Building Legendary Leaders

Scaling Culture, Not Just Business

Leadership doesn’t break when strategy fails—it breaks when people stop believing in the direction.
This conversation is about what happens before execution: trust, shared vision, coaching, and the discipline required to build culture across radically different backgrounds. From scaling founder-led companies to uniting global teams, Marne Martin shares how real performance is unlocked when leaders stop controlling and start connecting.
If you’re navigating growth, acquisitions, or cultural friction—this one hits home.
Key Discussion Points
00:00 – Why leadership breaks down during growth01:36 – From cattle ranches to global CEO: the foundation of grit03:05 – Why people must come before process and technology06:13 – Vision, mission, purpose—why the label matters less than belief08:35 – Bridging founder culture to performance culture12:12 – The leadership mistake that kills alignment14:06 – Why culture takes years, not months15:55 – Communication is about listening, not speaking17:18 – Coaching as the real measure of leadership19:01 – Developing leaders from the frontline to the C-suite21:12 – Why flat organizations outperform layered ones23:52 – The question every future leader should be asked27:13 – Coaching wins vs. obsessing over failure29:40 – Trust as the engine of learning and transformation31:17 – How curiosity accelerates performance35:20 – Lessons from growing up on a ranch41:49 – One word every leader should anchor to: Joy
Because leadership gets better when we actually talk about what works.
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#Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #Culture #Coaching #PeopleFirst #OrganizationalGrowth #CEO #Management #PerformanceCulture #BuildingLegendaryLeaders

The Ripple Effect of Mentorship—with Olga Violett | Building Legendary Leaders | EP 108

Most leaders focus on processes and technology because they're easy to see and measure. But what if the real competitive advantage lies in something completely different?Olga Violett, Vice President of Operations turned Product Management and CX Principal, shares why creating workplace happiness isn't soft skills—it's strategic leadership. She reveals how trust accelerates results, why vulnerability builds credibility rather than exposing weakness, and the ripple effect that occurs when you invest in people instead of just managing them.This conversation challenges everything you thought you knew about feedback, team building, and what it truly takes to develop leaders, rather than just directing employees.Key Discussion Points03:06 - The Agile Happiness Catalyst: What It Really Means04:27 - Why People Matter More Than Process07:04 - Building Trust That Accelerates Results09:06 - Developing People vs. Directing Them12:27 - The Real Power of One-on-Ones14:16 - Letting Teams Choose Their Own Work16:43 - Making Feedback a Daily Tool, Not an Annual Event20:28 - Turning Weaknesses Into Advantages22:12 - Using Vulnerability to Build Team Trust24:26 - Why You Should Hire for Unknown Problems25:24 - The Ripple Effect of Mentorship27;16 - Why Growing Your Team Grows You Faster28:27 - The Micromanagement Trap31:01 - The Secret to Creating Lasting Impact33:19 - From Budapest to Building Leaders35:10 - Growth Mindset Origins39:13 - How to Connect with OlgaIf you're still treating leadership like a title instead of a relationship, you're leaving so much on the table.👍 Hit like if this resonates 🔔 Follow for more real talk on leadership 💬 Drop a comment—what's your biggest leadership blind spot? 🔗 Tag someone who needs to shift from boss to mentorConnect with Olga ViolettLinkedIn: Olga ViolettEmail: olgaviolett@gmail.com#Leadership #Mentorship #WorkplaceCulture #AgileLeadership #PeopleFirst #TrustInLeadership #VulnerabilityInLeadership #TeamDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #TransformationalLeadership #BuildingLegendaryLeaders #ExecutiveCoaching #OrganizationalCulture #GrowthMindset #EmployeeEngagement

Courageous Leadership in Action with Warren Bryant | Building Legendary Leaders | EP 107

