Ed Peper is the former US Vice President of GM Envolve, a General Motors business unit focused on delivering fleet solutions, products, and services for commercial customers. During his nearly 40-year GM career, he held 17 roles across sales and marketing, including leading Chevrolet as General Manager and Vice President and overseeing GM Fleet and Commercial Sales. He helped drive growth while building high-performing teams rooted in trust, accountability, and respect. Today, Ed shares his expertise in leadership, culture, and organizational success.

Great leadership is often less about having all the answers and more about how you show up for the people around you. The way leaders communicate, build trust, and handle challenges shapes the culture and success of a team. So what can leaders do to create an environment where people feel supported and motivated to do their best?

Ed Peper believes the key to building a successful team starts with trust, respect, and creating a culture where people feel valued. A seasoned automotive executive, he built high-performing teams through vulnerability, accountability, and a commitment to helping people succeed. His leadership philosophy centers on giving people ownership, recognizing contributions, and taking responsibility when challenges arise. Ed also highlights the importance of balance, personal growth, and defining success through the impact leaders have on others. These lessons offer practical guidance for leaders looking to strengthen teams and create meaningful results.

In this episode of The Human Practice, Marty Maddin sits down with Ed Peper, former US Vice President of GM Envolve, to discuss leadership, team culture, and personal growth. Ed shares insights on building trust, leading through challenges, and creating meaningful connections with people. He also explores finding purpose beyond a career and practicing what matters most in life.

Cynthia Carpenter is the former Senior Vice President of People at DigitalOcean, a cloud computing platform that provides infrastructure and services for developers and businesses. She is a seasoned business and people leader whose career spans marketing, product management, operations, and human resources. Cynthia helps organizations strengthen culture, develop leaders, and create employee experiences that drive results. She specializes in leading through change, building trust across teams, and unlocking the potential of people to create high-performing organizations.

Strong leadership is built through more than strategy and execution; it requires trust, a clear culture, and accountability that helps people do their best work. Leaders who create alignment, navigate change effectively, and understand what motivates their teams are better equipped to build organizations where people can thrive. What does it take to create that kind of leadership environment?

Cynthia Carpenter, a seasoned business and people executive, shares how leaders can build trust while creating teams that are aligned around shared goals and accountability. Drawing from her experience leading through organizational change, she explains why clarity, communication, and empathy are essential when guiding people through uncertainty. Cynthia highlights the importance of recognizing strengths, creating opportunities for growth, and helping people discover what they are capable of achieving. Her approach shows that effective leadership is about creating the conditions where individuals and teams can succeed together.

In this episode of The Human Practice, Marty Maddin chats with Cynthia Carpenter, former SVP of People at DigitalOcean, about trust, culture, and accountability in leadership. Cynthia discusses building high-performing teams, leading through organizational change, and unlocking people's potential. She also explores employee experience, recognition, and the role of communication in creating stronger organizations.