Sophia Shaw has had many interesting roles, from leading the Chicago Botanical Garden, to being an Adjunct Professor at the Kellogg School of Management. After all that, her work is just getting started. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Sophia talk about Sophia's start up, PlanPerfect, her 'why' to get into nonprofit work, the importance of planning to plan and why initiative is a crucial leadership characteristic. They also talked about the times she’s struggled with Impostor Syndrome, and how she’s gotten over it.

3 Takeaways:

1. (07:45) Leaders need to understand what it takes to execute strategy
2. (12:15) When conflict arises, go back to the strategic plan
3. (14:00) Most people want to go to work knowing what they have to do

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Sophia Shaw, co-founder, PlanPerfect

(03:30) What is PlanPerfect?

(04:30) Why did you start PlanPerfect?

(07:45) What are must-have leadership characteristics

(09:20) Knowing your “why”

(10:20) Learning from mistakes

(12:00) Working through conflict

(15:30) Sophia’s leadership influences

(17:10) Handling imposter syndrome

(19:50) What does Sophia look for in good leaders?

(21:10) Plan Perfect in 2025

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Doug is the executive director of the Child Protection Center of Sarasota, a nonprofit dedicated to prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse. Doug has been with the organization for 30 years, and it has led it since 2011. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Doug talked about his career transition in going from the U.S. Army to social work; what he looks for in young leaders; and how he builds resilience into his leadership approach when working in an emotionally-challenging field. They also talked about one of their favorite non-work topics: baseball, and their favorite teams.

3 Takeaways:

1. (14:00) You have to adapt to overcome challenges
2. (16:00) Honesty, integrity, and servant leadership are Doug’s must-have leadership characteristics
3. (17:50) Be a willing to make decisions and follow through

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Doug Staley, Executive Director, Child Protection Center

(07:50) 30th anniversary at Child Protection Center

(10:10) What is the Child Protection Center?

(13:30) Handling leadership challenges

(16:00) Leadership characteristics

(17:30) Leadership advice

(21:30) Overcoming setbacks

(23:35) Child Protection Center in 2025

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Bob has been president and CEO of Smith & Associates for some 30 years. The firm is one of the largest independent real estate brokerage firms in the Tampa Bay region, selling properties in St Petersburg and Tampa. The firm has also helped bring more than 40 upscale developments to the region. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Bob talked about how Bob has adapted to three decades of big changes in big-ticket real estate sales. They also talked about his go-to leadership characteristics and his go-to mentors.

3 Takeaways:

(10:45) Leaders need to have empathy

(12:50) The truth 100% upfront is always best

(17:30) You need to give back to the community

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Bob Glaser, CEO, Smith & Associates

(04:30) How Bob got into real estate

(08:00) How Bob adjusts to changes

(10:25) What do you look for in leaders?

(11:50) How have you evolved as a leader?

(13:10) Leadership advice

(14:45) Handling “gray areas”

(16:20) Mentors

(18:15) Overcoming setbacks

(19:40) Smith & Associates in 2025

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Shep has been CEO of the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee since 2021. He previously worked for Federations in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati; in Ohio he was CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati for 16 years. Prior to Federations, Shep, an attorney, worked for a Washington, D.C. law firm that worked for nonprofit clients. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Shep talked about building community consensus even when it seems super-difficult, hiring good people and not micromanaging and leading with a clear vision.

3 Takeaways:

1. (07:45) Create a compelling vision and give people the experience they are looking for
2. (11:45) If you have made up your mind, move forward
3. (15:45) Attach your ego to the whole organization

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Shep Englander, CEO, Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

(06:10) Growth and turnaround in Cincinnati

(08:10) How do you get people on the same page?

(09:20) Who are your mentors?

(11:30) The importance of clarity

(13:40) Leadership advice

(14:55) What do you look for in leaders?

(16:45) Overcoming setbacks

(18:00) What is coming up in 2025?

