In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Anthony Estrada for a thoughtful, authentic conversation about what truly shapes a leader over time. Anthony reflects on how his leadership foundation was formed long before business ownership, rooted in watching his father serve others with humility, generosity, and consistency. That early example instilled in Anthony a people-first philosophy that continues to guide how he leads his team, supports his customers, and shows up every day.

Anthony shares one of the most challenging seasons of his career, losing a key team member while simultaneously closing a warehouse, building a new one, and rebuilding his business from the ground up. Going from a team of three to working alone forced him to dig deep, lead through uncertainty, and project confidence even when he felt internally lost. That experience reshaped how he approaches resilience, responsibility, and leadership during adversity.

Chris and Anthony also explore the personal side of leadership, including the habits and routines Anthony relies on to show up as his best self. From carving out quiet morning time to prioritizing family, Anthony explains how protecting his energy allows him to lead with clarity, steadiness, and intention.

Looking back, Anthony offers powerful advice to his younger self, ask for more help, be more vulnerable, and don’t carry everything alone. He opens up about the pressure entrepreneurs place on themselves and the importance of community, curiosity, and asking better questions earlier in the journey.

Looking ahead, Anthony shares what excites him most about the future: developing the next generation of leaders within his business. His vision centers on building something sustainable, an organization others want to be part of, grow, and eventually carry forward. His leadership focus continues to evolve from day-to-day survival to long-term legacy, investment in people, and creating opportunity beyond himself.

Chris and Anthony explore:

• How early family influence shaped a people-first leadership mindset
• Leading through loss, uncertainty, and rebuilding from scratch
• Showing strength and confidence during challenging seasons
• The importance of morning routines, energy management, and family priorities
• Why vulnerability, asking for help, and community matter in leadership
• Building future leaders and creating a business with lasting value

This episode delivers honest leadership insight, real-world lessons, and a refreshing reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about serving others, staying resilient, and continuing to grow.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Jason Romano for a grounded, insightful conversation about the experiences that shape real leadership. Jason reflects on a defining moment early in his career as a young football coach, when his head coach was battling cancer and instilled a powerful standard of “mental toughness” within the team. That season marked by loss, resilience, and unity shaped Jason’s belief that leadership is about team over individual, grit over ego, and winning together rather than seeking the spotlight.

Jason and Chris dive into some of the most challenging realities leaders face, including stepping into ownership during the uncertainty of COVID and guiding teams through constant change. Jason shares how he focuses on building confidence, trust, and mental strength in others, encouraging people to take ownership, learn from failure, and grow without fear of being graded every day. He also highlights the ongoing challenge of shifting mindsets from individual contribution to true team alignment.

Throughout the episode, Jason emphasizes the importance of process and documentation as leadership tools. From capturing institutional knowledge as experienced team members retire to creating clear, repeatable processes, he explains how structure creates clarity and stability in a growing organization. He also reflects on the value of curiosity, asking better questions, and understanding the bigger picture earlier in one’s leadership journey.

Looking ahead, Jason shares his excitement about the future, expanding the team, developing the next generation of leaders and owners, and building a long-term vision that positions the company for decades of growth. His leadership focus continues to evolve from day-to-day execution to visionary thinking, team development, and creating opportunities for others to lead.

Chris and Jason explore:

• How early coaching experiences shaped a team-first leadership mindset
• Leading through uncertainty, including stepping into ownership during COVID
• Building confidence, accountability, and mental toughness within teams
• The importance of process, documentation, and capturing institutional knowledge
• Why curiosity and asking better questions accelerates leadership growth
• Developing future leaders and building a long-term organizational vision

This episode offers practical insight, real-world leadership lessons, and a refreshing perspective for anyone navigating growth, change, and team development, especially within the manufacturers’ rep community.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Beau Jolly for a grounded, deeply personal conversation about the experiences that shape real leadership. Beau reflects on a defining, life-altering moment, being diagnosed with diabetes, and how that challenge fundamentally changed the way he approached not only his health, but discipline, mindset, and leadership. What began as a personal battle became the foundation for how he shows up every day: leadership starts with self-mastery.

Beau and Chris dive into one of the toughest challenges leaders in the rep industry face: losing a major line. Beau shares how applying the same discipline and resilience he developed through his health journey allowed him to respond with consistency instead of panic. Rather than giving up, he embraced the challenge as a refining process, a “purifying fire”, and committed to steady, daily action to rebuild and grow stronger.

Throughout the episode, Beau emphasizes the importance of structure, routine, and doing hard things daily. From preparing the night before to early morning workouts, quiet time, and faith-based reflection, he explains how creating order before the day begins allows him to lead with clarity, energy, and presence. He also underscores the responsibility leaders have to invest in themselves so they can better serve their teams, customers, and families.

Looking ahead, Beau shares his excitement around new partnerships, growth opportunities, and the chance to pour into others, not just professionally, but personally. He also discusses the importance of vision, mission, and helping team members align their personal growth with the broader purpose of the organization.

Chris and Beau explore:

• How a personal health challenge reshaped leadership mindset and discipline
• Responding to major business setbacks with consistency and resilience
• The role of daily routines, faith, and self-mastery in effective leadership
• Why doing hard things builds the capacity to lead through adversity
• The importance of vision, mission, and creating buy-in within teams
• Leading with purpose by investing in people, not just performance

This episode offers practical wisdom, raw honesty, and a powerful reminder that leadership starts from within, making it especially impactful for leaders navigating pressure, change, and growth in the manufacturers’ rep community.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.