Lead with Culture

Latest Episodes:

Cultivating Authentic Leadership Through Mission-Driven Values featuring Rev. John Belmonte Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

“We believe authentic leadership rooted in mission and courage transforms school communities.”

In this episode, Rev. John Belmonte, S.J., Ph.D., Superintendent of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Venice, Florida, shares how cultivating leadership grounded in core virtues has fueled growth and success in one of the fastest-growing Catholic school systems in the country. John explains the importance of developing school leaders both personally and professionally, focusing on authenticity, drive, and managerial courage. From strategic planning to hiring with mission alignment, he reveals how investing in leaders creates thriving cultures where teachers and students excel.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How mission-driven leadership inspires excellence in education
The role of courage and authenticity in effective school leadership
Strategies for hiring and supporting leaders who embody core values

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:20) John’s background and Jesuit education

(04:30) The importance of leadership rooted in mission and virtue

(08:15) How courage shapes leadership and decision-making

(12:00) Creating a culture where leaders and teachers thrive

(15:30) The strategic role of hiring aligned with mission

(19:00) Supporting leaders personally and professionally

(22:45) Reflections on growth, enrollment, and future challenges

Resources:

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How to Coach Top Performers May 20, 2025

Show notes

“Create stretch, not stress.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, Michele Marquis, Senior Executive Coach at Floyd Consulting, shares five essential strategies for coaching top performers—those team members who seem to “have it all together” but still need support, recognition, and growth. Michele explains why over-relying on high performers can lead to burnout and missed opportunities, and how to invest in these team members to fuel long-term success.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How to motivate A-players without overwhelming them
The importance of recognizing how outcomes are achieved
Why coaching high performers creates a ripple effect across the team

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) The gift of coaching

(04:45) Fueling your A-players

(10:15) Create stretch, not stress

(11:13) Understanding career goals

(14:45) Recognizing top performers

(19:24) Investing in your team

(22:08) Asking for feedback

(28:12) Homework to apply to your team

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams:

https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Resources:

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Michele Marquis’ LinkedIn

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Making the Most Out of Your Fourth Quarter of Life May 13, 2025

Show notes

“Regrets are the result of neglecting what matters most.”

In this inspiring episode of Lead with Culture, host Kate Volman unpacks the wisdom behind The Fourth Quarter of Your Life by Matthew Kelly and Alan Hunt. Whether you’re in your 20s or your bonus years, Kate invites you to reflect on your life’s trajectory, explore how to reduce regrets, and start living with more purpose and intention. Drawing on real stories, timeless virtues, and a powerful 25-year plan, this episode offers a hopeful roadmap to becoming the best version of yourself—no matter where you are on your journey.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why regrets are more common than we think—and what we can learn from them
How to be more intentional with your time, energy, and dreams
The courage it takes to pursue a meaningful life

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:00) What “the fourth quarter of life” actually means

(03:00) The biggest regrets shared by hospice nurses

(05:00) How to reduce regret through intentional living

(06:00) Why the 25-year plan is a game-changer

(07:20) The fourth quarter virtue: patience

(08:30) Choosing your personal virtue for the next year

(09:30) Helping others dream again

(10:30) The power of decade thinking

(11:45) Taking action before another year flies by

(12:45) How coaching can help you hold yourself accountable

Resources:

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Building a $300M Company by Putting People First featuring Tommy Mello May 06, 2025

Show notes

“The Dream Manager will be a program we do forever.”

In this episode, Tommy Mello, owner of A1 Garage Door Service, joins Tony Ferraro for a special on-the-road edition of Lead with Culture. From $50,000 in debt to building a $300M business, Tommy shares the hard-earned lessons that helped him transform his company—and his people.

He dives into why culture must be intentional, how systems empower personal growth, and why The Dream Manager program is now a non-negotiable at A1 Garage. Whether you’re leading a home service team or scaling any people-first business, this episode is a roadmap to sustainable impact.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why the phrase “we’re a family” might be holding your team back—and what to say instead
How culture built on vision, discipline, and accountability scales a business
The tangible ROI of implementing the Dream Manager program

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(00:37) Meet Tommy Mello

(02:06) Defining a winning culture

(03:52) Challenges and growth

(07:53) Implementing The Dream Manager Program

(09:54) Impact of The Dream Manager Program

(13:32) The importance of systems and decisiveness

(19:16) Tommy's big dream

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Resources:

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Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

Cultivating Strong Leadership Through Personal Growth featuring Jessica Pfau Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

“We are creating a workplace where dreams are not only supported but celebrated.”

In this episode, Jessica Pfau, CEO of Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers, shares how the Dream Manager Program has become a vital part of her organization’s culture. Jessica explains how investing in her team’s personal growth has led to remarkable success—both for employees and the company. From handling personal challenges like a cancer diagnosis to growing the company from 150 to nearly 400 employees, Jessica demonstrates how focusing on the well-being and dreams of her staff leads to a thriving work environment.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How the Dream Manager Program fosters personal and professional development
Strategies for navigating adversity while leading a company
How aligning personal dreams with work goals drives success

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:15) Lighthouse’s work with Floyd Coaching

(03:00) Overcoming personal and professional challenges while leading

(06:30) The power of the Dream Manager Program in employee development

(09:00) How leadership drives a values-based culture

(11:45) The role of trust and transparency in the workplace

(14:00) Personal growth and team success through The Dream Manager

(17:00) How to implement The Dream Manager Program effectively

(20:00) Reflections on leadership, personal dreams, and company success

Resources:

