Claim OwnershipThe Early Edge Mentorship Podcast
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Welcome to The Early Edge–a mentorship podcast for next generation leaders. Hosts Jay Messner and Jeff Andrews have spent decades growing businesses and leading people. Now, they’re sharing the lessons, insights, and hard-earned wisdom they wish they had known in their 20s and 30s. Whether you’re just getting started in your career or stepping into your first leadership role, this podcast is here to give you an added edge.
27 Episodes
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Why is asking for help so hard sometimes? In this episode, Jay and Jeff unpack the pride, fear, and uncertainty that keep so many of us stuck trying to figure things out alone. From the days of refusing to stop for directions to real-life stories of career pressure, financial mistakes, and emotional breakdowns, they share moments that shaped how they think about this today.
You’ll hear why “getting the first word out” can be the hardest part, how passivity and lack of vision hold us back, and why asking for help is actually a sign of strength. Packed with practical advice and real vulnerability, this episode will challenge you to rethink independence and start building a support system that helps you grow faster and live healthier.
As the year winds down, Jay and Jeff walk through their personal year-end habits for reflection and planning. They discuss how to use holiday downtime intentionally—reviewing the past year, setting priorities for the next, and resetting systems that support focus and execution. From journaling and note-taking to goal setting, organization tools, and building a system that actually sticks, this episode offers practical ways to close the year strong and start the next one with direction and momentum.
A key part of effective communication is knowing your audience and making intentional choices to increase your ability to connect and influence. In this episode, Jay and Jeff break down how to prepare, listen for clues, read the room, and adapt your communication in both planned presentations and spontaneous interactions. Packed with practical advice and real stories, this episode will help you communicate with intention and increase your chances of influencing others.
In this episode, we sit down with veteran leader Tom Ujvagi, who shares five common tensions is leadership. From navigating the messy reality that “management is great… except for the people,” to the art of being friendly—but not friends—with your team, Tom offers clear, hard-earned wisdom for leading well. We dig into the importance of delivering on commitments, recognizing failure, and training your replacement. If you want practical tips for your first leadership role , this conversation delivers it.
Jay and Jeff take a candid look at failed leadership, using the recent government shutdown as a relatable example of what happens when leaders stop listening and refuse to work together. They explore why collaboration, compromise, and results-focused thinking aren’t optional—and share real stories of how peers inside businesses can uphold core principles to keep their teams aligned and moving forward.
In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff sit down with manufacturing executive John Ooms to unpack one of the most overlooked career advantages: taking on the roles no one else wants. John shares how the “less desirable” jobs early in his career actually gave him more responsibility, more visibility, and more growth than he expected. While he felt underexposed, he was ultimately overdeveloped—and those experiences built the foundation for every leadership role that followed. This episode is a masterclass in mindset, perseverance, and seeing value in every opportunity—even the ones that don’t look ideal on paper.
Some books entertain. Some books change you. In this episode, Jay and Jeff share a few of the books that had an outsized impact on their leadership, careers, and mindset. From eliminating bottlenecks with The Goal, to getting out of your own way with Leadership and Self-Deception, to building teams the right way with The Ideal Team Player, this episode is packed with practical lessons for young professionals looking for an edge. If you want to grow faster, lead better, and skip a few hard-earned mistakes—you don’t want to miss this one.
Great bosses build relationships, inspire excellence, and shape careers. In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff share stories of the best leaders they’ve worked with and break down the traits which make someone a great boss. They also offer practical steps to help you become the kind of leader people want to follow—and what to do if you’re fortunate enough to already have one. Whether you’re leading today or preparing for that next step, this conversation will help you be mindful of the traits that matter most and recognize great leadership when you see it.
We’ve all had them—the boss who makes work harder than it should be, or worse, they’re downright abusive. In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff dive into what to do when you’re dealing with a bad boss. They unpack the difference between an abusive boss and one who’s simply tough or demanding, and both share personal stories about working for difficult leaders. Together, they explore how to set guardrails for what’s acceptable, how to keep communication open, and why seeking feedback is key to building and maintaining a healthy working relationship—even when leadership isn’t perfect.
