In this episode of Hire Learning, Oz sits down with Chris Knight—founder of Chris Knight Coaching and a former nonprofit executive turned executive coach—to talk about building better teams, smarter hiring, and how to lead with curiosity.Chris brings 15+ years of leadership experience to the conversation and shares why mental fitness is the key to unlocking high-performance leadership. From his nonprofit days to launching his coaching practice, Chris has worked with leaders through inflection points, burnout, and everything in between.You’ll learn:

• Why the best interviews don’t feel like interviews
• The one question Chris always asks to test manager fit
• How to spot coachability early in the hiring process
• What he looks for (and avoids) when building high-growth teams
• A powerful story of a leader who turned failure into her biggest opportunityWhether you’re a founder, hiring manager, or someone building your own career with intention—this episode is filled with wisdom, heart, and practical tools.

Timestamps:

 00:00 – Intro

 01:42 – How Chris fell into coaching (and knew it was his calling)

 05:10 – Why entrepreneurship is more about the stomach than the heart

 08:04 – What “mental fitness” really means (and why leaders need it)

 11:25 – A powerful coaching turnaround story

 15:40 – The #1 reason coaching doesn’t work

 18:25 – Why executive coaching should hurt your wallet a little

 20:45 – Life in Buffalo and the startup scene there

 24:18 – Chris’ hiring philosophy: adaptability over perfection

 27:10 – The interview question every manager should ask

 30:42 – When hiring goes wrong (and how to recover with grace)

 36:55 – The case for treating hiring like a team sport

 42:30 – Chris’ favorite books + advice for his 20-year-old self

 45:00 – Buffalo vs. Boston vs. SF (and where to get the best wings)

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