The Leadership and Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk speaks with Jason Wells, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Advancement at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), about the challenges and opportunities shaping today's manufacturing workforce. Jason shares how IALR brings industry, education, and government together to develop skilled talent and help manufacturers adopt new technologies. The conversation explores common workforce gaps—from technical skills to communication and teamwork—the growing role of AI, and IALR's hands-on training programs, including its accelerated 16-week defense manufacturing program. Jason also explains how employers can partner with training providers, connect with trainees, and take an active role in building and retaining the skilled workforce they need. Jason's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-w-7487922/ Website: https://www.ialr.org/

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk welcomes Scott Peper, CEO of Mobilization Funding and co-author of Field Tested: Lessons on Leading, Losing, and Winning in Construction. Scott shares why he and Herb Sargent wrote the book and how its real-world stories offer practical lessons for leaders in construction and beyond. They discuss building a solid business, establishing financial foundations, leading teams, and preparing for growth. Scott also explains why core values must guide everyday behavior, how cultural misalignment can put an acquisition at risk, and how leaders can learn from others' mistakes when making decisions about hiring, pricing, finances, and expansion.

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk welcomes Akul Modi, Vice President of Estimating and Business Development at EDA Contractors, to explore a practical relationship model Akul and his team use every day: the cold–warm–hot relationship playbook. With more than 18 years of experience in construction, architecture, estimating, and business development, Akul shares how EDA turns what many consider "soft skills" into a disciplined business strategy for winning work, serving clients, and building high-performing teams. Randy and Akul break down what it really means to move a relationship from cold to warm to hot, why non-transactional relationships are critical in a small industry, and how values like humanity, humility, honesty, and "selling real" build trust over time. Akul also introduces the concept of "WNGO – When Nothing Going On" as a way to stay genuinely connected even when there's no active project, and he offers candid insight on what to do when relationships go south, how to protect your reputation, and how courage and acceptance can help repair damaged trust. In this episode, listeners will learn: The "Cold–Warm–Hot" relationship model and how it works as a business strategy. How to assess the "temperature" of a relationship (cold, warm, hot) with clients, partners, and coworkers. Why non-transactional relationships matter and how "your network is your net worth" in business development. Practical ways to move from cold to warm. What truly defines a "hot" relationship, and why it is rare. Key behaviors that build strong relationships. How to move from warm to hot. When and how to walk away from a relationship. Managing relationships that go south. Protecting your reputation in a small industry. How to repair damaged relationships. Insights into EDA Contractors' culture ("the EDA way"). Website: https://www.edacontractors.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akul-modi/

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk is joined by Jake Thompson, International keynote speaker, author, and performance coach, to explore three essentials every leader must get right: delegation, expectations, and feedback. Drawing on real-world examples from construction and field operations, Randy and Jake unpack why capable leaders struggle to let go of tasks, how "clear in my head" communication turns into "clear as mud" for the crew, and what to do when people can meet expectations but don't do it consistently. They discuss practical tools like having team members "walk me through your understanding," using Loom videos and SOPs to create clarity, and the "Well – Better – How" framework to build a habit of self-evaluation. You'll also hear how to balance positive and corrective feedback so people don't tune you out, how to encourage healthy pushback without inviting chaos, and what truly signals that someone is ready for greater responsibility—beyond just being a strong individual performer. Listeners will learn how to: Shift from being a "doer" to a leader who gets results through others Delegate in a way that develops people instead of just unloading tasks Set expectations that are reasonable, understood, and actionable Spot and grow future leaders who can elevate the performance of others Communicate expectations with clarity Improve consistency and accountability Give feedback people actually use Spot and develop future leaders This episode is especially valuable for leaders and supervisors who want to strengthen their leadership impact on Monday morning without becoming a micromanager.  Website: https://www.competeeveryday.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakethompsonspeaks/  

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk talks with Brian Gottlieb, an inspirational business leader who grew a home services company from a plastic folding table and $3,000 to more than 600 employees and nearly $1 billion in lifetime sales. Together, Randy and Brian explore how to intentionally build, grow, and sustain a high‑performance culture for competitive advantage. Brian shares practical, hard‑earned lessons on: What culture really is. The true levers of culture. When subcultures are healthy and when they become "cancerous" to the organization. Why technical fixes often fail. How to sustain culture as you scale. The power of team-based vision statements. Shifting from chaos to disciplined profitability as your business grows. Developing managers as true custodians of culture. Getting everyone on the team to think and act like owners, Practical advice for new graduates and aspiring leaders who want to stand out and get promoted Brian's website: https://briangottlieb.com/ Brian's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-gottlieb-bb66094/ Brian's book: https://briangottlieb.com/book/