How do leaders drive real transformation when "the way it has always been done" feels impossible to change, and why does behavior so often lag behind technology? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with Floris Chaumat, Founder and CEO of Tradora, an AI-powered platform built to improve the vehicle ownership experience for consumers and dealerships. After becoming general manager of a $100 million dealership at 27, Floris shares why leaders must understand how a system behaves before trying to fix it, how a dealer-first distribution model lowers customer acquisition costs, and why alignment matters more than anything else when hiring. He also discusses the shift from hands-on operator to delegating founder, why AI should connect silos instead of automating each one separately, and the advice that still shapes how he leads.

Takeaways:

• Learn the system you want to disrupt thoroughly before you try to fix it.
• Hire for alignment with your vision, and be comfortable not being the smartest person in the room.
• Give leaders the context and the why behind decisions, because without clarity there is no accountability.
• Expect behavior change to be harder than technology adoption, and let a live demo prove what is possible.
• Enter through a trusted existing channel to cut customer acquisition costs while you build toward the end state.
• Use AI to connect your silos rather than automating each one on its own.
• Do not confuse motion with progress, and listen to your employees and customers so you know when to pivot.

Quote of the Show:

• "What could be right today could be wrong tomorrow, and the only way to find that out is hear your customers, hear your employees. The way you treat your employees is the way you treat your customers, so if you're not willing to take feedback from your employees, you're not taking feedback from your customers." - Floris Chaumat

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florischaumat/
• Website: https://tradora.ai/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://shiftandthrive.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501
• Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q

This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency. Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

What does it take to keep leading when the technology, the market, and your own role keep changing? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with Don Berchoff, Founder and CEO of TruWeather Solutions, a pioneer in hyperlocal weather intelligence for drones and air taxis. Don spent 24 years in the US Air Force and led science and technology initiatives at the National Weather Service before building his own company. He explains why he would rather lead technology adoption than have it done to him, how he hires for aptitude over resume, and why trusted data matters more than shiny AI. He also shares how he built a go-to-market case around a 4-to-1 return on investment for a product many buyers see as a nice-to-have.

Takeaways:

• Lead technology adoption rather than absorb it, so you shape the change instead of reacting to it.
• Hire for aptitude, passion, and the ability to learn over a perfect resume, then train people into the role.
• Lead each person differently by learning their strengths, risk tolerance, and interests.
• Check where data came from, how uncertain it is, and whether it has been altered before you build a plan on it.
• Tie your offer to a measurable return, such as a 4-to-1 ROI, so buyers see it as essential.
• Use AI to turn your expertise into executable content faster, and always review the output yourself.
• Keep going when you disrupt the status quo, as long as your conviction is backed by data.

Quote of the Show:

• "If you want to be an entrepreneur, you better make sure that you're comfortable with not having all the answers. And there's gonna be times when it's gonna get really challenging, and you're gonna have to phone a friend." - Don Berchoff

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donberchoff/
• Website: https://truweathersolutions.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501
• Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q

This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.

Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

What does it take to rebuild trust in an organization where most employees are disengaged? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with Bree Katulak, President and CFO of RenoSys and host of the Unstoppable You podcast, about leading transformation in manufacturing and industrial businesses. A CPA by training, Bree shares how quarterly town halls, fireside chats, and a constant presence on the plant floor lifted employee engagement by 800 basis points and cut turnover from 65% to 15% at Polygon. She also covers reorganizing engineering into sales after pressure-testing the plan with her YPO forum, leading with curiosity instead of alarm when KPIs dip, walking away from unprofitable customers, and setting priorities across people, go-to-market strategy, and technology in her current role.

Takeaways:

Earn employee trust by staying visible and following up on every open question within a set timeframe.

When someone pushes back on change, take it offline and ask what is driving it before deciding if they are a fit.

Test major org changes with a peer group of CEOs and ask them to challenge every angle before you announce.

When a KPI dips, ask questions from curiosity before stepping in, because early intervention can create stress across your team.

Tie incentive plans to the metrics that drive valuation so employees share in the results they help create.

Define which customers are not a fit, since every yes uses capacity you need for better ones.
Decide which strategic priorities you are pausing and make that list visible so your team stays focused on what matters now.

Quote of the Show:

• “I may have good ideas, but working together as a group can make them way better, and it'll help get the buy-in, and we'll actually move faster.” - Bree Katulak

Links:

• Bree’s Podcast: https://www.breekatulak.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bree-katulak-cpa-96b27122/
• Website: https://renosys.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501
• Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q

This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.

Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com