In Good Companies

Driving Performance: When AI Takes The Wheel, with Bob Trotter Nov 19, 2024

Artificial Intelligence is the technology on everyone’s minds. Whether it’s using Chat GPT for content creation, or bringing in new tools to process our data differently. We have all started interacting with AI and we all stand to gain from it. Contrary to popular belief, a recent survey by McKinsey shows that AI would not threaten but create millions of new jobs. So how do we integrate this technology into our companies?

Answering this question on In Good Companies is Bob Trotter, executive partner at Gartner, and self-labeled “Fintech Evangelist.” Bob is someone who believes in the power of new tools to improve people’s lives. Over the last 25 years, he has developed his IT expertise with companies like EY or ThyssenKrupp. At Gartner, he works with CIOs and CTOs for banking and financial institutions, helping them with their strategy and tech modernization and leveraging emerging technology like artificial intelligence.

In this episode, Bob joins our host Ari Marin to discuss everything AI: from backend tasks, to product personalisation and planned integration. We find out how to use this new technology, and address the big questions that are permeating the business world. Why Artificial Intelligence? What does it mean for the future of business? And how can we start using it to our advantage, now?

Join Bob and Ari today, and get ready to hack the AI business mindset.

Highlights:

Why should we be paying attention to AI? (2:55)
How the launch of Chat GPT changed access to Artificial Intelligence (4:15)
AI’s talents: customization and authorship at scale (5:42)
Companies should define their AI “ambitions” (7:00)
The importance of identifying good data (8:20)
AI to enhance customer facing and operation services (9:54)
Addressing fears around data security (12:52)
Breaking the myth of AI replacement (14:46)
AI will change our business models (17:17)
Tips to make AI technology accessible for your teams (20:03)
What is the current legal framework around AI? (22:42)
“We are still at the beginning of a tremendous journey” (25:00)

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If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

Taking Flight: Navigating Industry Changes with Metro Aviation Nov 12, 2024

The 2020 pandemic has drastically changed the business landscape and put the medical aviation industry under the spotlight. When COVID hit, air services became an essential service to give access to healthcare across urban and rural areas alike and they have remained at the forefront of business preoccupations since.

Case in point: in 2022, NASA launched a new mission to research and gather data on advanced air mobility. If they reach their ambitions, in five years technologies like air taxis and drones will be integrated into public services.

So today, we get to the heart of the medical aviation industry, to understand where it’s been, where it’s going, and how to navigate the changes ahead. And we hear the story of Metro Aviation, the largest private air medical operator in the United States and a family business like no other.

With Todd Stanberry, Vice President and Co-owner, we dive into 40 years of business history and build a roadmap for a dense and fast-changing business landscape. We discuss strategies to hone your business expertise and keep a competitive edge, and find out how to balance business tradition with leadership development and technological integration.

Tune in with host Ari Marin and Todd today and get ready for take off.

Highlights:

The early days of Metro Aviation (3:39)
How Mike Stanberry booked his first jobs (6:51)
Metro’s launch into air medical services (8:51)
When Todd joined the family business (11:13)
Navigating a dense market – the case of medical aviation (14:38)
Specialization as a competitive edge (18:41)
Metro Aviation’s completion expertise (20:56)
How to balance traditional leadership while embracing the future (22:55)
Connecting with the talent inside your ranks (25:08)
“I don't have a crystal ball, but I can tell you what needs to change.” (27:49)
The future of aviation is electric (29:35)
Todd’s personal aspiration for years to come (31:45)

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If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

Self Taught Or By The Book? Dr. John Torrens on Business Education Oct 29, 2024

80% of the jobs that will exist in the next decade were not invented 5 years ago. So if you're a young entrepreneur, how do you know where to start? What skills do you need to get some skin in the game? The future of work will change the nature of business education, so in today’s episode, we’re hitting the books with our new guest Dr. John Torrens.

John is an award winning professor at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management. He has been teaching, mentoring and coaching entrepreneurs for 15 years. A perfect blend of business and education, John has also built two successful speech therapy practices. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Sprout Therapy Group, a multidisciplinary practice providing speech-language and specialized physical therapy for infants and children.

From his own entrepreneurial path, to the core skills that emerging leaders will need, today John takes us on a journey to build the future of entrepreneurship. Together, we answer fundamental questions like: what practices are gaining traction in MBAs across the board? Where should we look for new opportunities? And what can we expect from the next generation of founders?

Take out your notebooks and get ready for a lesson in business education with our host, Ari Marin, and John Torrens.

Highlights:

John’s background and professional journey (2:43)
Early experiences with talent recruitment (4:27)
“Every course I took, I used my business as the lab experiment.” (6:54)
Business Education: from “doing” to teaching (8:14)
A new growth mindset for entrepreneurship (9:56)
Learning from the next generation of entrepreneurs (11:28)
Current changes in cultural vision (13:52)
Enhancing well-being as a risk-mitigation strategy (16:08)
How ADHD changed John’s approach to leadership (18:03)
Encouraging entrepreneurial ideas inside your company (21:25)
“Entrepreneurship is opportunity driven, not resource constrained” (22:47)
Education through network building (24:17)

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If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

Through the Grapevine: Internal Communications For Long-Term Growth, with John Korinek Oct 22, 2024

How do you keep track of what is happening inside your company? Do you have a newsletter? Messaging channels like Slack or a go-to person for all questions? How does information reach you? If you feel lost in the maze of internal communication, you’re not alone. Research by Gallup found that 74% of employees believe they’re missing out on work news and company information.

So in this episode, we dive into the world of internal communication and find out how and why keeping our teams informed can help us reach our goals both now and for the future. Our guest John Korinek answers the big questions and shows us how streamlining communication can affirm your company values, help you retain talent and make better financial decisions.

John is the president and CEO of PartnerComm Inc., an internal communications consulting firm that has been helping organizations identify opportunities and create strategies for their employees for 30 years. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication and has worked with companies such as Cisco, Kellogg, PepsiCo, Nordstrom, Burger King, BNSF, Nestlé and many more. Decades in business have earned him a wealth of insights and business tales, which he shares with us today.

Join Ari & John in conversation to get creative with your team communication, build effective strategies and manage new cultural challenges in a rapidly changing landscape.

Highlights:

How John and his wife started PartnerComm Inc. (2:19)
The purpose of Internal Communications (4:08)
Communication as a financial decision (6:23)
Think, know, feel, do: a foundational principle (8:13)
Diversifying communication to widen your reach (10:25)
“Employees have competing messages; we've got to break through the clutter” (12:44)
Creativity and collaboration to enhance communication (14:57)
How John practices Internal Communications in his business (17:15)
Bottoms up communications to fight for talent (19:34)
Flexible work & productivity: new challenges in Cultural Communications (21:03)
“Change management starts with transparency” (24:14)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

Wired in: Shuo Chen on Technology and the Future of Business Oct 15, 2024

In Good Companies is back! And for Season 6, we’re doing a deep dive into the future of work. Because business will look different in 2050, and if we had to take an educated guess, it seems that technology is going to be a driver of change.

In 2024, 86% of organizations have maintained or raised their IT budgets. We all sense that digital tools can help us secure the future of business; we’re just not sure how to use them to our advantage. So today, we speak with a leading voice in the field of technology and entrepreneurship: Shuo Chen, Silicon Valley connoisseur, faculty professor at UC Berkeley and Stanford University, and partner at IOVC, an investment firm focused on early-stage startups that drive the future of work.

In this episode, Shuo shows us how tools like AI and Blockchain can revolutionize business. She demonstrates how technology will eliminate repetitive tasks, streamline our processes, redirect our attention to cultural human questions, and afford us more time to hone our leadership skills. Shuo shines a light on a new, diverse generation of self-starters who are taking their seat at the business table. And she breaks down how technology is changing the nature of entrepreneurship; opening up new career paths going forward.

So join Shuo Chen and our new host Ari Marin, to get into the nuts and bolts and launch your company into the future!

Highlights:

A brief history of AI & Blockchain (4:16)
Why AI & Blockchain are a powerful combination (6:44)
How technology can augment workflows and improve decision making (8:08)
Breaking down the “Human VS Technology” myth (10:00)
“80% of the jobs available in 2030 were not invented 5 years ago” (11:03)
Ways in which technology will change existing roles (12:20)
A happy middle: how to juggle automation and personalisation (14:12)
Using tech to make different leadership styles possible (15:09)
Transformations in the world of entrepreneurship (16:42)
FinTech and changes at play in venture funding (18:17)
Fractional founders: how Shuo seeded her career (19:41)
Debunking the taboo of building fractionally (21:58)
Linking together technology, diversity and inclusion (23:41)
How widespread access to information can create more fruitful discussion (25:33)
“Resistance is a healthy part of technological development” (26:38)
A final word from Shuo on the Future of Work (28:26)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

In Good Companies is Back for Season 6! Oct 01, 2024

Are you a business executive ready to take your company to the next level? Or, an entrepreneur who wants to set their sights on the future? Then stay tuned for Season 6 of In Good Companies, coming to you on October 15th!

This season, we're talking about the future of work and helping you build a career for 2030. From AI to ESG, our expert guests are back behind the microphone to cover the hottest topics in the world of business with our new host, Ari Marin.

Tune into Season 6 and get ready for the future, whatever it holds.

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Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

A Happy Place: Joy as a Business Question, with Ingrid Fetell Lee Sep 10, 2024

To conclude our Sea Suite series and help you get back to work on a high note, we’re bringing you an episode about joy. Recent research by Oxford University found that workers are 13% more productive when they’re happy. And yet, another study by BCG found that most company leaders aren’t building their strategies around how their employees feel at work. So joy? It’s a real business question.

In this episode, we are joined by designer and joy specialist Ingrid Fetell Lee, to find out how to make our workplaces, our jobs, and ourselves more joyful. A former design director for IDEO, Ingrid is a self-starter with a decade’s worth of research into the science of joy. Her findings made it into a book: Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness.

Today, she helps us answer the hard questions: how do we get to feel joyful? Our surroundings, the objects in our homes, the things and people we interact with every day… Why do they influence our emotions? And crucially: what does that mean for our companies? Together, we discuss how to make our workplaces more enjoyable and productive, and what joy means for leadership, teamwork and our business philosophy.

Join Ingrid and Ari to spread joy today and make it an integral function of your organization.

Highlights:

When Ingrid first stumbled upon Joy (2:45)
Universal joyful patterns (4:54)
The evolutionary explanation for joy (7:32)
The difference between joy and happiness (9:33)
The Aesthetics of Joy in the Workplace (10:29)
How physical space can impact our mental health (13:32)
The branded environment: “No one wants to work inside the corporate logo” (15:30)
The case of joy contagion at Coca-Cola (16:34)
Adopting a new joyful leadership (18:56)
“The biggest mistake that I've seen employers make is inconsistency” (20:56)
Undoing the corporate bias against joy (22:03)
Signs that we have changed our team for the better (23:23)
Finding joy while working remotely (25:57)
Embracing joy in the present (27:46)
Gen Z: a new philosophy of joy (29:27)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

Money Matters: Saundra Davis on Adopting Financial Wellness Sep 03, 2024

According to a 2023 poll, nearly 50% of small business owners felt stressed about their finances. So at In Good Companies, before we return to work, we want to learn more about our money feelings. Where do they come from? Are they serving us well? And how can we gain confidence in our potential, to build a healthier relationship with our finances? Our guest Saundra Davis thinks about these questions every single day.

Saundra is a Financial Planner and Coach, the Director of Financial Programmes at Golden Gate University, and the founder of Sage Financial Solutions, a non-profit offering support and education to people from all backgrounds. And in today’s episode, she joins Ari for an honest, vulnerable and insightful conversation on financial well-being.

Together, they recall how Saundra launched her career after having made every mistake possible in her first business. They spell out the link between trauma and behavior and explain why a good financial plan starts with understanding our needs and values. Working through Saundra’s “Continuum of Financial Well-being”, they also cover what professional support looks like in practice; how to avoid some typical budgetary mistakes when launching a new venture; and how to assess if you’re coping well with your current financial situation.

Join them to hit reset and align your dollars, your cents and your values with your business vision.

Highlights:

“There's no aspect of our lives that money doesn't touch” (3:01)
The impact of money feelings on business decisions (4:36)
How to recognize an unhealthy financial mindset (6:04)
Understanding the "Continuum of Financial Well-being" (8:03)
Financial wellness: a subjective question (10:37)
Typical financial challenges when launching a new venture (13:50)
Financial stress: how we can look out for each other (16:23)
Why building trust with your Financial Planner matters (18:28)
Financial support starts with your needs (21:25)
Money wellness as an investment into the future (23:12)
Saundra’s go-to resources for financial support (25:08)
“Know where you are; know you're going; build a plan to get there “ (26:39)
No Shame Zone: Saundra’s new money mindset (28:18)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or Danielle.Kernell@cadencebank.com.

Brain Power: Refreshing Our Performance Mindset & Unlocking New Potential, with Dr. Julia DiGangi Aug 27, 2024

Whether you’re building your company up through growth and innovation or by investing in your culture, being in business often means striving for performance. But is there a science to good leadership? Research in cognitive psychology shows there might be.

