Your Perks Aren’t Culture: Jennifer Schielke on the Proof CEOs Keep Missing

Your Perks Aren’t Culture: Jennifer Schielke on the Proof CEOs Keep Missing

Culture does not show up in snack walls, casual Fridays, or surface-level benefits. It shows up in how people communicate, take ownership, grow through hard moments, and perform when no one is watching.In this episode of The Leaders List Show, Bryon Morrison sits down with Jennifer Schielke, CEO at Summit Group Solutions and author of Leading for Impact, to discuss why CEOs need to stop treating culture as a perk package and start treating it as daily proof of leadership.Jennifer shares how her journey from accounting and Deloitte to entrepreneurship changed the way she thinks about people, accountability, and engagement. She explains why culture gets tested during change, why today’s workplace needs stronger human connection, and why leaders cannot build trust with people they never truly talk to.Key insights from the conversation include:◾ Why engagement depends on knowing your people, not guessing what motivates them.◾ How communication, coaching, and accountability help culture scale beyond the CEO.◾ Why leaders need mentors, advisory groups, and honest feedback to stay self-aware.◾ Why small human touches often matter more than big culture programs.For CEOs scaling teams in a shifting economy, this conversation is a reminder that culture is not what you claim. It is what your people experience, repeat, and prove every day.Watch the full episode and subscribe to The Leaders List Show for more CEO-level conversations on what it really takes to grow, adapt, and lead with impact.

Building Fitness Entrepreneurs, Not Just Trainers with Marc Rodriguez

In this episode of the Leaders List Show, Bryon Morrison sits down with Marc Rodriguez, CEO and Founder of Manifest Fitness Institute and Justrod Enterprises, to talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, business ownership, and the future of the fitness industry.After retiring from the United States Marine Corps, Marc entered the fitness world and quickly saw a major gap: many personal trainers knew how to train clients, but few had the roadmap to build a real business. Manifest Fitness Institute was created to close that gap by combining health and fitness education with business development, teaching trainers how to handle sales, marketing, lead generation, retention, pricing, systems, and ownership.Bryon and Marc also discuss Marc’s journey from trainer to instructor, franchise leader, CEO, and founder, along with his vision to scale Manifest Fitness Institute across the United States and internationally.Key insights from the conversation include:◾ Building fitness entrepreneurs: Marc explains why trainers need business education, not just certifications.◾ Leading through structure: Marc shares how delegation, weekly priorities, project management, and operating rhythms help him manage multiple companies.◾ Scaling with discipline: Marc breaks down why he wants every system, SOP, and operational issue addressed before franchising.◾ Culture as a growth driver: Marc shares why small actions, recognition, and pride in the facility shape loyalty and reputation.◾ Leadership from the front: Marc reflects on how military leadership shaped his approach to business, people development, and long-term legacy.Watch the full episode to learn how Marc Rodriguez is building a national model for fitness professionals who want to become operators, owners, and leaders.Subscribe for more CEO-level conversations on leadership, growth, systems, and execution.

Building Brand Credibility, Financial Storytelling & Why AI Can’t Define Your Narrative

In this episode of The Leaders List Show, Bryon Morrison sits down with Simon Hylson-Smith, founder of Paragon PR, to discuss why communication in finance is not just marketing: it is credibility, trust, and valuation. Simon shares how Paragon helps financial institutions and fintech companies define their narrative, sharpen their positioning, and become more relevant, respected, and widely known. He explains why many technology-driven brands mistakenly believe their product will sell itself, and why the real advantage often comes from a clear, authentic story that stakeholders actually believe. They also discuss how AI is changing brand strategy, why AI can make messaging sound generic, and why listening to clients, employees, and stakeholders is essential to building a narrative that becomes a true competitive moat. In this episode, we cover: 📌 Why communication in finance directly impacts credibility 📌 How Paragon PR helps financial brands define their story 📌 Why niche positioning is stronger than trying to serve everyone 📌 The role of stakeholder interviews in uncovering brand truth 📌 Why AI can dull a brand instead of differentiating it 📌 How one strong article can create long-term brand momentum 📌 Why executives need to become industry leaders, not just company spokespeople 📌 The three essentials of a strong narrative: truth, authenticity, and relevance 📌 How leaders can turn their story into a strategic advantage If you’re leading a financial services firm, fintech company, or B2B brand, this conversation will help you understand why your narrative matters, and how to make it stronger. #TheLeadersListShow #Leadership #BrandStrategy #FinancialServices #Fintech #PublicRelations #BusinessGrowth #Storytelling #ExecutiveLeadership #MarketingStrategy

Corey Morris on Scaling an Agency, AI Search, and Marketing ROI

In this episode of The Leaders List Show, Bryon Morrison sits down with Corey Morris, owner of Voltage, author of The Digital Marketing Success Plan, and a national voice in search marketing. Corey shares his journey from employee to owner, how Voltage narrowed its focus from a broad-service agency to a specialized search and web development firm, and why AI has created so much confusion for leaders trying to evaluate marketing performance. They also discuss succession planning, building a personal advisory board, avoiding unchecked growth, and how leaders can separate real marketing strategy from AI hype. In this episode, we cover: - Corey’s journey from employee to agency owner - Why Voltage moved from full-service to specialist-focused - The difference between growth and scalable growth - How AI is changing search, SEO, and marketing attribution - Why marketing ROI depends on more than KPIs - The importance of trusted advisors and peer networks - How leaders should think about succession and what comes next If you’re leading a company, scaling an agency, or trying to understand what AI really means for your marketing strategy, this conversation is packed with practical insight. #TheLeadersListShow #Leadership #DigitalMarketing #SEO #AI #AgencyGrowth #MarketingStrategy #BusinessLeadership #SuccessionPlanning

How Seven Eagle Academy Helps Veterans Land Meaningful Civilian Careers

In this episode of Leaders List Show, Bryon Morrison sits down with Jordi Kern, Founder of Seven Eagle Group, to discuss how his team is helping veterans transition into meaningful civilian careers through Seven Eagle Academy and the SkillBridge program. Jordi shares why he moved away from a traditional recruiting model and built an online academy and marketplace that connects transitioning service members with hiring managers across industries. The conversation highlights how veterans bring grit, professionalism, leadership, and mission-focused execution into the workforce, and why companies should rethink how they evaluate veteran talent. We’ll cover the following topics: How Seven Eagle Group supports veterans entering civilian careers - The value of SkillBridge for both service members and employers - Why Seven Eagle Academy creates a lower-risk hiring experience - How companies can “test drive” veteran talent before making a permanent hire - Why resumes often fail to capture a veteran’s true potential - The importance of video introductions, networking, and informational interviews - Top roles where veterans often succeed, including tech, cybersecurity, sales, aviation, construction, project management, and remote work Join us as we explore a smarter, more human way to hire, and learn why giving veterans a chance can help companies build stronger, more resilient teams. 💡 What topic would you like to hear about next? If this episode helped you think differently about veteran hiring, SkillBridge, or workforce development, let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.