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  • When Systems Break People: Aligning Leadership, Culture, and Performance with Hanna Bauer

    When Systems Break People: Aligning Leadership, Culture, and Performance with Hanna Bauer
    Feb 26 2026
    Why do organizations keep fixing symptoms instead of solving the real problem?

    In this episode, David Carr sits down with Hanna Bauer, leadership strategist and founder of HEARTnomics, to explore why misalignment between people, systems, and purpose quietly erodes performance, culture, and trust.

    Drawing from Hanna’s experience as a CEO, board chair, and executive advisor, this conversation examines what happens when organizations rely too heavily on process, technology, or structure without tending to the human side of leadership. David and Hanna discuss why communication breakdowns, burnout, and stalled execution are rarely people problems and almost always leadership and alignment problems.

    The discussion spans nonprofit, hospitality, financial, and technical environments, offering practical insight into how leaders can restore clarity, psychological safety, and accountability during growth, digital transformation, and cultural strain.

    Grounded in real executive experience and systems thinking, this episode reframes leadership as the responsibility to balance heart and rigor, humanity and execution, so organizations can perform without chaos or constant rework. In this episode:
    • Why performance problems are usually alignment problems
    • The hidden cost of over-relying on systems and processes
    • How leadership communication shapes culture and execution
    • What it means to align people, purpose, and performance
    • Why leadership growth must keep pace with organizational growth
    Links mentioned in this episode:
    • Hanna Bauer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna
    • HEARTnomics https://www.heartnomics.com


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

    Connect with Steward Your Business:

    • Book a conversation: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/cc
    • Call: +1 909.404.9865
    • Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr
    Watch more episodes and subscribe on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business
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    36 Min.
  • Neurodivergent Leadership, ADHD, and AI: Designing Systems That Actually Work

    Neurodivergent Leadership, ADHD, and AI: Designing Systems That Actually Work
    Jan 30 2026
    Why do so many capable leaders feel exhausted, unfocused, or misaligned, despite doing everything right? In this episode, David Carr sits down with Sara Gayle, founder of EverKind Strategies, to explore how neurodivergence, burnout, and broken systems quietly undermine leadership effectiveness and what it actually takes to design environments where people can thrive. Drawing from Sara’s journey as a late diagnosed ADHD leader and her work with mission driven organizations, this conversation examines how clarity, kindness, and relational intelligence shape sustainable growth. Rather than treating focus and productivity as personal discipline problems, David and Sara reframe them as leadership and systems responsibilities. The discussion also explores how emerging tools like AI can support neurodivergent leaders by capturing ideas, reducing cognitive load, and restoring margin when used intentionally and ethically. Grounded in real leadership experience, coaching work, and collaborative systems design, this episode challenges the assumption that burnout is a personal failure and instead points to the power of alignment, community, and humane leadership structures. In this episode:
    • Why burnout is often a systems issue, not a motivation problem
    • How ADHD and neurodivergence show up in leadership and teams
    • The role of kindness and challenge in healthy leadership cultures
    • How AI can support focus, follow through, and clarity
    • What it means to design work that fits real humans
    Links mentioned in this episode:
    • EverKind Strategies https://www.goeverkind.com
    • Sara Gayle on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradgayle
    • Totally Normal Podcast hosted by Sara Gayle, available on major podcast platforms


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

    Connect with Steward Your Business:

    • Book a conversation: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/cc
    • Call: +1 909.404.9865
    • Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr
    Watch more episodes and subscribe on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business
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    40 Min.
  • Why Networking Conversations Don’t Convert Into Sales

    Why Networking Conversations Don’t Convert Into Sales
    Jan 15 2026
    Why do so many networking conversations never turn into real opportunities? In this episode, David Carr examines the leadership dynamics behind stalled conversions and why relationship-driven professionals often struggle to move conversations toward commitment.

