A conversation on startups, side hustles, and leading like a founder.

Guest: J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse and Managing Partner of Cintrifuse Capital

In this Above Center® Leadership Podcast conversation, venture fund leader and multi-startup entrepreneur J.B. Kropp shares what it takes to grow businesses—and people—from the ground up. As Managing Partner of Cintrifuse in Cincinnati, J.B. works with early-stage startups, helping founders turn passion into performance through intentional leadership, smart team building, and authentic storytelling.

J.B.’s approach is grounded in one core belief: great leaders know their superpower—and build teams that fill in the rest. From mentoring founders to managing his own team, he empowers others to lead with confidence by giving them space to learn, fail, and grow.

Key Takeaways from J.B.’s Leadership Philosophy

➡️Empowerment Over Micromanagement: J.B. believes that the best leaders remove barriers and unlock their team’s potential. By stepping back and letting others lead in their zone of genius, he builds high-performing, collaborative teams.

➡️Founders Need Support, Not Perfection: Startups are intense and lonely. J.B. encourages coaching and mentorship as a vital support structure for early-stage founders, helping them stay grounded and aligned with their vision even during tough moments.

➡️Culture Starts at the Top (and Takes Time): From creating a culture club to running all-hands meetings that model core values, J.B. reinforces that culture isn’t a slogan—it’s a leadership practice. He leads by example and gives new hires time to learn, observe, and integrate authentically.

➡️Storytelling is a Superpower: Inspired by a favorite quote from Steve Jobs—“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller”—J.B. teaches founders to craft authentic, emotionally grounded stories that build connection, drive investment, and move communities.

➡️Side Hustles Keep You Sharp: Whether it’s his pet supplement line or iced tea business, J.B. embraces side hustles as a way to stay curious, energized, and relatable to the founders he supports. He sees hands-on experimentation as key to ongoing growth.

➡️Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Start with one piece of paper. If you can write it clearly—what it is, why it matters, and who it’s for—you’re ready to share it. Then find your “smart dummies”—people who are smart enough to give real feedback and honest enough to tell you the truth.

________ABOVE CENTER® Leadership Podcast is brought to you by REVEL®, an Executive Search and Coaching firm that helps people and companies grow through the power of great leadership.

Our ABOVE CENTER® approach is about staying grounded, clear, and resilient, especially when the stakes are high. In this podcast, we feature leaders in corporate America who share how they navigate the pressures of leadership while living ABOVE CENTER®. We uncover the mindsets, strategies, and personal philosophies that drive high-performing executives to lead themselves and their teams to success. From hiring and retaining top talent to thriving in the first 90 days of a new role, these conversations go beyond leadership—they’re about building a career and a life with purpose, impact, and joy in the journey.