S02 E06 Rebuilding Culture after a Tough Merger- 3 Things that Worked

S02 E07 Running 4 Companies: The 1 Rule That Makes It Possible | Tyler Margetts

🎙️ In this episode, Tyler Margetts, CEO of LR Dynamics, shares insights on managing multiple businesses, building strong teams, and redefining excellence in leadership. From resource allocation and strategic planning to delegation and long-term stewardship, Tyler explains the realities of leading several companies while maintaining growth and operational focus. He also discusses how technology, organizational structure, and team culture play a major role in scaling successfully. In this conversation, we explore: 💡 Managing and balancing multiple businesses 📈 Strategic planning and resource allocation 🧠 Why excellence is a continuous journey 👥 Building and developing a strong leadership team ⚙️ Using technology to improve business management 🚀 The importance of delegation and protecting leadership time 🤝 Creating a culture where employees thrive 📊 Long-term thinking and sustainable business growth A key theme throughout the episode is leadership through service building businesses by supporting people, empowering teams, and constantly improving. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, or scaling organizations, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world experience. 🔔 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and business leaders. #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #CEO #Management #Delegation #BusinessStrategy #LRDynamics #LeadershipDevelopment #TheBusinessSpotlight We hope you enjoyed this episode of Untold.  Jon and the Untold podcast team Connect with Jon on LinkedIn where he shares leadership insights regularly:  www.linkedin.com/in/jonspiesman Book a free exploration call with Jon here: https://calendly.com/d/ytw-khm-4r5?utm_source=LI&utm_campaign=Bio Listen to Untold on these podcast platforms:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bshg8B2x1kX665eeYkk52 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/untold/id1805797903 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa845f62-543e-44b2-a6f1-7704bccfc099/untold #DigitalPathology #AIInnovation #RemoteWorkCulture #MedTech #StartupLeadership #Techcyte #UntoldPodcastWithJon #CompassionOverJudgment#EncouragingLeaders #UtahBusiness #EntrepreneurPodcast #SmallBusinessStories #UntoldPodcast #BusinessTips #StartupJourney #LocalBusinessUtah #HiddenGems #WeeklyPodcast #JonSpiesman #BusinessAdvice #podcastforentrepreneurs  Untold is the podcast hosted by Jon Spiesman where we uncover the best-kept business secrets of Utah. Each week, we sit down with local entrepreneurs and business owners to explore their unique journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Whether you're building your own business or just love a good underdog story, you'll find hidden gems of advice and inspiration in every episode.

S02 E06 Rebuilding Culture after a Tough Merger- 3 Things that Worked

What really happens to company culture after an acquisition? In this episode, David Beenfield, CEO and co-founder of Dwelo, shares a candid, behind-the-scenes look at navigating mergers, cultural disruption, and rebuilding trust after major organizational change. From building a strong, scrappy startup culture to experiencing its breakdown following a high-stakes merger, David opens up about the hidden costs of growth, leadership transitions, and the emotional reality of layoffs. He explains how the loss of transparency, identity, and alignment can fracture teams—and what it truly takes to rebuild them. David also reflects on his personal evolution from hands-on operator to CEO, including the challenge of stepping away from execution and learning to lead with clarity, vision, and trust. If you're a founder, leader, or part of a scaling company, this episode offers practical insights on protecting your culture—and recovering when it starts to slip. What you’ll learn in this episode: The real impact of mergers and acquisitions on company culture Why transparency is essential during times of change How to rebuild trust after layoffs and leadership shifts The difference between startup culture and corporate structure Transitioning from operator to CEO mindset Key Topics: Dwelo, company culture, mergers and acquisitions, startup growth, leadership, private equity, organizational change, employee trust, business transformation, CEO mindset Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to David Beenfield and Dwelo 09:00 Navigating Ownership and Role Changes 15:30 Cultural Shifts After Acquisition 24:15 Rebuilding Trust and Transparency 30:20 Leadership Lessons as CEO 36:30 Advice for Founders Facing Big Decisions Hashtags: #Dwelo #Leadership #CompanyCulture #StartupGrowth #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessTransformation #CEO #Entrepreneurship #ScalingBusiness #EmployeeEngagement #BusinessPodcast #FounderJourney

