Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus

Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz

Season 3, Episode 246

Why Do Leaders Need to Think More Like Conductors? (feat. Daniel Wachter & Mike Sipple Jr.)

What can business leaders learn from a conductor leading an orchestra?

In this episode of the Unconventional Leadership Podcast, Mike Sipple Jr. sits down with Daniel Wachter, President & CEO of the Colorado Symphony, to explore one of the most compelling leadership analogies you will hear: why leading a team is often less about doing the work yourself and more about creating alignment, context, trust, and performance across talented people.

Daniel shares how watching a conductor changed the way he thought about leadership, communication, and team performance. Together, Mike and Daniel unpack what leaders often get wrong about vision, why teams need more than a strategy on paper, how freedom of action is built through alignment, and what executives can learn from musicians who must perform at the highest level together.

They also explore leadership development, workplace culture, employee engagement, accountability, and how the arts can influence business, healthcare, and community impact in unexpected ways.

If you are a CEO, founder, HR leader, executive, or people manager trying to build a healthier culture and stronger team performance, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to lead with more clarity, intention, and humanity.

🔗 Links and Resources:

• Learn more about the Colorado Symphony: https://coloradosymphony.org

• Connect with Daniel Wachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielwachter

Previous Episodes:

• 6/14/2018 – Daniel Wachter and Mike Sipple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000413752855

• 7/16/2020 – Daniel Wachter and Mike Sipple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000485158234

• 2/25/2021 – Daniel Wachter and Mike Sipple – we started the series here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000510578657

• 3/25/2021 – Daniel Wachter w/ Francois Lopez-Ferrer: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000514312297

• 10/14/2021 – Daniel Wachter w/ Julia Adolphe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047?i=1000538531942

TIMECODES:

00:00 - Why leaders need to think like conductors

01:13 - Daniel Wachter’s return and journey to the Colorado Symphony

08:23 - What a conductor teaches leaders about vision and alignment

12:06 - Inside the immersive leadership workshop with the orchestra

21:43 - Why vision on paper is not enough

25:36 - How music, leadership, and healthcare connect

30:01 - Freedom of action, trust, and alignment

34:07 - Right people, right seats, right performance

36:11 - Shared accountability and why engagement cannot hide

50:47 - Creating a customer experience, not just a performance

01:00:54 - What unconventional leadership means to Daniel Wachter

01:02:56 - Why leaders are responsible for creating space and joy

⸻

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➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvB

➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047

➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C

⸻

Connect with the Mike Sipple, Jr!

LinkTree: ➡ https://www.linktr.ee/mikesipplejr

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesipplejr

⸻

Connect with the Talent Magnet Institute!

YouTube: ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@talentmagnetinstitute

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentmagnetinstitute

⸻

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➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/centennial-inc

Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus

Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz

Season 3, Episode 245

Succession Planning for Business Owners: How to Prepare Years Before a Transition (feat. Brent Rippe & Mike Sipple Jr.)

What happens when a founder, owner, or key executive is no longer in the seat?

In this episode of the Unconventional Leadership Podcast, Mike Sipple Jr. sits down with investment banker, business executive, business owner, and long-time strategist Brent Rippe to unpack a leadership challenge too many organizations delay for too long: succession planning.

This conversation goes far beyond selling a company. Mike and Brent explore how leaders can think about long-term business strategy, stakeholder alignment, leadership bench strength, and value optimization years before a transition ever happens. They discuss why many founders keep succession too close to the vest, how uncertainty creates risk for employees and buyers, and why pre-planning can dramatically change the future of a business.

You’ll hear practical insight on family business transitions, leadership development, key-person risk, organizational structure, and how to prepare the next generation of leaders with more intention. If you’re a CEO, founder, family business owner, or executive thinking about long-term continuity, this episode will challenge you to stop pushing succession planning to “someday” and start building a stronger future now.