Our guest today is Dr. Julia DiGangi, author of Energy Rising: The Neuroscience of Leading with Emotional Power. She is a neuropsychologist who works with businesses and entrepreneurs to help them harness their power, and keep their mindset fresh. And for her, great leadership starts when we understand the human brain!

In today’s episode, Dr. DiGangi joins our new host Ari Marin to decode the clever machinery of the brain, and unlock new potential! Together, they discuss our cognitive ability to recognize patterns and our natural aversion to uncertainty; they unpack how we can reshape our behaviors to undo fear-based nervous habits; and they reveal that focusing on identity can move organizations towards better cooperation. Dr. DiGangi shares her invaluable research and wealth of knowledge on corporate leadership to help us tap into our brain power.

So tune in with Julia and Ari today, and get ready to adopt a whole new performance mindset.

Highlights:

Understanding how the brain works (3:00)
Anxiety as a reaction to uncertainty (4:37)
Cognitive strategies: why we'd rather choose physical pain (6:05)
Building leadership from the energy of emotion (8:25)
“Working” and “overworking” as different nervous responses (11:34)
Why identity is the best response to uncertainty (12:54)
The emotional math of our professional lives (15:12)
Reframing micromanagement as a fear reaction (16:45)
Recent changes in the conversation around mental health (18:34)
The impact of technology on emotional intelligence (20:28)
The creativity of leadership (22:24)
Speaking the language of emotions (24:11)
“The greatest asset that companies have today is relational intelligence” (26:23)
Staying optimistic for the future of collaboration (29:12)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Slow Burn: Understanding Chronic Stress & Overcoming Burnout, with Paula Davis Aug 20, 2024

This August, In Good Companies is back with a special series to relax, reset and dive back into business. And while summertime is an ideal season to press pause and step out of the office, for some of us, the need for a break is pressing. In 2024, 38% of US employees report having experienced burnout; a phenomenon recognized by the World Health Organisation as an occupational issue.

So how do we change our systems and habits to enhance well-being at work, and avoid burnout? When it comes to our corporate lives, what can we do to stay motivated, productive and healthy in the long term? We answer these questions with Paula Davis, a burnout recovery and well-being expert, and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute.

In this episode, our new host Ari Marin speaks with Paula about what burnout feels like and how to recognize it before it’s too late. Together, we strategize recovery and discuss how to undo stigma, and to open up conversations on mental health inside our companies. Throughout, Paula will share her experiences of triumph over chronic fatigue; proving that burnout is not the end of the road, but a fork in it.

So tune in with Paula and Ari, to start a new conversation today and find your path to stress resilience.

Highlights:

Paula’s own experience with Burnout (2:19)
How habits, values, or preconceptions contribute to Burnout (5:05)
Taking the time for recovery (7:07)
Recognizing early signs of Burnout (9:12)
An exercise to notice symptoms (13:03)
A “me” and a “we” approach to Burnout (15:27)
The “core six” drivers of chronic stress (17:12)
How to tackle motivation from generation to generation (19:55)
Strategies for recovery and prevention (22:15)
Paula’s go-to resources for education (25:45)
Breaking the stigma around Burnout (26:59)
Using flexibility for professional empowerment (29:41)
Burnout as a constructive journey (33:04)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

The Only Constant is Change: Embracing Flexibility in Leadership, with Jacob Morgan May 21, 2024

In 2024, flexibility is the word in everyone’s business.In a recent survey, the British Standards Institution asked more than 900 leaders worldwide about their priorities for their companies going forward. The results found that flexibility and well-being were the main concerns across the board. But what does flexibility mean, in practice? Is it a new way to consider our office environment, or a whole new mindset for how we lead our teams? Our guest Jacob Morgan has spent the last 13 years thinking about these questions.

Jacob is a futurist, a keynote speaker and the best-selling author of The Future of Work and The Employee Experience Advantage. He is also the host of his podcast, Great Leadership. Since leaving his corporate job 15 years ago, Jacob has contributed to countless organizations, helping them achieve better collaboration across the board. Today, he is a multi-hyphenated entrepreneur who shows leaders how to get ahead of new strategic and cultural challenges.

So for our mid-season finale, Jacob opens the way into the future of work. From productivity to talent retention, we unpack how to adopt a flexible approach to leadership and collaboration. Together, we uncover how a proactive response to our shortcomings can bring our businesses forward, and keep our teams working well together. We also discuss Jacob’s professional journey, from his early experiences with corporate culture to his latest book, Leading With Vulnerability.

Join Jacob Morgan in conversation, to embrace flexibility and find out how competence and connection pave the path to great leadership.

Highlights:

Jacob’s experience in the corporate world (3:14)
Working flexibly as a serial entrepreneur (6:23)
The changing nature of the office setup (7:49)
Flexibility as a new business mindset (9:56)
Solving the talent retention problem with mobility (11:36)
Why businesses should focus on culture (15:02)
One team, different ages, different perspectives (17:26)
Leading with vulnerability (20:07)
Competence & Connection: what vulnerability looks like in the workplace (22:00)
Embracing the limits of collaboration (24:28)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

[Fan Favorite] A Veterans' Lesson in Business Ownership, with LDR Growth Partners. May 14, 2024

According to the national census, there are 16.2 million veterans in the U. S., with over 4 million under the age of 55 years old. Many come back from deployment with a whole life ahead of them, and savings ripe for investment. So where does this new life begin? Our guests today will show you the way.

In honour of Military Appreciation Month, this week, we're bringing back a favorite episode from last season. Remember LDR Growth Partners? They're a veteran-founded, people-focused investment firm, which was built from the ground up over the last decade. Today, we speak with the men behind the success: Rich Sexton and Will Brame. Rich co-founded the firm in 2013, with two fellow veterans, after seven years of service overseas as an Airborne Ranger and an Infantry Officer. Meanwhile, Will’s background is in finance; he worked at JP Morgan for over a decade, before joining LDR as a partner in 2015.

In this episode, Rich and Will give us a lesson in business ownership. They look back on the early days of LDR and its inception in Casper, Wyoming, to reveal how they found their space in the market. With touching authenticity, they discuss their passion for family-owned businesses. They show us how they collaborate with the companies they acquire, and bring their focus on people, first and foremost. And you will hear it at every turn: military leadership continues to inform their business philosophy today.

So join Rich and Will on the front line, for a story of grit that will leave you inspired!

Highlights:

Rich’s story of grit: the origins of LDR Growth Partners (1:56)
The deal that put LDR on the map (3:37)
Finding a competitive edge between Casper and New York (5:48)
Will’s story of grit: from the trading floor to private equity (7:15)
Finding a niche with family-owned business (9:49)
Every Partner plays their part (11:36)
Why carrying a legacy is important (13:48)
Understanding who you are working with (15:05)
The untapped potential of manufacturing companies (18:08)
Military leadership as a business philosophy (20:36)
A roadmap to internal restructuring (23:28)
How to bring in new leadership (25:09)
“No plan survives first contact” (26:06)
Collaboration at the heart of LDR (28:11)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

The Art of Standing Out: Finding your Business Niche with Robert Brawner May 07, 2024

Great business often starts with a need that hasn’t been met. Whether you’re operating in an emerging field, or offering a new service within an established industry, a good niche holds unique potential for your company. Our guest Robert Brawner knows this from experience.

As an environmental consultant and the founder of One Consulting Group, Robert was carrying out health and safety assessments, digging out landfills, and removing asbestos before climate change was on everyone’s mind. He started in his field in the 1990s, when environmental regulations were not a primary concern in real estate construction and development, and built two successful environmental consulting firms in Atlanta, Georgia. Thirty years later, his field is booming and he is still at the heart of the action, with a boutique business and clientele he has intentionally nurtured.

So in this episode, Robert reveals how to identify a good business niche, and dig in! We unveil the strategies that helped him seed his company, and reflect on the forces at play within the environmental industry today. We draw lessons from Robert’s inspiring professional journey to find out how to keep business flowing even through changing partnerships and financial crashes.

Tune in with Robert Brawner for a lesson in motivation and resilience.

Highlights:

Robert Brawner’s professional background (2:31)
How to explore your niche and gather information (4:15)
Unpacking the “Blue Ocean” strategy (5:52)
Getting into Environmental Consultancy in Atlanta (7:07)
How Robert became a partner at his first firm (8:43)
Developing environmental consultancy in the commercial space (10:04)
Growing your clientele within your niche (11:56)
Switching gears before the 2008 financial crash (13:15)
“When you leave a business relationship, don’t burn bridges” (15:05)
Pivoting in the property development market after 2008 (16:45)
How the Atlanta Beltline gave One Consulting Group a new lease on life (17:34)
Property redevelopment: adapting & reusing building sites (19:50)
The effects of climate change on Robert’s practice (22:08)
Convenience, consistency, connection: the Japanese approach to client relationship (24:18)
Advantages of keeping business at a boutique scale (27:22)
“Now is a great time to grow” (30:02)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

CEO of What? An Innovative Vision for Leadership with Jay B. Sauceda May 01, 2024

Many corporate leaders share a capacity for reinvention, as proven by recent research by Deloitte. According to their 2024 CEO survey, 80% of CEOs can maintain vision and optimism, even when faced with global uncertainty. But what else makes a great CEO? In today’s episode, serial entrepreneur Jay B. Sauceda offers his own creative take on this question.

Jay B. is the founder of Western Willow LLC and host of the Texas Country Reporter. Throughout his unusual career, he has launched and sold multiple businesses, jumping at every new opportunity to develop his vision and a creative approach to leadership. Now, he is a consultant and coach who helps chief executives and entrepreneurs gain traction toward their business goals.

In today’s episode, Jay B. reflects on two decades of experience with honesty, insight and wisdom. We uncover how process documentation and feedback can help chief executives make better business decisions, and reflect on the importance of community in leadership. From building your team to assessing your needs as a leader, this episode is your-all-in-one guide to innovative leadership.

So whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an executive needing inspiration, join Jay B. in conversation, to bring your business vision to life today.

Highlights:

Jay B. Sauceda’s entrepreneurial background (3:10)
No one is CEO on day one (4:22)
The benefits of joining an entrepreneur organization (6:01)
“Every company has different CEO needs” (7:51)
A creative approach to leadership (9:46)
Knowing when to get out of the way (11:07)
Why process documentation is critical (12:39)
Examples of inspiring leadership: Patty McCord (14:40)
A good CEO stays true to their method (17:22)
Being nice vs. being kind (18:57)
Feedback as an invaluable leadership tool (21:53)
The importance of growing thicker skin (23:54)
Using feedback to make business decisions (25:43)
Trust, empathy and community in leadership (27:30)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

It Runs in the Family: Expanding Business from Generation to Generation, with E.C. Malone Corporation Apr 23, 2024

In 2023, 87% of companies in the U.S. were family-owned; across the labor market, they employ more than half of the population. So on this new episode of In Good Companies, we find out what it takes to grow your business as a family, and pass down craftsmanship from generation to generation. Who better to answer these questions than Cornell, Roman and Ryan Malone?

The Malones are a family united by their love for business. Together, Cornell and his two sons run EC Malone Corporation, also known as Malone Roofing; a company providing full roofing services, maintenance work, and wall paneling across the South.

In today’s episode, we find out how a one-man operation became a multi-state business making millions in revenue. We look back on Cornell’s early beginnings in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and learn how he passed on his vocation for roofing to Roman and Ryan. We also discuss the challenges brought by fast expansion; from process-building, to technology adaptation and company culture.

Tune in with the Malones to dive into a family’s story of success and succession.

Highlights:

Roofing: a Malone family tradition (2:50)
The early days of EC Malone Corporation (4:49)
Ryan’s first steps into the family business (07:01)
When and how Roman got on board (8:21)
New ideas from a new generation (9:50)
From the tar to the sales side (11:20)
Technology and innovation at EC Malone today (12:32)
When change strikes fast: hurricanes Ivan and Katrina (14:00)
The importance of growing your processes (15:25)
How to expand your business culture (17:24)
Enhancing client communication (19:32)
Making roofing aspirational (21:49)
The future of Malone Roofing (23:59)
Growth happens at every stage (27:20)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Nobody Panic: Dos & Don’ts of Crisis Management, with Sydney Isaacs Apr 16, 2024

In our world, it's not a question of if but when a crisis will strike. In 2023, 96% of businesses experienced emergencies, but only one in five companies were prepared to take action. So in today’s episode, we’re learning to expect the unexpected with the help of our guest: Sydney Isaacs.

Sydney is a Managing Director for H/Advisors Abernathy, a communications advisor with one of the leading crisis management firms in the U.S. Far beyond PR strategy, Sydney has spent the last two decades handling and preventing crises like workplace misconduct, product recalls, cybersecurity attacks and physical disasters.

So today, Sydney helps us come up with action plans to handle many business crises. Together, we learn how to build efficient teams of first responders, spot crises before they occur and prioritize the right course of action to fix imminent issues. We also unpack how trust, emotion and communication influence crisis prevention and recovery.

