Kyle Ewing on Leading Multiple Companies, Culture, Delegation, and AI

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Marcel sits down with Kyle Ewing, CEO and founder of TerraSlate, a two-time Inc. 5000 honoree known for creating waterproof paper used by top restaurants and NFL teams. Kyle shares his journey from Olympic-level skiing to entrepreneurship and building multiple companies. He shares how his Inverted Pyramid Leadership model—where leaders serve their teams—drives TerraSlate’s success. He breaks down core values of grit, growth, focus, and candor, his “buy back your time” principle for scaling, and his Business Navigator Operating System for helping founders start and scale their businesses. Kyle also explores using AI as a “co-CEO”, documenting systems, and leading with clarity, kindness, and accountability. 

 

Kyle Ewing is the CEO and Founder of TerraSlate. Under his leadership, TerraSlate has been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Denver Post, and NPR, and twice named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. Beyond TerraSlate, Kyle also founded Big Island Honey, Windward Equity, and Cube Dynamics, and invests in Sustainability Partners to advance eco-conscious innovation. He blends business acumen with heart-centered leadership, reminding us that leading with love unlocks true potential. Kyle has been recognized with Business Elite’s “40 Under 40” and as a two-time Titan 100 award winner in Colorado. 

 

Quotes 

“Leading with love is doing the hard thing, not the easy thing.” 
“Don’t delegate the task, delegate the outcome—and always state the why.” 
“Clear is kind. The worst thing you can do to someone is delay feedback.” 
“Culture isn’t soft. It’s the system that scales your company.” 
“If someone else can do it for less than your hourly rate, delegate it right now.” 
“AI doesn’t replace you. It replicates your thinking so your people can lead without fear.” 

 

Takeaways 

• Flip the leadership pyramid: serve your team so they can serve your customers. 
• Document everything. Systems free people to lead with humanity.
• Delegate outcomes, not tasks, and always explain the purpose. 
• Build a “Co-CEO” AI system to preserve your company’s institutional knowledge.
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Timestamps: 

[00:00] Welcome and intro to Kyle Ewing 
[03:00] From Olympic trials to business rebirth 
[06:00] The origin of TerraSlate and waterproof paper 
[10:00] Redefining leadership through service and empathy 
[14:50] The four values driving TerraSlate’s success 
[21:30] The art of delegation and owning the outcome 
[26:30] Time hacking and the buyback rate 
[29:30] Building a “Co-CEO” using AI 
[33:00] Speed round: lessons, decompression, and legacy 
[35:00] How to lead with love and practical kindness 
[37:50] Why true networking happens in service, not events 
[39:10] Closing: scaling business with heart 

 

Links/Resources: 

• Website: kyleewing.com
• TerraSlate: terraslate.com
• Instagram: @kyleewingofficial
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kyleewing