Episode Links:

LinkedIn: Kendley Davenport - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendleydavenport/

Website: Kendley Davenport - https://kendleydavenport.com/

Leadership for Success - https://leadership4success.co/

Execution-Driven Leadership Course -https://saleshub.titancorex.com/courses/offers/6d6ab55d-493d-41cb-a652-cb7ad0ffe82e

Summary:

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, I sit down with Kendley Davenport, a transformational CEO with over 30 years leading PE-backed and founder-led companies. Kendley shares how he scaled ESS from $100 million to $300 million in revenue while fixing a devastating 40% billing error rate that was strangling cash flow. He breaks down his framework of clarity, collaboration, and accountability, and explains why most senior leaders working 70-hour weeks are usually the problem, not their teams. Kendley also reveals what he learned from conversations with Boeing's CEO about focus and work-life balance, why a heart surgeon's approach to planning applies directly to business, and how technology is transforming recruiting. He closes with advice for the next generation of leaders on curiosity, humility, and aligning personal values with professional ambitions.

Chapters:

03:34 The ESS Challenge: Growing Too Fast

06:16 The 40% Billing Error Crisis

07:49 Collaboration, Clarity, and Accountability

10:52 Reducing Owner Dependency

12:14 The Four Areas Where Companies Struggle

14:08 Productive Conflict and Team Cohesion

18:13 Right People in the Right Seats

20:08 Fixing Broken Recruiting Processes

23:28 The Southwest Airlines Hiring Story

28:54 Finding Leaders Ready to Change

29:52 Lessons from Boeing's CEO

32:23 Why Teams Win Together

33:17 The Heart Surgeon's Secret to Zero Deaths

36:10 Giving Back to Virginia Tech

41:56 The Head Fake: Advice for the Next Generation