What happens when you walk away from being the expert and step into a role where credibility isn’t guaranteed?This conversation explores what leadership really looks like when titles don’t carry authority, KPIs can either help or hurt, and progress depends more on listening than speaking. From engineering and quality to product marketing and P&L thinking, Warren Bryant shares what it takes to lead at a higher altitude—without losing trust, speed, or yourself in the process.This one is for leaders navigating career pivots, complex stakeholder environments, and moments where clarity matters more than control.Key Discussion Points00:00 – Why leadership breaks when people are ignored02:00 – Leading at a higher altitude: tradeoffs, roadmaps, revenue03:45 – Why people management matters more than technical mastery05:00 – Turning failure into momentum instead of morale loss06:30 – Learning from what worked, not just what failed08:00 – Setting expectations and eliminating business surprises09:10 – When everything goes sideways despite doing “everything right”10:45 – The KPIs that actually matter (and the ones that quietly destroy culture)13:10 – Why bad KPIs create bad behavior14:40 – Walking away from mastery into a completely new role17:00 – How to rebuild credibility when you’re the outsider19:15 – Listening past the PowerPoint to find real customer pain21:05 – Career pivots: when to move, how to stay the course23:00 – Leading without authority in full crisis mode24:45 – Delegation that scales instead of bottlenecks26:10 – Running your product line like you’re the CEO28:00 – Early curiosity, failure, and building instincts as a leader30:30 – Leadership lessons from racing, mentoring, and teaching others33:40 – Why success should still be funIf this conversation challenged how you think about leadership: 👍 Show support by liking the episode 🔔 Subscribe for honest conversations about authentic leadership 💬 Share the insight that hit closest to home 🔗 Pass this along to someone navigating a career shift or leadership stretch#LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerGrowth #ProductLeadership #LeadingWithoutAuthority #BusinessStrategy #EngineeringLeadership #Management #ProfessionalDevelopment #BuildingLegendaryLeaders

Why Speed is a Leadership System with Chris Nelson | Building Legendary Leaders | EP 106

Speed isn’t just a metric; it’s a leadership advantage.In this episode, Chris Nelson breaks down how urgency, tighter feedback loops, transparency, and empowered decision-making reshape culture and accelerate execution. From shifting away from command-and-control structures to creating a cadence teams can rely on, this conversation reveals what it takes to build momentum inside fast-moving organizations.If you're navigating transformation, scaling a team, or trying to reduce friction in communication and alignment—this conversation is going to feel uncomfortably relatable.Key Discussion Points01:06 — Why Speed Is a Leadership System02:05 — Short Loops & Behavior Change04:07 — The 60% Decision Rule06:21 — Planning vs. Responsiveness07:08 — Urgency → Purpose → Prioritization09:52 — Iteration Over Escalation10:59 — Transparency as a Cultural Shift12:39 — Empowerment vs. Information Hoarding15:45 — When Transparency Slows Things Down (Before It Speeds Up)17:29 — The Feedback Flywheel19:49 — Multi-Channel Communication Strategy22:09 — What People Want to Hear (Hint: Strategy, Recognition & Impact)23:27 — Cadence + Rhythm + Iteration25:52 — Keeping Stakeholders Aligned26:30 — Agile Without Chaos27:57 — Experimentation: The Advantage in the AI Era30:47 — Serendipity, Curiosity & Career Growth33:20 — Books, Learning & Leadership Habits34:31 — Empathy, Trust & Distributed Decision-Making35:53 — Closing Thoughts + Connection InfoBefore you move on to the next thing—pause and reflect.Speed becomes a habit only when we act with intention.Don't forget to: 👍 Like if the message hit home 🔔 Subscribe to follow the next conversation 💬 Comment with your most significant insight 🔗 Share with someone who leads people (or wants to)#Leadership #ExecutiveMindset #DecisionMaking #OrganizationalCulture #BusinessStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #HighPerformanceTeams #DigitalTransformation #AgileLeadership #FutureOfWork

Leading Through Growth and Change with Lauren McTiernan | Building Legendary Leaders | EP 105

Bridging two brands, two cultures, and two ways of working isn’t for the faint of heart—but it’s where growth truly lives. In this conversation, Lauren McTiernan, Senior Director of Customer Operations & Fulfillment at Crocs, breaks down what it really takes to align fast-moving teams, build shared priorities, experiment your way forward, and keep people energized when customer expectations never stop evolving.From the realities of merging Crocs and HEYDUDE to the leadership lessons that shaped her 17-year journey, this episode delivers grounded insights for leaders navigating complexity, change, and rapid growth.KEY DISCUSSION POINTS00:00 – Why this conversation matters for leaders navigating growth01:14 – Lauren’s 17-year journey at Crocs and what kept her energized03:46 – Inside the acquisition of HEYDUDE04:39 – Culture differences: stable processes vs. startup experimentation05:34 – Fun at work and why it’s often misunderstood06:53 – The power of celebrating wins (and why leaders don’t do it enough)08:11 – Recognizing teams in a remote-first world09:03 – Bridging cultures: where things stand today10:20 – The “one team” North Star for Crocs and HEYDUDE11:19 – Setting priorities when every function has its own agenda12:24 – The leadership program shaping Crocs’ future13:19 – Support vs. collaboration: the difference that moves organizations14:21 – When subsidizing becomes a trap15:57 – Survival through positivity and opportunity-spotting16:33 – How Crocs does continuous improvement17:01 – Experiments, pilots, and quick wins18:02 – In-person vs. virtual collaboration19:17 – Bringing teams together: cadence and strategy20:06 – Advice for leaders facilitating cross-team alignment21:30 – Helping teams stay steady during increased customer demand22:56 – Why communication must match personality (Insight Colors)24:20 – The Crocs collection we had to ask about25:40 – Childhood insights: values, twin dynamics, and finding joy in work27:45 – People, happiness, and the energy we feed off at work29:59 – Family, communication, and learning to navigate conflict30:26 – Leadership advice: change is your greatest teacher31:21 – Closing and next steps for listenersBefore you run to your next meeting full of “priorities,” remember to:👍 Lift this episode up with a like🔔 Subscribe for conversations that help you lead with clarity, calm, and courage💬 Drop your biggest insight: which idea will you bring back to your team?🔗 Share this with a leader who’s navigating change and needs a boost today#LeadershipDevelopment #CultureBuilding #ChangeManagement #TeamAlignment #ContinuousImprovement #BusinessGrowth #CustomerExperience #LeadershipPodcast #Crocs #HEYDUDE #OperationalExcellence #PeopleLeadership #ScalingTeams

The Art of Reinvention with Sir Shefik Macauley | Building Legendary Leaders | EP 104

A conversation that cuts through the noise and goes straight to the part most people avoid—self-trust. Not the motivational-poster version, but the kind that forces you to sit still long enough to hear your own voice instead of the one telling you you’re not enough.Sir Shefik Macauley shares how he navigated a 30+ year career spanning mass communications, Olympic tech, music, television, NASA Space Apps, global community service, and even six international knightings—all while grounding everything in presence, purpose, and the discipline of self-trust.This episode explores presence, purpose, and what it truly means to measure success without relying on numbers. It's a reminder that the journey doesn't stop until we do—and that trusting the process is less about confidence and more about commitment.KEY DISCUSSION POINTS00:28 – Introducing Sir Shefik Macauley01:15 – Emmy wins, six knightings & a career across impossible industries02:24 – Framing today’s conversation: trust, reinvention, creativity & service03:40 – How Shefik connected worlds: Olympics tech, NASA, NBC, community service06:20 – Pivoting after rejection & building a career from scratch09:05 – Longevity lessons from working with legendary artists11:10 – Pivoting across industries while carrying relationships forward13:05 – What trust really requires—and why it begins with self-trust15:02 – The “voice in your head”: how to identify where it actually comes from17:10 – Understanding your environment: the inner and outer landscape19:30 – Trusting the destination even before you understand the path21:48 – Navigating denial, setbacks, and expectations that collapse24:32 – Trial, error, and experimentation as a leadership discipline27:20 – Living in a constant state of incubation: always learning, always growing29:05 – How Shefik earned 1,000+ LinkedIn Learning certificates31:50 – Arriving with the right mindset & elevating everyone around you33:42 – Balancing left brain and right brain as a creative technologist36:10 – Why creativity + engineering aren’t opposites37:40 – Service without burnout: how he keeps giving without collapsing40:02 – Carrying others’ stories and baggage—and letting them carry yours42:15 – Practical lessons for emerging leaders44:50 – Two ears, one mouth: listening between the lines47:30 – The journey behind being knighted six times53:15 – Becoming a UN Special Envoy & representing a royal house55:08 – Childhood roots: where the journey truly began57:10 – Obstacles, denials, and how they shaped his leadership path59:44 – Losing his first corporate job & what it taught him about loyalty1:02:10 – How to reach Shefik + NASA Space Apps Yonkers1:03:05 – Closing reflections and next steps for listenersYou’ll walk away with perspective-shifting lessons on failure, reinvention, managing energy, left-brain/right-brain leadership, and how to build credibility without losing yourself in the process.If this conversation expanded your perspective:👍 Give this video a like to support more conversations that challenge the way we lead🔔 Subscribe so you don’t miss new stories from leaders reshaping the world💬 Drop a comment with the insight that hit you hardest—someone else will learn from it🔗 Share this with a leader who’s navigating reinvention, trust, or a big pivot right now#SelfTrust #MindsetShift #PurposeDrivenLife #PersonalGrowthJourney #LeadershipMindset #TheProcess #InnerVoice #Authenticity #GrowthCulture #ContinuousImprovement

