Leadership. Culture. Executive Clarity. Real Conversations. Welcome to Scale Up & Grow with Mary Ricketts, MBA, the podcast for leaders, executives, business owners, HR professionals, board members, and decision-makers who are serious about improving leadership effectiveness, organizational culture, team performance, and business results. Hosted by executive coach, leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and CEO Mary Ricketts, MBA, this podcast goes beyond leadership theory and tackles the real challenges organizations face every day. Through the Leadership Unfiltered series and other executive-focused conversations, Mary shares practical insights, leadership lessons, organizational observations, and candid discussions about the issues impacting today's workplaces. Topics include: • Executive Leadership • Leadership Development • Organizational Culture • Executive Team Alignment • Leadership Communication • Employee Engagement • Accountability • Workplace Trust • Leadership Blind Spots • Difficult Conversations • Executive Coaching • Team Performance • Change Leadership • Psychological Safety • Leadership Effectiveness • Board and Executive Team Dynamics Whether you're leading a department, an organization, a school district, a nonprofit, a government agency, or a Fortune 500 team, you'll gain actionable insights to help you navigate complexity, strengthen leadership capacity, and create healthier, higher-performing organizations. This is not leadership fluff. These are real conversations for leaders navigating real organizational pressure. Because leadership looks very different behind closed doors. Learn more about Executive Coaching, Executive Briefings, Leadership Workshops, and Keynote Presentations with Mary Ricketts, MBA at www.tptrainingcenter.com and www.MaryRicketts.com Scale Up & Grow with Mary Ricketts, MBA Helping leaders move from reactive leadership to intentional Executive Clarity™. Welcome, and let's get started! 🎉https://calendly.com/tptrainingcenter
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October 5, 20265 min
One Question: What Have We Made Difficult for People to Tell Us?
One Question: What have we made difficult for people to tell us? That's a very different question from asking, “What aren't our employees telling us?” In this One Question episode, Mary Ricketts, President & CEO of Turning Point Training & Development, challenges CEOs and executive leadership teams to turn the question back on themselves. Employees and leaders don't stop sharing difficult information for no reason. Over time, they learn what happens when they challenge a decision, raise a concern, question a strategy, admit something isn't working, or tell leadership something they don't want to hear. And sometimes the result is an organization where the executive team believes everything is fine—while everyone underneath them knows it isn't. Mary explores the difference between having an open-door policy and creating a leadership culture where people actually believe it's safe and worthwhile to walk through that door. Then she leaves your executive team with two questions: What have we made difficult for people to tell us? And: What do we do when someone tells us something we don't want to hear? Take those questions to your next executive leadership meeting. Then pay attention to the silence. One Question is a short executive leadership series from Mary Ricketts and Turning Point Training & Development designed to put the questions leaders don't always ask—but should—directly on the executive table. Learn more about Turning Point's leadership diagnostics, executive team development and executive coaching at tptrainingcenter.com .
October 1, 20268 min
Executive Brief: If Everyone Agrees With the CEO, Pay Attention
If everyone on your executive team agrees with the CEO all the time, that may not be alignment. It may be a warning sign. In this Executive Brief , Mary Ricketts, President & CEO of Turning Point Training & Development, challenges CEOs and senior leaders to examine what really happens when someone disagrees at the executive table. Strong executive teams aren't built around constant agreement. They're built around leaders who are willing to challenge assumptions, raise concerns, identify risks and tell the CEO what they may not want to hear—before a decision becomes an organizational problem. In this brief, Mary explores: Why silence should never automatically be interpreted as agreement How CEOs can unintentionally train executives to stop challenging them The difference between healthy disagreement and disloyalty Why the “real meeting” sometimes happens after the executive meeting Three questions CEOs can use to invite stronger executive-level thinking The question for your executive team isn't: “Do they agree with me?” It's: “Have I built an executive team that's willing to tell me when they don't?” Because healthy executive teams don't protect CEOs from disagreement. They protect organizations from unchallenged thinking. Learn more about Turning Point Training & Development's leadership diagnostics, executive team development and executive coaching at tptrainingcenter.com .
October 1, 202638 min
Would Your Employees Describe Your Leadership Team the Same Way You Would?
