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In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey chats about decision-making with Paul Hanges, CEO of JibJab, where the mission is to spread joy.

Paul believes in empowering his team to make decisions by acting as the "bumper" in the bowling lane—guiding them while providing the context necessary for them to see the bigger picture. He explains, “I'm going to guide you to knock down the pins and make sure you're not veering off course, but I'm not here to do the work for you.”

Rejecting hustle culture, Paul embraces hyper-prioritization, keeping his schedule as open as possible to support his team and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

When it comes to navigating outcomes, Paul draws on his experience playing poker, saying you need to divorce yourself from the idea that the outcomes determine whether a decision was right. Instead, it’s all about embracing data (to a degree), core values, context, and risk tolerance.

From managing an emotional piggyback to leading the fondly dubbed “cockroach of the internet,” Paul shares his professorial take on leadership and decision-making, both big and small.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Gina Bianchini, founder and CEO of Mighty Networks. With an impressive background in the tech world, Gina shares her distinctive approach to decision-making, underscoring the importance of self-care, taking bets, and building a culture that’s safe to fail.

At Mighty Networks, Gina and her team harness the OODA Loop Framework—observe, orient, decide, act—to make decisions, continually cycling back to observation. This iterative process strips away emotional biases from decision-making and is most effective when executed with speed.

For Gina, effective leadership ultimately hinges on managing your own psychology to make better decisions. As she puts it, “If I work so hard that I’m not in a position to make good decisions, I’m gonna’ fail.” Rejecting the hustle culture that is so prevalent in the Silicon Valley, Gina emphasizes the importance of effective delegation, which allows her to prioritize essential elements that fuel sound decision-making: nutrition, exercise, and adequate rest. “I think it’s very difficult to make good decisions on four hours of sleep.”

Gina is passionate about cultivating a culture where it’s safe to fail, encouraging teams to experiment and take strategic bets. She believes that the interplay of these bets often leads to the best discoveries.

In the end, Gina’s approach reminds us that successful decision-making thrives on self-care, a solid framework, and creating a culture where innovation can flourish.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack sits down with Jo Kinsella, Global President & COO of XR Extreme Reach, to explore her career journey—from backpacking in Bali to breaking into the fintech and adtech industries, and ultimately leading transformation at XR Extreme Reach.

With a successful exit under her belt, Jo shares the lessons she’s learned while leading teams through change, launching companies, and embracing authenticity along the way.

Her decision-making mantra? “Sit or stand, but don't wobble. Because if you wobble and you're indecisive as a leader then that wobble vibrates throughout the whole company.”

Jo’s secret weapon as a leader is listening to her intuition. “I have this crazy intuition I call the whispers, and many women—and men for that matter—don't pay attention to it, or don't pay enough attention to it, or can't even hear it, right? So, I describe myself as the Queen's Gambit without the drugs and the alcohol. I just know what the next move is on the chessboard.”

Throughout the conversation, Jo reveals how embracing her authentic self has shaped her leadership style, why it’s crucial to put on your own mask first, and how she helps others prioritize their non-negotiables.

Should a college degree be a job requirement? Jo doesn’t think so: “I can teach skills. I need people to be curious and consistent and brave.”

This episode is packed with wit, wisdom, and practical advice for leaders at every stage. Tune in to discover why Jo likes to strike while the iron is cold, fail fast, and fill the cracks with culture.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey chats with Yelitsa Jean-Charles, founder and CEO of Healthy Roots Dolls. Yelitsa shares the story of how a class project at Rhode Island School of Design turned into her mission to bring more diversity and representation to children's toys. What began in college with just $4,000 has evolved into a national brand, with Healthy Roots Dolls now available in Target stores across the country.

Yelitsa opens up about the complexities of decision-making as a leader, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions. She lives by the mantra, “You can’t say no before you say yes,” and leans on her creative background to view challenges from different perspectives.

At the root of her leadership philosophy is a principle she learned during a 3D spatial dynamics class at RISD, where she was working with items like wood, wire, and metals.

“We were told to measure twice, cut once. You cannot put those two pieces of wood back together. So whenever I'm approaching a situation where a decision will be detrimental, especially because I've had to deal with the consequences of making the wrong decision, I don't mess around. I'm measuring seven times, 12 times if I have to.”

Yelitsa also shares how a customer-centric approach has fueled her growth and the strategies behind scaling a brand from the ground up.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Marcy Quinn Samet, Founder and Chief Growth Architect of LBRBCOLLECTIVE, to discuss her unconventional career path to the C-suite, where she strategically moved horizontally across roles to master the inner workings of the agency business.

Marcy shares insights on quick decision-making, the importance of mentors, and rebounding from mistakes. Tune in to hear her unique take on balancing speed with thoughtful leadership, why she doesn’t believe in work-life balance, and the toughest career decision she ever made. Plus, get a glimpse into her love for the Grateful Dead and an unusual hobby you won’t see coming.

In this episode, we sit down with Ronnie Kwesi Coleman, the Co-Founder & CEO of Meaningful Gigs, to explore his remarkable journey from humble beginnings as a college dropout from Ghana to serial entrepreneurship. After successfully selling his startup for over $40M, Ronnie is now on a mission to create 100,000 skilled jobs for Africans through Meaningful Gigs.

Ronnie shares insights on the intersection of creativity and technology, the importance of reflecting on failure, and how AI is reshaping the future of creative work.

Tune in to hear how Ronnie’s passion for creativity, combined with strategic thinking, has empowered him to make impactful decisions, scale businesses, and navigate the challenges of the modern workforce.

In this episode of The CRED Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Eric Litman, the founder and CEO of Aescape, to explore the fascinating journey of a tech visionary turned wellness innovator. Eric shares his story of building successful tech companies since the early ’90s, culminating in his latest venture, Aescape. This revolutionary company leverages robotics and AI to deliver personalized, automated massage therapy, offering an unparalleled customer experience.

Join us as we dive into the genesis of Aescape, the challenges and rewards of innovating in the wellness industry, and the decision-making frameworks that have guided Eric throughout his entrepreneurial career. From the early days at MediaLets to the groundbreaking innovations of Aescape, Eric’s insights on passion, perseverance, and the importance of intuition and research are not to be missed.

Tune in to discover how global travel and cultural experiences have shaped Eric’s journey and how Aescape is poised to transform the world of wellness. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of wellness, this episode is packed with inspiration and valuable lessons.

Don’t miss this exciting conversation with one of the leading minds in tech innovation!

Michael Walsh shares a deeply personal journey that led to the founding of Cariloop, a platform designed to support caregivers through every stage of their journey. From his own caregiving experience to working caregivers striving for balance, Michael highlights the importance of providing comprehensive support to caregivers. In addition to Cariloop's vital role in the workplace, Michael discusses his own decision-making process and the evolution of leadership at a growing startup.