

Why “Fail Forward” Leaders Build Enduring Companies, with Marissa Frois
Aug 27, 2025
49:35

How much does trust matter to your team’s performance? In this episode, Shannon Waller interviews Marissa Frois, CEO of The Entrepreneur’s Source, on how empathy, transparent communication, and a family-first culture create extraordinary results. Discover why leading with trust, openness, and a willingness to “fail forward” is the secret to long-term entrepreneurial growth and innovation.
Show Notes:
- Building true trust in your team is more important than being well-liked as a leader.
- True transparency means being open and honest without a hidden agenda.
- A team without trust becomes defensive, stagnant, and incapable of innovation.
- The most successful leadership transitions blend the wisdom of the past with a readiness to “fail forward” into the future.
- Transparent, two-way communication reduces resistance and drives company culture at every level.
- Giving people a voice makes them more likely to embrace (and champion) change.
- Empathy, positivity, and active inclusion are powerhouse leadership strengths that multiply team engagement.
- Family-first values and work flexibility result in high retention, happier teams, and consistently rising results.
- Encouraging risk-taking and learning from failure leads to greater innovation and accelerates growth.
- True teamwork levels hierarchy, making Unique Ability® contribution more valuable than job titles.
- Leadership clarity means setting high standards and addressing issues in conversation, not by multiplying policies.
- Investing in your team’s well-being and development mirrors the value you create for clients.
- Empathetic leadership is a strategic strength that builds respect and drives performance, not a weakness.
Resources:
The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan
Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Ego, Authority, Failure by Derek Gaunt