Would your employees describe your leadership team the same way you would? Don't answer too quickly. There is often a gap between the leadership team executives believe they're running and the leadership employees actually experience. And that gap can show up in places leaders don't immediately recognize: slow decisions, unclear expectations, weak accountability, leadership silos, workarounds, poor execution and employees who have learned when it's safer to stay quiet. In this episode of The Leadership Risks Nobody Talks About , Mary Ricketts, President & CEO of Turning Point Training & Development, challenges executives to look beyond intentions and ask a harder question: What is it actually like to be led inside your organization? Mary explores why dysfunction can quietly become part of an organization's workflow, why silence should never automatically be interpreted as agreement, and why organizations should diagnose leadership problems before prescribing another training program. You'll also hear five areas every executive team should examine: clarity, alignment, accountability, leadership readiness and psychological safety. From Mary's Bookshelf: The Fearless Organization — Amy C. Edmondson The Advantage — Patrick Lencioni Multipliers — Liz Wiseman If this episode leaves you wondering whether your leaders and employees would describe your leadership organization the same way, don't ignore the question. Learn more about Turning Point Training & Development and our leadership diagnostic, executive team development and executive coaching work at tptrainingcenter.com .
June 8, 202614 min
EPISODE 4: Why High Performers Quietly Disconnect From Leadership
EPISODE 4: Why High Performers Quietly Disconnect From Leadership Most leaders are shocked when a high-performing employee resigns. They say things like: "I didn't see it coming." "They never said anything." "I thought they were happy." But the truth is, high performers rarely disconnect overnight. They disconnect gradually. Silently. Professionally. And leadership often misses every warning sign. In this episode of Leadership Unfiltered, executive coach and leadership strategist Mary Ricketts explores why some of the organization's most talented, committed, and reliable employees quietly disengage from leadership long before they leave the organization. This isn't simply a retention issue. It's a leadership issue. And in many organizations, it's an Executive Clarity™ issue. In this conversation, you'll discover: • Why high performers often receive the least amount of leadership attention • The hidden connection between leadership effectiveness and employee retention • How trust begins to erode inside organizations • The warning signs of disengagement leaders frequently overlook • Why top talent often disconnects before leadership notices • The organizational costs of losing high-performing employees • How leadership confusion, inconsistent communication, and lack of accountability impact retention • Why employee engagement is often a reflection of leadership behavior • The leadership practices that create trust, commitment, and long-term retention This episode is designed for: • CEOs • Executive Leaders • HR Executives • Senior Leadership Teams • Board Members • Superintendents • Business Owners • Organizational Decision Makers • Talent and Culture Leaders If your organization is struggling with employee retention, disengagement, turnover, leadership effectiveness, workplace culture, communication challenges, accountability, or executive team alignment, this conversation will challenge how you think about keeping your best people. Because high performers don't usually leave because they stop caring. Many leave because they cared for too long without seeing meaningful leadership change. ABOUT MARY RICKETTS Mary Ricketts is an Executive Coach, Leadership Strategist, Keynote Speaker, and CEO of Turning Point Training & Development. Through Executive Clarity™, executive coaching, executive team development, leadership workshops, executive briefings, and keynote presentations, she helps organizations strengthen leadership effectiveness, improve communication, build trust, develop stronger cultures, and create high-performing teams. If this episode challenged your thinking, subscribe, share it with another leader, and join us for future Leadership Unfiltered conversations designed for leaders navigating real organizational pressure—not leadership theory. Executive Leadership | Employee Retention | Executive Coaching | Leadership Development | Leadership Effectiveness | Organizational Culture | Workplace Culture | Employee Engagement | Executive Team Alignment | Leadership Communication | Leadership Accountability | Talent Retention | Organizational Effectiveness | Executive Development | Team Performance | Leadership Strategy | Executive Clarity | High-Performance Teams | Workplace Trust | Change Leadership
June 4, 202614 min
EPISODE 3: The Leadership Blind Spots Costing Organizations More Than Money
