The Leadership and Learning Podcast

Hosted by Randy Goruk

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176

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Nov 2026

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About the show

The Leadership and Learning Podcast is a professional development resource for the building materials industry. The target audience is for all levels of leaders in any industry. However, it is definitely the podcast for you if you're an emerging leader or involved in managing / leading anyone in the building material industry. You will benefit from this podcast if you're in manufacturing, distribution, sales, accounting, human resources, customer service or technical support or active. Industry associations, college and high school students will also benefit from the lessons shared in this podcast. We will bring you an abundance of valuable leadership content. We'll do this by bringing you recorded conversations on leadership lessons and insights from various building material industry leaders, industry legends and subject matter experts. On occasion, the host, Randy Goruk will share his leadership experiences and expertise by offering you relevant and actionable leadership tips to elevate your individual and team's performance. The Leadership and Learning Podcast is all about helping you become a more effective leader by learning from others in the building material industry.

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60 recent

November 5, 2026Episode 17634 min

Episode #176 – Growing Pay and Careers Transparently with Compensation Expert and Author Scott Trumpolt

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning podcast, host Randy Goruk talks with compensation expert and author Scott Trumpolt about what it takes to earn a meaningful promotion. Drawing on his book, T he Transparency of Compensation: The Employee Engagement Response , Scott explains why a promotion should reflect a substantial change in responsibilities. They discuss how in-range equity adjustments can recognize growing contributions, how transparent career paths can help employees understand their pay and development opportunities, and how managers and HR can make compensation conversations more open, fair, and constructive. What is a true promotion. Why misusing promotions can hurt employee engagement. How in-range equity adjustments can recognize added responsibilities and support growth within an employee's current role. How managers and employees should use regular conversations to clarify career development, skills, market value, and business needs. What compensation transparency really means. How HR can help managers make fair, consistent pay decisions and address possible inequity or perceptions of favoritism. How to make difficult compensation conversations more constructive by focusing on next steps and growth opportunities. Scott Trumpolt LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-trumpolt-m-a-g-r-p-257a6b317/ Scott Trumpolt Website: https://hrcompensationconsulting.com/

October 27, 2026Episode 17532 min

Episode #175 – The Leadership and Learning Podcast - Building the Manufacturing Workforce of the Future with Jason Wells, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Advancement at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast , host Randy Goruk speaks with Jason Wells, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Advancement at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), about the challenges and opportunities shaping today's manufacturing workforce. Jason shares how IALR brings industry, education, and government together to develop skilled talent and help manufacturers adopt new technologies. The conversation explores common workforce gaps—from technical skills to communication and teamwork—the growing role of AI, and IALR's hands-on training programs, including its accelerated 16-week defense manufacturing program. Jason also explains how employers can partner with training providers, connect with trainees, and take an active role in building and retaining the skilled workforce they need. Jason's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-w-7487922/ Website: https://www.ialr.org/

October 14, 2026Episode 17414 min

Episode #174 - Field Tested: Lessons on Leading, Losing, and Winning in Construction with Scott Peper, CEO, Mobilization Funding

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast , host Randy Goruk welcomes Scott Peper, CEO of Mobilization Funding and co-author of Field Tested: Lessons on Leading, Losing, and Winning in Construction . Scott shares why he and Herb Sargent wrote the book and how its real-world stories offer practical lessons for leaders in construction and beyond. They discuss building a solid business, establishing financial foundations, leading teams, and preparing for growth. Scott also explains why core values must guide everyday behavior, how cultural misalignment can put an acquisition at risk, and how leaders can learn from others' mistakes when making decisions about hiring, pricing, finances, and expansion.