🔗 Links and Resources:

* Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus

* Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz

* Connect with Brent Rippe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-rippe-095a116

TIMECODES:

00:00 - Why business owners need to think about transition earlier

01:23 - Why long-term strategy matters 3 to 5 years in advance

06:13 - Stakeholder alignment and defining the ideal outcome

08:35 - Family business risk, key roles, and buyer perception

18:09 - Why owners delay succession planning until it’s too late

21:03 - Succession planning as total value optimization

25:16 - Why leaders need to focus on only a few priority KPIs

26:12 - The cost of keeping transition plans too private

30:19 - Stop kicking succession planning to tomorrow

31:07 - Ownership succession, leadership succession, and team succession

34:09 - Why pre-planning matters when your bench is thin

38:38 - The “hit by a bus” test and key-person risk

41:02 - Building leadership depth across the whole organization

42:08 - How great leaders build a culture bigger than themselves

44:21 - From entrepreneur-led business to enduring organization

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➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvB

➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047

➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C

---

Connect with the Mike Sipple, Jr!

LinkTree: ➡ https://www.linktr.ee/mikesipplejr

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesipplejr

Connect with the Talent Magnet Institute!

YouTube: ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@talentmagnetinstitute

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentmagnetinstitute

Connect with the Centennial on LinkedIn:

➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/centennial-inc

Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus

Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz

Season 3, Episode 244

Why Is Leadership So Hard Right Now? How Great Leaders Build Healthy Teams (feat. Nancy Spivey, David Noe, & Mike Sipple Jr.)

Leadership is more complex than ever. Between burnout, employee experience, AI, mental health, and the pressure to build a strong culture, leaders are navigating challenges that do not come with simple answers. In this episode, Nancy Spivey, David Noe, and Mike Sipple Jr. unpack what business leaders, HR professionals, and people managers are seeing right now when it comes to leadership, team culture, talent, and the future of work.

They explore why great leadership still comes back to people, how empathy and trust shape healthier teams, and what organizations need to think about as technology continues to change the workplace. If you care about leadership development, employee retention, workplace culture, human resources, and building teams that can thrive without burning out, this conversation is full of practical insight.

🔗 Links and Resources:

• Connect with Nancy Spivey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spiveynancy

DisruptHR Northern Kentucky - https://business.nkychamber.com/events/Details/disrupthr-northern-kentucky-1411322?sourceTypeId=Website

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce: https://www.nkychamber.com/tmi/

Northern Kentucky Spotlight Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/northern-kentucky-spotlight/id1459036597

• Connect with David Noe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnoe

SpeakEasy HR Hosted by David Noe - https://speakeasyhr.com/

SpeakEasy HR Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speakeasy-hr/id1767590212

Payroll Partners - https://payrollpartners.net/about-us/ Sponsor of the SpeakEasy HR Podcast, an Investors Circle of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and a Presenting Sponsor of the DisruptHR NKY

Timecodes:

00:00 How AI is changing leadership and work

00:33 Unconventional Leadership Podcast intro

01:02 Nancy Spivey and David Noe join the show

01:25 Disrupt HR Cincinnati and leadership trends

05:51 Top people and talent challenges in business today

07:53 Employee experience, burnout, and HR leadership

10:05 AI in the workplace and human connection

17:20 How AI helps podcasting, marketing, and productivity

19:41 Leadership accountability, trust, and delegation

21:47 Why leadership is so complex right now

25:36 Empathy, mental health, and people leadership

27:17 Hiring, retention, and workplace safety concerns

31:26 Payroll systems, HR tech, and employee experience

34:21 Tech stack overload and business efficiency

39:19 Payroll compliance, trust, and human support

41:34 Customer service, automation, and human connection

43:32 Unreasonable hospitality in business

48:07 Disrupt HR topics that make an impact

50:38 Gratitude, employee benefits, and behavior change

56:10 Talent strategy symposium and HR collaboration

58:04 What unconventional leadership really means

59:50 Final thoughts and Disrupt HR Northern Kentucky

⸻

Subscribe & Listen to more content here:

➡️ Web: https://www.talentmagnet.com/podcast

➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvB

➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047

➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C

⸻

Connect with the Mike Sipple, Jr!

LinkTree: ➡ https://www.linktr.ee/mikesipplejr

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesipplejr

⸻

Connect with the Talent Magnet Institute!

YouTube: ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@talentmagnetinstitute

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentmagnetinstitute

⸻

Connect with the Centennial on LinkedIn:

➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/centennial-inc

Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus

Take the FREE Self-Care Inventory Quiz: https://www.talentmagnet.com/quiz

Season 3, Episode 243

Are You Keeping the Wrong “Top Performer” on Your Team? (feat. John Spence, Michael Ragsdale & Mike Sipple Jr.)

