In this episode of Leadership Matters, Ben Lampron, CEO of Gassen Company, Inc. and author of Jump Start Your Future, joins host Kaylee Thomsen to share the lessons, mentors, and turning points that shaped his leadership journey. Ben reflects on leaving Honeywell after 23 years, learning to lead through failure, building confidence through sports officiating, and creating a culture that develops the whole person. He also explores the importance of mentorship, personal goals, faith, family, and taking ownership of the direction of your career and life. If you believe strong leadership starts with self-awareness, courage, and helping others grow, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Michelle Fields, CEO and co-founder of AI Mentors, joins host Kaylee Thomsen to explore what it means to keep evolving throughout your career. Michelle shares how growing up on a farm in rural Minnesota shaped her work ethic, the lessons she learned about perfectionism and developing others, and what led her to leave corporate America and build a business in AI. She also reflects on the importance of community, trust, and embracing change as technology reshapes the way we work. If you believe growth requires curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to keep learning, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Julius Ordonez, founder and president of Benchmark Consulting, joins host Kaylee Thomsen to explore what actually creates lasting change in people. Julius shares how a difficult childhood in the Philippines shaped his drive and resilience, the wake-up call that forced him to rethink his relentless pursuit of excellence, and why he sees coaching as fundamentally different from training. He also unpacks what it means to lead with curiosity instead of answers, and why asking the right question can unlock insight that instruction never will. If you believe people grow best when they find their own answers, this episode is for you.