EPISODE 3: The Leadership Blind Spots Costing Organizations More Than Money Most organizations don't struggle because leaders don't care. They struggle because leaders can't see what they can't see. The most expensive leadership challenges rarely begin as financial problems. They begin as leadership blind spots—unseen gaps that impact trust, communication, employee engagement, executive team alignment, decision-making, organizational culture, and overall performance. In this episode of Leadership Unfiltered, executive coach and leadership strategist Mary Ricketts explores the hidden leadership risks that often go unnoticed until organizations begin experiencing turnover, disengagement, low trust, poor communication, declining morale, leadership team tension, and stalled growth. You'll discover: • Why leadership blind spots exist at every level of leadership • The difference between leadership intention and organizational impact • How executive leaders unknowingly create confusion, frustration, and disengagement • The hidden costs of leadership blind spots that never appear on financial reports • Why executive teams often overestimate alignment • How trust, culture, accountability, and leadership credibility are affected by what leaders fail to see • The warning signs organizations ignore before performance begins to decline • Why high-performing leaders actively seek feedback, challenge assumptions, and prioritize Executive Clarity™ This episode is designed for: • CEOs • Executive Leaders • Senior Leadership Teams • HR Executives • Board Members • Superintendents • Department Leaders • Business Owners • Organizational Decision Makers If your organization is experiencing communication breakdowns, leadership challenges, culture concerns, accountability gaps, employee disengagement, executive team misalignment, or difficulty navigating change, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership effectiveness. Because the greatest leadership risk is often not what you know. It's what you don't know you can't see. ABOUT MARY RICKETTS Mary Ricketts is an Executive Coach, Leadership Strategist, Keynote Speaker, and CEO of Turning Point Training & Development. Through Executive Clarity™, executive coaching, executive team development, leadership workshops, executive briefings, and keynote presentations, she helps organizations strengthen leadership effectiveness, organizational culture, communication, accountability, and team performance. If this episode challenged your thinking, subscribe, share it with another leader, and join us for future Leadership Unfiltered conversations designed for leaders navigating real organizational pressure—not leadership theory. Executive Leadership | Executive Coaching | Leadership Development | Organizational Culture | Leadership Communication | Executive Team Alignment | Employee Engagement | Workplace Culture | Leadership Effectiveness | Strategic Leadership | Executive Clarity | Leadership Accountability | Team Performance | Organizational Effectiveness | Leadership Blind Spots | Change Leadership | Executive Development | Leadership Strategy
June 1, 202614 min
Episdoe 2: Your Team Isn't Burned Out — They're Exhausted From Leadership Confusion
Your Team Isn't Burned Out — They're Exhausted From Leadership Confusion Burnout has become the explanation for almost everything in today's workplace. Low engagement? Burnout. Turnover? Burnout. Poor morale? Burnout. Declining performance? Burnout. But what if we're diagnosing the wrong problem? In this episode of Leadership Unfiltered, executive coach and leadership strategist Mary Ricketts challenges one of the most common assumptions leaders make about employee exhaustion. Many employees are not overwhelmed by the amount of work they have to do. They are overwhelmed by unclear priorities, conflicting expectations, inconsistent communication, constant organizational changes, and leadership teams that are not aligned. Employees can handle hard work. What they struggle to handle is uncertainty. In this powerful conversation, Mary explores: • The difference between employee burnout and leadership confusion • Why unclear expectations create frustration, disengagement, and turnover • How leadership teams unintentionally create confusion inside organizations • The hidden cost of inconsistent communication and shifting priorities • Why employees stop contributing when clarity disappears • The leadership behaviors that build trust, alignment, and accountability • Questions every executive team should be asking themselves right now If you are a CEO, executive leader, HR professional, superintendent, department leader, board member, or organizational decision-maker, this episode will challenge how you think about employee engagement, workplace culture, leadership communication, and organizational performance. Because sometimes the problem isn't employee burnout. Sometimes the problem is leadership clarity. ABOUT MARY RICKETTS Mary Ricketts is an Executive Coach, Leadership Strategist, Keynote Speaker, and CEO of Turning Point Training & Development. Through Executive Clarity™, executive coaching, leadership workshops, executive briefings, and keynote presentations, she helps organizations strengthen leadership effectiveness, communication, accountability, trust, and organizational culture. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share it with another leader, and join us for future conversations designed for leaders navigating real organizational pressure—not leadership theory. MaryRicketts.com Turning Point Training & Development support@tptrainingcenter.com
May 5, 202613 min
Episode 1: Why Smart Leadership Teams Still Fail Each Other
