Challenge to Lead: Build Stronger Teams. Scale Smarter.

You’ve built a strong business. Now your next challenge? Leading a team that can scale without you. Hosted by Beka Shea—former military officer, mechanical engineer, and executive advisor—Challenge to Lead is the weekly leadership podcast for growth-minded CEOs with 50–500 employees. Each short, tactical episode delivers a powerful idea or shift in thinking to help you build stronger leaders, create scalable systems, and reclaim your focus. No fluff. No jargon. Just the real stories and work of leading better.

7 Truths CEOs Must Know About Behavioral Analytics in Business

In this solo episode, Beka Shea shares the seven most important truths she wishes every CEO and leader knew about behavioral analytics. Drawing from over a decade of experience as both a client and consultant, Beka explains how behavioral science unlocks what motivates people, how leaders can avoid common mistakes, and why people strategy can never be delegated—it’s the CEO’s job.From understanding the science behind assessments to navigating opposites on your team, Beka outlines how to turn data into better leadership decisions. She breaks down how CEOs can use tools like Culture Index and frameworks like EOS® to align vision, people, and processes for sustainable growth.If you lead a business with 50–500 employees and want to make smarter people decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and build a team capable of scaling, this episode is packed with clear, no-nonsense insights you can apply right away.

09-11
24:51

Tiny Habits, Big Shifts: How Leaders Create Lasting Change

In this solo episode of Challenge to Lead, Beka Shea dives into the power of tiny habits and how they can transform your leadership style, team alignment, and business outcomes. Inspired by Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg and the ever-popular Atomic Habits by James Clear, Beka shares real-world examples of how CEOs unknowingly sabotage their own growth—and how small, consistent leadership habits can unlock the next level.Whether you struggle with over-controlling decisions, unclear communication, or abdicating leadership responsibility, this episode offers tangible strategies rooted in behavioral science and real client stories. You’ll learn how to identify your leadership blind spots, change your behavior through motivation, ability, and prompt, and build habits that actually stick—without adding more to your plate.If you’re a founder, executive, or team leader looking to scale your impact, this episode will help you reset your routines, reclaim your role, and lead with clarity and intention. Because in leadership, it’s not the big swings—it’s the small reps that drive the real change.

06-30
12:01

The Shadow Tone: How One Person Can Disrupt Your Culture

What happens when a leader says they’re aligned with the team—but their behavior tells a different story behind closed doors? In this solo episode of Challenge to Lead, Beka Shea explores the concept of a “shadow tone”—the subtle, often unspoken emotional undercurrent that quietly shapes your culture and erodes team alignment.Using real-life examples and behavioral analytics insights, Beka unpacks how highly social, well-intentioned people can unknowingly create confusion or dissent by verbally processing their doubts in the wrong settings. You’ll learn how to recognize this hidden influence, how to redirect it for good, and when it’s time to have the courageous conversation that every CEO dreads—but every great leader must face.This episode is a must-listen for growth-minded executives, team leaders, and anyone serious about protecting the energy and integrity of their workplace culture.

06-15
09:31

Stop Leading Like a Super-Doer

When you've built this baby from the ground up, it's incredibly hard to hand it over to the next generation of leaders. You can do it! Here are 3 practical tips.

03-12
16:41

One Bite at a Time: Tackling Big Goals in Business

In this episode, Beka Shea dives into the art of breaking down overwhelming business goals into actionable steps, using the mantra: "You can do all the things, just not all at once." Reflecting on lessons from 2024, she emphasizes the importance of learning from the past, setting realistic financial targets, and ensuring the right people are in the right seats to drive success. Whether you're a CEO scaling your company or a leader refining operations, this episode offers practical strategies to tackle challenges with clarity and confidence, one bite at a time.

01-02
15:28

Learning to Lead Leaders

The number one complaint of small to mid size business CEOs is, "I can't seem to find good leadership." The catch? You have to grow into the leader that can lead a good executive team!

12-07
04:53

Focus on Strengths

"Don’t try to fix the weaknesses. Don’t try to perfect each person. Instead do everything you can to help each person cultivate his talents. Help each person become more of who he already is.” ― Marcus Buckingham

08-09
14:55

Farther Together

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." African Proverb

07-20
15:29

Results Matter

"Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result." - Oscar Wilde

07-16
19:22

Core Values: Serve First

We all have Core Values, but the faster we can identify them and communicate them the more simple our business decisions and culture become. Let's talk about what they are, why you need them, some awesome examples, and a look behind the scenes at my #1 Core Value.

07-05
23:33

What Happens After You Leave

What steps are you taking now? To ensure that all the hard work you’re putting in doesn’t fall apart when you leave?

06-18
05:39

Failure Is Not A Roadblock To Success

The hardest part about setting big goals is getting back up when you inevitably fall down. The small mental shift can make all the difference.

06-18
04:12

Expectations For The Win

What a magical difference setting some expectations and communicating can make!

06-10
04:46

Do Less, More Consistently

Are you capable of more? Yes. Are you going to accomplish that? Maybe not. Set yourself up for success.

06-07
05:02

Nurturing the Best Relationships

If they haven’t interacted with you, move on. Save your energy for the best 10%

06-04
05:53

Words Versus LifeStyle

Why a lady in a giant truck reminded me that words are not action.

06-03
04:47

Is Your Employee Actually Good?

A quick exercise in figuring out your 1 year people strategy

05-31
07:00

Stop the Bleeding, Get to Work.

When you’re in the middle of the deep suck, here are a few lessons to pull you through

05-30
08:15

Rest Run Cycle

Getting prepared for the next surge!

05-29
04:06

3 Ingredients of Success

You’ve already proven you have what it takes to succeed, where do you need to focus to take it to the next level?

05-28
05:04

Recommend Channels