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What If The Problem Isn’t The Problem? Featuring Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

“I would like to contribute to a world where people are better at solving the right problems.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg, author of What’s Your Problem? and expert in the art of reframing, joins Kate Volman to explore why so many leaders struggle to identify the real problems holding their teams back despite their experience. He explains how reframing can be a quick, powerful, and repeatable practice that improves collaboration, decision-making, and innovation.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why reframing is the overlooked superpower of great leaders
How to apply Thomas’s five-step method to real-life workplace (and personal) challenges
Simple strategies to make problem-solving a team-wide habit

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(02:20) Challenges leaders face today

(04:52) The importance of reframing problems

(13:50) Developing a problem-solving framework

(24:38) Understanding the components of effective leadership

(25:23) Rethinking goals and success

(26:13) The power of reframing problems

(32:43) Exploring bright spots and personal examples

(44:05) Maintaining momentum and practical applications

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Creating a Dream-Focused Workplace featuring Alyssa Ruble Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

“When they come into work now, they’re happy and excited because work is not just an obligation; it’s helping them achieve their dreams.”

In this episode, Alyssa Ruble, Dream Manager at Chick-fil-A Greenwood, shares how The Dream Manager Program is transforming the culture at Chick-fil-A by investing in employees’ personal and professional growth. Alyssa discusses how this unique program empowers team members to achieve their dreams and develop skills that not only improve their lives but also contribute to the organization’s success. She explains the challenges and rewards of rolling out The Dream Manager Program, the hesitations employees initially had, and how trust and commitment ultimately turned it into a cornerstone of their workplace culture.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How The Dream Manager Program creates a culture of support and growth
The power of leadership involvement in personal development
Ways to overcome skepticism and build trust in innovative programs

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:15) Meet Alyssa Ruble: Dream Manager at Chick-fil-A

(02:30) The impact of the Dream Manager Program

(05:00) Overcoming skepticism and building trust

(08:15) Employee growth through the Dream Manager sessions

(10:00) Leadership involvement in personal development

(12:45) Creating a culture of recognition and support

(15:30) The future of Dream Manager at Chick-fil-A

(18:00) The role of community and connection in employee success

(20:00) The importance of acknowledging each other’s dreams

(22:30) The long-term impact of the Dream Manager program

Resources:

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Embracing the Gift of Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

“True leisure is a condition of the soul, not the absence of work.”

In this special episode of Lead with Culture, host Kate Volman invites us to reflect on the life-changing message in Matthew Kelly’s book Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy. Drawing from the book’s powerful themes, Kate explores why so many leaders struggle with rest, what real leisure looks like, and how embracing stillness can lead to a more joyful, human way of living.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why work is easier than leisure—and why that’s a problem
How rest can help you show up as your best self
The joy of doing things with no outcome attached

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:00) “Slowing down to the speed of joy isn’t just a book, it’s a way of life”

(03:00) “Leisure teaches us to become a person oriented toward the whole of reality”

(04:00) Why we’re bad at leisure

(05:00) What leisure actually looks like for you

(06:00) “Work is easier than leisure”

(07:00) Joy as a source of energy

(08:00) “Leisure requires that we learn to do nothing”

(09:00) Two questions to help you slow down

Resources:

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The Power of Employee Recognition featuring Aaron Johnson Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

“Sometimes the greatest memory an employee might have in their career is receiving direct recognition from a C-level employee or a leader in an organization.”

In this episode of Lead with Culture, Aaron Johnson, Culture Advocate at Bucketlist Rewards and Recognition, joins Kate Volman to discuss the powerful role of recognition in creating a dynamic culture and retaining top talent. Aaron explains how personalized rewards and real-time appreciation make employees feel truly valued, whether they work on-site, remotely, or across multiple locations. He also shares strategies for gathering the right data, tailoring rewards to each person’s life stage, and ensuring leadership sets the tone by actively participating in the recognition process.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The importance of personalized rewards that adapt to different life stages
Ways leadership involvement amplifies the impact of any recognition program
Simple methods to start building a culture of appreciation today

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:01) Meet Aaron Johnson: culture advocate

(01:10) The Bucket List Rewards program

(03:16) The impact of recognition on employees

(04:47) Challenges in employee recognition

(07:32) Personalized rewards and employee surveys

(09:56) Retention and engagement strategies

(11:36) Remote work and communication tools

(13:09) Creative recognition ideas

(13:21) Leadership involvement in recognition

(14:14) The Dream Manager Program

(14:53) Identifying key roles in recognition

(15:19) Successful recognition practices

(20:42) Implementing recognition programs

Resources:

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Building a Purpose-Driven Workplace featuring Patty Croom Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

“As soon as you start dreaming and you complete a dream, that's a win. And you can build off of that and you can start seeking out more dreams that you want to achieve.

In this episode of Lead with Culture, Patty Croom, Human Resources Director at Lehan Drugs, returns to share how The Dream Manager Program continues to shape their workplace two years after implementation. With nearly half of employees participating, the program has strengthened engagement, personal growth, and company culture. Patty highlights Certified Dream Manager Jenelle Robers’ role in creating a supportive environment where employees achieve both big and small wins. She also reflects on her own journey of writing and publishing a book, an experience that brought both challenge and inspiration.

In this episode, you’ll discover: