In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Nate Wolfe to explore the experiences that have shaped his leadership journey. Nate reflects on a defining early moment in his rise into leadership when he made a significant mistake and brought it forward to his company’s CEO, expecting a harsh response. Instead, the focus shifted to everything he had done right that day. That moment changed Nate’s perspective on leadership, reinforcing the importance of not letting mistakes derail progress and of recognizing the wins alongside the setbacks.

Nate and Chris also discuss one of the most difficult challenges Nate has faced: recently losing the agency’s number one line after choosing not to join a larger multi-state organization. Faced with the decision between financial security and staying aligned with their values, Nate and his team chose to protect their integrity, culture, and long-term vision, even at the cost of short-term revenue. He shares how that decision, while difficult, allows them to stay true to who they are and maintain control of their direction.

Throughout the conversation, Nate emphasizes daily habits that support his leadership, including starting each morning in the gym, separating work from family time in the evenings, and maintaining a mindset of assuming positive intent in others. He also shares advice he would give his younger self: “slow down to speed up,” stay focused on the vision, and avoid getting distracted by shiny opportunities that pull attention away from long-term goals.

Looking ahead, Nate expresses excitement about what he sees as a growing trend in the industry, a return to personal relationships and smaller, more relationship-driven partnerships. He believes staying close to people, maintaining a “legendary service” mindset, and protecting company values will continue to guide his leadership.

Chris and Nate explore:

• Learning from mistakes without losing momentum
• Choosing values and integrity over short-term revenue
• Maintaining discipline through daily routines
• Slowing down to stay focused and accelerate growth
• The importance of personal relationships in the industry
• The power of saying no to opportunities that don’t align

This episode offers an honest look at leadership, decision-making, and staying aligned with values in the face of pressure within the manufacturers’ rep community.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Joe Herkowski to discuss the experiences that have shaped his leadership journey as his family business grew and evolved. Joe reflects on a defining period early in his leadership when the company rapidly expanded from a small team of just a few people to a multi-location organization in a short period of time. That growth created both opportunity and pressure, requiring quick decisions, adaptability, and a willingness to step fully into leadership.

Joe and Chris dive into what Joe describes as the toughest leadership challenge he has faced: navigating COVID. With no playbook to follow, Joe explains how he relied on common sense, transparency, and doing the right thing for people. He shares how consistent communication, good or bad, became critical during uncertainty, along with staying positive, supporting customers, and giving associates the opportunity to continue growing through change.

Throughout the conversation, Joe emphasizes transparency, empathy, and consistency as the habits that guide how he leads every day. He discusses the importance of communication across associates, manufacturers, and customers, stressing that even difficult messages are better than silence. Joe also highlights the responsibility leaders have to listen, take action, and put themselves out there, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Looking ahead, Joe talks about his excitement around the next chapter of the business as ownership transitions and he prepares to step into a more vision-focused role. He shares his focus on empowering team leaders, giving people opportunities to grow, maintaining the entrepreneurial spirit of the rep business, and building a succession plan that supports the long-term future of the organization.

Chris and Joe explore:

• Rapid growth and expansion within a family business
• Leading through COVID without a playbook
• Transparency, empathy, and consistency in communication
• Supporting people through change and uncertainty
• Empowering team leaders and creating growth opportunities
• Shifting toward vision, leadership development, and succession planning

This episode offers an honest look at leadership through growth, uncertainty, and change, grounded in real experiences from within the manufacturers’ rep industry.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Bo Beard of Smith & Stevenson for a candid conversation about what leadership really looks like when you grow from peer to leader inside a long-standing manufacturers’ rep agency. Bo shares an honest and relatable perspective on stepping into leadership without feeling fully ready, and how confidence is built gradually through listening, learning, and experience.

Bo reflects on his early days in leadership, when he went from being “one of the guys” on the sales team to leading the very people he once worked alongside. He opens up about the discomfort, self-doubt, and patience required during that transition and how trust from peers, manufacturers, and partners ultimately helped solidify his confidence and role as a leader.

One of the most powerful moments in the conversation centers on making hard decisions. Bo shares the emotional weight of letting go of a long-tenured salesperson and navigating the pain of losing a valued team member to a competitor. These experiences shaped his understanding that leadership often requires doing the right thing, even when it’s deeply uncomfortable, and learning from every outcome.

Chris and Bo also explore:

• The challenge of leading former peers and redefining relationships
• Why patience and perspective are essential leadership skills
• How taking care of your mental and physical health impacts decision-making
• The importance of daily connection, presence, and an open-door policy
• Navigating change while leading a 60-year-old agency
• Why relationships remain the foundation of success in the rep industry
  
  

Throughout the episode, Bo emphasizes the importance of slowing down, listening to all sides, and staying grounded when unexpected challenges arise. He also shares his excitement for the future of Smith & Stevenson, driven by new energy, strong relationships, and a continued commitment to nurturing people, customers, and manufacturer partnerships.

This conversation offers a real, behind-the-scenes look at leadership inside a legacy agency, highlighting the patience, humility, and intentional habits required to lead people well while continuing to grow and evolve.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Anthony Estrada for a thoughtful, authentic conversation about what truly shapes a leader over time. Anthony reflects on how his leadership foundation was formed long before business ownership, rooted in watching his father serve others with humility, generosity, and consistency. That early example instilled in Anthony a people-first philosophy that continues to guide how he leads his team, supports his customers, and shows up every day.

Anthony shares one of the most challenging seasons of his career, losing a key team member while simultaneously closing a warehouse, building a new one, and rebuilding his business from the ground up. Going from a team of three to working alone forced him to dig deep, lead through uncertainty, and project confidence even when he felt internally lost. That experience reshaped how he approaches resilience, responsibility, and leadership during adversity.

Chris and Anthony also explore the personal side of leadership, including the habits and routines Anthony relies on to show up as his best self. From carving out quiet morning time to prioritizing family, Anthony explains how protecting his energy allows him to lead with clarity, steadiness, and intention.

Looking back, Anthony offers powerful advice to his younger self, ask for more help, be more vulnerable, and don’t carry everything alone. He opens up about the pressure entrepreneurs place on themselves and the importance of community, curiosity, and asking better questions earlier in the journey.

Looking ahead, Anthony shares what excites him most about the future: developing the next generation of leaders within his business. His vision centers on building something sustainable, an organization others want to be part of, grow, and eventually carry forward. His leadership focus continues to evolve from day-to-day survival to long-term legacy, investment in people, and creating opportunity beyond himself.

Chris and Anthony explore:

• How early family influence shaped a people-first leadership mindset
• Leading through loss, uncertainty, and rebuilding from scratch
• Showing strength and confidence during challenging seasons
• The importance of morning routines, energy management, and family priorities
• Why vulnerability, asking for help, and community matter in leadership
• Building future leaders and creating a business with lasting value

This episode delivers honest leadership insight, real-world lessons, and a refreshing reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about serving others, staying resilient, and continuing to grow.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Jason Romano for a grounded, insightful conversation about the experiences that shape real leadership. Jason reflects on a defining moment early in his career as a young football coach, when his head coach was battling cancer and instilled a powerful standard of “mental toughness” within the team. That season marked by loss, resilience, and unity shaped Jason’s belief that leadership is about team over individual, grit over ego, and winning together rather than seeking the spotlight.

Jason and Chris dive into some of the most challenging realities leaders face, including stepping into ownership during the uncertainty of COVID and guiding teams through constant change. Jason shares how he focuses on building confidence, trust, and mental strength in others, encouraging people to take ownership, learn from failure, and grow without fear of being graded every day. He also highlights the ongoing challenge of shifting mindsets from individual contribution to true team alignment.

Throughout the episode, Jason emphasizes the importance of process and documentation as leadership tools. From capturing institutional knowledge as experienced team members retire to creating clear, repeatable processes, he explains how structure creates clarity and stability in a growing organization. He also reflects on the value of curiosity, asking better questions, and understanding the bigger picture earlier in one’s leadership journey.

Looking ahead, Jason shares his excitement about the future, expanding the team, developing the next generation of leaders and owners, and building a long-term vision that positions the company for decades of growth. His leadership focus continues to evolve from day-to-day execution to visionary thinking, team development, and creating opportunities for others to lead.

Chris and Jason explore:

• How early coaching experiences shaped a team-first leadership mindset
• Leading through uncertainty, including stepping into ownership during COVID
• Building confidence, accountability, and mental toughness within teams
• The importance of process, documentation, and capturing institutional knowledge
• Why curiosity and asking better questions accelerates leadership growth
• Developing future leaders and building a long-term organizational vision

This episode offers practical insight, real-world leadership lessons, and a refreshing perspective for anyone navigating growth, change, and team development, especially within the manufacturers’ rep community.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Beau Jolly for a grounded, deeply personal conversation about the experiences that shape real leadership. Beau reflects on a defining, life-altering moment, being diagnosed with diabetes, and how that challenge fundamentally changed the way he approached not only his health, but discipline, mindset, and leadership. What began as a personal battle became the foundation for how he shows up every day: leadership starts with self-mastery.

Beau and Chris dive into one of the toughest challenges leaders in the rep industry face: losing a major line. Beau shares how applying the same discipline and resilience he developed through his health journey allowed him to respond with consistency instead of panic. Rather than giving up, he embraced the challenge as a refining process, a “purifying fire”, and committed to steady, daily action to rebuild and grow stronger.

Throughout the episode, Beau emphasizes the importance of structure, routine, and doing hard things daily. From preparing the night before to early morning workouts, quiet time, and faith-based reflection, he explains how creating order before the day begins allows him to lead with clarity, energy, and presence. He also underscores the responsibility leaders have to invest in themselves so they can better serve their teams, customers, and families.

Looking ahead, Beau shares his excitement around new partnerships, growth opportunities, and the chance to pour into others, not just professionally, but personally. He also discusses the importance of vision, mission, and helping team members align their personal growth with the broader purpose of the organization.

Chris and Beau explore:

• How a personal health challenge reshaped leadership mindset and discipline
• Responding to major business setbacks with consistency and resilience
• The role of daily routines, faith, and self-mastery in effective leadership
• Why doing hard things builds the capacity to lead through adversity
• The importance of vision, mission, and creating buy-in within teams
• Leading with purpose by investing in people, not just performance

This episode offers practical wisdom, raw honesty, and a powerful reminder that leadership starts from within, making it especially impactful for leaders navigating pressure, change, and growth in the manufacturers’ rep community.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Graham Walker for a grounded, insightful conversation about the experiences that shape real leadership. Graham reflects on a defining contrast early in his career, experiencing leadership inside a large, highly structured organization and then within a smaller, trust-driven environment. That contrast shaped his belief that while process matters, real leadership is built through personal connection, trust, and genuine commitment to a shared vision.

Graham and Chris dive into one of the most critical leadership challenges: navigating what you don’t know. Graham shares a pivotal experience where he witnessed the consequences of leaders failing to understand the details behind complex initiatives. Determined not to repeat that mistake, he committed himself to learning deeply, even outside his formal expertise, so he could ask better questions, earn credibility, and lead technical teams with confidence and respect.

Throughout the episode, Graham challenges the idea that leaders should remain hands-off or purely outcome-focused. Instead, he emphasizes curiosity, continuous learning, and staying involved in the details as essential leadership traits, especially in fast-moving areas like technology and AI. He also shares how he structures his time to exhaust his strategic thinking through focused idea generation and research, allowing him to lead with clarity and execute effectively.

Looking ahead, Graham shares his vision for leadership that is both strategic and engaged, one where leaders are active participants in building solutions, not just holding teams accountable for results.

Chris and Graham explore:

• How contrasting leadership environments shape leadership philosophy
• The danger of not knowing what you don’t know
• Why curiosity and continuous learning are non-negotiable for leaders
• The importance of staying involved in the details to earn trust and credibility
• Structuring time to balance strategic thinking and tactical execution
• Leading effectively through rapid technological change, including AI

This episode offers practical wisdom, thoughtful perspective, and a refreshing approach to leadership for anyone seeking to grow, stay curious, and lead with purpose in an increasingly complex business environment, especially within the manufacturers’ rep community.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.

In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Patrick McCarthy for a grounded, insightful conversation about the experiences that shape real leadership within a multigenerational, family-run rep agency. Patrick reflects on a defining chapter in his journey: navigating a formal succession planning process that forced him to confront his leadership style, personality, and role within both the business and his family. That experience brought a new level of self-awareness and clarity that continues to guide how he leads today.

Patrick and Chris dive into one of the most challenging aspects of leadership in a growing organization: people management. As the business evolved and long-tenured team members retired, Patrick shares how stepping outside his comfort zone to build hiring, retention, and communication processes became essential to scaling the company and protecting its culture. He emphasizes the importance of transparency, clearly defined roles, and treating the business like a competitive team, even when family dynamics are involved.

Throughout the episode, Patrick underscores the value of presence and visibility as a leader. From starting mornings with customer service to staying engaged with his family and children’s activities, he shares how leadership doesn’t stop at the office door. Looking ahead, Patrick discusses his excitement around technology and AI, the opportunity hidden within data management, and what it will require of him to lead the company thoughtfully through rapid change while enhancing the customer experience.

Chris and Patrick explore:

• How succession planning builds self-awareness and leadership clarity
• Leading within a multigenerational, family-run business
• Navigating people management, hiring, and retention challenges
• The importance of transparency, role clarity, and open communication
• Staying visible, present, and engaged as a leader
• Embracing technology, data, and AI to drive future growth
• What leadership requires in times of rapid industry change

This episode offers practical insight, relatable challenges, and an honest perspective on leadership for anyone navigating growth, family dynamics, and the future of the manufacturers’ rep industry.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.