Tools for Building Leaders

Reach your customers where they are

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Leah Hudson, a strategic marketing leader, for a deep dive into what it actually takes to build, scale, and adapt marketing in a growing organization. Drawing from her time at Culligan, Leah shares how she helped lead regional expansion, digital transformation, and post-acquisition integration across multiple markets. Her experience highlights the reality that marketing is rarely a straight path. It’s a constant process of testing, learning, and adjusting based on real data. The conversation explores how effective marketing strategies are built through layering digital and traditional efforts, understanding local markets, and staying flexible as trends and technology evolve. Leah also offers insight into managing complexity, from overseeing multiple locations to balancing internal priorities with external partnerships. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * What Leah’s time at Culligan taught her about scaling marketing across regions * Why the best marketing strategies are layered and adaptable * How to use data to guide decisions and improve performance * The importance of local relevance within a larger brand * When and why to bring in outside experts to support growth This episode offers a practical look at modern marketing leadership, especially for those managing growth, navigating change, and trying to build strategies that actually work in the real world.

Tools for Building Leaders

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Rodd Welker, leadership coach and founder of Eagle Advisor Group, for a practical conversation about developing leaders, strengthening teams, and improving performance through intentional growth. Rodd shares over 35 years' worth of insights from working with organizations across industries and leadership levels. The conversation explores common challenges leaders face today, including communication breakdowns, lack of trust, and navigating conflict. Rodd explains why these issues are less about systems and more about people, and why self-awareness is the starting point for real progress. They also dive into the tools Rodd uses in his coaching, from behavioral assessments like DISC and Working Genius to trust and team evaluations. Beyond the tools, Rodd emphasizes the importance of reflection, feedback, and creating environments where teams can have honest conversations and grow together. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * The most common leadership challenges teams face today * Why self-awareness is critical to effective leadership * How tools like DISC and Working Genius improve communication * What healthy, high-performing teams do differently * Practical ways leaders can develop themselves and their teams This episode offers a grounded, experience-driven look at leadership development, especially for leaders who want to move beyond surface-level fixes and build stronger, more effective teams over time.

30 Leaders, 30 Countries, 30 Years Branches Worldwide

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Cody Carpenter, Vice President of Branches Worldwide, for a behind-the-scenes look at building a global organization, navigating growth, and developing leaders with long-term impact. Cody shares the story of Branches from its early days to where it is today, along with all of the challenges, setbacks, and lessons learned along the way. The conversation explores what it takes to build something from the ground up, especially when the vision is bigger than what currently exists. Cody highlights the role of adaptability and community in shaping the organization, from early uncertainty to growing international momentum. The discussion also dives into how Branches develops leaders through its three-year model, focusing on leadership, business strategy, and community impact. Cody explains how the organization is working to support entrepreneurs around the world while creating a network that extends far beyond a short-term program. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * The origin and evolution of Branches Worldwide * What it takes to build and scale a global organization * Lessons learned from early challenges and setbacks * How the three-year leadership development model works * The long-term vision of investing in leaders for lasting impact This episode offers a practical and honest look at leadership, growth, and building something meaningful over time, especially for leaders thinking beyond short-term success and into long-term influence.

The Continuing Challenges of Leadership

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Shasta Mast, Director of Leadership Holmes County at the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, to discuss developing leaders, strengthening communities, and building connections that last. Shasta shares the story behind Leadership Holmes County and how the program was created to address a real need: developing confident, capable leaders in a growing but tight-knit community. The discussion walks through what the program looks like in practice, from monthly sessions and leadership-focused discussions to immersive experiences across industries like education, manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism. The conversation also explores the deeper impact of leadership development. Shasta explains how the program helps individuals grow in confidence, expand their perspective, and build relationships that continue long after the program ends. Lindsey and Shasta also dive into the real challenges leaders are facing today, including hiring, generational differences, housing, and maintaining the identity of a community while it continues to grow. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * How Leadership Holmes County develops leaders across industries and experience levels * Why connection and community are essential to effective leadership * The long-term impact of building a strong peer network * Challenges leaders are facing today, from hiring to workforce expectations * Why leadership growth requires both learning and action This episode offers a practical and community-centered look at leadership development, especially for organizations investing in their people and individuals looking to grow into greater influence.

Turing Insight Into Action

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp is joined by Julia Kooser for a blaze Business Expo wrap-up, breaking down the key insights, frameworks, and marketing resources shared during the event. The conversation focuses on one of the biggest challenges business owners face today: lack of clarity. Lindsey walks through how many companies are making marketing decisions based on guesswork instead of data, and why that leads to inconsistent results. From there, they unpack the practical checklist shared at the Expo, covering how to evaluate your business across marketing, sales, leadership, and more. They also dive into how to build a marketing strategy that actually works. That includes defining clear goals, understanding your audience, evaluating your current performance, and identifying gaps and opportunities. Lindsey emphasizes that marketing should function like a controlled experiment, not a series of random tactics, and explains how businesses can move toward more predictable, repeatable growth. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * Why lack of clarity is one of the biggest marketing challenges businesses face * The importance of data over “gut decisions” in building strategy * How to determine the right marketing channels based on your goals * Evaluating your current marketing performance and identifying gaps * Building a repeatable strategy that can scale into new markets This episode serves as a practical extension of the blaze Business Expo, designed to help business leaders move from ideas to action with clearer direction and better decision-making.