September 3, 2026Episode 17329 min

Episode #173 - From Cold to Warm to Hot: A Relationship Playbook for Professionals with Akul Modi, Vice President of Estimating and Business Development at EDA Contractors

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk welcomes Akul Modi, Vice President of Estimating and Business Development at EDA Contractors, to explore a practical relationship model Akul and his team use every day: the cold–warm–hot relationship playbook. With more than 18 years of experience in construction, architecture, estimating, and business development, Akul shares how EDA turns what many consider "soft skills" into a disciplined business strategy for winning work, serving clients, and building high-performing teams. Randy and Akul break down what it really means to move a relationship from cold to warm to hot, why non-transactional relationships are critical in a small industry, and how values like humanity, humility, honesty, and "selling real" build trust over time. Akul also introduces the concept of "WNGO – When Nothing Going On" as a way to stay genuinely connected even when there's no active project, and he offers candid insight on what to do when relationships go south, how to protect your reputation, and how courage and acceptance can help repair damaged trust. In this episode, listeners will learn: The "Cold–Warm–Hot" relationship model and how it works as a business strategy. How to assess the "temperature" of a relationship (cold, warm, hot) with clients, partners, and coworkers. Why non-transactional relationships matter and how "your network is your net worth" in business development. Practical ways to move from cold to warm. What truly defines a "hot" relationship, and why it is rare. Key behaviors that build strong relationships. How to move from warm to hot. When and how to walk away from a relationship. Managing relationships that go south. Protecting your reputation in a small industry. How to repair damaged relationships. Insights into EDA Contractors' culture ("the EDA way"). Website: https://www.edacontractors.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akul-modi/

August 26, 2026Episode 17235 min

Episode #172 – A Leader's Success with Delegation, Setting Expectations and Giving Feedback with Jake Thompson

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk is joined by Jake Thompson, International keynote speaker, author, and performance coach, to explore three essentials every leader must get right: delegation, expectations, and feedback. Drawing on real-world examples from construction and field operations, Randy and Jake unpack why capable leaders struggle to let go of tasks, how "clear in my head" communication turns into "clear as mud" for the crew, and what to do when people can meet expectations but don't do it consistently. They discuss practical tools like having team members "walk me through your understanding," using Loom videos and SOPs to create clarity, and the "Well – Better – How" framework to build a habit of self-evaluation. You'll also hear how to balance positive and corrective feedback so people don't tune you out, how to encourage healthy pushback without inviting chaos, and what truly signals that someone is ready for greater responsibility—beyond just being a strong individual performer. Listeners will learn how to: Shift from being a "doer" to a leader who gets results through others Delegate in a way that develops people instead of just unloading tasks Set expectations that are reasonable, understood, and actionable Spot and grow future leaders who can elevate the performance of others Communicate expectations with clarity Improve consistency and accountability Give feedback people actually use Spot and develop future leaders This episode is especially valuable for leaders and supervisors who want to strengthen their leadership impact on Monday morning without becoming a micromanager. Website: https://www.competeeveryday.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakethompsonspeaks/

August 18, 202624 min

Episode #171 - High Performance Culture for Competitive Advantage with Brian Gottlieb, Inspirational Business Leader

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast , host Randy Goruk talks with Brian Gottlieb, an inspirational business leader who grew a home services company from a plastic folding table and $3,000 to more than 600 employees and nearly $1 billion in lifetime sales. Together, Randy and Brian explore how to intentionally build, grow, and sustain a high‑performance culture for competitive advantage. Brian shares practical, hard‑earned lessons on: What culture really is. The true levers of culture. When subcultures are healthy and when they become "cancerous" to the organization. Why technical fixes often fail. How to sustain culture as you scale. The power of team-based vision statements. Shifting from chaos to disciplined profitability as your business grows. Developing managers as true custodians of culture. Getting everyone on the team to think and act like owners, Practical advice for new graduates and aspiring leaders who want to stand out and get promoted Brian's website: https://briangottlieb.com/ Brian's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-gottlieb-bb66094/ Brian's book: https://briangottlieb.com/book/

July 29, 2026Episode 17039 min

Episode #170 - Hire – Train – Retain with Mike Matalone, Founder and Chief Talent Officer XP3System