Leading without Authority with Julia Elliott | Building Legendary Leaders | EP 103

What does it take to lead when you don't have the title? Julia Elliott, Director of Product Strategy and Operations at Google, shares her unconventional path from electrical engineering to enterprise product leadership.In this episode, you will discover:• How an engineering mindset translates to business leadership• The art of influencing without authority across startups and big tech• Why understanding motivations is the key to stakeholder alignment• How to scale from 10 to 600 people without losing agility• The role of purpose in building legendary leadershipLeadership isn't about the title on your business card—it's about the clarity you bring and the purpose you inspire. Julia Elliott proved that influence comes from understanding people, empowering teams, and leading with intention.So here's the question: What's the one thing you bring to the table that no one else does? Once you know that answer, you're already leading.🔔 Subscribe to Building Legendary Leaders so you never miss an episode.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Meet Julia Elliott 01:18 - Leading Without Authority: What We're Covering Today03:26 - From Engineering to Product Leadership 05:18 - Why Engineers Struggle with Communication (And How Julia Bridged the Gap) 07:12 - The Group Project Advantage: Organizing Chaos Early 08:29 - Influencing Without a Title: Finding Your Brand 10:07 - Taking Enterprise to Upwork: Convincing a Consumer Company 11:21 - Advice for Early Leaders: Know Yourself First 14:17 - The Google Transition: Startup Agility Meets Tech Giant16:35 - Navigating the Sea of Stakeholders 18:20 - Understanding Motivations: The WIIFM Principle 21:03 - Shaping Your Leadership Identity Through Purpose 23:17 - Drive: Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose 24:29 - Engaging Talent at Scale: Empowerment Through Clarity26:18 - Growing Up in Hershey: The Immigrant Legacy 28:15 - Carrying Forward the Legacy of Gratitude 30:24 - Parenting with Purpose: Teaching Kindness and Community 31:17 - Final Takeaway: Lead with Purpose 32:58 - How to Connect with Julia Elliott #Leadership #ProductManagement #GoogleCareers #CareerAdvice #TechLeadership

Hiring, Culture, and Growth: Lessons from a Telehealth Trailblazer | Dr. Pamela Ograbisz | Building Legendary Leaders | EP 102