High performance doesn’t excuse misalignment. In this episode, Mike sits down with John Spence and Michael Ragsdale for an honest conversation about what great leaders do when a “star performer” creates friction, violates values, or pulls the culture off course.

You’ll hear why values alignment is the real unlock for scaling a healthy business, how leadership decisions carry “more at stake” than most founders realize (families, livelihoods, and trust), and why the second time building a business often looks completely different than the first.

🔗 Links and Resources:

• Connect with John Spence: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-spence-361a4750

• Connect with Michael Ragsdale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ragsdale-

⸻

TIMECODES:

00:00 – Only work with people you like (values + fit)

06:05 – Star performers vs. shared values (culture decisions)

08:56 – “More at stake” (employees’ families + leadership gravity)

13:45 – Origin stories: innovation, risk, and building from scratch

21:07 – Brain + body: exercise, cognition, BDNF, neuroplasticity

37:11 – Scaling lessons: skills change at each growth stage

⸻

Subscribe & Listen to more content here:

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➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvB

➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047

➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C

⸻

Connect with the Mike Sipple, Jr!

LinkTree: ➡ https://www.linktr.ee/mikesipplejr

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesipplejr

⸻

Connect with the Talent Magnet Institute!

YouTube: ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@talentmagnetinstitute

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentmagnetinstitute

⸻

Connect with the Centennial on LinkedIn:

➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/centennial-inc

Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus

Season 3, Episode 242

Why This CEO Pays 100% of Employee Healthcare Costs? (feat. Bob Heil & Mike Sipple Jr.)

In a business arena where most companies struggle with retention, what if the secret to loyalty is radical generosity? In this episode I sit down with Bob Heil, Executive Director of Strategic Relationships and Community Engagement at KLH Engineers, Executive Director of LaunchNKY Center for Civic Leadership, and past Board Chair of BENKY, NKY Chamber, OneNKY Alliance, amongst others. Bob reveals why his company, KLH Engineers, pays 100% of medical insurance for employees and their families—a benefit less than 1% of companies offer.

Bob and Mike discuss the power of "Unconventional Leadership" by challenging existing paradigms in business, education, and government. From the "hand on the shoulder" mentorship moments that define careers to the "Creative Tension" required to drive innovation, this episode is a masterclass in servant leadership and community building. Learn all about Launch NKY and why Bob is so deeply passionate about civic leadership and encouraging you to ask someone to participate in leveling up our community.

In this episode, we cover:

• Radical Employee Benefits: Why KLH pays 100% of medical for employees and families.
• Creative Tension: Using the rubber band analogy to bridge the gap between reality and vision.
• Civic Leadership: The formation of the OneNKY Alliance and breaking down regional silos.
• The "Splendid Torch:" Why Bob Heil refuses to retire and his philosophy on legacy.
• LaunchNKY: A new program designed to place leaders on boards and commissions.

🔗 Links and Resources:

- Connect with Bob Heil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-heil-06148610/

- Learn more about KLH Engineers: https://www.nku.edu/launchnky.html

- Explore the OneNKY Alliance: https://onenkyalliance.com/

- Check out and learn: https://www.nku.edu/launchnky.html

___

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➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvB

➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047

➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C

___

Connect with the Mike Sipple, Jr!

LinkTree: ➡ https://www.linktr.ee/mikesipplejr

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesipplejr

___

Connect with the Talent Magnet Institute!

YouTube: ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@talentmagnetinstitute

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentmagnetinstitute

___

Connect with the Centennial on LinkedIn:

➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/centennial-inc

Connect & ask your leadership question here: https://www.talentmagnet.com/contactus

Signup for Relentless 2800: https://www.relentless2800.com

Season 3, Episode 241

Why Great Leaders Start With Sleep, Not Strategy (feat. Jessica Morris AND JONBOB Willis)

What if the biggest limiter of your leadership effectiveness isn’t skill, strategy, or experience—but exhaustion?

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Mike Sipple Jr. is joined by Jessica Morris, executive health coach and wellness expert, and JONBOB Willis, creative entrepreneur and community builder, to unpack what holistic leadership really looks like in practice. From sleep deprivation and burnout to margin, community, and purpose-driven creativity, this episode reframes leadership through the lens of well-being.

The group explores why sleep is the cornerstone of peak performance, how leaders unknowingly model burnout for their teams, and why psychological safety begins with asking better questions—like “What’s feeling heavy right now?” instead of “How are you?”

They also dive into JONBOB’s community-driven initiatives like The Simple Portrait Project and Relentless 2800, illustrating how margin, play, and connection fuel creativity and resilience—both personally and organizationally.

This episode is a masterclass in human-centered, unconventional leadership for executives, founders, and anyone responsible for leading people.

In this episode, we cover:

- Sleep as a Leadership Skill: Why sleep is the foundation of emotional regulation, decision-making, and resilience

- Burnout Warning Signs: How stress shows up physically, emotionally, and relationally before leaders notice it

- The “At Your Best” Framework: Defining how you think, feel, and operate when you’re fully aligned

- Psychological Safety: How asking better questions transforms trust, engagement, and performance

- Margin & Creativity: Why protecting margin unlocks innovation and courage

- Community as Fuel: Lessons from The Simple Portrait Project and Relentless 2800

- Athlete Mindset for Leaders: Treating leadership like elite performance—with rest, recovery, and discipline

- Unconventional Leadership Defined: Leading holistically, human-first, and without waiting for permission

🔗 Links and Resources:

- Connect with Jessica Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamorrisky

Health Coach with Vytalize Health, Health Coach & Wellness Leader & Founder of RYTT Solutions

- Connect with JONBOB Willis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonbobdotcom

Relentless 2800: JOIN or start a team TODAY https://www.relentless2800.com

Simple Portrait Project: https://www.thesimpleportraitproject.com

___

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➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvB

➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047

➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C

___

Connect with the Mike Sipple, Jr!

LinkTree: ➡ https://www.linktr.ee/mikesipplejr

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesipplejr

___

Connect with the Talent Magnet Institute!

YouTube: ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@talentmagnetinstitute

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentmagnetinstitute

___

Connect with the Centennial on LinkedIn:

➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/centennial-inc

Season 3, Episode 240

How do you stay relevant in the 2026 leadership shift? (feat. Jennifer McClure, Steve Browne, James Biro, & Mike Sipple Jr.)

By the end of 2026, the world will look completely different due to massive change and AI integration. Mike and his guests discuss how to stay agile and current in a rapidly evolving market. Explore how to retool your approach to meet the changing expectations of the modern workforce and maintain your thought leadership.

🔗 Links and Resources:

* Connect with Jennifer McClure: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure/

* Connect with Steve Browne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebrownphr/

* Connect with James Biro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-biro-683b901

___

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➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvB

➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047

➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C

___

Connect with the Mike Sipple, Jr!

LinkTree: ➡ https://www.linktr.ee/mikesipplejr

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesipplejr

___

Connect with the Talent Magnet Institute!

YouTube: ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@talentmagnetinstitute

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentmagnetinstitute

___

Connect with the Centennial on LinkedIn:

➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/centennial-inc

What separates leaders people trust from leaders people tolerate?

In this episode of The Unconventional Leadership Podcast, Mike Sipple Jr. is joined by Dr. Jeni Al Bahrani (Miami University), and student leaders/Teaching Assistants CJ DeBra and Sarah Bosse to unpack what “trusted advisor” leadership looks like in real life—especially when you’re leading peers, giving feedback, and trying to create a culture where people can learn without fear.

You’ll hear practical leadership lessons for managers, HR leaders, and anyone trying to build a high-trust team:

- How to give actionable feedback without damaging relationships

- Why “microfailures” can build confidence and resilience

- What it looks like to lead yourself first (before you lead others)

- How to manage up and communicate with clarity

If you care about team culture, employee experience, and developing leaders who can handle tough conversations… this one’s for you.

🔗 Links and Resources:

Connect with Dr. Jeni Al Bahrani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenialbahrani

Connect with CJ DeBra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debracj-

Connect with Sarah Bosse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbosse

Subscribe & Listen to more content here:

➡️ Web: https://www.talentmagnet.com/podcast

➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvB

➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047

➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C_

Connect with the Mike Sipple, Jr!LinkTree: ➡ https://www.linktr.ee/mikesipplejrLinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesipplejr

Connect with the Talent Magnet Institute!

YouTube: ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@talentmagnetinstitute

LinkedIn: ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentmagnetinstitute

Connect with the Centennial on LinkedIn:➡ https://www.linkedin.com/company/centennial-inc