So keep calm and tune into this week’s episode. With Patrick and Sydney, you’ll learn to weather every storm.

Highlights:

What is a crisis? (3:09)
A flexible approach to crisis management (5:14)
Why actions speak louder than words (8:11)
Fight or flight: handling human emotions in a crisis (10:00)
Differentiating transparency, honesty and forthrightness (11:49)
“In a crisis, we want to be boring” (13:17)
When trust interacts with crisis management (14:35)
People believe in what they see (16:09)
How to assemble a crisis management plan (18:53)
The importance of proof-testing your plan (21:37)
Qualities of a first responder (23:13)
Crisis management and social media (26:54)
Building reputation as crisis prevention (29:12)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Fraud is Everyone’s Business: Cassi Chandler on Corporate Security and Intelligence Apr 09, 2024

Welcome back to In Good Companies! This season, we’re connecting you with the hottest trends in business. So we start with a big question: in a fast digital world, how can we keep our companies safe and secure? In 2023, 40% of all US organizations experienced security violations; so what can we do to catch fraud at the door? Our guest Cassi Chandler has her idea.

Cassi has been in criminal intelligence for nearly four decades. She spent 24 years in the FBI, working white collar crime, financial crime, and government fraud. She was also the first African American woman to hold an Assistant Director role in the agency. After she retired from the FBI, she joined Bank of America, to design innovative security strategies, and identify cyber and fraud risks. Now, she is the founder and CEO of Vigeo Alliances, a company that advises businesses on leadership and talent risk management. So who better to help us tackle fraud prevention?

Today, Cassi discusses the latest cyber criminality and fraud trends, to help us join the dots, and spot the risks at play inside our companies. From monitoring the information flowing in our systems, to communicating inside and outside our teams, and becoming technologically-minded… Cassi shares the “intelligence mindset” that can keep us all safe and sound.

Join Patrick and Cassi today to get ahead of the digital security game. And remember: fraud is everyone’s business.

Highlights:

Identifying different types of fraud (2:53)
Why technology makes your business fragile (4:15)
First steps to fraud prevention: team communication (5:40)
Paying attention to what’s coming in (6:35)
How other organizations handle your information (7:41)
When data is no longer in our control (8:50)
Practical ways to make our digital space more secure (10:05)
Defining the intelligence mindset (11:35)
Technology development through Star Trek (13:31)
Thinking like a fraudster: “looking for the possibilities” (15:01)
Building an intelligence into corporate culture (16:00)
Tackling fraud prevention at the industry level (17:12)
Why regulating and reporting fraud matters (18:45)
Culture is the first risk (20:39)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

[Fan Favorite] Turning the Tables: Diversity in Board Governance with Anna Catalano Apr 02, 2024

In Good Companies is springing back into action! Season 5 is out next week, and to warm up, we’re bringing back a favorite guest from seasons past: the fantastic Anna Catalano. Her episode is a lesson in ambition and professional development.

Over the last 20 years, Anna has perfected the art of board governance and sat on a dozen public boards. Fortune magazine named her one of the most powerful women in international business, which is no understatement. In 2023, women held only 28% of board seats in the Russell 3000. And yet, Anna has become a prominent voice in corporate leadership, advocating for diversity and board refreshment.

So today, we ask her: how can companies make efforts to diversify their leadership? How can established directors lift up people who haven’t always had their seat at the table? What is the benefit of seeing more diversity in the boardroom?

Together, we weigh up the challenges awaiting women in business, and think about how boards can make space for new talents. Looking back on her career, Anna will revisit her most formative experiences; from unconscious bias, to bold career turns, her story is as inspiring as it is insightful.

Push the doors of the boardroom open with Patrick and Anna… And you will find that change is underway.

Highlights:

What a board of directors does (2:38)
Improving diversity around the table (4:13)
How directors are recruited (5:49)
Reconciling diversity and meritocracy (8:09)
Handling unconscious bias (10:08)
The importance of interrogating assumptions (12:29)
How board directors lift up new talents (14:23)
Thoughts on board refreshments (16:02)
How to get board-ready (18:39)
Seizing new learning opportunities (22:23)
Getting out of your comfort zone (24:08)
Diversity to revisit the way things are done (26:21)
What good leadership means to Anna (27:27)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

In Good Companies is Back for Season 5! Feb 29, 2024

We've only been gone for a few weeks, but at Cadence Bank, we miss our weekly dose of In Good Companies.

But! We’ve got some exciting news. We will soon return for our fifth season. So mark your calendars: fresh new episodes of In Good Companies are coming to your feed in March 2024.

We have lined up some amazing guests to dive into top business topics like: digital security, crisis management, leadership trends, and remapping our workplaces… Together, we’ll unlock success, one episode at a time.

So, ready to get back into the world of In Good Companies? Then subscribe to never miss an episode.

In the Driver’s Seat: Your All-in-One Guide to Business Leadership Jan 12, 2024

Happy New Year! 2024 is here, and, as is our tradition, our team celebrates bringing good companies forward. So to close season four, we welcome back some well-loved guests to talk about one of our favorite topics: how to lead with integrity. Consider this your all-in-one guide to business leadership.

This episode features a variety of short clips where our guests share their depth of experience to help you learn how to communicate better, take challenges in stride and land on winning strategies. We will see that effective leadership is bolstered by a human approach and that it always starts with vulnerability and collaboration. And of course, you will hear from leaders who did everything wrong, before finding their way.

Get ready to get inspired, with our fantastic guests: Mohammad Anwar, the loving CEO of Softway; Anna Catalano, an impressive advisor and board director with 40 years of experience in corporate leadership; Dr. Marcus Collins, a powerful speaker and expert in culture and marketing; the wise and inspiring Craig Flowers, an Army veteran and the founder of Sideline Leadership; and born-to lead, former Super Bowl champion, Keith Jackson Sr. To hear more from them, find their individual episodes linked below.

Let’s wrap up season 4 together, and be ready to lead our companies into the new year!

Highlights:

How Craig Flowers earned his stripes as a leader (1:54)
Craig’s definition of leadership (3:39)
Mohammad Anwar: from bad boss, to loving CEO (5:48)
The leadership strategy that changed the game (8:57)
Love as a plan of action (11:12)
The Holmgren way: Keith Jackson Sr. on coaching and teamwork (13:43)
Finding mentors at every stage of your career (15:40)
The art of communication, with Dr Marcus Collins (19:22)
When leading with empathy takes practice (21:24)
Diversity and decision making, with Anna Catalano (23:36)
The importance of board refreshment (26:09)

Links:

Past Episodes:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

[Fan Favorite] Sourcing Talents for Leadership, with Jennifer McNorton Jan 02, 2024

New year, new you, same great podcast. We are back this week with another fan-favorite episode, which is our way of wrapping up the holidays and starting the new year on a high note!

This week, meet (again) Jennifer McNorton, senior director of talent attraction at Indeed, one of the most popular job sites in the world. Jenn is in charge of sourcing and recruiting for leadership positions at Indeed. But she doesn’t just manage hiring at a top tech company. From her vantage point, she sees talent acquisition trends across the economy.

So in this episode, we explore the macro view of talent acquisition: how the workforce has evolved and why companies are competing for talent like never before. Hear how you can differentiate your business and offer what jobseekers value most.

Highlights:

What is “talent attraction”? (1:37)
The three key hiring battles (2:18)
The biggest misconception about talent attraction (4:08)
The value of proactive differentiation (6:05)
How small & medium businesses can compete with fewer resources (9:06)
The benefits and perks that jobseekers value most (10:47)
These trends are here to stay (13:43)
Patrick summary (15:05)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

[Fan Favorite] Strategic Partnerships and the Art of the Deal, with George & Joshua Robertson Dec 26, 2023

We wish you a very happy holiday season!

Join us in revisiting a much loved episode from season three. It’s our gift to you to say thank you for being part of our In Good Companies community.

This fan favorite episode asks: Are you thinking about selling a business? Or buying into a venture in the new year? Then you know that when it comes to dealing with the deal, both stakes and emotions are high. So, to help you navigate the opportunities ahead, we dive into the human element of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). What’s it like to sell your business? How do you manage change? What can you do to build trust?

To answer these questions, we speak with two people who have experienced the whole spectrum of M&A transactions. The father and son team George & Joshua Robertson run GrowCo Capital, an investment firm based in Fort Worth, Texas. But before they were in venture capital, they ran their own businesses, including National HME. Hear the story of how George and Josh navigated the strategic partnership and eventual sale of their family business and the lessons they now bring to the buy-side. We’ll explore how to manage your emotions, communicate with employees and set a clear vision so that everyone can win.

Grab some hot cocoa and join us for a season three greatest hit to learn how to “Deal with the Deal.”

Highlights:

The Robertsons’ family background (2:05)
Planting the seeds for National HME (4:40)
National HME: the early years (7:43)
Why the Robertsons went looking for strategic partners (8:54)
How they chose partners (10:02)
Managing emotions (12:06)
How George and Josh adapted to new partners (14:22)
The golden nugget (16:41)
Communicating with employees (18:03)
Saying goodbye to the company you’ve built (19:23)
Having values at your core (21:47)
George and Josh on the buy-side (22:53)
Using what they’ve learned (23:57)
Channeling emotion towards a goal (26:13)
MasVida Health and the future for the Robertsons (28:17)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Broad River Retail: An Overnight Success, 20 Years in the Making Dec 19, 2023

As a company, how long does it take to make it? The U.S. Bureau of Labor reports that 20% of companies go bust in their first two years. What’s more, only one-fifth make it past their 15th anniversary. But on In Good Companies, we’re hopeful. That’s why in this episode, we talk to Charlie Malouf, a leader who has seen it all, and came out the other end crowned with success.

Charlie is the president and CEO of Broad River Retail, a home furnishings retailer and licensee of Ashley Stores. Over the past two decades, what was once a three-store licensee has become a fast-growing top 100 retailer, with 31 locations and more than 800 employees. As for Charlie, his innovative vision and his impact on the local community have made him one of Charlotte, North Carolina’s Most Admired CEOs.

In this episode, Charlie shows us that in business, trials and tribulations can still lead to a perfect moment. Together, we talk about taking strategic leaps of faith, reframing failure as a data point and using creative reinvention to your advantage. We unpack how a focus on human capital can carry your company through the toughest times, and you will see that with a powerful vision, you can break new ground and create abundance for everyone.

So tune in with Patrick and Charlie, to hear the tale of an overnight success, twenty years in the making.

Highlights:

● Introducing Broad River Retail (2:21)
● When Charlie joined Broad River: the story of a leap of faith (34:39)
● Risk-taking as an opportunity to learn (5:54)
● When a business breaks all of its bones (7:23)
● Creative Destruction 101 (9:11)
● Reframing failure as a data point (11:13)
● From “Human Resources” to “Human Capital” (13:01)
● Changing the rules of the retail industry (15:09)
● Restructuring during Covid-19 (17:00)
● Coming out of the pandemic with positive momentum (20:51)
● How Broad River Retail is doing today (22:37)
● A podcast in a podcast - introducing Stories from the River (25:14)
● The importance of sharing abundance with your community (28:40)
● Charlie’s proudest achievements (30:39)

Links:

● Cadence Bank Website
● Cadence Bank Twitter
● Cadence Bank LinkedIn
● Charlie Malouf LinkedIn
● Charlie Malouf Twitter
● Broad River Retail Website
● Broad River Retail LinkedIn
● Broad River Retail Podcast - "Stories from the River"
● Statistics - “Why Young Businesses Fail”
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Turning Data into Gold: Mining the Power of Data Intelligence, with Clarity Innovations Dec 13, 2023

Information brings us food for thought. It grounds a lot of our discussions, and perhaps, most importantly, it gives our work direction and purpose. This is why on this podcast, we bring you expert guests and start every episode with a little bit of data! A recent survey by Deloitte finds that 83% of business leaders believe leveraging human data can reap benefits for both their organization and their workers. But only 19% feel equipped to start this work. So how do you bridge that gap? We find out, with Mike Lanciano and James Chapman, engineering executives from Clarity Innovations.

Clarity Innovations is a firm that connects people with accessible digital services and cutting-edge data solutions. From government to commercial organizations, they have helped clients tap into the power of data. In today’s episode, Mike and James reveal how to forage information inside our companies and put it to good use.

They show us how data can improve our processes, our products, and our business culture if only we ask the right questions. They also unpack key concepts like “unstructured data,” and debunk the big fears around Artificial Intelligence to help us navigate a whole new world of technology!

Get started on your data journey with Patrick, Mike, and James. They’ll make you a little more tech-savvy today.