    Inspired by the operating principles of Success Champions Network, this conversation explores how leadership, structure, and accountability shape whether conversations lead to results.

    David also references the systems-focused leadership behind SCN, led by Jessica Gruber, whose work emphasizes training, infrastructure, and intentional community design to support sustainable growth across chapters worldwide.

    Drawing from real leadership engagements and collaborative work with founders, consultants, and professional organizations, this episode reframes sales and growth as a leadership responsibility rather than a transactional skill.

    In this episode:
    • Why conversations alone don’t create growth
    • The cost of avoiding challenge in leadership
    • How structure protects trust
    • What it means to guide rather than convince

    Links mentioned in this episode:
    1. Success Champions Network: https://successchampionnetworking.com
    2. Jessica Gruber:
      1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-gruber
      2. https://jessicagruber.co/
    3. Buzzworks: https://buzzwks.com


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

    Connect with Steward Your Business:

    • Book a conversation: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/cc
    • Call: +1 909.404.9865
    • Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr
    Watch more episodes and subscribe on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business
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    37 Min.
  • ESOPs Explained: Succession, Legacy, and Employee Ownership with Kelly Finnell

    ESOPs Explained: Succession, Legacy, and Employee Ownership with Kelly Finnell
    Jan 14 2026
    What if exiting your business did not mean selling out your people, your culture, or your legacy?

    In this episode, David Carr sits down with Kelly Finnell, President of EFS ESOP Consultants and one of the nation’s leading experts on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), to unpack how employee ownership can be a powerful succession and liquidity strategy for business owners.

    With more than 40 years of experience helping founders transition ownership, Kelly breaks down what ESOPs actually are, how they work, and why they are often misunderstood. Together, David and Kelly explore why ESOPs appeal to what Kelly calls “compassionate capitalists” — leaders who want to achieve full fair market value for their business while also protecting employees, preserving culture, and sustaining long-term legacy.

    The conversation covers how ESOPs differ from private equity and strategic buyers, how tax advantages play a critical role, and why alignment between owners, employees, and performance creates healthier, more resilient organizations.

    Grounded in real-world case studies across engineering, defense contracting, and professional services, this episode reframes succession planning as a leadership decision — not just a financial transaction. In this episode:
    • What an ESOP is and how it works in plain language
    • Why ESOPs are an alternative to private equity and third-party sales
    • The role of legacy, culture, and stewardship in ownership transitions
    • How ESOPs align employee motivation with long-term performance
    • Common myths and misconceptions about ESOPs
    • What makes a company a strong (or weak) ESOP candidate
    Links mentioned in this episode:
    • EFS ESOP Consultants https://www.execfin.com
    • Kelly Finnell on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/esopcoach
    • The ESOP Coach (book by Kelly Finnell) https://www.esopcoach.com


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

    Connect with Steward Your Business:

    • Book a conversation: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/cc
    • Call: +1 909.404.9865
    • Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr
    Watch more episodes and subscribe on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business
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    35 Min.
  • Your Brand Isn’t Your Logo: Building Clarity and Connection

    Your Brand Isn’t Your Logo: Building Clarity and Connection
    Dec 16 2025
    In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, David W. Carr, founder of Steward Your Business, sits down with Stephanie Simpson, founder of Brand-ification, to explore the powerful intersection of leadership, message clarity, and brand confidence.

    Stephanie shares her journey from Warner Bros. to launching a brand strategy firm that helps business owners define who they are, what they stand for, and how to communicate it clearly. Together, they unpack why so many professionals struggle to articulate their value — and what it really takes to create a brand that connects.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • The real difference between branding, marketing, and messaging.
    • How to identify and speak directly to your ideal clients.
    • Why clarity beats cleverness every time.
    • How to “duplicate yourself” through better communication and systems.
    • The missing link between brand clarity and leadership alignment.
    If you’re a founder, consultant, or leader ready to simplify your message and amplify your impact, this episode is for you.

    Connect with Stephanie Simpson
    🌐 Website: https://brand-ification.com
    📧 Email: stephanie@brand-ification.com
    🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephaniefifesimpson

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

    Connect with Steward Your Business:

    • Book a conversation: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/cc
    • Call: +1 909.404.9865
    • Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr
    Watch more episodes and subscribe on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business
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    47 Min.
  • How Storytelling and Web Design Power Business Growth

    How Storytelling and Web Design Power Business Growth
    Dec 11 2025
    What happens when a lifelong Star Wars fan turns his creative energy toward helping business owners tell better stories?

    In this episode, David W. Carr of Steward Your Business sits down with Roger Jorns, founder of Reanimation Design, fellow Success Champion Network member, and the creative mind behind the new LightsideCollectibles.com redesign. Roger shares how faith, humor, and storytelling shape his approach to design and how any small-business owner can transform their website into their best salesperson.

    You’ll learn:
    • Why clarity beats complexity in marketing
    • The three questions every website must answer
    • How the Hero’s Journey powers brand storytelling
    • What the Force can teach us about business balance

    Connect:
    Reanimation Design → https://reanimationdesign.com
    Lightside Collectibles → https://lightsidecollectibles.com

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

    Connect with Steward Your Business:

    • Book a conversation: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/cc
    • Call: +1 909.404.9865
    • Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr
    Watch more episodes and subscribe on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business
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    42 Min.
  • The Winning Game Plan: Simplify Strategy and Build Teams That Win

    The Winning Game Plan: Simplify Strategy and Build Teams That Win
    Dec 9 2025
    What if your business plan actually worked?

    In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr, founder of Steward Your Business, sits down with Michael Stewart, founder of Business Planning PLUS and a member of Success Champion Networking (SCN). Together, they unpack how to turn your business plan from a static document into a living system that drives growth, alignment, and accountability.

    Michael shares his powerful football (soccer) analogy — mapping every department to positions on the field — and shows how the best organizations play like high-performing teams, with clarity, rhythm, and trust.

    💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn:
    • Why most business plans fail and how to create one that lives and breathes.
    • The 11 core areas every business needs to manage for success
    • How to develop a rhythm of accountability using “disclose, discuss, decide”
    • The power of alignment and communication in leadership meetings
    • How to plan for growth in uncertain markets and expanding internationally
    • Why leadership and culture are two sides of the same coin
    🧠 Key Quote: “Most people spend more time planning their vacation than planning their business success.” — Michael Stewart

    🌐 Connect with Michael Stewart
    Website: https://www.askmjs.co.uk
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstewartuk

    🎧 Listen, subscribe, and share this episode to help more leaders align strategy, people, and purpose to build teams that win.


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

    Connect with Steward Your Business:

    • Book a conversation: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/cc
    • Call: +1 909.404.9865
    • Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr
    Watch more episodes and subscribe on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business
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    40 Min.
  • Scaling to $1M Profit Without Burnout with Davis Nguyen

    Scaling to $1M Profit Without Burnout with Davis Nguyen
    Dec 4 2025
    In this episode, David W. Carr of Steward Your Business and Davis Nguyen, founder of Purple Circle, share the systems and mindset that help coaches and consultants scale to $1 million in profit—without burning out.

    They unpack what it really takes to simplify operations, build scalable systems, and create a business that serves your life instead of consuming it.

    Key takeaways:
    • How clarity beats complexity in business growth
    • The three pillars of the Purple Circle Framework
    • Building a company that runs without you
    • Leadership lessons for sustainable success
    Learn more:
    Purple Circle → https://joinpurplecircle.com
    Ask Davis: How to Scale My Career Coaching Business → https://askdavis.com/how-to-scale-my-career-coaching-business

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

    Connect with Steward Your Business:

    • Book a conversation: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/cc
    • Call: +1 909.404.9865
    • Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr
    Watch more episodes and subscribe on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business
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    37 Min.