What does it take to build an award-winning workplace culture that earns Best Places to Work 2025 for the third year in a row?

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Richard Ollis, CEO of Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors, an employee-owned company in Springfield, Missouri, known for exceptional culture, transparency, and people-first leadership.

Richard shares how he evolved from a “command and control” leadership style into service-oriented leadership, and why that shift transformed everything. You will learn the culture strategies that drive real engagement, including inclusive decision making, company-wide transparency, equity ownership, top-tier benefits, and how benchmarking helps organizations become an employer of choice.

You will also hear how Richard creates a standout employee experience through a purposeful onboarding process, including his “first hour, first day, first week” approach and why meeting new hires personally matters. Plus, Richard explains how humor, curiosity, routines during tough seasons, and personal development create momentum, retention, and team pride.

If you want practical leadership ideas to energize your team, strengthen culture, and build a workplace people truly love, this episode is packed with strategies you can use right now.

Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors: https://ollisakersarney.com/

Richard Ollis LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-ollis-325a417/

CONNECT WITH DESI:

https://www.desipayne.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker

www.youtube.com/c/desipayne

Instagram: @Desi.Payne

Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker