company cultures, organizational structure, and operational costs. Though these are key responsibilities placed on department heads, Dr. Pritchett cautions that an aloof CEO reflects the company’s leadership.

In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau sits with Dr. Price Pritchett, Founder and CEO of Pritchett, LP, to discuss strategies for a successful merger. Dr. Pritchett explains how premier talent plays an integral role in the success of merger integrations, why CEOs need to be more involved in the recruiting process, and M&A best practices.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Email Topgrading: info@Topgrading.com
• Dr. Price Pritchett on LinkedIn
• Pritchett, LP
• Merger Integration
• After the Merger: Managing the Shockwaves by Price Pritchett
• The Employee Guide to Mergers and Acquisitions by Price Pritchett

Brad Giles is the Founder and Managing Director of Evolution Partners, a top strategic and leadership advisory firm. As a serial entrepreneur, Brad has founded multiple fast-growth companies and supported hundreds more. He is also an author, speaker, and leadership coach with over 20 years of experience. He helps CEOs build, execute, and maintain accountability over their strategic plans.

In this episode…

Research shows that 84% of companies have an onboarding process of 14 days or less. But this hinders employees’ success since performance accelerates after 30 days of onboarding. So how can you empower top talent with the knowledge and opportunities to thrive in their roles?

Leadership expert Brad Giles advocates for a 90-day onboarding process divided into three pivotal stages. The first month should include weekly induction meetings communicating position and organizational expectations. The second phase transitions from mentoring to practical skill application to overcome the learning curve. As the new hires progress in their roles, leaders should build and nurture relationships and encourage consistent practice. This strategic system mitigates knowledge gaps and promotes productivity.

In this episode of Talent Wins, Brad Giles of Evolution Partners joins the host Chris Mursau to discuss best practices for hiring and onboarding. He explains onboarding debt, hiring strategies and tools, and the difference between onboarding, orientation, and induction. 

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Brad Giles on LinkedIn
• Made to Thrive: The Five Roles to Evolve Beyond Your Leadership Comfort Zone by Brad Giles
• Evolution Partners
• The Growth Whisperers podcast

Scott Scully is the Founder and CEO of Abstrakt Marketing Group, a B2B lead generation and business growth agency. Under his leadership, Abstrakt Marketing Group has achieved an impressive annual growth rate of 20% for the past 13 years, resulting in a current team of 550 members and a projected revenue of $78 million for the year. Over the past 30 years, Scott has started, invested in, or played a major role in several companies in the marketing and lead generation space, three of which have exceeded $12 million in annual revenue. He is also the co-host of The Grow Show, a podcast for business leaders and entrepreneurs with a growth-driven mindset.

In this episode…

Scott Scully of Abstrakt Marketing Group is proud to have a team that differentiates his company from the rest. He’s so confident in his people that Abstrakt offers guaranteed results — and clients don’t have to pay until these results are achieved. How does he develop a team of A players that take Abstrakt to the next level?

The first thing Scott does is define the traits of A players and hire based on these characteristics. Once these A players are on the team, Scott holds weekly meetings and appoints A player scores to ensure employees are on the right track. On the company side, he helps create an innovative culture that fosters employee growth, happiness, and constant development. How else does Scott attract and retain top talent?

In this episode of Talent Wins, Chris Mursau chats with Scott Scully, Founder and CEO of Abstrakt Marketing Group, about hiring and retaining a team of A players. Scott digs deep into his MAP meetings, tips for improving culture, and the value of creating opportunities for your people. He also shares advice for growth-minded CEOs who want to scale!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Scott Scully on LinkedIn 
• Abstrakt Marketing Group
• The Grow Show: Business Growth Stories from the Frontlines

Michael Douglas is the Chief People Officer at Curative, where he’s responsible for talent acquisition, leadership training, professional development, and employee engagement and retention. Curative is the healthcare staffing arm of Doximity, the largest and fastest-growing professional medical network.

Michael, a seasoned healthcare staffing and recruiting professional with over 25 years of experience in the industry, has been with the company for nearly three years, previously holding C-Suite roles at Allied Staffing Network, Medestar, and Fidelis Partners, LLC.

In this episode…

Talent pools are constantly changing, and so are their expectations for how companies attract, hire, and retain employees. How can you adapt to the changes and ensure you’re finding the perfect candidates for your company?

