Many corporate leaders share a capacity for reinvention, as proven by recent research by Deloitte. According to their 2024 CEO survey,
80% of CEOs can maintain vision and optimism, even when faced with global uncertainty. But what else makes a great CEO? In today’s episode, serial entrepreneur Jay B. Sauceda offers his own creative take on this question.
Jay B. is the founder of Western Willow LLC and host of the
Texas Country Reporter. Throughout his unusual career, he has launched and sold multiple businesses, jumping at every new opportunity to develop his vision and a creative approach to leadership. Now, he is a consultant and coach who helps chief executives and entrepreneurs gain traction toward their business goals.
In today’s episode, Jay B. reflects on two decades of experience with honesty, insight and wisdom. We uncover how process documentation and feedback can help chief executives make better business decisions, and reflect on the importance of community in leadership. From building your team to assessing your needs as a leader, this episode is your-all-in-one guide to innovative leadership.
So whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an executive needing inspiration, join Jay B. in conversation, to bring your business vision to life today.
Highlights:
- Jay B. Sauceda’s entrepreneurial background (3:10)
- No one is CEO on day one (4:22)
- The benefits of joining an entrepreneur organization (6:01)
- “Every company has different CEO needs” (7:51)
- A creative approach to leadership (9:46)
- Knowing when to get out of the way (11:07)
- Why process documentation is critical (12:39)
- Examples of inspiring leadership: Patty McCord (14:40)
- A good CEO stays true to their method (17:22)
- Being nice vs. being kind (18:57)
- Feedback as an invaluable leadership tool (21:53)
- The importance of growing thicker skin (23:54)
- Using feedback to make business decisions (25:43)
- Trust, empathy and community in leadership (27:30)
Links:
Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, Natalie.Barron@cadencebank.com, Eydie.Pengelly@cadencebank.com, or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.
What is In Good Companies?
Starting and running a business or managing one isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re balancing internal and external forces in a continually changing landscape. You’re building strategies, and banking on the future – no matter what it holds. This is where Cadence Bank’s In Good Companies comes in. We share our wealth of knowledge, and insights from noted industry experts, to guide you through the forces shaping business today.
We’re back for Season 6, and this time, we’re setting our sights on the future of work. We’re asking the big questions, like:
What will your career look like in 2030? Or 2050, even?
How is ESG shaping the future of companies?
And how can we leverage AI to our advantage?
We bring together experts from across the board, from Silicon Valley to multinationals like EY, to help you stay on the cutting edge of business. And we get to know those who are building the future of our companies; because at Cadence Bank, we want to hear the human side of every success story.
Hosting our stellar range of guests this season is our new host, Ari Marin. He is a Cadence Bank Senior Vice President and family enterprise advisor, whose specialty is consulting with family-owned and small businesses. Ari’s idea of “good company” is being around creative, insightful people with unique and inspirational stories. For Season 6, he brings in his curiosity and ambition to In Good Companies, to lead discussions with our guests, and bring listeners across the U.S. all the information they need, in one place, in under 30 minutes.
Ready to launch into the future? Then join us!