S02 E05 Leadership Lessons from Private Equity Transition | Matthew Wride

In this episode, Matthew Wride shares an inside look at leading DecisionWise through a major transition following a private equity acquisition. He breaks down the real challenges of scaling a business, including the hidden costs of growth, maintaining quality while expanding, and the complexities of integrating company cultures after a merger. Matthew also highlights why not all revenue is good revenue and how overextension can impact long-term success. This conversation offers valuable insights into employee engagement, organizational development, and building a strong company culture during periods of transformation. Matthew emphasizes the importance of transparency with customers, aligning with the right private equity partners, and operationalizing processes to scale effectively. If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or involved in mergers and acquisitions, this episode provides practical lessons on navigating growth without losing focus or values. What you’ll learn in this episode: The impact of private equity on company growth Hidden costs and risks of scaling too quickly How to balance growth with quality and execution Challenges of cultural integration in mergers Why transparency and communication matter in business transformation Key Topics: DecisionWise, employee engagement, private equity, growth strategy, organizational development, merger integration, company culture, leadership, business transformation, employee experience Timestamps: 00:00 Navigating Change: The Journey of DecisionWise 10:39 The Impact of Private Equity on Growth 17:20 Balancing Growth and Quality: The New Reality 24:15 Integrating Cultures: The Challenge of Mergers 27:44 Lessons Learned: Insights for Future Growth Opportunities Hashtags: #DecisionWise #PrivateEquity #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #CompanyCulture #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessTransformation #OrganizationalDevelopment #StartupGrowth #ScalingBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast

S02 E04 The Invisible Weight of Leadership | Joshua Christopherson

In this episode of Untold, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Joshua Christopherson, CEO of Achieve Today, to explore the hidden realities of leadership that rarely make it into press releases or boardroom summaries. Joshua shares his deeply personal journey from sales and marketing leadership roles to becoming CEO of Achieve Today, an EdTech company based in Utah that has helped more than 150,000 people in 72 countries through coaching and personal development programs. After nearly two decades with the company, Joshua Christopherson reveals the mindset shifts required to grow from an individual contributor to an executive leader responsible for the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of employees. The conversation dives into the unseen pressures of leadership, the emotional weight of running a company, and the internal battles leaders face while appearing confident on the outside. Josh Christopherson also opens up about the inspiration behind his book, CEOs and Suicide: The Invisible Game of Leadership, where he discusses the mental and emotional struggles many executives silently experience. From navigating financial crises and near-miss payroll moments to confronting loneliness at the top, this episode uncovers the inner game that every leader must face but few openly discuss. If you're a founder, entrepreneur, executive, or aspiring leader, this conversation provides powerful insights into resilience, vulnerability in leadership, and what it truly takes to carry the responsibility of leading others. Topics covered in this episode: Leadership mindset shifts from “me” to “we” The hidden emotional costs of running a company Why leadership can feel lonely at the top Lessons from nearly 25 years in the education and coaching industry The story behind the book CEOs and Suicide Building a strong workplace culture and supporting employees Facing business crises and staying resilient as a leader About the guest Joshua Christopherson is the CEO of Achieve Today, a personal development and coaching company headquartered in Utah. With more than two decades of experience in education and leadership, Joshua Christopherson has helped scale the company into a globally recognized coaching platform while building one of the most awarded workplace cultures in the state. Hashtags #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CEOLeadership #BusinessPodcast #PersonalDevelopment #StartupLife #ExecutiveLeadership

S02 E03 Leadership Lessons from a Defense Industry CEO | Parker Judd

In this episode of Untold, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Parker Judd, President of GMRE Incorporated, a defense and aerospace engineering firm based in Ogden, Utah. Parker shares how the company has tripled its revenue in recent years and the strategy behind scaling even further while protecting the culture that made the company successful. After spending 17 years at GMRE, Parker rose from engineer to President. In this conversation, he explains what changed when he moved from COO to the president’s chair, how leadership shifts from operations to strategy, and why culture and people must come before numbers when building a lasting company. As GMRE grows from a small business into a much larger competitor in the defense industry, Parker discusses the difficult decisions leaders must make including turning down opportunities that don’t align with the company’s long-term vision. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why culture matters more than strategy in fast-growing companies The biggest leadership shift from COO to President How GMRE plans to scale from $60M to a much larger defense contractor The challenge of maintaining a small-company culture during rapid growth How leaders define non-negotiable company values Why sometimes the best business decisions don’t maximize short-term profit The importance of customer relationships in the defense industry Parker also shares lessons about hiring, integrating new employees from large corporations, and building a culture where employees feel like part of a community rather than just a number. If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or founder navigating company growth, this conversation offers valuable insights into scaling a company without losing the culture that made it successful. About Parker Judd Parker Judd is the President of GMRE Incorporated, a defense and aerospace engineering firm supporting major U.S. defense programs. After joining the company as an engineer, he spent 17 years helping build the organization before becoming President in 2024. Topics Covered Leadership transition Company culture and growth Defense industry business strategy Scaling organizations Startup and leadership lessons Building long-term company vision Hashtags #Leadership #CompanyCulture #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #DefenseIndustry #StartupLessons #BusinessPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment