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#12: Keep Climbing (A Leadership Message I Needed Years Ago)
Nov 19, 2025
1h 16m 41s
Mitchell Green & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview)
Nov 8, 2025
Unknown duration
Julie Maples & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview)
Nov 8, 2025
Unknown duration
Gregg Kaplan & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview)
Nov 8, 2025
Unknown duration
Dug Song & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview)
Nov 8, 2025
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/19/25 | #12: Keep Climbing (A Leadership Message I Needed Years Ago)✨ | leadershipcommunity+4 | — | — | — | leadershipclimb+6 | — | 1h 16m 41s | |
| 11/8/25 | Mitchell Green & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview) | Raising and deploying capital can be one of the most defining moments in the life of any company.To explore what really separates the great capital allocators from the rest, I spent over five hours in recorded conversations with five iconic leaders and investors. These aren’t just big industry names — they’re people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside for years. That trust opened the door for candid, behind-the-scenes conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.Each guest was interviewed individually, and those full conversations will be released as bonus episodes. But in this three-part mini-series, we’ve woven those insights together — with Spencer and me in the studio reacting to clips — to reveal the patterns, decisions, and principles that define exceptional capital strategy.In this episode, you’ll hear the full interview with:Mitchell Green — founder and Managing Partner of Lead Edge Capital, the global growth equity firm behind companies like Alibaba, Spotify, Asana, and Toast. Mitchell shares how Lead Edge built its unique investor network, what he looks for in world-class founders, and how great capital partners create value far beyond the check. Lead Edge was recently named the top-ranked growth equity firm by PitchBook.Subscribe to catch the rest of the series and hear from other iconic leaders. Drop your biggest insight from Mitchell's story in the comments below. | — | ||||||
| 11/8/25 | Julie Maples & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview) | Raising and deploying capital can be one of the most defining moments in the life of any company.To explore what really separates the great capital allocators from the rest, I spent over five hours in recorded conversations with five iconic leaders and investors. These aren’t just big industry names — they’re people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside for years. That trust opened the door for candid, behind-the-scenes conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.Each guest was interviewed individually, and those full conversations will be released as bonus episodes. But in this three-part mini-series, we’ve woven those insights together — with Spencer and me in the studio reacting to clips — to reveal the patterns, decisions, and principles that define exceptional capital strategy.In this episode, you’ll hear the full interview with:Julie Maples — founder of FYRFLY Venture Partners and longtime early-stage investor who’s partnered with dozens of founders at the intersection of enterprise software, data, and AI. Julie brings decades of perspective on what it takes to build enduring companies — and the investor-founder relationships that make it possible. Julie also has helped The V Foundation raise over $100M for cancer research as a valued board member.Subscribe to catch the rest of the series and hear from other iconic leaders. Drop your biggest insight from Julie's story in the comments below. | — | ||||||
| 11/8/25 | Gregg Kaplan & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview) | Raising and deploying capital can be one of the most defining moments in the life of any company.To explore what really separates the great capital allocators from the rest, I spent over five hours in recorded conversations with five iconic leaders and investors. These aren’t just big industry names — they’re people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside for years. That trust opened the door for candid, behind-the-scenes conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.Each guest was interviewed individually, and those full conversations will be released as bonus episodes. But in this three-part mini-series, we’ve woven those insights together — with Spencer and me in the studio reacting to clips — to reveal the patterns, decisions, and principles that define exceptional capital strategy.In this episode, you’ll hear the full interview with:Gregg Kaplan — founder and former CEO of Redbox, former President/COO of Coinstar, and now CEO at Dentologie, where he's raised over $50M to date.Subscribe to catch the rest of the series and hear from other iconic leaders. Drop your biggest insight from Gregg's story in the comments below. | — | ||||||
