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Under The Surface Podcast

Under The Surface Podcast

Di: Brand Managers
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A proposito di questo titolo

Under the Surface is a podcast for CEOs, CFOs, and leaders in community-driven financial institutions and growth-oriented businesses who want honest conversations about leadership, risk, independence, and the decisions that never make it into the boardroom.

This show goes beyond surface-level strategy. Each episode explores the real tradeoffs leaders face, the pressure behind major decisions, and the unseen work required to build resilient, independent organizations in an increasingly complex market. These are the conversations leaders don’t always say out loud — but think about every day.

Hosted by Paul Zyla, Under the Surface is a guided conversation series with business owners, fractional leaders, and operators who are navigating growth, security, sustainability, and long-term readiness. If you lead an organization where clarity matters, risk is real, and decisions carry weight, this podcast is for you.Brand Managers
Economia
  • Operational Integrity in a Noisy World
    Feb 6 2026

    In this episode of Under the Surface, Paul Zyla sits down with Amber Crowley, COO of Partners in Excellence, to unpack what real leadership looks like when public narratives move faster than the truth. Together, they explore operational integrity, transparency, emotional discipline, and staying grounded in facts and values during regulatory pressure and media scrutiny.


    Amber shares how leaders can anchor their teams in reality, balance growth with stability, and guide organizations through uncertainty without creating fear. From healthcare operations to technology partnerships, this conversation is about clarity, accountability, and calm execution.

    If you’re looking to lead with confidence, protect your culture, and stay focused when external noise gets loud, this episode is for you.


    Guest Introduction:

    Amber Crowley is the Chief Operating Officer at Partners in Excellence, an autism therapy organization serving families across Minnesota and Wisconsin. With nearly two decades of healthcare leadership experience, Amber is known for her steady, transparent, and values-driven approach. She has guided organizations through growth, regulatory change, and operational complexity while keeping people and purpose at the center.


    Key Takeaways:

    • Strong leadership requires anchoring decisions in facts, not reactions.
    • Transparency works best when paired with clear boundaries and responsibility.
    • Growth seasons and survival seasons require different leadership muscles.
    • Calm, consistent communication reduces fear during uncertainty.
    • Operational integrity means protecting people, systems, and values first.
    • Great leaders know when to push forward and when to pause.


    Chapter Markers:

    0:00 Intro

    1:45 Guest Introduction: Amber Crowley and Partners in Excellence

    3:00 Mission, Growth, and Healthcare Leadership Journey

    7:20 Operational Integrity vs. Public Narrative

    12:00 Adapting Leadership in Times of Scrutiny

    16:10 From Growth Mode to Survival Mode

    21:30 Leading Teams Through Uncertainty

    26:00 Confidence, Communication, and FAQs

    31:15 Collaboration and “Friendly Competitors”

    34:45 Technology and Strategic Partnerships

    38:10 Leadership Values and Final Reflections

    42:40 Rapid-Fire Leadership Questions

    49:20 Closing Thoughts


    Keywords:

    Paul Zyla, Amber Crowley, Under the Surface podcast, healthcare leadership, operational integrity, leadership under pressure, healthcare operations, organizational transparency, crisis leadership, autism therapy leadership, compliance and regulation, leadership mindset, executive leadership, healthcare management

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    40 min
  • Turning Sales Into a Scalable Growth Engine
    Jan 23 2026

    In this episode of Under the Surface, I’m joined by Tom Hoelderle for a grounded conversation about what actually drives sustainable growth — and why sales talent alone isn’t enough.

    We dig into the realities many leaders face when growth depends too heavily on founders, tribal knowledge, or a handful of tenured salespeople. Tom breaks down why value proposition clarity is the foundation of strategy, how repeatable sales systems protect valuation, and what happens when organizations try to scale without process, discipline, or accountability.

    We also explore the tension leaders face when introducing change into established sales teams, how KPIs and compensation shape behavior, and why sales infrastructure matters long before an exit is ever on the table.

    If you’re a CEO, founder, or executive leader trying to scale revenue without burning yourself out — this episode is for you.