Highlights:

Defining “data intelligence” (2:05)
What a data management solution looks like (3:11)
Why cybersecurity matters (5:23)
Looking for data in every corner of your business (6:24)
How Clarity Innovations manages their data in-house (8:23)
Finding data solution through experiment (12:34)
What does bad data look like? (15:03)
Asking the right questions, to find the right data (16:38)
Mastering the art of “proximal objectives” (18:14)
Taking caution with Artificial Intelligence (20:19)
How to outsmart your AI tools (22:30)
Debunking the bias question (24:18)
Final advice from James and Mike (27:55)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers,Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

When Business Meets Love, Beer and Community: Nate & Kaitlynn Kressin Untapped Dec 05, 2023

In 2023, beer became the most popular alcoholic drink in the U. S., with a market estimated at $74 billion. So perhaps it’s no surprise that in recent years an increasing number of businesses have taken to the keg. A recent article by The Conversation reports that since 2015 the number of American craft breweries have doubled. This rise in popularity is in part explained by craft beer’s power to foster community, which is greater than any of its corporate competitors. To understand this phenomenon, we speak with Kaitlynn and Nate Kressin, owners of Just Tap’d and Fall Line Brewery.

Nate and Kaitlynn are partners in business and life. Together, they've built three craft beer establishments in their beloved city of Macon, Georgia. Today, the pair runs a lively taproom and restaurant, and a brewery where they craft their products in-house and host local events. From opening their first storefront to distributing beer across the entire state of Georgia, they have built their thriving multi-shop business on love, teamwork and community.

Today, the Kressins tell us how they have made all their craft beer dreams come true. They shine a spotlight on their homemade business strategy; revealing what to look for in a business partner, how to overcome the challenges of entrepreneurship, what a local community can do for your company… And of course, they share their secret to a good pint.

Get ready for an episode brewed with love, and hop on the beer wagon with Patrick, Kaitlynn and Nate!

Highlights:

Opening Just Tap’d and Nate’s journey into craft beer (2:06)
When Nate meets Kaitlynn: building a partnership (4:02)
Marriage and business as a juggling act (7:02)
Strategies to design professional and personal spaces (9:13)
In business together, for better or for worse! (11:12)
Launching Fall Line Brewery Co in the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic (13:48)
Adapting to challenges: new distribution strategies (15:14)
Looking at Fall Line Brewery Co today (17:01)
How to make good beer with Nate Kressin (19:04)
Role models and team building in business ownership (21:27)
Community engagement with Kaitlynn Kressin (23:37)
The Kressins’ impact on the local economy (25:14)
Championing Macon beyond its borders (27:14)
Community and adaptability: the pillars of a local success (29:07)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

How the Story Goes: Mastering the Art of Leadership Storytelling, with Esther Choy Nov 28, 2023

Think about something you learned recently. Whether it is a scientific finding, a fun fact, a historical event or something else, there is probably a great story behind it. Research by the London School of Business shows that most people only retain 5%-10% of the information they're given when presented with facts and figures. But fold the same data into a story, and your audience will remember 70% of it. So it seems that storytelling is a potent tool. In fact, according to our guest Esther Choy, it can change the way we do business.

Esther is the Founder, CEO and Chief Story Facilitator of Leadership Story Lab. With her firm, she uses design thinking to help businesses sharpen their identity, build their own leadership narrative and connect with audiences in meaningful ways. Since 2010, she has been working with companies across various industries, including healthcare, tech and manufacturing.

In today’s episode, Esther tells us how the science of persuasion and the art of storytelling can help leaders gain a competitive moat. You’ll learn how to find stories inside your business and what to do with the great material at your disposal. Listen until the end of the episode to hear Esther in practice: you will hear what great storytelling sounds like, and get to know our very own host, Patrick Pacheco, a little bit better.

So join us in conversation with Esther and Patrick today, and live to tell the tale!

Highlights:

Esther’s experience with leadership storytelling (2:15)
Storytelling as a tool for persuasion (5:11)
An example of storytelling in political leadership (7:29)
Discussing vulnerability in leadership (10:35)
Storytelling as a whole brain experience (13:44)
The importance of a “conceptual core” (15:18)
IRS: Intriguing beginning, Riveting middle, Satisfying end (17:02)
Learning from other storytellers (19:45)
In practice: when Esther asks the questions (21:38)
In practice: introducing Patrick Pacheco (27:38)
When the specific represents the universal (31:20)

Links:

Cadence Bank Website
Cadence Bank Twitter
Cadence Bank LinkedIn
Leadership Story Lab Website
Leadership Story Lab Twitter
Leadership Story Lab Instagram
Leadership Story Lab YouTube
Leadership Story Lab LinkedIn
Esther Choy’s LinkedIn
Storytelling Statistics: Why Marketing Storytelling Works So Well

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers,Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

[Fan Favorite] John Hope Bryant on Empowering Entrepreneurs and Championing Minorities in Business Nov 21, 2023

'Tis the season to be thankful! While our team takes a short holiday break, we’re bringing back a fan favorite episode from last season. It's our way of saying thank you for making “In Good Companies” a success.

So together, let’s revisit a conversation that got us thinking about what it means to champion diversity in entrepreneurship. Because when in business, we all need a helping hand to reach our true potential. That’s especially true for those from underserved communities. So how do we empower entrepreneurs? What can we give them, and what do they have to do for themselves?

To find out, we speak with John Hope Bryant, an accomplished entrepreneur himself. John’s been called “The Conscience of Capitalism,” advising three sitting U.S. presidents and was named one of Time Magazine’s “50 Leaders for the Future.” His nonprofit, Operation HOPE, is the largest nonprofit provider of financial literacy, inclusion, and economic empowerment tools in the United States.

Having built his own path in entrepreneurship, John knows the barriers that minority business owners face. So in this episode, we hear what John has learned from his journey, the challenges and opportunities of minority entrepreneurship and Operation HOPE’s “One Million Black Businesses” initiative. We’ll cover how to build networks, capital, and belief in budding entrepreneurs.

Listen in to hear Patrick and our powerhouse guest, John Hope Bryant, discuss empowering entrepreneurs with hope.

Highlights:

Introduction to Operation HOPE (1:47)
How entrepreneurship changed John’s life (3:59)
Enterprise can create generational wealth (5:48)
John’s first business at 10 years old (7:21)
How the Rodney King riots changed John’s perspective (10:06)
The origins of Operation HOPE (11:15)
Barriers to entrepreneurship (12:28)
Never give up (12:51)
Empowering entrepreneurs with belief (14:28)
Helping an entrepreneur build their network (16:20)
One Million Black Businesses (19:30)
How entrepreneurs can empower themselves (21:47)
“Just do something” (23:20)
The 3rd Reconstruction (24:45)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Discipline, Patriotism, Family: Veterans’ Lessons in Business Ownership Nov 14, 2023

According to the national census, there are 16.2 million veterans in the U. S., with over 4 million under the age of 55 years old. Many come back from deployment with a whole life ahead of them, and savings ripe for investment. So where does this new life begin? Our guests today will show you the way.

In honor of Veterans Day, this week, we welcome LDR Growth Partners to the podcast. This veteran-founded, people-focused investment firm was built from the ground up over the last decade. Today, we learn from those who made LDR’s success: Rich Sexton and Will Brame. Rich co-founded the firm in 2013, with two fellow veterans, after seven years of service overseas as an Airborne Ranger and an Infantry Officer. Meanwhile, Will’s background is in finance; he worked at JP Morgan for over a decade, before joining LDR as a partner in 2015.

In this episode, Rich and Will give us a lesson in business ownership. They look back on the early days of LDR and its inception in Casper, Wyoming, to reveal how they found their space in the market. With touching authenticity, they discuss their passion for family-owned businesses. They show us how they collaborate with the companies they acquire, and bring their focus on people, first and foremost. And you will hear it at every turn: military leadership continues to inform their business philosophy today.

So join Patrick, Rich and Will on the front line, for a story of grit that will leave you inspired!

Highlights:

Rich’s story of grit: the origins of LDR Growth Partners (1:56)
The deal that put LDR on the map (3:37)
Finding a competitive edge between Casper and New York (5:48)
Will’s story of grit: from the trading floor to private equity (7:15)
Finding a niche with family-owned business (9:49)
Every Partner plays their part (11:36)
Why carrying a legacy is important (13:48)
Understanding who you are working with (15:05)
The untapped potential of manufacturing companies (18:08)
Military leadership as a business philosophy (20:36)
A roadmap to internal restructuring (23:28)
How to bring in new leadership (25:09)
“No plan survives first contact” (26:06)
Collaboration at the heart of LDR (28:11)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Under the Influence: Learning Marketing Strategy from Pop Culture Nov 07, 2023

If you've been listening to In Good Companies for a while, you know that sometimes we like to shake things up. In this episode, we bring back a special guest, Dr Marcus Collins.

Remember Marcus? He is a culture expert, marketing professor and author of the best-selling book “For the Culture”. He joined us in a previous episode to talk about the power of culture in building business strategy. If you haven’t listened to it yet, you should check it out!

Marcus is an inspiring speaker, and he had a depth of knowledge to share on culture. So today, he is back in for more. In this bonus episode, Marcus pulls back the curtain on influential strategies we can find in pop culture, every day!

Marcus looks back on his background in the music industry and shares what he has learned from influential personalities like Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. Together, we dive further into the makeup of fandoms, to understand the power of community-building.

So once more, join Patrick and Marcus in conversation, and remember: we are all influential!

Highlights:

A refresher: why culture matters in business (1:43)
Marcus’s background in the music industry (2:43)
The power of fandom (5:23)
Are influencers actually influential? (8:54)
Breaking down the Taylor Swift effect (10:57)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Nurture your Culture: Dr Marcus Collins on the Power of Culture in Business Oct 31, 2023

A recent Deloitte survey shows that our professional expectations have shifted in the past decade. In 2023, our youngest workers want jobs aligned with their values, where they have a purpose and find a sense of belonging. Increasingly, our workforce looks for good company culture, first and foremost. So how does culture drive strategy? And how can it help your business thrive? We ask Dr. Marcus Collins, an award-winning marketer, professor and author of the best-selling book “For the Culture”.

Culture is the cornerstone of Marcus’s career. Back in 2009, he worked in the music industry, running digital strategy for Beyoncé. He then made a name in advertising; working with agencies like Doner, or Wieden+Kennedy. In the field, he saw firsthand how culture lifts business; so he continued to study it with a doctorate at Temple University. In this episode, he gives us a crash course.

Marcus will define what culture means, and share his best advice to turn identity into power. We’ll see how culture can help companies reach their community, and find new talents too. Finally, Marcus will explain how to handle cultural questions responsibly, by staying mindful of other perceptions.

Join Marcus and Patrick for a fascinating and energetic conversation. And find out today how culture shapes the company you keep.

Highlights:

A deceptively simple concept (2:01)
Finding a working definition for “culture” (4:07)
Culture as a measurement of normality (6:43)
When culture and marketing go hand in hand (7:50)
Influencing people who see the world our way (9:24)
How culture transforms a job into a calling (10:39)
Culture for recruitment: a successful example (13:55)
Tuning into other people’s perspectives (17:27)
How emotion interacts with judgment (19:21)
Benefits of activating your base (22:12)
The problem with being normal (24:56)
Using culture for good (26:21)
Intentions, perspectives, and outcomes (28:04)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Raptor Technologies: How Growing Market Share Leads to Safer Schools Oct 24, 2023

Listener warning: This podcast includes discussions of school shootings and trauma, which may be distressing for some listeners.

A recent survey from the National Center for Education Statistics reports that two-thirds of American public schools now control visitor access to their school grounds. This includes getting equipment, hiring staff and implementing crisis plans. So, who designs these systems? We will find out today, with David Rogers from Raptor Technologies.

Raptor Technologies is the U.S. leader in school security software. Once a family-owned business, Raptor now works with 37, 000 schools across the country. That’s thanks in part to David Rogers, their chief marketing officer. After 20 years in high-tech marketing, David has touched on everything from software development to fintech. In this episode, he shares how technology can make schools safer, and why this work needs to happen now.

With a passion that is nothing short of inspiring, David draws lessons from Raptor’s success: from its humble beginnings in Houston, Texas, to its recent venture in global markets. He also tells us how safety management technology can help during an emergency; points out the importance of risk prevention; and reveals how school districts and families can get involved too. Because, at the end of the day, school safety is about creating a supportive network around our communities.

So join Patrick and David today, and follow in Raptor’s steps to protect every school, every child, every day.

Highlights:

Raptor Technologies’ mission (2:27)
The origins of Raptor Tech (4:25)
Becoming market leaders (6:03)
Why Raptor products stand out (8:13)
How technology can help in an emergency (10:42)
Prevent, prepare, respond, recover (12:30)
Staff training at Raptor (14:29)
Supporting employees’ mental health (15:54)
What are common school safety risks? (17:29)
Covid-19’s impact on young people’s mental health (19:14)
From a reactive to a preventive society (21:03)
Challenges within the public sector (23:11)
How parents can support school safety management (25:29)
Technology can make a difference (28:35)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

All Aboard: Anna Catalano on Gender and Diversity on Boards Oct 17, 2023

When picturing a board of directors, what comes to mind? Men in suits sitting around a table? Well, you are not to blame. In 2023, women hold only 28% of board seats in the Russell 3000. So how are companies making efforts to diversify their leadership? How can established directors lift up people who haven’t always had their seat at the table? What is the benefit of seeing more diversity in the boardroom? Anna Catalano is well-placed to know.

