Leadership & Relationships Episodes

About the guest: Meghan Popoleo is the President of The O’Connor Group, where she has spent the last decade helping organizations grow through strong people strategy, culture, and leadership. She came into the business from the nonprofit world, openly admits she did not start out loving HR, and has grown into a values-driven leader known for vulnerability, execution, collaboration, and people-first leadership. About the episode: In this conversation, Steve sits down with Meghan to unpack what i...

About the Guest: Betsy Cerulo is a seasoned entrepreneur, federal contractor, and accessibility advocate with over 36 years of leadership experience. She is the CEO of an organization specializing in accessibility staffing and services, supporting blind, deaf, and neurodivergent communities. Betsy is also an author, mentor, and champion for heart-centered leadership grounded in truth, accountability, and compassion. In this powerful GrowthReady conversation, Steve Mellor welcomes back Betsy Cer...

About the guest: Jen Mueller is a veteran sports broadcaster with more than 20 years on NFL and MLB sidelines, including as the longtime team reporter for the Seattle Seahawks. She’s known for her mastery of strategic communication, her ability to build trust in seconds inside high-stakes locker rooms, and her signature method of crafting powerful, specific questions that unlock honest, meaningful conversations. Through her platform Talk Sporty to Me, Jen teaches leaders, teams, and high perform...

About the Guest: Nathan Pearce is the founder and CEO of Pearce Bespoke, a rapidly growing men’s custom tailoring brand redefining what it means to “look good, feel good.” From running a t-shirt business in his early 20s to building a national franchise in custom suiting, Nathan’s journey is a masterclass in grit, vision, and learning from losses rather than fearing failure. Through his company and charity initiative For Good Measure, Nathan is proving that confidence can be custom-tailored. Ab...

Too many high-performers get stuck in overthinking. They let opportunities pass, waiting for the “perfect time.” John Donnelly knows this firsthand. From leading through the 2008 mortgage crash to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 50, John built his career and life on one principle: say yes until you have to say no. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how saying yes more often can unlock opportunities, deepen your self-awareness, and help you prepare for your own “mountain.” We’ll cover how John lea...

👤 Guest Bio: Margaret Watts Romney is a leadership communication coach, TEDx speaker coach, and author of The Speakership is Leadership. With a rich background in public speaking, neurology, and purposeful leadership, Margaret empowers individuals to find their voice, connect authentically with audiences, and lead through clarity and emotional intelligence. Her unique approach helps speakers of all levels become impactful communicators—from the TEDx stage to daily conversations. 📘 Episode Summa...

About the Guest: Dr. Chris Fuzie is an educator, leadership expert, and the President of the National Leaderology Association. With a doctorate in Education and Organizational Leadership and 30 years of experience as a police officer, Dr. Fuzie brings a rare blend of real-world leadership, academic rigor, and an innovative approach to organizational growth. His latest book, Liminal Space, challenges traditional views of leadership and followership, making him a perfect guide for today's evolvi...

About the Guest: Craig Coyle is a former Apache helicopter pilot, West Point graduate, and leadership expert. After serving in the military and transitioning to the aerospace industry, Craig saw firsthand the recurring leadership and workforce challenges organizations face. He founded Operation Lead, a company that helps businesses navigate leadership development, workforce engagement, and operational strategy. His mission is to create high-performing cultures that drive sustainable growth. Ab...

About the Guest: ED Dudley is a passionate advocate for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, with over 20 years of experience in financial services. He co-founded Shining Light In Darkness, a nonprofit supporting underserved survivors, and has served as Interim Board Chair of United Against Slavery, advancing research to address anti-trafficking challenges globally. As Board President of SwingPals, ED helps improve the lives of underprivileged children in Durham, NC. Guided by...

About the Guest: Hardy Smith is a seasoned consultant, speaker, and author specializing in nonprofit governance and board engagement. With a background in NASCAR, he brings a unique perspective on strategy, anticipation, and leadership. Hardy is the author of Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game, a book dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations overcome common board challenges and foster effective leadership. Discover more about Hardy on his website: www.hardysmith.com About the Episode: In...

About the Guest: Rich Salon is a seasoned HR expert, Career Transition Coach, author, and speaker with 25 years in corporate leadership roles at companies like The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Circuit City. Known as “Rich-the-HR-Guy,” he specializes in fostering career fulfillment, employee engagement, and trust within organizations. Rich’s dedication earned him CNN's "Hero of the Economy" award for his work at Circuit City and the nickname "chief engagement officer." As a coach, Rich has authore...

About Patrick Patrick Hardy is an internationally-recognized disaster preparedness expert dedicated to empowering people with practical strategies for navigating both major emergencies and everyday disruptions. As a keynote speaker and the author of "Design Any Disaster," Patrick shares invaluable insights and secrets of effective disaster planning, equipping individuals and organizations to build resilience in the face of uncertainty. He inspires others to turn potential crises into opportun...