    Guest Introduction:

    Tom Hoelderle is a seasoned sales, marketing, and operations leader with deep experience helping organizations translate strategy into measurable results. He works closely with executive teams to build clear value propositions, repeatable sales systems, and KPIs leaders can trust — bringing discipline, alignment, and accountability to revenue engines that need to scale.


    Key Takeaways:

    A clear value proposition is the starting point for all strategy and sales execution.

    Founder-led sales limit scale and can significantly impact long-term valuation.

    Revenue growth depends on systems, frameworks, and repeatable processes — not heroics.

    Sales process adoption improves when tools add value to the salesperson, not just leadership.

    KPIs and compensation drive behavior and must align with growth goals.

    Sustainable sales engines must operate independently of individual relationships.


    Chapter Markers:

    0:00 Intro – What Under the Surface Is Really About

    0:45 Guest Introduction – Meet Tom Hoelderle

    2:30 Why Value Proposition Is the Foundation of Strategy

    5:30 The Trap of Founder-Led Sales

    8:50 Sales Systems, Process, and Scalability

    11:45 Change Management Inside Tenured Sales Teams

    15:00 CRM, Tools, and Driving Adoption

    19:30 When to Optimize vs Replace Sales Models

    22:00 Growth, Cost Discipline, and Valuation

    25:00 Sales KPIs, Compensation, and Accountability

    29:00 Private Equity, Due Diligence, and Sales Readiness

    34:00 The Role of Independent Advisors

    39:00 Closing Thoughts


    Keywords:

    Paul Zyla, Tom Hoelderle, Under the Surface Podcast, sales leadership, revenue growth, scalable sales systems, founder-led sales, value proposition strategy, sales KPIs, sales process, B2B manufacturing sales, private equity readiness, organizational change management, executive leadership podcast

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    40 min
  • AI, Risk, and Readiness
    Jan 23 2026

    In this episode of Under the Surface, I sit down with Chris Cathers — founder of Grit Meets Growth — to talk about what leaders are really facing as AI moves from curiosity to operational reality.

    We dig into how organizations are approaching AI adoption, the difference between public and private models, and why data governance, guardrails, and leadership discipline matter more than ever. Chris brings a grounded perspective shaped by his background in cybersecurity and his work with executive teams who want to move fast without creating unnecessary risk.

    We also explore organizational change, employee adoption, and why AI should be used to make people better — not replace them.

    If you’re a CEO, founder, or executive leader trying to balance innovation, security, and long-term readiness, this episode is for you.


    Guest Introduction:

    Chris Cathers is a founder, executive coach, and community builder who works with successful leaders who know there’s more possible than their current results. With a background in cybersecurity and risk management, and as the force behind Grit Meets Growth, Chris helps organizations navigate change, build resilient leadership, and adopt new technologies with clarity and discipline.


    Key Takeaways:

    AI should make your people better — not replace them.

    Leaders need guardrails, governance, and clear use cases before scaling AI.

    Data is the real risk, and data strategy must come before deployment.

    Public AI and private AI are very different — and leaders need to understand both.

    Organizational change management is critical for successful AI adoption.


    Chapter Markers:

    0:00 Intro – Welcome to Under the Surface

    1:00 Guest Introduction – Meet Chris Cathers

    2:10 Why AI Is the Conversation Leaders Can’t Ignore

    5:30 Enterprise vs Mid-Market AI Adoption

    8:00 Public AI vs Private AI

    11:30 Solving the Right Problems with AI

    15:00 Organizational Change and Employee Adoption

    18:30 Using AI to Make People Better

    22:00 AI as a General-Purpose Business Tool

    25:30 Infrastructure, Power, and the Future of AI

    28:00 Data, Security, and Governance

    31:30 Closing Thoughts


    Keywords:

    Paul Zyla, Chris Cathers, Under the Surface Podcast, AI leadership, artificial intelligence business, cybersecurity leadership, executive decision making, business risk management, data governance, AI adoption, private AI, public AI, leadership podcast, technology strategy

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    48 min
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