Over the last 20 years, Anna has perfected the art of board governance and sat on a dozen public boards. Fortune magazine named her one of the most powerful women in international business, which is no understatement. In recent years, she has become a prominent voice advocating for diversity and board refreshment in corporate leadership.

Together, we will talk about leadership and representation; the key functions of a board of directors today. We will also weigh up the challenges awaiting women in business, and think about how boards can make space for new talents. Looking back on her career, Anna will revisit her most formative experiences; from unconscious bias, to bold career turns, her story is as inspiring as it is insightful.

Push the doors of the boardroom open with Patrick and Anna… And you will find that change is underway.

Highlights:

What a board of directors does (2:38)
Improving diversity around the table (4:13)
How directors are recruited (5:49)
Reconciling diversity and meritocracy (8:09)
Handling unconscious bias (10:08)
The importance of interrogating assumptions (12:29)
How board directors lift up new talents (14:23)
Thoughts on board refreshments (16:02)
How to get board-ready (18:39)
Seizing new learning opportunities (22:23)
Getting out of your comfort zone (24:08)
Diversity to revisit the way things are done (26:21)
What good leadership means to Anna (27:27)

Links:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Trust The Process: How Human Connection Drives Business Performance Oct 10, 2023

There is no P&L statement for well-being, but we all know a great team when we're on one. So, what’s the secret? How do leaders build a business culture where people feel good and work well together? How can companies make sure that their people show up every day as the best version of themselves? “With trust and connection,” says David Mead.

David is an international business speaker, leadership builder and co-author of the bestselling bookFind Your Why. For a decade he has toured the world, advising over 300 companies across 21 countries on how to bring purpose to their business. In this episode, he tells us how humanity can drive a high-impact team.

Together, we reflect on what makes a good experience in the workplace; we find out what great leaders have in common; and we consider the best ways to communicate and collaborate as a team. Plus, David shares his recipe for success, which boils down to three key ingredients: honesty, humility, and humanity.

So put your trust in David and Patrick, press play, and embark on a journey to make business better for everyone.

Highlights:

· The best job David ever had (2:26)

· What a healthy work culture looks like (4:28)

· Towards a more human business (5:21)

· Preventing isolation, driving innovation (7:25)

· The attributes of a good leader (9:36)

· Practicing Honesty, Humility, Humanity (11:32)

· Honesty: delivering constructive feedback (14:15)

· Humility: listening and taking responsibility (15:11)

· Humanity: valuing people (18:56)

· Reflecting on previous Leadership experience (21:21)

· The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic (23:25)

· In praise of simplicity (25:11)

Links:

· Cadence Bank Website

· Cadence Bank Twitter

· Cadence Bank LinkedIn

· David Mead’s Website

· David Mead’s LinkedIn

· Book- ‘Find Your Why’ by David Mead and Simon Sinek

· Gallup – Percent Who Feel Employer Cares About Their Wellbeing Plummets

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Opportunity for All: John Hope Bryant on Building Up Entrepreneurs May 23, 2023

Often, the story of an entrepreneur is focused on exceptional individuals. But every entrepreneur knows that they can’t do it alone. We all need a helping hand to reach our true potential. That’s especially true for those from underserved communities. So how do we empower entrepreneurs? What can we give them, and what do they have to do for themselves?

To find out, we spoke with John Hope Bryant, an exceptional individual himself. John’s been called “The Conscience of Capitalism,” advising three sitting U.S. presidents, and was named one of Time Magazine’s “50 Leaders for the Future.” His nonprofit, Operation HOPE, is the largest nonprofit provider of financial literacy, inclusion, and economic empowerment tools in the United States.

An entrepreneur himself, John knows the barriers that minority business owners face. So on this episode, we hear what John has learned from his journey, the challenges and opportunities of minority entrepreneurship and Operation HOPE’s “One Million Black Businesses” initiative. We’ll cover how to build networks, capital, and belief in budding entrepreneurs.

Listen in to hear how our powerhouse guest empowers entrepreneurs with hope.

Highlights:

Introduction to Operation HOPE (1:47)
How entrepreneurship changed John’s life (3:59)
Enterprise can create generational wealth (5:48)
John’s first business at 10 years old (7:21)
How the Rodney King riots changed John’s perspective (10:06)
The origins of Operation HOPE (11:15)
Barriers to entrepreneurship (12:28)
Never give up (12:51)
Empowering entrepreneurs with belief (14:28)
Helping an entrepreneur build their network (16:20)
One Million Black Businesses (19:30)
How entrepreneurs can empower themselves (21:47)
“Just do something” (23:20)
The 3rd Reconstruction (24:45)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

How to Deal with the Deal: The Human Side of M&A May 16, 2023

Whether you’re selling a business or buying into one, it’s a big deal. And when the stakes get high, so do emotions. On this episode, we dive into the human element of mergers & acquisitions. What’s it like to sell your business? How do you navigate change? What can you do to build trust?

Fortunately, we spoke with two people who have experienced the whole spectrum of M&A transactions. Father and son team George & Joshua Robertson run GrowCo Capital, an investment firm based out of Fort Worth, Texas. But before they were in venture capital, they ran their own businesses, including National HME. Hear the story of how George and Josh navigated the strategic partnership and eventual sale of their family business, and the lessons they now bring to the buy-side. We’ll explore how to manage your emotions, communicate with employees, and set a clear vision, so that everyone can win.

So listen in and find out: how do you deal with the deal?

Highlights:

The Robertsons’ family background (2:05)
Planting the seeds for National HME (4:40)
National HME: the early years (7:43)
Why the Robertsons went looking for strategic partners (8:54)
How they chose partners (10:02)
Managing emotions (12:06)
How George and Josh adapted to new partners (14:22)
The golden nugget (16:41)
Communicating with employees (18:03)
Saying goodbye to the company you’ve built (19:23)
Having values at your core (21:47)
George and Josh on the buy-side (22:53)
Using what they’ve learned (23:57)
Channeling emotion towards a goal (26:13)
MasVida Health and the future for the Robertsons (28:17)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

A Whole New Ballgame: Jim Crane on Business Transformation May 09, 2023

Whether it’s because of new leadership, exogenous shock, or a plain old rut, all companies eventually need to change. While there’s no single template for how to transform your business, you can learn a lot from those who have done it successfully; and there’s probably no better example than Jim Crane and the Houston Astros baseball franchise.

When Jim bought the team in 2011, they were one of the worst teams in baseball. Over the course of the next decade, they became one of the most successful. Under Jim, the Astros have won two championships and become perennial contenders. They’ve also tripled their revenue. So how did he do it?

On this episode, we’ll explore Jim’s approach to transformation: how he identifies problems, manages his teams, and creates partnerships with multiple stakeholders, all with an eye toward a winning culture. Find out the reason Jim took a hands-off approach to baseball operations and why he invested heavily in the Astros’ charitable foundation. Plus, how Jim applied the same formula to the PGA Tour’s Houston Open.

When you transform your business, you have to cover your bases. So join us and get strategies that will help you right off the bat.

Highlights:

How Jim turned a $10,000 loan into $4B in revenue (1:56)
Jim’s passion for sports (4:34)
What Jim saw in the struggling Astros (6:02)
Diagnosing the team’s biggest problem (7:04)
The benefits of a hands-off approach (8:25)
Creating a winning culture (11:23)
The Community Leaders program and creating external partnerships (12:59)
The Astros become world champions (16:32)
The Houston Open: A microcosm of Jim’s approach (17:49)
To maintain your edge, you’ve got to keep working (21:02)
How to apply these lessons to your business (22:21)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Everlasting Love: Sustaining a culture of love May 02, 2023

Last week, Mohammad Anwar and Chris Pitre introduced us to the concept of “Love as a Business Strategy” and showed how beneficial it is to leaders. But leaders aren’t the only ones in a business. So, what does a culture of love bring to employees? The answer: a lot! They have just as much to gain from a culture of love as leaders do. Love as a business strategy empowers teams and makes them more efficient.

While leaders are essential in implementing a culture of love, employees are key in sustaining one. So how do you make that happen? Well, it starts with hiring the right people–and they may not be who you expect. Once they’re in the door, you establish connections and make them feel secure–because when people feel safe they can be honest. “Honesty over Harmony” is one of the foundational tenets of Love as a Business Strategy. Honest communication cuts down on time; honest criticism leads to better products; and honest feedback opens the door to accountability.

On this episode, you’ll hear all about how Mohammad and Chris encourage these behaviors and build them into their business; small changes that can make a culture of love much easier to maintain. So join us, as we explore the labor of love.

Highlights:

Defining Love as a Business Strategy (3:29)
What leaders don’t understand about employees (5:02)
Empowered employees (6:19)
How a culture of love makes employees more efficient (7:08)
Hiring: Culture add vs. culture fit (9:13)
Hiring: Capability over competence (11:32)
How Softway builds connections between employees (13:47)
Creating a feeling of security in employees (15:30)
Honesty over harmony (16:43)
Silence is the biggest cost that’s not on your balance sheet (19:15)
Culture vultures (21:00)
Holding each other accountable (23:09)
How a culture of love sets you up for the future (26:18)
Seneca Leaders (28:57)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

All You Need Is Love: The origins of “Love as a Business Strategy” Apr 26, 2023

How much better would the world be if everyone loved going to work? How much more engaged would we be? How much more efficient? That’s the vision of Mohammad Anwar and Chris Pitre (Softway & Culture+), two co-authors of the WSJ-bestseller Love as a Business Strategy. They want to revolutionize the way companies do business, by putting people at the center of every decision. But this idea didn’t come out of nowhere. It was born from the real-life transformation of their company, Softway. So on this episode, we’re telling that story: how a leader learned to love his team and, in doing so, transformed his company and himself.

Mohammad founded Softway when he was 20 years old, and he’d grown the business to over 300 employees since its inception. But by 2015, the company had developed a toxic culture, and Mohammad was known for his unprofessional outbursts. With the business struggling, morale was low. Two weeks after Chris was hired, Softway laid off a third of its workforce by gathering them in a conference room and telling them all at once. Mohammad didn’t know if the business would last another month.

But then he had a realization, and together he and Chris went on a journey to institute a “culture of love.” Through slow, quiet work, Mohammad changed his behaviors and made Softway a place that employees loved. Success soon followed. Now, they help other businesses change their own cultures. On this episode, we’ll explore the leader’s role in a culture of love: their responsibilities, behaviors and how they stand to benefit.

So, join us, as we answer the question: “What’s love got to do with it?”

Highlights:

Meet Mohammad Anwar & Chris Pitre (1:12)
What is “love as a business strategy”? (2:22)
The origins of Softway (3:23)
The infamous “Dirty fridge” email (5:44)
Softway’s darkest day (9:39)
Why it’s hard to be a leader (12:02)
Mohammad’s epiphany (15:07)
Misconceptions about the culture of love (17:21)
Perks are not culture (20:21)
Culture eats strategy for breakfast, but behaviors eat culture for lunch (21:29)
Redefining leadership (23:11)
Changing behavior (26:30)
Trickle-down culture (28:21)
The role of forgiveness (30:15)
Softway’s turnaround (31:35)
No excuses (35:54)
Seneca Leaders (38:28)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

The CX Factor: Creating Standout Customer Experience Apr 18, 2023

Customers judge your company on more than just the product you sell. They’re evaluating every interaction, from start to finish: Was the website easy to navigate? Were the employees friendly and helpful? Did their order come quickly (and in one piece)? They want convenience, consistency and connection. All that adds up to a customer experience, or CX, as it’s known; and those two little letters have the power to make or break your company. The benefits of good customer experience are huge. Satisfied customers are more loyal and will pay a premium. But the drawbacks of bad CX are even greater: almost three-quarters of customers would switch to a competitor after just two bad experiences. So how do you create a genuinely great customer experience?

That question is at the center of everything that Daniel Herrmann works on. Daniel is the vice president of product strategy and customer insights at NCR. It’s his job to make NCR work better for its customers. And to him, CX is more than a strategy; it’s a mindset that infuses every aspect of your business. Together we’ll explore the building blocks of exceptional CX: how you measure, design, and implement CX. Plus, why he thinks CX creates more efficient, innovative, and aligned companies.

So, join us, as we pay our respects to CX and walk a mile in Daniel's shoes. Because the customer journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Highlights:

Meet Daniel Herrmann (1:43)
Customer experience is anything and everything (3:12)
The benefits of good CX (4:49)
Without CX, customers won’t stick around (5:47)
Why overall customer satisfaction has been declining for years (6:16)
Putting the C in CX (8:45)
The role of leadership: articulate and communicate (9:08)
A customer-oriented culture (10:10)
The most common mistake that companies make when it comes to CX (12:14)
Measuring CX: Net Promoter Score (12:58)
Creating a narrative with your data (14:04)
Why you need quantitative and qualitative data (16:17)
How good CX leads to innovation (17:11)
Customer journey maps (18:24)
The four building blocks to make CX a systematic competence (20:16)
Top priority: a process for collecting feedback (21:48)
Daniel’s top takeaways (24:04)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Brand & Culture 101 (Rebroadcast) Apr 11, 2023

We've received a great response from you on our sonic branding episode, so we wanted to ride the wave and follow up with some additional content on small business marketing. This week’s episode originally aired in Season 2.