In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff revisit a big idea from a recent conversation: how to take a business idea and turn it into a real offering. Fresh from the CPAmerica conference in Napa, California—where they spoke on “future-proofing your firm”—they share insights from the event and why it confirmed that businesses are desperate for guidance in shaping their AI strategy.
This episode explores how AI strategy must be rooted in business strategy, not just technology. Jay and Jeff unpack how they’re developing this new offering, what they’re hearing from executive leaders, and why the timing for AI adoption has never been more critical.
Your career growth doesn’t happen by chance—it happens by positioning yourself with intention. In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff break down the most important steps to take including defining the role you want, adopting the right mindset, and creating dialogue with your boss that sets you up for success. Whether you’re aiming for a new role or a promotion, you’ll hear practical strategies to help you show up in the right way and take your next step forward.
Starting a new job, role, or project? The first 60 days can set the tone for your success. In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff share practical strategies to help you get off to a strong start. You’ll learn a roadmap for making a powerful impression and creating momentum. Whether you’re early in your career or stepping into a leadership role, these tips will help you start strongly and stand out.
What’s the real difference between a mentor and a sponsor? In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff welcome back former Microsoft CMO Thom Gruhler to share stories, unpack the differences, and explain why both roles matter for career growth—including how to seek out a mentor.
Even the most accomplished leaders face moments of doubt. In this episode, Thom Gruhler, former Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, joins Jay and Jeff to discuss imposter syndrome—a challenge nearly everyone experiences at some point in their career. Thom shares lessons from leading at the highest levels, why imposter syndrome feelings are so common, and the importance of opening up with your team, your boss, or a mentor to break through self-doubt and fear.
Starting out in your career comes with challenges—and sometimes those challenges are deeply personal. In this episode, Jay and Jeff sit down with Logan Campbell, a recent college graduate navigating the first few years of his career. Logan shares openly about experiencing panic attacks and how the support of his colleagues helped him work through his anxiety. He encourages listeners to keep moving forward, even in difficult moments, and also gives a peek into his busy side hustle that fuels his growth outside of work.
Have you ever received feedback that felt unclear—or just hard to hear? Or do you struggle to give feedback when it feels difficult? Join Jay and Jeff as they continue their communication series with practical advice on how to make feedback work for you, whether you’re giving it or receiving it. Through career stories, lessons learned, and proven methods, they’ll share how to give feedback that helps others—and receive it in a way that helps you grow. This critical skill can make or break relationships.
In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff are joined by Stephanie Polen, President of The Polen Group, for a thoughtful conversation on navigating conflict. Stephanie introduces a practical framework to help you better understand how both you and others tend to respond to conflict. She also shares a proven tool that leaders and teams can use to manage it more effectively. Whether you’re leading others or developing your own self-awareness, this episode offers insights to help you approach conflict with greater confidence and clarity.
Jay and Jeff welcome Madeline Westfall to discuss her creative path to starting a business. Madeline shares valuable lessons about creating your own path, surrounding yourself with the right people, and taking the first step—even when you don’t have it all figured out. Her story offers practical encouragement for anyone navigating the early stages of their career.
Join Jay and Jeff as they dive into a real-time conversation about a new business idea—an AI advisory service. This unscripted discussion offers a brief, behind-the-scenes look at how to think through launching something new. We explore key questions like: What’s the unmet need in the market? Who is the ideal customer? If you’re curious about how business ideas take shape, this episode offers practical insights into the earliest stages.
Want to level up your communication skills? In this episode of The Early Edge, we dive into practical ways to communicate more clearly and effectively. We share tips for eliminating filler words, writing better emails, and creating cleaner, more impactful PowerPoint presentations. Whether you’re speaking in meetings or sending messages, these strategies will help you communicate with greater confidence and clarity.
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