What does it take to build a telehealth empire from scratch? Dr. Pamela Ograbisz, VP of Clinical Operations at Locum Tenens, shares the unfiltered truth about hiring, firing, and leading teams through explosive growth.In this comprehensive episode of Building Legendary Leaders, Dr. Ograbisz takes us behind the scenes of building a multimillion-dollar-per-month telehealth division that now serves six states. From her first hire that didn't work out to successfully merging teams from an acquired company, she reveals the leadership lessons most executives learn the hard way.Key Timestamps:00:02:33 - How the telehealth division started and building from a team of one00:03:23 - The story of the first hire and what went wrong00:05:51 - The three questions every hiring manager needs to answer00:07:03 - When to recognize a hire isn't the right fit00:08:47 - How team dynamics change when scaling from 1 to 6 people00:10:50 - Successfully merging teams from a sister company without losing anyone00:14:17 - The biggest hurdle: managing a client panel in disarray00:17:18 - The experiment that failed: unspoken expectations breeding resentment00:19:06 - Setting clear career paths and making promotions transparent00:22:47 - Working across multi-functional teams and becoming a better leader00:24:02 - The evolution from telling to asking questions00:26:21 - Why asking questions gets more buy-in than giving orders00:28;46 - Advice for leaders starting out: get honest 360 feedback00:30:25 - Childhood lessons: watching mom lead with grace and accountability00:33:04 - Balancing career and family with two daughters00:36:08 - How to connect with Dr. Pamela OgrabiszWhat You'll Learn:Dr. Ograbisz shares the three-question framework for evaluating every hire: Can they do the job? Will they love the job? Can you stand working with them? She explains why cultural fit often matters more than credentials and how to spot the warning signs when someone isn't adapting to your business model.You'll hear the honest story of her first hire that didn't work out after a year, and why making an internal hire proved more successful. She breaks down the concept of ROI for team members—every person is an investment that needs to produce returns.Learn how small teams evolve as they grow, the challenges of maintaining friendships while respecting hierarchy, and why change management is the hardest part of leadership. Dr. Ograbisz successfully absorbed a sister company's team without losing a single person using a "push and pull" feedback system.Discover what happens when expectations are left unspoken during rapid growth, why even successful teams need clear North Star vision, and how to create transparent promotion paths that eliminate favoritism.The most powerful shift in Dr. Ograbisz' leadership? Moving from telling to asking. Coming from high-pressure cardiothoracic surgery where answers needed to be immediate, she learned that asking probing questions gets more buy-in and develops stronger leaders. Her favorite question: "I know you've been thinking about this—catch me up on your thoughts."👍 If this episode helped you, give it a thumbs up!🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights from executives who've done the hard work💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments below📤 Share this with a leader who's building or scaling a team#Leadership #TeamBuilding #ExecutiveLeadership #Telehealth #HealthcareLeadership #ManagementTips #CareerGrowth #BusinessStrategy #WomenInLeadership #HiringTips #ScalingTeams #ChangeManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #NursePractitioner #BuildingLegendaryLeaders

Introducing Building Legionary Leaders | Building Legendary Leaders | EP 101

Welcome to the very first episode of Building Legendary Leaders! In this special debut episode, host Jim Saliba gets put in the hot seat as producer Nick asks the questions. Discover the inspiration behind the podcast, Jim's unique approach to leadership development, and the personal journey that shaped his philosophy on building legendary leaders.What You'll Learn:• The Leadership Impact Ladder: The 3 levels that matter more than your title• Why it takes 10 years for most leaders to get proper training (and what they're doing wrong)• The 4 fears of leadership that every leader faces• How to turn childhood fears into leadership superpowers• The experiment-based approach to leadership development• Real case studies from telehealth, tech, and healthcare industriesChapters01:25 - The shocking 10-year leadership training gap03:58 - Introduction to the Leadership Impact Ladder08:18 - Team building challenges in growing companies18:21 - The risk-taking revelation from college friends25:39 - The scientific approach to leadership experiments33:05 - From fear to lifelong learning transformationJim Saliba is a leadership expert, executive coach, and author of the upcoming book "Leading Like a CEO." With decades of experience in transformation and change management, Jim specializes in helping directors, VPs, and C-suite executives navigate the messy reality of leadership growth."Your Leadership Journey Starts Monday Morning"🎯 Ready to stop struggling and start leading like a legend?SUBSCRIBE to Building Legendary Leaders and DOWNLOAD my free Leadership Impact Assessment at jamessaliba.com/assessmentYour team is waiting for the leader you're becoming. Let's build something legendary together! 🚀

Building Legendary Leaders Podcast

Building Legendary Leaders is a leadership podcast for executives who want to stop firefighting and start leading strategically. Hosted by executive coach James ‘Jim’ Saliba, the show brings candid conversations with leaders of leaders who have faced high-stakes challenges and learned how to lead with clarity, presence, and purpose. Each episode turns real leadership moments into frameworks and actions that can be applied immediately.The vision is to create a space where senior leaders can reflect openly, share lessons learned, and model the adaptability today's business climate demands. Guests include Directors, VPS, and C-suite executives, HR and L&D leaders, published authors, researchers, and influential voices shaping leadership in high-pressure industries. Their stories give listeners both the insight and the courage to lead at scale.