We interact with brands every day, so you might think you’ve got the concept all figured out. But experts know: looks can be deceiving. So, we sat down with some of those experts to get an unfiltered view of the branding process.

Beth Flom and Andrew Bogucki are senior partners at New York brand innovation firm Tenet Partners —they help companies like Mastercard, Target and IBM build compelling and powerful brands. And they’re clear on one thing. A brand isn’t simply a logo or a tagline —it’s more than that. In fact, according to Cadence Bank’s own Chief Marketing Officer, Jackie Hooper, “brand is the essence of the company.” To be successful, your brand must feel honest and cohesive because it’s reinforced through every interaction that a customer has with your company. To achieve that, it must be built on a solid foundation: culture. But what is your company’s culture? And how do you translate that into a brand?

So, on this episode, we’ll hear from three brilliant marketing minds. They’ll share the keys to evaluating culture and developing a strong brand. You’ll learn how to ask the right questions, make key decisions and what small businesses can achieve —it’s more than you think.

Join us, as we corner the market on marketing with this brand new, on-brand episode!

Highlights:

What a brand is–and isn’t (4:40)
Where to start with branding: research (9:11)
Culture is the foundation of brand (10:11)
How to assess culture (11:16)
Translating to visual identity (12:05)
Both an art and a science (13:17)
Navigating the emotions of branding (14:27)
How your brand can influence your culture (16:57)
Why employee training is integral to the process (17:30)
Branding for small companies (19:01)
Consistency and follow through (20:00)
Takeaways on branding (21:09)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Workforce: The Next Generation Apr 04, 2023

We’re on the cusp of a new generation of workers. Young people entering the workforce today are, by and large, digital natives. They’ve spent their formative years navigating COVID, and this new world of remote work is the only one they’ve ever known. Like every new generation, they’ll have different values, different expectations and different approaches to their careers. So how do you appeal to the next generation of workers?

In a tight labor market, this talent pool presents a huge opportunity for companies. But with young workers in high demand, you’ve got to stand out. Understanding what students and graduates want from their employers can give you a big leg up. So, what do young workers value? How can employers attract them? And what do they need to succeed in your workplace?

To answer these questions, we turned to Linda Johnson, director of employee relations for the Career Center at Culverhouse at the University of Alabama. Linda has been helping college students and companies connect for 15 years. She sees both perspectives. Together, we explore why young workers are a valuable resource, the most effective recruiting methods, and what you can do to help these employees succeed once they’re inside your company.

So join us as we search for the fountain of youth in a podcast for the ages!

Highlights:

Meet Linda Johnson (1:49)
Why investing in young talent is so important (3:11)
Gen Z strengths (4:54)
How U of A teaches students soft skills (5:47)
Young workers want to add value (8:45)
Why hybrid work appeals to graduates (9:53)
Connecting through preferred channels (12:03)
Successful recruiting strategies (13:10)
Why companies are recruiting younger (16:18)
Internships as risk mitigation (17:33)
How to set students up for success (18:46)
Getting started with recruitment (20:35)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Sounds Good: Sonic Branding and You Mar 28, 2023

These days, everyone is vying for our attention. We’re bombarded with videos, tweets, billboards, commercials–every company is trying to catch our eye. One way to break through the clutter is to focus on ears instead. It’s called “sonic branding” and it’s increasingly how businesses cut through the noise and distinguish themselves to customers. But what is sonic branding?

To get the whole story, we talked to Stephanie Hunt and Lucas Murray, two members of global sonic branding agency Made Music Studio. Made Music has been carrying the sonic branding torch for almost 25 years; they know what it takes to create sounds that resonate with customers. Stephanie and Lucas walk us through the science and psychology of audio and the process of building a successful sonic identity.

That’s a process that we at Cadence know well because we’ve gone through it ourselves. In 2021, when Cadence and BancorpSouth merged, part of our massive rebrand was the development of a sonic identity with Made Music Studio. The leader on the Cadence side was Chief Marketing Officer and friend of the podcast, Jackie Hooper. She’ll tell us about the opportunities and challenges of building a sonic brand–plus, how to successfully roll one out, which Stephanie says is half the battle.

Together we’ll dissect the elements of our own sonic identity and give you the tools to implement one for your business. So listen up! It’s time for In Good Companies to face the music.

Highlights:

Sonic brand: more than just a jingle (2:51)
Why Cadence pursued a sonic brand (6:20)
The psychology of sound (7:26)
All the places where a customer interacts with sound (8:48)
Everyone has a sonic identity (9:48)
What makes a sonic identity system successful (12:19)
Cadence sonic theme breakdown (13:55)
How rollout contributes to the success of a sonic brand (19:01)
Contextualizing your sonic identity (21:49)
The ham sandwich test (23:55)
Sonic branding for smaller companies (25:29)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Hire Education: How to Perfect Your Hiring Process Mar 21, 2023

And we’re back! Welcome to Season 3 of In Good Companies. This season, we’re jumping right into the deep end–of the candidate pool.

On our latest bonus episode, we got a crash course in the current hiring landscape from Indeed’s Senior Director of Talent Attraction, Jennifer (Jenn) McNorton. She shared the macro trends that have contributed to the tightest labor market in over 50 years and what companies are willing to do to acquire talent. But getting great employees isn’t just about the trends, headlines, or benefits. More often than not, the devil’s in the details–and for employers, that means refining your talent acquisition process. Now, more than ever, it’s important to have every step of your hiring locked in. Because if you don’t, candidates have plenty of other options.

On this episode, Jenn takes us through best practices for every step of the hiring process, from sourcing candidates to salary negotiation. She’s compiled the most effective strategies from over 25 years in recruiting, as well as what she’s observed from successful companies across Indeed’s user base.

We explore recruiting strategies: where to look for candidates and how to keep them engaged along the way. Plus, the art of the interview, and the science of salary negotiation. So join us, and find out how to uncover your hidden talent.

Highlights:

Casting a wide net (2:30)
The secret to maintaining a good candidate pool (5:23)
How to write an irresistible job description (6:44)
What makes a good interview process (11:42)
Crafting the right interview questions (14:43)
Addressing implicit and unconscious bias (16:18)
Jenn’s approach to negotiation (19:09)
It’s not always about compensation (21:12)
Where to go for help (23:11)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Trends with Benefits: Talent Acquisition in Today’s Economy Mar 14, 2023

Full-length episodes from In Good Companies are almost back! To prepare, we’re previewing Season Three with extras from some of our favorite conversations.

In this bonus episode, you’ll meet Jennifer McNorton, Senior Director of Talent Attraction at Indeed, one of the most popular job sites in the world. Jenn is in charge of sourcing and recruiting for leadership positions at Indeed. But she doesn’t just manage hiring at a top tech company–from her vantage point, she sees talent acquisition trends across the economy.

So on this bonus episode, we explore the macro view of talent acquisition: how the workforce has evolved and why companies are competing for talent like never before. Hear how you can differentiate your business and offer what jobseekers value most.

Highlights:

What is “talent attraction”? (1:37)
The three key hiring battles (2:18)
The biggest misconception about talent attraction (4:08)
The value of proactive differentiation (6:05)
How small & medium businesses can compete with fewer resources (9:06)
The benefits and perks that jobseekers value most (10:47)
These trends are here to stay (13:43)
Patrick summary (15:05)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Several Habits of Highly Effective Leaders Mar 07, 2023

We talk to amazing people every week on In Good Companies, and often we find ourselves with more great audio than we can fit into an episode. So in the lead-up to our new season, we’re opening up the vault to share some extra conversations with you.

The first bonus episode features a familiar voice from our most recent episode: Craig Flowers, Army veteran and founder of Sideline Leadership. He spoke with us about talent retention and his “Know, Care, Challenge” framework for engaging teams. But through his decade-long work with special operations, Craig has seen incredible leaders up close, and he knows that elite performance starts with elite leadership.

So on this bonus episode we talk about several habits of highly effective leaders. Listen on to hear how service, vulnerability and language can make a huge difference, and take your leadership from average to elite.

Highlights:

Most organizations are average (1:24)
Craig’s definition of leadership (3:01)
When things go wrong, elite leaders start with themselves (5:03)
What Peyton Manning can teach us about leadership (7:41)
The importance of vulnerability (9:38)
“My team” vs. “Our team” (10:47)
Patrick’s summary (11:53)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Know, Care, Challenge: The Keys to Talent Retention Dec 20, 2022

Over the past year, talent retention has become big news. “The Great Resignation” has seen millions of workers leave their jobs–and it’s not just entry-level workers either. Resignations are highest among mid-career employees. Their departure can be devastating to a business, wiping out continuity, upsetting team chemistry and necessitating an expensive hiring process, all while leaving your team shorthanded. One thing is clear: companies must do more than ever to retain their talent. But what exactly does that mean? More of what?

Craig Flowers, founder of Sideline Leadership, has an answer to that; actually he has three. Through Craig’s twenty-five years in the Army–including ten in direct support of special operations and seven as director of cadet activities at West Point–he’s seen the differences between elite teams and average ones. Craig noticed that elite teams don’t have any problem with talent retention–in fact, workers passed on promotions to remain part of the group. Since leaving the Army, he’s established a framework for cultivating that type of culture–one that’s more appealing to employees than greener pastures.

So on this episode, we break down Craig’s “Know, Care, Challenge” formula for talent retention and how leaders can implement it in their own organizations. Plus, why retaining an employee starts before you even hire them, and how to adjust your acquisition process to keep talent long-term. It’s everything you need to know, care and challenge your assumptions about talent retention.

Highlights:

What sparked Craig’s interest in elite teams (2:30)
The importance of talent retention (5:36)
Talent retention starts with talent acquisition (6:22)
The onboarding process (10:13)
The role of culture in retention (12:33)
Why people leave: The ripple effect of bad behavior (16:48)
Instructive vs. constructive cultures (18:10)
Know, Care, Challenge (19:16)
Mistakes companies make when developing a culture (21:33)
How to care for employees without coddling them (23:32)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Brand & Culture: A Case Study Dec 13, 2022

On our last episode, we explored how to develop a strong brand. But it’s one thing to talk about those principles, and another to put them into practice. So, on this episode, we’ve got a case study in the process of rebranding from a company that just went through it: Cadence Bank. That’s right–us!

In 2021, Cadence Bank officially merged with BancorpSouth Bank, which necessitated a large-scale rebrand to develop a new, shared identity. But while it presented massive opportunity, the branding process was also filled with plenty of challenges. And who better to tell us every detail than the very people who did the hard work? We’re bringing back the voices you heard last episode: our Tenet Partners team of Beth Flom and Andrew Bogucki, as well as Cadence Bank Chief Marketing Officer Jackie Hooper, to take us through every step of the rebranding journey–the difficult decisions, the surprising revelations and the rollout strategy that brought it all together. Plus, we’ll hear from a new guest, someone who had a huge hand in both the decision to rebrand and the culture that guided the process: Cadence Bank Chairman & CEO Dan Rollins.

Through their stories, you’ll hear about the ups and downs of this 18-month journey: how Cadence found the right partner in Tenet, what the research unearthed about their shared values, and the ways that Cadence differentiated from competitors. Plus, the unexpected emotions that accompanied all of it.

So let’s brand together and travel from a back porch in northwest Alabama to the facade of the New York Stock Exchange to discover what can happen in the best-case (study) scenario.

Highlights:

Meet Dan Rollins (2:13)
How the merger focused on culture (3:57)
Why the new Cadence needed to rebrand (5:34)
The opportunity–and scope–of the rebrand (6:31)
What Jackie looked for in a partner (7:57)
The secrets to a great collaboration (8:55)
What the research revealed about culture (10:29)
Creative decisions: how that culture is reflected in the new brand (13:52)
Using sonic branding to differentiate from competitors (17:34)
Rollout of the new brand (19:59)
How customers kept the process in focus (21:54)
Banner reveal at the NYSE (23:45)
Transform Awards recognition (25:27)
Dan on the importance of brand (26:51)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Brand & Culture 101 Dec 06, 2022

We interact with brands every day, so you might think you’ve got the concept all figured out. But experts know: looks can be deceiving. So, we sat down with some of those experts to get an unfiltered view of the branding process.

Beth Flom and Andrew Bogucki are senior partners at New York brand innovation firm Tenet Partners —they help companies like Mastercard, Target and IBM build compelling and powerful brands. And they’re clear on one thing. A brand isn’t simply a logo or a tagline —it’s more than that. In fact, according to Cadence Bank’s own Chief Marketing Officer, Jackie Hooper, “brand is the essence of the company.” To be successful, your brand must feel honest and cohesive because it’s reinforced through every interaction that a customer has with your company. To achieve that, it must be built on a solid foundation: culture. But what is your company’s culture? And how do you translate that into a brand?