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, Randy Goruk talks with Mike Matalone, founder and chief talent officer of the XP3 Talent System and author of Hire, Train, and Retain . Together they unpack why most business problems are really people problems in disguise and why you can't hire great teams; you have to build them. Drawing on years of work with CEOs and leadership teams, Mike explains how to: Use two critical hiring filters: are they smart enough to learn and are they coachable? Replace vague job descriptions with clear definitions of success, results, time frames, and required behaviors. Build an integrated people system that connects hiring, training, coaching, and career paths. Create true employee engagement by linking people to your mission, vision, and values. Tap into discretionary effort, the extra 40–60% of performance most employees never give. Dramatically reduce turnover and increase productivity, illustrated by a case study that cut sales turnover from 80% to 23%. If you lead sales teams, manufacturing operations, distribution, or construction crews and feel too busy "just surviving the day" to focus on people, this conversation will challenge you to slow down, get better before you get bigger, and treat training and development as your best investment. Website: https://www.xp3talent.com/ Hire, Train, Retain Book: https://www.amazon.com/Hire-Train-Retain-high-performing-organizational/dp/B0F8Z4KQ84 LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-matalone-6029b87/

July 21, 2026Episode 16938 min

Episode #169 - Resilient Leadership: Choose Your Thoughts, Change Your Results with Carol Demarco

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, Randy Goruk talks with Carol DeMarco, veteran counselor, author, and creator of "Pearls of Wisdom" (POWs), about how to build a resilient mindset before and during life's toughest moments. Drawing on more than four decades of helping people through conflict, change, and crisis, Carol shares practical, memorable tools leaders can use to bounce back, adapt, and move forward—at work, at home, and on the jobsite. Through real-world scenarios from the construction and building materials industry, Randy and Carol explore how resilient leaders think and act when facing shrinking markets, high turnover, safety hypocrisy, and "mediocre" performance. Carol's POWs give listeners simple language and strategies they can immediately put into practice. Listeners will also discover how to: Understand resilience as a learned mindset, not an inborn trait Separate what they can control from what they can't, especially under pressure Replace automatic negative thoughts with more constructive thinking Use small, practical steps to get out of their comfort zone and build confidence Lead more effectively by ensuring people feel understood and appreciated Handle tough realities like turnover, safety conflicts, and performance issues without reacting emotionally or taking everything personally Start using short, "sticky" POWs to reinforce better choices and strengthen resilience every day Website: https://www.powlistenup.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-demarco-34309a375/

July 13, 2026Episode 16837 min

Episode #168 Scaling Your Business Through Coaching and Accountability with Sean Phelps, President, College Works Painting

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk talks with Sean Phelps, President of College Works Painting, about one of the toughest and most misunderstood leadership responsibilities: accountability. After coaching more than 10,000 college students to run real businesses and generate over $100 million in revenue, Sean has turned accountability into a practical, repeatable system leaders can use every day. Listeners will discover: Why traditional "browbeating" and quick consequences actually destroy accountability Seans reframe of accountability as "account + ability" gives people space to explain what really happened A simple question-based framework to diagnose whether a miss is about clarity, skill, effort, or control How to use carrots before sticks: clarity, coaching, and incentives before consequences Why one-on-one conversations are non‑negotiable for real accountability The "don't blame the lettuce" mindset for growing people instead of yelling at them How neutral thinking and "it takes what it takes" keep leaders focused on actions, not drama If you want a more caring, highly accountable culture where people own their goals, come with solutions, and help your organization scale, this conversation with Sean Phelps is packed with practical insights you can start using this week. Sean Phelps LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-phelps-2754782/ College Works Painting Website: https://collegeworks.com/

June 3, 2026Episode 16734 min

Episode #167 – Making Safety Happen with Safety Expert and Author Brian Fielkow

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk talks with safety expert and author Brian Fielkow about why sustainable workplace safety is fundamentally a leadership and culture issue, not just a compliance exercise. Drawing on his experience leading high ‑ hazard operations and his new book Making Safety Happen, Brian explains how the best organizations move beyond policies and inspections to create environments where employees choose to work safely because they know leadership genuinely cares about them. Listeners will discover: The critical difference between compliance and a living safety culture Why safety must be treated as a core value, not a shifting priority The pivotal role of frontline supervisors in translating policy into real-world behavior How leaders unintentionally undermine safety Practical ways to build credibility, communication, and accountability without creating fear How to address a "we've always done it this way" mindset How to spot perception gaps between executives and frontline workers. How to create accountability without fear Brian's website: https://brianfielkow.com/ Brian's email address: brian@brianfielkow.com Brian's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfielkow/ Randy's 5-Day Safety Leadership Challenge: https://leadersedge360.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-Day-Challenge-1.pdf