About Robbie: Robbie is the President and CEO of Sigma Engineers & Constructors, a destination workplace for both employees and clients in engineering, construction, field services, inspection, and leadership solutions. While his education and career tell the story of an engineer, a large part of Robbie’s growth journey has come from playing in creative and innovative spaces as he embraces his pedigree for business and entrepreneurship. Whether through real estate ventures, investing in o...

Jesse Hernandez, founder of Depth Builder, emphasizes the importance of focusing on the human side of work as a leader. He shares his personal journey of realizing that driving results and treating people as things was not effective or fulfilling. By shifting his focus to serving and developing his team, he achieved better results and built stronger relationships. Jesse highlights the power of listening to build appreciation and trust, and the importance of asking open-ended questions to empower...

Doug Noll, an award-winning author, speaker, and trainer, shares his journey from being a trial lawyer to becoming a peacemaker and mediator. He discusses how his practice of Tai Chi and the realization of the limitations of the legal system led him to make the decision to leave his law practice and pursue a career in conflict resolution. Doug also explains the concept of affect labeling, a three-step process that involves ignoring the words, reading the emotions, and reflecting back the speaker...

In this podcast, Todd Holzman, a renowned educator, Founder & CEO of Holzman Leadership, emphasizes the importance of candor in conversations. He shares how candor became his life's work and defines it as a collaborative pursuit of truth for improvement. Holzman highlights its benefits for psychological well-being, authentic relationships, and effective leadership. He stresses the need for self-awareness and recognizing communication flaws. You can learn more about Todd at www.holzman.com Take...

Steve Mellor sits down with special guest McGee Moody in this compelling episode of Career Competitor. Discover how McGee Moody sheds light on the significance of one's perspective towards time, offering valuable insights on how it can aid in slowing down and appreciating life's moments. Explore three key themes: Perspective on Time, Non-Negotiables in Culture, and the Power of Optimism. McGee Moody, a former NCAA college swimming coach with 25 years of experience, has coached at East Carolina ...

In this episode of Career Competitor Podcast, host Steve Mellor welcomes Jon Kidwell, seasoned leadership coach and the Founder/CEO of Leadwell. Jon also has his debut book coming out titled Redefine Your Servant Leadership The conversation begins with a powerful lesson derived from a false start, emphasizing the importance of using setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement. The episode then explores the central theme of action as the key to achieving optimal influence, both personal...

Hey there, welcome to Career Competitor! We've got an absolute gem on the show today – Ellen Connelly Taaffe. If you're a budding leader or a seasoned pro looking to level up, this one's tailor-made for you. Here's what Ellen's bringing to the table: 1. Embrace the Oops: Discover how fear of messing up can actually be the push you need to overcome challenges. 2. Pivot to Power: Ellen dives into the art of taking action that fuels your growth journey. 3. Confidence Chronicles: Learn wh...

It would be understandable to assume that an entrepreneur must go alone in pursuit of success. But what if you could reveal a competitive advantage simply by connecting with others in pursuit of similar goals. I get to welcome back Way Finders founder Mike Brcic to the show to hear all about the exciting growth of the company over the past 3 years since we last spoke and dive deeper into the power of his quality-first mission of delivering value to the community he has now created. A running t...

What if you were to incorporate an intentionality behind doing good within your career so both you and those around you could all benefit? On this episode we welcome Joshua Berry, Managing Director at Econic and the author of his new book Dare To Be Naive. Joshua and Econic consult with businesses to discover and expand behaviors and practices that empower growth for them and their organizations. Within the conversation, Joshua informs us on the importance of intentionality behind doing good, ...

It would be understandable to assume that a community or tribe can only be built through giving and serving others, but our guest today is living proof that it all starts with yourself. We welcome Hayden Clark to the show who is the franchise owner of 2 IronTribe locations here in Baton Rouge and over the past 6 years has become one of the most successful locations in the United States. A tested example of the benefits that come when you demand the best of yourself in order to build something ...

Establishing the most important part of leadership is something you could discuss and argue for a long time, but knowing where to start - according to our guest today - is a much more clear cut case. Interested in High Performance Coaching or Leadership Development, reach out to Steve for your free 30-minute consultation at Steve@careercompetitor.com Tony Davis is the President of Arrowhead Leadership Inc, an authorized licensee of Crestcom International, and he leads new cohorts by emphasizing...

A Career Competitor who prioritizes human connection and delivering impact joins us on the show today. Carly Croman of Carly Croman Consulting provides insight for those pursuing personal growth or searching for an organizational solution. Interested in achieving optimal performance in your career? Reach out to Steve at Steve@careercompetitor.com today to schedule your free 30-minute consultation. In her full time role, Carly is a Program Manager and Professor at the University of Arizona but ...