In this episode, we’ll hear from three brilliant marketing minds. They’ll share the keys to evaluating culture and developing a strong brand. You’ll learn how to ask the right questions, make key decisions and what small businesses can achieve—it’s more than you think.

Join us, as we corner the market on marketing with this brand new, on-brand episode!

Highlights:

What a brand is–and isn’t (4:10)
Where to start with branding: research (8:41)
Culture is the foundation of brand (9:41)
How to assess culture (10:46)
Translating to visual identity (11:35)
Both an art and a science (12:47)
Navigating the emotions of branding (13:57)
How your brand can influence your culture (16:27)
Why employee training is integral to the process (17:00)
Branding for small companies (18:31)
Consistency and follow through (19:30)
Takeaways on branding (20:39)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Leadership, with Super Bowl Champion Keith Jackson Nov 29, 2022

Leaders decide goals and dictate strategy. Perhaps most importantly, they set culture. But the workforce is changing and leadership must evolve with it. So what makes a good leader in this current environment? How do you engage and inspire your workforce? And what can you do to improve, so you can build your business and career?

To help us, we turned to one of the greatest leaders we know: Keith Jackson. Keith has an illustrious football journey – he played tight end at the University of Oklahoma and went on to star in the NFL with the Eagles, Dolphins and the Green Bay Packers. Over the course of his career, he was Rookie of the Year, a 5-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion. But his experience goes far beyond the football field. Keith is on the board of Cadence Bank and he’s also the president of the youth non-profit P.A.R.K. (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids), which he founded in 1993. He knows a thing or two about leadership.

Throughout his career, Keith played for some of the greatest coaches the game has ever seen: legends like Barry Switzer, Buddy Ryan, Don Shula and Mike Holmgren. So in this episode, we’re going to break down what Keith learned from each of these leaders, and how their teachings apply to business today. Join us, as we tackle leadership with a legend.

Highlights:

Intro to Keith Jackson (2:01)
What leadership isn’t (3:13)
See it, say it, write it: Keith’s formula for successful leadership (3:47)
There’s no one-size-fits-all (5:00)
“Leaders aren’t born, they’re mentored” (7:16)
Barry Switzer and positive reinforcement (8:35)
Buddy Ryan: you can’t treat everybody the same (10:18)
Eliminating mistakes and the magic of Don Shula (12:59)
How Mike Holmgren led by teaching (15:13)
How leadership is evolving (17:37)
The challenge of disengagement (18:41)
Servant leadership as a way to inspire and engage (22:36)
Avoiding complacency (24:18)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Commodities & Inflation Nov 15, 2022

One of the most common portfolio constructions is a blend of stocks and bonds. The stocks power growth during times of economic expansion and bonds act as a hedge, since bond prices tend to rise when the economy is in recession. If one goes down, the other goes up. Except for right now.

Since the start of 2022, both stocks and bonds are down. It’s the first time that’s happened since the late 1960s. The culprit? Our old friend, inflation. The Federal Reserve’s aggressive response to inflation has the market worried about a recession. Investors have responded by selling, driving stock prices down. But higher interest rates decrease the value of bonds as well. Suddenly, a lot of portfolios are without a hedge. So how do you protect your investments in this unique, uncertain time?

One answer is commodities: everything from oil, wheat, copper and cattle. They’re one of the most powerful hedges against inflation–but it’s also a different kind of asset class, subject to all sorts of unique risks. To operate with confidence, you need to learn the language of commodities. Fortunately, we know someone who’s fluent: Callum Bruce, Commodities Specialist at Goldman Sachs.

With Callum’s help, we’ll delve into the power, precariousness and possibility of the commodity; everything from what they are and how they work, to why Callum thinks they’re undervalued. Plus, the commodity constraints coming down the road and the surprisingly strong link between certain commodities and the value of the dollar.

So come with us as we explore the cutting hedge, where the oddities are good and the goods are commodities.

Highlights:

Definition & types of commodities (3:19)
The benefits of trading commodities–for producers and consumers (5:16)
Cost of carry & contango (6:12)
Convenience shield & Backwardation (7:07)
Why volatility makes commodities a powerful hedge (9:16)
How commodities might theoretically fit into a portfolio (11:03)
Why Callum sees opportunity in commodities (12:08)
Commodity-constraint (13:31)
Dollar-oil correlation (16:13)
The future of energy commodities (19:20)
Metal markets: Double bullish (22:11)
Don’t go it alone: the complexity of commodities (23:26)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Gone Phishing: Approaches to Cyberthreat Nov 08, 2022

Are you doing enough to protect your business from cyberthreat? With cyberattacks at an all-time high, you may not be as prepared as you need to be. You might even think your business is too small to be targeted, but think again: the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report states that 43% of online attacks are now aimed at small businesses. Cyberattacks are also expensive – according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, the cost of cybercrime against small businesses totaled $2.4 billion in 2021 alone. So when you’re surrounded by bad actors, what can you do to protect yourself?

Fortunately for all of us, there are people out there like Cadence Bank’s Chief Information Officer Kevin McMahon and Brendan Monaghan, Senior Producer with Cadence Insurance. Brendan and Kevin both keep up to date with the latest cyberthreats and have some simple approaches they recommend for protecting your business. On this episode, you’ll learn what common cyberattacks might look like, their most frequent targets and what to do if you have an incident. Plus, we’ll cover how to transfer your risk with the fast-evolving segment of cyber insurance.

So join the cyberthreat triple threat – Kevin, Brendan and Patrick – and together we’ll brave the phishy waters of cybercrime.

Highlights:

The growing threat of cyberattack (4:08)
The consequences of cyberattack (5:03)
Who’s at risk? (7:03)
Social engineering (8:46)
The number one way to protect your business (10:32)
Phishing (11:34)
Business email compromise (12:54)
Ransomware (13:50)
Concrete steps to protect your business (15:29)
Cyber insurance: how to assess your options (18:27)
Incident response planning: every second counts (20:30)
Incident response planning: build the right team (20:45)
Cyberthreat wrap-up (21:34)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

The Fundamentals of Inflation: Supply and Demand Nov 01, 2022

Most people sort of understand inflation: prices are rising, cost of living is more expensive, your dollar doesn’t go as far. And that’s true! But what’s behind that phenomenon? That’s when explanations start to peter out. Fortunately, we know someone who is super knowledgeable about inflation Cadence Bank’s Corporate Treasurer Tell Alessio. On this episode, Tell explains the forces that govern inflation and the theory behind it all: supply and demand.

Supply and demand are foundational concepts across economics, but when you apply them to inflation, you get a much clearer picture of our current situation: its causes, its consequences and, potentially, its conclusion. We’ll dive into how supply-driven inflation differs from its demand-induced counterpart, and why one is more stubborn than the other. Plus, the surprise beneficiaries of the past six months, the limits of wage inflation and the credit shift that can protect your business.

Tell Alessio makes history as our first-ever repeat guest, back by popular (supply and) demand! In this episode, Tell tells all! Don’t miss it!

Highlights:

Consumer Price Index & the metrics we use to measure inflation (2:18)
Healthy inflation (4:12)
What constitutes inflation (6:23)
What’s causing our current inflation: supply or demand? (7:32)
Supply-driven inflation (7:58)
Rising labor costs & wage inflation (9:50)
Pandemic stimulus and demand-driven inflation (12:15)
Why demand-driven inflation sticks around longer (13:35)
The people who benefit from inflation (14:57)
Sectors hardest hit by inflation (17:57)
Converting floating lines of credit into fixed lines of credit (19:16)
The next 12-18 months (20:45)
Keep an eye on consumption (21:34)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Point A to Point Z: Supply Chain Challenges Oct 25, 2022

From the front page of the paper to the top of the nightly news: everyone’s talking about the supply chain. By now we know that pandemic factors across the globe caused disruptions to the logistics industry. But we rarely hear the story from the people running the show. So on this episode, we’re exploring the supply chain from the inside, with the people who know it best.

Matthew Decker is the President of logistics company US Multimodal Group, and John Brooks is its CEO. Whether it’s via ship, train or truck, connecting products to businesses is their bread and butter. Over the past several years, they’ve had a front-row seat to the problems at the heart of supply chain interruption. Together, we’ll explore the complexities of the logistics industry, how slowdowns started even before COVID and why labor is actually the biggest hurdle facing their business. Plus, tips for creating strong logistics partnerships and getting the best out of your providers.

So listen in as we take you from Point A to Point Z of supply chain challenges.

Highlights:

The most common misconception about the supply chain (3:15)
The fragmentation of the logistics industry (4:10)
Labor issues: the heart of supply chain pain (8:44)
Aging infrastructure can’t deal with increased capacity (11:09)
How labor and material shortages compound each other (12:55)
Focusing on your own link in the supply chain (14:08)
How consistency unlocks capacity (17:04)
How far are we from normal? (18:58)
What will ultimately ease supply chain issues (20:20)
The supply chain runs on people power (21:25)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Inflation: The Future of Interest Rates Oct 18, 2022

Welcome back to In Good Companies! This season, we’re exploring the forces shaping your business, inside and out—and to kick off Season Two, we’ve got a double whammy: inflation and interest rates.

During COVID, the Federal Reserve cut its target range for the Federal Funds Rate to 0.00% to 0.25%. But now, in 2022, inflation has hit a 40-year high and interest rates are climbing again. In six short months, the Federal Funds Rate target range has risen steeply, from a range of 0% to 0.25% to a range of 3.00% to 3.25%. High interest rates can have a substantial effect on businesses and consumers alike. So, how high will rates climb? And how long will they stay elevated?

One of the people best positioned to answer those questions is Dr. Lindsey Piegza, Chief Economist at Stifel: she’s spent her career translating the economy to a broad audience. Together, we’ll examine the relationship between interest and inflation, decode the Fed’s monetary policy and explore why this inflation might be particularly stubborn.

As always, we’ll dig into what this means for you and your business: what indicators to pay attention to, how to adapt to a high-interest environment and why you should be especially cautious when inflation recedes.

So join us! We’ve got your best interest at heart.

Highlights:

Why our economic situation is deceptive (3:40)
Federal Funds Rate deep dive (6:20)
The relationship between inflation and interest rates (8:22)
Rate hikes in 2022 (9:09)
How the Fed uses interest rates as a communication tool (10:51)
What will drive the Fed’s decision-making (12:29)
The lag of monetary policy (14:09)
What happens if inflation doesn’t subside (16:13)
The effects of a high-interest environment on small business (19:05)
How inflation and interest affect consumer behavior (21:32)
Why caution and adaptability will be key (22:50)
Markets are cyclical (25:01)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Value Added: Wealth Transfer Planning & Next Gen Preparation Apr 26, 2022

You’ve worked your whole life to provide for your family, and you want to ensure they are taken care of after you’re gone. But passing on that wealth can be nerve-wracking. An inheritance has the potential to alter lives and cause major tension. How can you set up your successors for success?

That’s where wealth transfer planning comes in. A successful wealth transfer plan passes on more than just wealth—it imparts core values, which help dictate how that money is used and gives inheritors the tools to thrive. The best plans educate inheritors over many years, and so we’ve invited a guest who has specialized in wealth transfer for many years: Felix Meneses, Senior Vice President and Dallas Market Executive for Cadence Bank’s Trust and Asset Management.

On our final episode of Season One, we’ll cover the core financial values that you need to impart to your children, age-appropriate activities to instill those values, and how to structure your plan to reflect those principles. Felix will also share how to construct your team of advisors and how corporate governance can help you avoid family disputes.

Join us as we finish out our season in style, transferring a wealth of knowledge to you!

Highlights:

● What is wealth transfer? (2:39)

● Identifying priorities (4:19)

● Core values: Stewardship, Philanthropy, Entrepreneurship (6:05)

● How to talk to your kids about money (9:27)

● Age-appropriate financial education (11:14)

● Fun teaching activities for young kids (12:29)

● Wealth transfer structures (15:23)

● Keys to a good plan: A team of advisors (16:47)

● Keys to a good plan: Corporate governance structures (19:03)

● Creative ways to implement family corporate governance (20:44)

● Executing the plan (22:12)

● Inheritor responsibilities (23:41)

● The importance of communication (25:59)

Links:

● Cadence Bank Website

● Cadence Bank Twitter

● Cadence Bank LinkedIn

● Felix Meneses LinkedIn

● Cadence Bank – Trust & Asset Management

● Cadence Bank – Wealth Empowerment Program

● Cadence Bank – Philanthropy Services

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

The Next Chapter: Business Succession Planning Apr 12, 2022

Those who’ve started a business know: the business is your baby. It takes love, patience and sleepless nights to get it on its feet. As it grows, you’re so proud of it. But just like a child, there comes a time when you have to let the business go. And the hope is that you’ve prepared your business to function independently, without your guidance. Can your business survive without you? Can it thrive?