The pandemic made talent acquisition challenging, especially for Michael Douglas and his team at Curative. But instead of letting tough times get the best of them, the Curative team pivoted. They revamped their work environment with a new office, implemented the Topgrading system for a consistent hiring process, took to social media to discover new candidates, and improved their culture through DEI initiatives. How did the Curative team do it, and what strategies can you take from their experience? 

In this episode of Talent Wins, Chris Mursau is joined by Michael Douglas, Chief People Officer at Curative, to talk about revamping work environments and talent acquisition processes. Michael discusses the shifting landscape of the talent pool, tips to attract and retain A players, and how to strengthen your hiring methods. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Michael Douglas on LinkedIn
• Curative
• Curative on TikTok

Shamit Khemka is the Founder and CEO of SynapseIndia, a software development outsourcing company. SynapseIndia has been in business for over two decades, offering e-commerce solutions, website and mobile app development, CMS solutions, and more. Over the last 23-plus years, the company has delivered over 10,000 projects for clients such as the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), Steve Madden, IBM, 3M, and Johnson & Johnson.

Additionally, Shamit is a member of YPO and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and is a Partner at FoodCloud. Hailing from a business family, Shamit has always been passionate about launching his own company and building expertise in executive management, business ownership, and project management.

In this episode…

In today's competitive job market, finding the right employees can be a challenge. But even with a pool of applicants, how do you choose the right candidate? Are you relying on an instinct or gut feeling to hire employees? 

Shamit Khemka was in this same position, using his interview questions to try and sift through potential employees. But ever since he discovered the Topgrading system 15 years ago, Shamit and his team can hire better candidates who fit the company culture. Instead of simply hoping to hire an A player, the Topgrading system helps ensure you hire the best of the best.

In this episode of Talent Wins, Chris Mursau is joined by Shamit Khemka, Founder and CEO of SynapseIndia, to talk about how the Topgrading methodology helped him scale his company. Shamit discusses the benefits of Topgrading, including transparency, clarity, and feedback, how Topgrading has transformed over time, and his advice for building a company of A players. 

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Shamit Khemka on LinkedIn
• SynapseIndia
• Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport

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…

As organizations strive to scale and achieve growth, the ability to hire the right talent is of paramount importance. So, how do you hire the right people so that you can scale quickly? What does it take to avoid toxic work environments and attract A players?

This past year, Chris Mursau dove deep into the processes and strategies of other exceptional leaders to hear how they’re building top teams and fostering a healthy culture. From principals and partners to presidents and founders, Chris highlights their insights on talent, mistakes they’ve made along the way, and how they grew their team (and company).

In this episode of Talent Wins, host Chris Mursau is interviewed by Chad Franzen of Rise25 to reflect on the past year and pull out the most interesting podcast stories. Together, they look back on the best practices for interviewing, hiring, setting team goals, and developing strong company culture. Plus, Chris gives us a glimpse of what’s to come in the new year!  

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn 
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• Chad Franzen on LinkedIn 
• Rise25  
• “How To Build Strong Teams That Deliver Great Results in Challenging Situations with Bruce Cazenave”
• “Why the Interview is Key to Develop an Outstanding Business” with Chuck Cohen 
• “How To Build A Winning Team with Todd Bradley”
• “How To Hire Employees That Fit Your Company’s Culture with Todd Perlman”
• “Eliminating Toxic Leadership with David Macknin”

David Macknin is the Principal of ChicagoRisk, a company that helps businesses, nonprofits, and individuals identify evolving risks and emerging challenges. David is also the President of The Owens Group, Inc., an insurance and risk management company. Previously, he was an Expert Panelist for FilmUtah, the President of Alper Services LLC, and the Executive Vice President for JMB Insurance.

In this episode…

Great leaders are focused, flexible, and put the health and well-being of their team at the forefront of the company. As David Macknin points out, there are so many different ways to manage a company, but there’s one common denominator: your people. However, one experience showed David how not to be a leader — and why it’s so important to have a strong, valued team. 

Find out on this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, where Chris Mursau is joined by David Macknin, Principal at ChicagoRisk and President of The Owens Group, Inc. David talks about his journey managing the Alper Services team and making leadership changes, the mistakes he made and lessons he learned along the way, and the people that are inspiring him to become the best leader possible. 

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• Chris Mursau on LinkedIn
• Topgrading on LinkedIn
• Topgrading
• David Macknin on LinkedIn
• ChicagoRisk
• The Owens Group, Inc.
• Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t by Verne Harnish
• Craig Groeschel

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

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

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