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Ian Schmoyer has helped lead the homebuilding company he founded eight years ago, Christopher Alan Homes, to become both one of the largest privately-owned homebuilding firms in Lee County and a top 100 firm nationwide. The company, with a focus on amenable and affordable homes, builds in Charlotte and Lee counties in Southwest Florida and Palm Bay on Florida's East Coast. On this episode Ian and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about the genesis of Ian’s core hiring rule: never hire jerks. They also talk about his mentors, like his dad, and his views on a hot button issue: housing affordability in Florida.

3 Takeaways:

1. (09:10) Culture is the most needed thing in business today
2. (11:40) Your word is gold
3. (14:40) A lot of successful people kept it simple

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Ian Schmoyer, Chairman, President & CEO, Christopher Alan Homes

(06:25) Why did you get into obtainable housing?

(08:00) What defines Christopher Alan Homes' culture?

(10:10) What leadership characteristics are important to you?

(11:30) Leadership advice

(12:20) Ian’s mentors

(14:00) Book recommendations

(15:05) Overcoming setbacks

(16:30) Magic Wand solution to affordable housing

(17:45) Christopher Alan Homes in 2025

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Greg Slater has had a 30-year career in highways and transportation, the last three or so in Tampa as CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority. Before that he was the Maryland Secretary of Transportation. His current organization, THEA, recently approved a $752 million work plan, which will include projects for safer streets and congestion relief. On this episode Greg and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about one of his key advice nuggets for young people: say yes to every opportunity and create your own luck. They also talked about his mentors and what he looks for in leaders.

3 Takeaways:

1. (12:30) Always be a student
2. (20:00) Be a force multiplier, someone who makes everyone else better
3. (23:30) The path forward is never a straight line

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Greg Slater, CEO, Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority

(05:00) What is the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority?

(06:25) About Greg’s career, becoming Secretary of Transportation of Maryland

(12:15) A little luck and taking on roles others will not

(14:15) Attacking a job with a large leadership role

(16:45) Mentors

(19:10) What do you look for in leaders?

(20:55) Dealing with setbacks

(24:10) What is coming up in 2025?

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Kevin Gillen has been a market president for Synovus Bank in Florida since 2020, covering the Tampa Bay and Sarasota-Manatee markets, among other regions. He previously held banking leadership positions for financial institutions in New Jersey and the Washington, D.C. area. On this episode Kevin and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about the winding path of Kevin’s career and what has driven him to be a better leader at each bank and organization he has worked for. They also talked about what he looks for in hiring and promoting leaders.

3 Takeaways:

1. (10:00) Passion and a people-first mindset are crucial for leadership
2. (12:15) Great leaders cannot bring their ego into decisions
3. (14:50) Sometimes it is better to sleep on a decision

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Kevin Gillen, Market President, Synovus Bank

(03:00) How Kevin got into banking

(05:20) Getting to Synovus Bank and about Synovus Bank

(09:45) Learning about leadership from his clients

(12:05) What do you look for in leaders?

(13:25) Working with an open door policy

(14:35) Great leadership advice

(15:40) Overcoming setbacks as a banker

(18:20) Mentors over Kevin’s career

(22:00) Synovus Bank in 2025

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Jerel McCants is a leading architect in the Tampa Bay market, having built his own firm from scratch with a focus on how people use spaces. He founded the company in 2010, and it focuses on commercial and residential builds, with work on the both coasts of Florida. On this episode Jerel and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about his philosophy of designing spaces that bring people together and how and why he launched his own company. And listen for the pop culture icons Jerel would love to have dinner with.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:45) You can find mentors in unexpected places
2. (12:00) Be curious, there is always something you can take from a conversation
3. (15:10) Great leaders take responsibility

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Jerel McCants, founder, Jerel McCants Architecture Tampa

(03:45) What kind of work does Jerel McCants Architecture Tampa do?

(05:10) How did Jerel get into Architecture?

(06:10) Jerel’s role in Tampa Union Station

(08:00) Jerel’s mentors

(12:00) Being a curious leader

(15:00) Leadership characteristics

(17:20) Best leadership advice

(18:50) Favorite project

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.