Whether it’s by design or unexpected, there will be a day when you’re no longer able to run things as you once did. If you’ve prepared right, your business will be able to keep flourishing long after you’ve retired. But what does that preparation entail? It starts with a strong business succession plan, an area of expertise for our two guests on this episode: Ari Marin, Wealth Strategist at Cadence Bank, and Eric Priamo, founder and managing partner of Juniper Equity.

Together we’ll cover the key aspects of a business succession plan, like proper valuation provisions and operational redundancy, and how corporate governance structures can help you achieve those goals. Ari and Eric will also lead us through how to tackle the hard, emotional conversations that come with succession.

So join us as we write a new chapter: for your business, your family, and you.

Highlights:

All the variables in a succession scenario (3:08)
Why is succession planning critical? (4:49)
What can happen if there isn’t a plan in place (7:11)
The biggest barrier to the planning process (10:24)
How to avoid family drama when talking succession (12:28)
The farmer, the cow, and the milk: Identifying your goals (15:52)
How Ari starts a succession plan (16:56)
Keys to a good plan: Proper valuation provisions (18:33)
Keys to a good plan: Flexibility & Redundancy (20:17)
The tax tail can’t wag the dog (23:35)
Defining corporate governance (24:54)
How corporate governance helps you achieve your succession goals (28:18)
How to empower your advisors (32:56)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Executive Functioning: The Well-Prepared Executive Mar 29, 2022

An executive is a key player in a business of any size: someone who is able to balance the complexities of their industry with the needs of their company. They’re someone with deep experience, who can lead a team and contribute to one. And they work tirelessly to make sure the business is positioned to succeed, both now and in the future. But who’s doing that for the executive?

As an executive, you’ll have access to a much wider range of compensation packages, from equity to call options to variable performance-based bonuses. Your income will be greater and more diverse than the average Joe or Jane. You need a financial plan to match, and advisors skilled enough to adapt that plan as your career evolves. In fact, you’ll need a team of people: CPAs, investment bankers, tax attorneys, estate lawyers. But most of all, you’ll need an expert private banker to run the show. You need Mary Katherine Franklin, EVP and Director of Private Banking, and Jamie Burns, Regional Executive of Private Banking from the Cadence Private Banking leadership team. So that’s who we’ve brought you!

Think of it like a football team. The most important person on the field is your quarterback, who reads the defense, makes adjustments and gets their teammates the ball. That’s your private banker. On this episode, Jamie and Mary Katherine talk about quarterbacking executive financial plans, how no plan is one-size-fits-all, and what you need to prepare to make sure you get the most out of the process. So, join our all-pro squad as we perfectly execute the executive financial plan.

Highlights:

What is private banking? (2:21)
What’s different about executives? (4:04)
The importance of a good game plan (7:45)
The sooner, the better, but it’s never too late! (9:16)
Creating a personal financial statement (10:26)
Coordinating the team of advisors (12:47)
Everything is customizable (14:58)
Be organized (15:42)
Don’t hold back (16:24)
Are you getting the attention you deserve? (19:05)
Things change—your plan should too (22:11)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

The Art of the Possible: Mergers & Acquisitions Mar 22, 2022

You poured your heart and soul into making your business the best that it can be. Now that you’re ready to move on, you deserve a return that reflects all that hard work. But the process of selling a business is complicated: where do you find the right person to buy it, and how do you agree on a fair price? To complicate matters, for most business owners, this will be the first and last time they conduct a transaction of this magnitude. So, it’s important to get the advice of people who have been there before.

BJ Green sees all sorts of sales from his role as Cadence Bank’s Georgia Commercial Banking Executive. As for Mark Loeffler, Co-Founder and Managing Director of boutique investment bank VRA Partners, his job is to actually run these sales processes for small and mid-sized businesses. Together, they have a wealth of knowledge on valuations, mergers, and acquisitions—what BJ calls: “The Art of the Possible.” So, if midsize M&A is an art, consider these two da Vinci and Michaelangelo.

On this episode, we’ll cover the timeline and steps of the M&A process, ways to improve your valuation, and how to find the right partners. You’ll learn how to identify your objectives, navigate your team through a sales process and keep your business humming during it all. So, let’s merge our experiences and acquire some new knowledge on the art of selling a business.

Highlights:

What are your goals in selling the business? (3:55)
How to handle unsolicited offers (5:59)
Valuation: what goes into it (9:05)
Why valuations are currently high (12:41)
“The secret sauce”: What makes a company attractive to buyers (14:34)
How preparation can improve your company’s value (15:58)
Think like a buyer (18:47)
A sale is a team effort (19:11)
M&A is really creating a new partnership (24:39)
Sale timeline and process (26:11)
Managing your business during a sale (31:19)
Give yourself a head start (35:30)

Links:

· Cadence Bank Website

· Cadence Bank Twitter

· Cadence Bank LinkedIn

· BJ Green LinkedIn

· VRA Partners Website

· Mark Loeffler LinkedIn

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com

I Will Survive: COVID-19 and Crisis Management Mar 01, 2022

Summary:

COVID-19 has caused unprecedented business disruption over the past several years. Businesses had to implement essential health and safety protocols, shift to virtual, navigate changing regulations, and try to reach customers whose lives were equally upended. Everyone has struggled to find balance, and many businesses had to close their doors permanently. Though we hopefully won’t see another pandemic in our lifetimes, there’s a lot to learn from COVID-19.

Today we talk to two very different businesses who found ways to successfully navigate the pandemic. Wildwood Electronics, a women-owned contractor for NASA and the Department of Defense, was deemed an essential business and had to keep their employees safe while staying open. Phase Three Star, a fast-food franchisor with more than 80 restaurants, pivoted their whole service model to protect employees and keep serving customers. Both companies used similar grit and leadership to survive. Today, we dive into the decisions they made to keep their businesses afloat.

Lori Underwood is the vice president of Wildwood Electronics. She details the creative ways that Wildwood emphasized employee safety and security. Jack Kemp, CEO of Phase Three Star, is an Army veteran and graduate of Harvard Business School. He shares the relationships he leaned on the most, and how he stopped being reactive and started being proactive. They’re joined by their dedicated Cadence bankers, Robert Curtis, North Alabama market executive, and Dan Holland, executive vice president of restaurant banking, who guided them and many others through these difficult years. All of them stress the importance of listening and communicating—with employees, partners, vendors and customers.

COVID-19 also accelerated trends amongst these businesses and forced them to implement future solutions to solve current problems. We’ll hear from Lori and Jack about how much their companies have changed since 2020, and how they’re using strategies they’ve learned in the pandemic to achieve success out of it.

So, join us for this masterclass in crisis management to hear from people whose expertise was proven through the gauntlet of the past two years. That way, you’ll be prepared for the next crisis that hits your business, even if it isn’t on a global scale.

Highlights:

How Jack & Lori dealt with pandemic uncertainty (9:07)
Be decisive (10:17)
Survival is a team effort (11:49)
The importance of vendors who understand your business (15:05)
PPP & using every resource at your disposal (16:09)
Leveraging existing relationships (18:09)
Communication is critical (19:43)
Surviving is a win (24:35)
The new normal (26:19)
Robert and Dan on how companies have become more resilient (29:25)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com

It Takes All of Us: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Feb 15, 2022

Diversity, equity, inclusion—these are fundamental ideals. Everybody can agree that it’s good to be diverse, equitable and inclusive. But if you don’t have the right plan, they can fall short of expectations. Plenty of companies have made commitments to DE&I in the past two years, but without a full understanding of both the benefits and challenges of the work, you might find yourself right back where you started. So, what is diversity, equity and inclusion? Why is it needed? And what does it mean for your organization specifically?

Myra Caldwell and Tori Farmer have firsthand experience answering these questions. Myra is Cadence Bank’s Chief Diversity Officer, and along with Tori, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at KPMG, she’s crafted and helmed Cadence’s DE&I strategy over the past 18 months. Myra and Tori are here to share how you can implement a plan specific to your business, no matter how big. Because your employees, suppliers, customers and partners are experiencing your culture every day, whether you have a plan or not. And when you work hard to intentionally change things for the better, those benefits can be felt across the board.

Myra and her team have not only created distinct programs to educate and uplift coworkers and community members, they’ve forged a culture where everyone is moving together towards a common purpose. But it didn’t happen overnight. Together we’ll show you how to evaluate your business, set up measurable goals, and have the hard, necessary conversations that this work entails. Plus, we’ll share how Cadence has progressed and reassessed on its DE&I journey—how far we’ve come and how far there still is to go. One company isn’t going to solve the problem, but, together, we can move the needle towards a more just, accepting world.

Highlights:

How Tori Farmer defines DE&I (5:13)
The business case for DE&I (10:15)
Where to start with implementing equitable practices (12:24)
How Cadence assessed itself and found a starting point (16:08)
Can you make changes if your business is small? (19:09)
The Cadence DE&I programs (25:26)
How to extend your efforts beyond your workplace and into the community (28:47)
DE&I and The Great Resignation (30:35)
Trusting the Process (33:50)
The Gift of Imperfection (35:43)

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Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Saving the Day: Becoming a Cybersecurity Superhero Jan 25, 2022

You’ve probably got a security system for your building, with locks on your doors and safes for your important documents. But criminals don’t just try to take what’s in your cash register anymore. As the world shifts increasingly online, there are more and more opportunities for fraudsters and cybercriminals to intercept your money and data. And it takes more than anti-virus software to keep yourself safe. But your specialty isn’t cloud computing, it’s your business. So how do you keep up with the ever-changing world of cybersecurity?

Fortunately, there are people like Lori Johnson and Tracy Dalton, from the Treasury Management Team at Cadence Bank. They make it their business to keep up with trends in cybercrime so they can best protect their clients. Through their work with a broad range of customers, they see companies’ most commonly-targeted weak points; and they’re not what you’d suspect.

Cybercrime can be devastating, and nobody is completely safe. Companies of all sizes are targeted, and breaches can cause loss of consumer confidence, in addition to whatever is stolen. Lori and Tracy will escort us through the dangerous underbelly of fraud as we talk the size of the threat, cybersecurity best practices, and how to get employee buy-in. So keep your head on a swivel and listen to our cyber self-defense class!

Highlights:

The types of threats you can face (3:06)
How many businesses are affected? (6:40)
How to evaluate your current security setup (9:04)
A great model for cybersecurity (11:54)
The importance of educating your employees (12:40)
Creating internal controls (13:58)
Cybersecurity tools offered by your bank (15:40)
Positive Pay & ACH Positive Pay (16:43)
Constant vigilance (19:29)

Links:

Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com

It’s the Economy, Stupid: The Fed, Economic Policy, and You Nov 16, 2021

Highlights:

What is (and isn’t) “the economy” (1:53)
Is inflation bad? (4:31)
How healthy is our economy (7:32)
What’s different about our current economy than previous ones (9:21)
Who’s in charge of economic policy (10:57)
Explaining federal interest rates (13:53)
Quick and dirty quantitative easing (16:02)
How the Fed responded to COVID (20:19)
Understanding how economic policy will affect your business (25:21)
Economic policy and the business lifecycle (27:50)

Links:

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com

Changing the Game: Alternative Lenders and the Disruption Mindset Nov 09, 2021

Highlights:

The definition of disruption (2:42)
How to enter the market as a disruptive company (4:48)
How to defend your business against disruption (7:38)
What banks are doing to adapt to evolving technology (12:13)
What is alternative lending (15:55)
What makes an alternative loan different (18:39)
Where do alternative lenders get their money (21:19)
The pros and cons of using an alternative lender (23:03)
Conducting due diligence as a borrower (27:01)

Links:

Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com

New Beginnings: Getting Ready to Start Your Business Oct 26, 2021

Starting a new business is one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking moments in a person’s life. The stakes are high: depending on your situation, your whole net worth could be on the line. So how can you make sure that you’re in a position to succeed?

On this episode of In Good Companies, we’re talking business beginnings—the things you can do to prepare for what’s ahead. Guests Alan Thomes (Managing Director of SBA Banking, Cadence Bank) and Allan Adams (State Director, University of Georgia SBDC) join us to discuss bulletproof business plans, funding options, and developing relationships with key stakeholders. Together, we’ll uncover key resources, like expert consultation (for free!) from the Small Business Development Center and low-risk loans through the Small Business Administration. You’ll learn who you need to talk to and how to avoid the pitfalls of overexcited entrepreneurship.

Business isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon—and nobody rolls out of bed and runs a marathon without training. Preparation is essential and the more prepared you are, the more confidence you’ll have as issues arise. So let us guide you to the starting line, and when the bell rings and you open your doors, you’ll be ready.

Highlights:

The dangers of overexcited entrepreneurship (2:07)
Doing your homework (5:41)
How the SBDC helps entrepreneurs (7:10)
Crafting a business plan (11:09)
The 5 C’s of Credit (12:11)
How a solid business plan can open doors (14:19)
Funding options (15:22)
Introduction to the SBA and 7a Loans (18:24)
Why you need to create a relationship with your lender (22:51)
Think of your bank as a partner (24:43)

Links:

Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com

Introducing In Good Companies Oct 21, 2021

Introducing In Good Companies, launching October 2021.

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