Why Smart Leadership Teams Still Fail Each Other Some of the smartest leadership teams are still struggling with: communication breakdowns, leadership misalignment, executive tension, reactive decision-making, and declining trust across teams. And most organizations do not recognize the damage until culture, morale, retention, or performance begins to suffer. In this episode of Leadership Unfiltered, executive coach and leadership strategist Mary Ricketts pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind closed leadership doors. This conversation explores: • Why leadership teams become misaligned • The hidden cost of reactive leadership • How inconsistency damages trust • Why employees often recognize leadership dysfunction before executives do • The leadership blind spots impacting organizational culture and performance This is not leadership theory. This is the real conversation executives, HR leaders, boards, and leadership teams need to hear. If you lead people, departments, teams, or organizations — this episode will challenge how you think about leadership alignment, communication, accountability, and culture. Mary Ricketts, MBA is the CEO of Turning Point Training & Development and creator of Executive Clarity™, helping organizations strengthen leadership effectiveness, communication, trust, and team alignment through executive coaching, leadership workshops, executive briefings, and keynote presentations. #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipCommunication
October 7, 202515 min
The Culture Wake-Up Call – Why “Fixing the Culture” Isn’t a Slogan
If you’ve ever said, “We need to fix the culture”… but weren’t exactly sure what that meant — this episode is your wake-up call. On this week’s episode of ScaleUP & Grow, Mary Ricketts (your favorite straight-talking, leadership-shifting coach) breaks down the real meaning of organizational culture — the stuff most leaders avoid, deny, or downplay. This isn’t another soft, feel-good conversation about morale. This is a bold, direct, game-changing message about leadership accountability, trust, communication, and the everyday behaviors that silently shape your team’s performance. In this episode you’ll discover: • The truth behind why culture breaks (hint: it’s not your employees) • The 5 hidden symptoms leaders overlook until it’s too late • How leadership behavior—good or bad—sets the emotional temperature of the entire organization • Why “fixing the culture” isn’t HR’s job… it’s yours • The silent damage caused by avoidance, inconsistency, and unspoken tension • 7 powerful diagnostic questions every leader must answer before attempting any culture change And yes — Mary brings that Gary Vee energy: direct, unfiltered, and all real. No strategies. No step-by-step fixes. Just pure clarity, truth, and leadership awareness you can’t afford to ignore. WHY LEADERS NEED THIS EPISODE If your team is disengaged, silently frustrated, performing on autopilot, or nodding without speaking up? You don’t have a performance problem — you have a culture problem. This episode will help you finally see what’s been hiding in plain sight. WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR • C-level executives • VPs, directors, and school leaders • Entrepreneurs building teams • Nonprofit leaders • Anyone responsible for people, performance, and impact If you lead humans, this episode is mandatory listening. CALL TO ACTION! Ready to stop guessing and start leading with clarity? Listen now — and share this episode with another leader who needs the truth. And if you're ready for private coaching or team culture diagnostics, connect with Mary at: Turning Point Training & Development www.MaryRicketts.com Subscribe, rate, and leave a review — your feedback helps us elevate more leaders and transform more cultures.
September 25, 202512 min
The Hidden Cost of Skipping Onboarding: Why Most Boards and Executives Start at a Disadvantage
🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT! The Hidden Cost of Skipping Onboarding: Why Most Boards and Executives Start at a Disadvantage Let’s be real—most leaders don’t fail because they lack skill. They fail because nobody set them up to win. In this episode of ScaleUP & Grow , I’m exposing the truth behind why so many executives and boards lose momentum in the first 90 days. It’s not politics. It’s not pressure. It’s the absence of a real onboarding strategy. When onboarding is weak, culture cracks, trust erodes, and performance drops—quietly at first, then all at once. If you’ve ever stepped into a new role or welcomed a new leader and felt the chaos creeping in… this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen now. 💼 Reflect on what’s really happening in your leadership pipeline. 🔥 Then decide if you’re leading from clarity or confusion. 👉 Upcoming Live Webinars 👉 Visit us online: www.maryricketts.com 👉 Visit us online: www.tptrainingcenter.com Because excitement isn’t onboarding— and hope is not a leadership plan. #Leadership #BoardDevelopment #ScaleUPandGrow #MaryRicketts #ExecutiveLeadership #Onboarding #Culture
September 22, 20257 min
Why Most Boards Break During Transitions — and Don’t Even See It Coming
🎙️ NEW EPISODE DROP! Why Most Boards Break During Transitions — and Don’t Even See It Coming Most boards don’t fail because of their mission. They fail in the moments between leadership. In this episode of ScaleUP & Grow , I’m getting real about what actually happens when boards shift power, pass the baton, or bring in new leadership—and why silence, assumptions, and “we’ll figure it out” thinking destroy trust, culture, and progress. If your organization is experiencing that uneasy pause between leaders, this episode is your wake-up call. 🎧 Listen now. 🎯 Reflect honestly. 💼 Then decide if your board is built to sustain or stumble. 👉 Upcoming Live Webinars 👉 Visit us online: www.maryricketts.com 👉 Visit us online: www.tptrainingcenter.com Because when the board doesn’t move together— the mission doesn’t move at all. #Leadership #BoardDevelopment #ScaleUPandGrow #MaryRicketts #ExecutiveLeadership #Governance
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