Raving Fans Start Within

Calli O'Donnell on Curiosity, Connection, and the Downstream Effects of Your Work

In this episode of Raving Fans Start Within, I sit down with Calli O'Donnell, a senior financial analyst at Velosio, to explore the powerful themes of curiosity and connection in the workplace. Calli shares her journey from studying accounting to embracing finance, highlighting her passion for strategic decision-making and collaboration. We discuss the transformative impact of AI on her role and the importance of understanding the "why" behind processes to foster greater efficiency and connection across teams. Join us as Calli emphasizes the value of mentorship and the significance of nurturing relationships in driving success within an organization. Tune in for insights that can inspire your own professional journey.

Tobi Darby on Listening, Change Management, and Solving the Impossible

On this week’s episode of Raving Fans Start Within, Velosio’s Consulting Manager, Tobi Darby shares practical wisdom on navigating complex ERP transitions through empathetic change management, while emphasizing foundational career habits like punctuality and listening to understand rather than respond. Key Episode Takeaways: - Look Beyond the Contract: Keeping clients long-term and turning them into fans means moving past the rigid wording of a Statement of Work. You have to stop acting like a basic vendor and start acting like a true business partner. - Good People Attract Good People: Top-tier talent doesn't just apply blindly; they look for companies where their trusted friends already work and can vouch for the culture and management. - Listen to Understand, Not to Reply: True active listening means quieted minds and zero interruptions. You have to stop planning your next response in your head and actually focus on the client's or teammate's real frustration. - Be on Time (Or Early): Punctuality is the easiest way to build trust. Showing up to a meeting early isn't a minor detail; it proves you respect other people's schedules and take your job seriously. - Lean Into Hard Challenges: Building a team identity around solving "impossible" problems keeps morale high. When a team is proud of tackling the tough stuff, they confidently own their results. - Bring Your Real Self to Work: Company culture thrives when people actually connect. Encouraging employees to share their actual hobbies—whether that’s martial arts or baking cupcakes—creates genuine friendships that hold a team together. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background 1:26 Career Journey to Velosio 2:07 Hidden Talents and Personal Interests 3:07 Velosio's Distinctive Culture 3:41 Finding Home at Velosio 4:45 Professional Development 5:57 Team Identity and Mission 6:38 Career Advice and Life Lessons Connect with Tobi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobi-darby-7619153/ Connect with Robbie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiemorrison/ Learn More About Velosio: https://velosio.com Work at Velosio: https://velosio.com/careers

Brad Jagher on Leadership, Low Ego, and Earning Trust

In this episode of Raving Fans Start Within, Velosio’s Director of Client Account Management, Brad Jagher, shares how he built a world-class sales team by trading traditional authority for a people-first, teaching-driven leadership style. Key Episode Takeaways: - Culture Over Strategy: Building an authentic, low-ego team culture serves as an organization's ultimate shock absorber during turbulent leadership reorganizations. - The "People-First" Paradigm: Shifting management from permission-seeking to transparent autonomy fosters deep execution trust and higher employee engagement. - Redefining Roles: Maximizing client retention and growth requires elevating traditional order-takers into proactive, dual-focus relationship managers. - Decisive Change Management: Sustaining organizational velocity during a structural pivot requires a clear mandate for alignment, allowing detached team members to exit early. - The Workplace Relationship Metric: Long-term organizational retention is driven by cultivating authentic friendships that pass the test of outside-of-work socialization. 00:00 Introduction and Team Excellence Recognition 1:20 Career Transition and Leadership Motivation 3:06 Team Structure and Leadership Philosophy 4:58 Practice and Development Methods 7:04 Overcoming Change Resistance 8:37 Career Aspirations and Company Culture Connect with Brad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-jagher/ Connect with Chad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-woods-a99479/ Learn More About Velosio: https://velosio.com Work at Velosio: https://velosio.com/careers

Nina Bowers on Raving Fans, Better Processes, and the Art of Asking Why

In this episode of Raving Fans Start Within, Nina Bowers shares how she transitioned from a criminal justice major to Velosio's CRM Systems Manager, along with the secret to balancing system customization with peak performance and how adopting a "gatekeeper" mentality builds a truly world-class user experience. Key Episode Takeaways: - Having a "gatekeeper" mindset to prioritize operational needs over a never-ending user wishlist, protecting software performance from over-customization. - An unconventional background, such as criminal justice, can help with critical root-cause analysis and problem-solving into IT and systems management. - A healthy company culture embraces the "sitcom" dynamic, using shared humor and comic relief to defuse high-pressure challenges and reinforce team resilience. - Side passions like podcasting build professional soft skills, teaching creators how to look at the "whole journey" when solving problems. - Long-term employee retention hinges on intellectual challenge, meaning high performers will stay with an organization through massive transitions if they are consistently pushed to grow. 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Transition from Client Side to Consulting 2:28 Background in Technology and Self-Taught Skills 3:48 Analytical Approach and Criminal Justice Background 5:08 Hands-On Learning and Field Experience 7:27 Velocio as a Sitcom 8:34 Bariatric Advocacy and Podcasting Passion 10:47 Raving Fans Philosophy and Internal Customers 12:22 Karaoke Choice and Personal Philosophy 13:11 Best Career Advice: Being a System Gatekeeper Connect with Nina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-bowers-222a6a31/ Connect with Robbie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiemorrison/ Learn More About Velosio: https://velosio.com Work at Velosio: https://velosio.com/careers

Brian Campbell on Building Trust, Listening Better, and Driving Real Client Impact

In this week’s episode of the podcast, industry veteran Brian Campbell shares how active listening and servant leadership propelled him to a standout year and a spot at the prestigious President’s Club in Punta Cana. Discover how Velosio’s accelerated growth and comprehensive Microsoft stack expertise are transforming the partner channel while Brian balances professional success with a deep commitment to faith and family. Key Episode Takeaways: - Intentional Talent Acquisition: Brian Campbell’s 30-year career trajectory was capped by him specifically targeting Velosio as the top industry partner rather than being recruited, highlighting the power of a "destination" brand. - Full-Stack Competitive Advantage: By dominating the entire Microsoft ecosystem, including ERP, CRM, infrastructure, data, and AI, Velosio positions itself as a one-stop shop that eliminates the client's need for multiple partners. - Consultative Trust over Transactional Selling: Success in the mid-market space is increasingly driven by "active listening" and uncovering long-term business impacts rather than just fulfilling a specific product scope. - The "Faith, Family, Work" Hierarchy: Adopting a clear personal framework creates a grounded professional identity that fosters authentic client relationships and prevents burnout. - Servant Leadership as an Operational Model: Integrating biblical principles of humility and service into the corporate structure serves as a functional strategy for lifting team performance and achieving goals. 00:00 Introduction and Brian's Background at Velosio 01:10 Brian's Journey to Velosio and 30-Year Industry Experience 04:16 Velosio's Competitive Advantage 06:21 Team Recognition and Shoutouts 09:35 Developing Client Listening Skills and Building Trust 12:08 Work-Life Balance and Family Priorities 15:33 Faith and Servant Leadership 20:18 Personal Interests and Fun Facts Connect with Brian Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancampbell4/ Connect with Chad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-woods-a99479/ Learn More About Velosio: https://velosio.com Work at Velosio: https://velosio.com/careers