| 11/8/25 | Dug Song & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview) | Raising and deploying capital can be one of the most defining moments in the life of any company.To explore what really separates the great capital allocators from the rest, I spent over five hours in recorded conversations with five iconic leaders and investors. These aren’t just big industry names — they’re people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside for years. That trust opened the door for candid, behind-the-scenes conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.Each guest was interviewed individually, and those full conversations will be released as bonus episodes. But in this three-part mini-series, we’ve woven those insights together — with Spencer and me in the studio reacting to clips — to reveal the patterns, decisions, and principles that define exceptional capital strategy.In this episode, you’ll hear the full interview with:Dug Song — co-founder and former CEO of Duo Security (acquired by Cisco for $2.35B), investor, and community builder passionate about cultivating the next generation of founders, operators, and civic leaders.Subscribe to catch the rest of the series and hear from other iconic leaders. Drop your biggest insight from Dug's story in the comments below. | — | ||||||
| 11/8/25 | Brett Hurt & Kirk Dando | For You Leaders Bonus Episode (Full Interview) | Raising and deploying capital can be one of the most defining moments in the life of any company.To explore what really separates the great capital allocators from the rest, I spent over five hours in recorded conversations with five iconic leaders and investors. These aren’t just big industry names — they’re people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside for years. That trust opened the door for candid, behind-the-scenes conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.Each guest was interviewed individually, and those full conversations will be released as bonus episodes. But in this three-part mini-series, we’ve woven those insights together — with Spencer and me in the studio reacting to clips — to reveal the patterns, decisions, and principles that define exceptional capital strategy.In this episode, you’ll hear the full interview with:Brett Hurt — serial entrepreneur who founded Coremetrics (acquired by IBM), took Bazaarvoice public, co-founded data.world (acquired by ServiceNow), and now leads Love Conquers Fear, a purpose-driven venture shaping the next generation of founders.Subscribe to catch the rest of the series and hear from other iconic leaders. Drop your biggest insight from Brett’s story in the comments below. | — | ||||||
| 11/5/25 | #11: Capital & Leadership in an AI-Driven World | You raised the capital. You’ve got the tools. Now comes the test... can you lead through acceleration?AI is rewriting the rules of productivity, but the fundamentals of leadership remain the same. The right capital (and the right mindset) still multiply your mission. The wrong ones multiply your mistakes.In this episode of the For You Leaders mini-series, Kirk Dando and Spencer Traver close out their three-part journey on 'Capital & The Climb' by exploring what it means to lead, invest, and build in an AI-driven world.You’ll hear from five iconic founders and investors who’ve scaled, sold, and sustained through disruption — and what they’re learning now as technology, timing, and teams evolve faster than ever:Mitchell Green — Founder of Lead Edge Capital, on discipline, “strike zones,” and the 8 criteria for healthy growth.Julie Maples — Co-founder of FYRFLY Ventures, on AI volatility, capital hangovers, and asking the right questions.Gregg Kaplan — Founder of Redbox, on the power of prioritization, trust, and ripple effects of great teams.Brett Hurt — Founder of data.world and Bazaarvoice, on timing, truth, and the trio every founding team needs: someone who can sell, build, and serve.Dug Song — Co-founder of Duo Security, on “creative impatience” and why AI is just cognitive acceleration — not a replacement for leadership.Together, they reveal how AI doesn’t replace leaders; it reveals them. The best CEOs stay grounded in fundamentals, disciplined in execution, and human in connection — because no one climbs alone.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Use AI as a productivity multiplier without losing your people edge.Define your company’s “strike zone” and stay disciplined in the climb.Lead through uncertainty with empathy, conviction, and truth.Build partnerships and coaching relationships that sustain you through the hard parts of growth.Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Intro: Capital & The Climb07:00 – AI’s Impact on Capital & Leadership34:00 – Building Teams That Meaningfully Last47:00 – Creative Impatience: AI as Cognitive Acceleration55:00 – Coaching, Connection & The Power of “For You” Leadership1:23:00 – Closing Thoughts: Truth, Trust, and The Climb AheadSubscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit https://www.dandoadvisors.com/ for leadership coaching and resources.Resources & Mentions:Download Kirk’s Business Growth Lifecycle PDF: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/resources/business-growth-lifecycle-normalizing-the-scale-journeyGet Coaching from Kirk: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/services/executive-coachingFollow us on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdandohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver | — | ||||||
| 10/29/25 | #10: After the Raise (What Matters Most) | You raised the money. That's great, now what? The most important part is what's left.The check cleared, expectations shifted, and the real climb begins. What happens next determines whether you scale with integrity or lose control on the way up.In this episode of the For You Leaders mini-series, Kirk Dando and Spencer Traver unpack what happens after the money hits the bank. They revisit lessons from five iconic founders and investors who’ve scaled, sold, and survived the hardest part of growth — the messy middle between capital and clarity.You’ll hear from:Dug Song — Co-founder of Duo Security, on “the grocery store test” and why the right investor feels like a real partner, not a transaction.Gregg Kaplan — Founder of Redbox, on leading with shared values and the “handshake test” for trust.Mitchell Green — Founder of Lead Edge Capital, on how to choose investors like you’re getting married (because you kind of are).Julie Maples — Co-founder of FYRFLY Ventures, on proactive communication and how great founders keep investors aligned before things break.Brett Hurt — Founder of data.world and Bazaarvoice, on building soul into your company and communicating through fear, not around it.Together, they reveal how communication, trust, and alignment aren’t “soft skills” — they’re the foundation for enduring companies and healthy partnerships.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Build partnerships rooted in shared values, not just shared valuation.Communicate bad news faster to strengthen trust.Create a board dynamic that empowers, not controls.Invest in relationships that multiply your mission — not your mistakes.Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Intro: After the Raise05:28 – Partnership Beyond the Raise27:43 – Communication as a Superpower49:05 – Empowering Through Knowledge & Help1:02:29 – Closing Thoughts: Trust, Communication, & The Climb AheadThis episode is a candid look at what happens after the term sheet is signed — when the climb truly begins.Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit https://www.dandoadvisors.com/ for leadership coaching and resources.Resources & Mentions:Download Kirk’s Business Growth Lifecycle PDF: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/resources/business-growth-lifecycle-normalizing-the-scale-journeyGet Coaching from Kirk: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/services/executive-coachingFollow us on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdandohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver | — | ||||||
| 10/22/25 | #09: The Mirage of Capital (How to Avoid Falling Into the Valuation Trap) | Raising capital isn’t the summit, it’s the start of the climb.The moment you take the money, expectations change. Trust is tested. Discipline is exposed. And what looked like momentum can quickly turn into a mess.In this For You Leaders mini-series, Kirk Dando and Spencer Traver bring together five iconic founders and investors who’ve raised, deployed, and returned billions — and learned what it really takes to scale with integrity and discipline.You’ll hear from:- Brett Hurt — Serial entrepreneur (Bazaarvoice, data.world) on raising when you don’t need the money and why ego is a founder’s silent killer.- Dug Song — Co-founder of Duo Security on capital discipline, his unique “12-month post-money rule,” and how to grow without losing control.- Julie Maples — Co-founder of FYRFLY Ventures on downrounds, trust, and what healthy investor relationships actually look like.- Mitchell Green — Founder of Lead Edge Capital on clean deals, messy cap tables, and why simplicity beats complexity every time.- Gregg Kaplan — Founder of Redbox on treating cash as a precious commodity and staying honest when markets change overnight.Together, they’ve built and backed companies worth billions. But their shared insights go beyond capital... they reveal the patterns of leadership, trust, and discipline that separate those who scale wisely from those who burn out fast.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:- Avoid the “valuation trap” that quietly destroys alignment.- Raise capital without compromising control or clarity.- Recognize when to slow down before speeding up.- Build the trust and awareness that sustain long-term growth.This is a candid look at the truth behind raising and deploying capital, and why the climb after the check clears is where real leadership begins.Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Intro: Capital and the Climb03:02 – Setting the Stage: Why Raising Capital Isn’t the Summit11:03 – Defining the Valuation Trap38:18 – How to Exercise 'Capital Discipline'1:10:39 – The Value of a Self-Aware Founder1:21:55 – Closing Thoughts: Trust, Discipline, & The Climb AheadSubscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit https://www.dandoadvisors.com/ for leadership coaching and resources.Resources & Mentions:- Download Kirk’s Business Growth Lifecycle PDF: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/resources/business-growth-lifecycle-normalizing-the-scale-journey- Get Coaching from Kirk: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/services/executive-coachingFollow us on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdandohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver | — | ||||||
| 9/30/25 | #08: The Hardest Part of Winning Is Noticing When You’re Losing | Winning feels great… until it blinds you. Success hides cracks, momentum covers decay, and leaders often don’t notice performance erosion until it’s too late. The hardest part isn’t achieving growth…it’s seeing where it’s already slipping.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Recognize the 3 quiet but deadly warning signs of success.Proactively spot the subtle patterns that signal performance erosion.Ask the right questions to reveal what’s quietly breaking beneath your wins.Lead through growth without letting success become your downfall.This is a candid look at why success is often the most dangerous phase of leadership—and what separates leaders who sustain momentum from those who slowly unravel without noticing.Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Intro03:05 Setting the Table: Success, Growth & Silent Decay07:42 The Four Categories of Warning Signs of Success18:52 Entering the Performance Erosion Phase24:28 Warning Sign #1: Revenue Hubris43:01 Warning Sign #2: Random Acts of Accountability58:30 Warning Sign #3: Sowing the Seeds of Decay1:15:18 Leadership Drift & How to Respond1:21:45 Practical Steps: Cost-to-Value Reviews, Culture Audits, and System Readiness1:23:05 Outro & Sneak Peek: Raising CapitalSubscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit https://www.dandoadvisors.com/ for coaching inquiries.Resources & Mentions:Download Kirk's Business Growth Lifecycle PDF: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/resources/business-growth-lifecycle-normalizing-the-scale-journeyGet Coaching from Kirk: https://www.dandoadvisors.com/services/executive-coachingFollow us on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdando/https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver/ | — | ||||||
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| 9/16/25 | #07 – The AI Reckoning for Leaders (How the Best Are Staying Ahead) | AI isn’t a side conversation anymore—it’s the main conversation in every boardroom, offsite, and strategy session. The smartest leaders know this isn’t about replacing tasks, it’s about redefining leadership.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Understand where AI can and should not replace your role as a leader.Recognize how top executives are using AI as a mentor, thought partner, and coach.Scale your leadership by leveraging AI without losing wisdom or human connection.Identify the roles (and types of coaching) most at risk of being replaced.Stay valuable in a world where AI is becoming the default decision-maker.This is a candid look at what executives are really saying behind closed doors—what excites them, what keeps them up at night, and why the ability to adapt will define the next era of leadership.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Intro04:45 The New Use Case: AI as a Thought Partner10:20 Offsites, Culture & The “AI Olympics”17:40 Judgment vs. Automation26:10 What’s Actually Being Replaced37:20 Wisdom Over Speed55:57 The C.H.A.I.R. Framework1:15:38 Outro/Sneak PeekResources & Mentions:Download the Role Clarity Worksheet → https://www.dandoadvisors.com/resources/how-to-bring-clarity-to-a-role- McKinsey Article on AI Strategy Development → https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-ai-is-transforming-strategy-development- AI Statistics (CNBC) → https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/26/as-many-as-41percent-of-employers-plan-to-use-ai-to-replace-roles-says-new-report.html- More AI Statistics (Exploding Topics) → https://explodingtopics.com/blog/ai-replacing-jobsFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdando/https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver/ | — | ||||||
| 9/3/25 | #06 – A Special Conversation on Family, Leadership, and Legacy | Who you are at home is the real legacy you leave behind.This episode is for the leader who’s mastered building teams, scaling companies, and driving results, but wonders what their family will remember most. Leadership isn’t just what happens in the boardroom. It’s how you show up at the dinner table, in conversations with your kids, and in the quiet moments of life at home.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:- Reframe leadership beyond business results to the relationships that matter most.- Recognize the gap between presence and perfection (and why presence is what lasts).- Create a family mission, vision, and values that guide more than just your career.- Model intentional living so your legacy is carried forward in how others love and lead.- Lead with the same clarity at home that you bring to your company.We intentionally made this a special episode, as Kirk talks with his three daughters and their husbands about leadership at home. You'll hear deep, meaningful reflections from their childhood, including learnings from challenging experiences such as divorce and the loss of two babies. And you'll leave encouraged with a mission to reflect with purpose to be the leader you're called to be.Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Special Intro00:31 Why Legacy Begins at Home04:28 Daughters’ First Impressions of Kirk's Work09:57 Kirk's Vision for Raising a Family15:18 Hard Learnings and Decisions in Life22:00 How to Leverage Energy and Focus for Good30:14 Introducing Kirk's 3 Sons-in-Law37:05 Learning from Failure and Mistakes45:13 What It's Like Marrying into the Dando Family55:26 Learning to Lead as Spouses and Parents1:07:24 A Blueprint for Family Mission and Values1:17:07 Closing Remarks & Special Surprise1:19:20 Letters to Kirk, Celebrating 30 Years1:25:37 Teaser for Episode 7 on AI1:26:33 OutroConnect with us: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdando/https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver/ | — | ||||||
| 8/19/25 | #05 – When Everything Feels Urgent (How to Lead Beyond the Noise) | When everything is urgent, nothing is important.This episode is for the leader who wakes up exhausted. Not from the work itself, but from the ongoing chaos of opportunity overload, fire drills, and unclear priorities. As your company grows, it’s easy to confuse activity for progress. Left unchecked, this chaos quietly erodes morale, fractures focus, and kills performance.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Recognize the “Chaos Kool-Aid” (why companies mistake motion for momentum, and how to stop).Diagnose the “Executive Iceberg of Ignorance” (how leadership blind spots break trust and visibility).Fix broken feedback loops that reward busyness instead of outcomes.Shift from urgency-driven to outcome-driven leadership with clarity and alignment.Rewire incentives to reinforce performance, not just effort.Restore energy, engagement, and execution with operating cadence and accountability systems that scale without burnout.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Intro 00:25 Why the 12 Warning Signs of Success Matter 11:41 Warning Sign #1 – Chaos Creeping In 18:45 Practical Tools to Regain Focus 26:56 Warning Sign #2 – The Executive Blind Spot 36:04 Mindset Shifts That Prevent Burnout 45:56 Warning Sign #3 – Incentives Gone Wrong52:49 Energy Over Effort in an AI-Driven World 1:03:55 Connecting Today's 3 Warning Signs of Success1:07:09 Teaser for Next Episode1:08:39 OutroHigh-growth companies don’t die from lack of opportunity, but from lack of clarity.If you’re leading through growth, this episode will help you stop the chaos spiral and build a performance culture that lasts.Resources & Mentions:Download the Growth Playbook FrameworkGet the 5-by-5 Template Access Kirk's' 5x15 PlannerTry out the CEO Competency Mapping ExerciseCheck out the Performance Review Resource Improve your meetings with the Meeting Grader (with 10 Tips to Make Them Better) Read Catalyst: Leadership and Strategy in a Changing World by Bret Boyd & Joseph KopserFeatured Quotes:“Every high-growth CEO faces the same challenge: how to scale without letting success become the very thing that slows you down.” - Kirk Dando"Urgency without focus just creates chaos.” - Kirk DandoConnect with us: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdando/https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencertraver/ | — | ||||||
| 8/5/25 | #04 – The Emotional Cost of Growth (When Change is Inevitable) | This episode tackles the structural cracks that silently form beneath the surface of success. These aren’t obvious breakdowns, they’re invisible… until they aren’t. You’ll hear what happens when companies scale by force of personality, passion, and possibility, without the systems, structure, and integrity required to sustain growth.In this episode, you will:Learn how structural blind spots, like overloaded leaders and unclear accountability, stall execution and demoralize teams (Houston, We Have a Rake Organization)Recognize when ambition outpaces operating discipline, and why “vision without a system” becomes organizational chaos (Hope Is Not a Strategy)See how culture corrodes when stated values no longer match lived behaviors, especially when high performers are excused from the rules (‘Fake’ Values)Understand how these dynamics reinforce each other, creating a culture of confusion, gossip, burnout, and distrust—long before performance metrics show redGain a blueprint for restoring trust, rhythm, and clarity, plus leadership actions and conversation starters to realign people, reinforce values, and install the structure needed for sustainable execution.A company doesn’t fall apart because of one big moment. It crumbles under the weight of unchecked patterns that feel normal… until they break everything.Let’s normalize the scale journey together.Episode Overview:0:00 Intro & Emotional Cost of Change3:45 Transform vs. Transfer Pain in Leadership6:00 Structural Cracks Under Success11:10 First Warning Sign: “Rake Organization” Explained16:45 Why Rake Orgs Kill Decision Velocity21:05 Role Clarity & Org Design Exercise24:55 How This Shapes Hiring & Job Descriptions27:43 Pattern Recognition & Avoiding Leadership Blind Spots30:00 Second Warning Sign: “Hope Is Not a Strategy”33:50 Signs That Hope Is Driving Your Strategy37:35 Introducing the Growth Playbook Framework44:00 Strategic Pillars & Why Structure Matters48:40 Setting 1-Year Objectives & Quarterly Waypoints55:00 The Confidence Check vs. “On Track” Thinking59:30 Building Meeting Cadence for Clarity & Accountability1:04:18 From Weekly to Quarterly: Driving Alignment1:10:00 Third Warning Sign: Fake Values & Cultural Drift1:20:00 How to Define Real Company Values1:27:50 Avoiding Watered-Down Culture & Leading with Vision1:29:30 Practical Next Steps & Key TakeawaysSubscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit dandoadvisors.com for coaching inquiries.Resources & Mentions:Download the Growth Playbook FrameworkGrab the Role Clarity WorksheetFeatured Quotes:“Change is inevitable, growth is a choice.” – Kirk Dando“Success has a way of going to our head, and failure has a way of going to our heart.” – Tim Keller“Everyone talks about changing the world, but few talk about changing themselves.” – TolstoyConnect with Kirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkdando/ | — | ||||||
| 7/22/25 | #03 – Leading Organizations Through Loyalty, Loss, and Letting Go | Scaling a business isn't just about adding talent. It’s about aligning the right people, in the right roles, with the right mindset for what comes next. This episode confronts one of the most gut-wrenching truths of leadership: your team’s past success might be hiding your biggest future liabilities.In this episode, listeners will:Understand the three subtle but deadly people-related Warning Signs of Success that sabotage momentum—even when everyone seems “nice” or “smart.”Recognize how loyalty, comfort, or indecision can lead to a quiet crisis—whether it’s miscast roles (Right Idea, Wrong Person), unqualified leaders (Professionalizing Mediocrity), or passive resistance to change (Open Door, Closed Mind).Learn how to make tough people decisions earlier, cleaner, and with less collateral damage—and how avoiding these decisions leads to greater pain later.Feel less alone as they normalize what every growing company inevitably faces: the emotional tax of evolving your team to match your ambitions.You’re not a bad leader for having the wrong people. You become a bad leader when you keep them there.Episode Breakdown:(0:00): Intro & Guiding Truth(2:55): Is This Just About Firing?(8:00): Why Start with People?(13:08): Coaching, Community, & Counseling(17:04): Kirk's Coaching Philosophy(20:40): First Warning Sign of Success(23:42): Right Idea, Wrong Person Matrix(37:17): How to Give Clarity to a Role (50:32): Second Warning Sign of Success(56:57): Third Warning Sign of Success(1:04:21): Next Steps(1:06:03): OutroSubscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit dandoadvisors.com for coaching inquiries.Resources & Mentions:“Right Idea, Wrong Person” MatrixHow to Bring Clarity to a Role - GuideDiSC Profile - How to Use in OrganizationsWhat if Your Performance Review Looked Like This?The Hiring Test | — | ||||||
| 7/8/25 | #02 – Building a Level III Company (The Journey to Get and Stay on Top) | You’re not broken. You’re growing.This episode is for every leader who feels like they’re the only one struggling to scale. The sleepless nights. The team tension. The never-ending whack-a-mole of problems. It’s not just you—it’s the natural result of success. In this conversation, Kirk introduces the Business Growth Lifecycle Model, a simple but powerful tool to name what’s really happening inside your business and guide your team through it.Listeners will:Learn how to map their company’s stage of growth (Level I, II, or III)—and what that means for strategy, structure, and leadership.Recognize that the chaos and pressure they’re feeling is normal—and predictable.Discover how the best leaders use this model to align their teams, avoid misdiagnosing problems, and move from reactive firefighting to intentional scale.Hear why reaching Level III—a professionally managed, still-entrepreneurial, investor-attractive business—is rare, and what it takes to get there.Growth doesn’t feel like winning. It feels like breaking. But if you can name what’s happening, you can lead through it.Episode Breakdown:(0:00:00) Intro & Podcast Purpose(0:03:03) Introducing Today’s Resource(0:09:18) Normalizing the Messy Middle(0:18:21) The Road to Becoming a Level III Company(0:29:28) Scattered Focus, Scattered Results(0:37:53) Getting People and Process Management Right(0:59:28) Systems and Processes That Slow You Down(1:02:03) The Gap: Revenue vs. Cost vs. Emotional Toll(1:09:23) Why Only 10% of Companies Get This Right(1:13:44) Loyalty vs. Leadership Coaching Analogy(1:20:46) Final Takeaways & Free Resource(1:23:31) OutroLearn how to lead through the messy middle without losing your mind—or your business.Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit dandoadvisors.com for coaching inquiries.Resources & Mentions:Business Growth Lifecycle PDF - free resource from Kirk Dando for leaders who feel like they’re the only one struggling to scaleKirk Dando’s Website – Inquire about executive coaching, speaking, angel investing, and/or advisory board involvementsColin Powell’s “Essence of Leadership” Talk“Necessary Endings” by Henry Cloud | — | ||||||
| 6/17/25 | #01 – When Success Breeds Failure (The Truth CEOs Need to Hear) | Episode #01 – When Success Breeds Failure (The Truth CEOs Need to Hear)Welcome to the kickoff episode of the For You Leaders podcast with Kirk Dando.After coaching CEOs for 30+ years and helping generate more than $80 billion in enterprise value and $17 billion in successful exits, Kirk has seen a pattern most leaders miss: success itself can quietly sow the seeds of failure.In this powerful opening conversation, Kirk shares:Why the hidden costs of growth are rarely talked about—until it’s too lateThe real difference between “For You” leaders and those who lead for themselvesHow clarity, accountability, and decision velocity determine your company’s ability to scaleTwo simple but transformative frameworks for your use: the CEO Growth Gauge and the TEM modelWhy it's important to normalize the journey of highs and lows for business leadersIf you're a CEO, board member, investor, or entrepreneur who’s tired of vague advice and ready for real-world, battle-tested insight, this episode is for you.Episode Breakdown: (0:00:15) Intro & Podcast Purpose(0:02:42) Kirk's Leadership Journey(0:07:40) Season Overview & Podcast Philosophy(0:17:17) Kirk & Spencer’s Personal Connection(0:25:22) Defining the Core Issue for Executives(0:30:26) With the Right Guide, Any CEO Can Succeed(0:37:07) Introducing the CEO Growth Gauge Framework(0:47:25) TEM Model: Thesis, Execution, Macroeconomics(1:04:38) An Investor's Lens on Business Growth(1:09:25) One Action Step for CEOs Today(1:13:23) Outro & What’s NextLearn how to lead through the messy middle without losing your mind—or your business.Subscribe for bi-weekly episodes and visit dandoadvisors.com for coaching inquiries.Resources & Mentions:Kirk Dando’s Website – Inquire about executive coaching, speaking, angel investing, and/or advisory board involvementsKirk’s book (originally released in 2014) – foundational insights for this season | — | ||||||
| 6/9/25 | Season Trailer – For You Leaders with Kirk Dando | This season on For You Leaders, Kirk Dando invites you into the trenches of real growth. With over 30 years of experience advising top CEOs, boards, and investors—and contributing to more than $80B in enterprise value—Kirk shares his unfiltered insights, tested frameworks, and hard-earned lessons.Whether you're scaling a startup or leading a mature company through transformation, this season offers the clarity and confidence you need to grow without compromising what matters most. It’s not theory—it’s proven, actionable advice for leaders like yourself. If you're tired of reactive leadership and ready to lead with foresight, buckle up. The journey starts here. Let's climb. | — | ||||||
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