Kayla Nassar, CEO of AmConCorp—a trailblazing construction company in New England—shares her innovative approach to leadership. She highlights her dedication to diversity, with over 50% of leadership roles filled by women, reshaping the industry's landscape. Kayla discusses the importance of clear communication in family business transitions and the strategic use of AI for future-proofing operations. She reflects on her family's legacy in construction and how embracing change and technology is vital for growth in a shifting market.
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Passion Born From Industry Void
Kayla grew up involved in construction through her family and developed a passion despite the lack of women in the field.
She chose to lean into the industry to fill that gender void and make a difference.
insights INSIGHT
Diverse Leadership Drives Decisions
Amcon's leadership team is over 50% women, a rarity in the industry.
Kayla believes this diversity leads to different and better decision-making at their leadership table.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Recruit Women Intentionally
Build diverse leadership by tapping into existing networks and being intentional about recruiting women.
Leveraging female leaders' networks helps grow a strong, inclusive leadership team.
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This book by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin focuses on the principle of 'Extreme Ownership,' where leaders take full responsibility for their actions and decisions. The authors use their experiences in the U.S. Navy SEALs to illustrate how this mindset can lead to success in any organization. The book covers various principles such as believing in the mission, checking ego, and leading by example. It emphasizes that leaders must own all failures, develop plans to overcome them, and ensure their teams are well-conditioned and aligned with the mission. The authors also stress the importance of humility, discipline, and effective communication in leadership[1][2][4].
Rocket Fuel
The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business
Gino Wickman
Mark C. Winters
Rocket Fuel details the integral roles of the Visionary and Integrator and explains how an effective relationship between the two can help a business thrive. The Visionary is typically the idea generator and strategic thinker, while the Integrator is the manager who ensures the business operates smoothly. The book provides assessments to help determine whether you are a Visionary or an Integrator and offers advice on how to find and work with your complementary partner. It emphasizes that when these two roles work together, they can achieve significant growth and success for the company.
Traction
Get a Grip on Your Business
Gino Wickman
In Traction, Gino Wickman provides a systematic approach to achieving business success through the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). The book focuses on six key components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. It helps business leaders clarify their vision, align their leadership team, solve common business problems, and foster healthy communication and discipline within the organization. The EOS system is designed to help businesses overcome frustrations such as lack of control, people issues, insufficient profit, hitting the ceiling, and feeling stuck. The book offers practical tools, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to drive sustainable growth and improve business operations.
Kayla Nassar is the CEO of AMCON, a prominent construction company in New England. Under her leadership, AMCONhas achieved considerable growth, notably implementing a leadership team predominantly composed of women, innovating within the industry, and adopting emerging technologies like AI.
Today, AMCON boasts a leadership team with over 50% women, showcasing Kayla's commitment to diversity. Kayla's conversation with Rens also uncovers insights about navigating family business dynamics, especially during ownership transitions. She shares the importance of clear communication and the flexibility required in shifting leadership roles. The episode further highlights AMCON strategic focus on key sectors, such as retail and hospitality, while expanding geographically within New England. Through this dialogue, listeners gain insight into leadership strategies, embracing change, and how to effectively harness technological advancements to future-proof businesses.
Key Takeaways:
Diversity in Leadership: Kayla emphasizes the importance of female representation in leadership roles, contributing to different decision-making perspectives at AMCON.
Leveraging AI: The integration of AI technologies is seen as crucial for future-proofing the company, improving efficiencies and safety on job sites.
Family Business Transition: Honest and open communication is critical when navigating ownership transitions in family-owned businesses.
EOS Implementation: AMCON utilizes the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to enhance accountability and maintain focus on large-scale goals through structured processes.
Continuous Learning: Kayla advocates for relentless growth through reading, peer learning, and actively seeking mentorship to drive personal and professional success.
Notable Quotes:
"The cost of under-communicating is far greater than the cost of over-communicating."
"We realized pretty quickly that we just didn't have the tools in our toolbox, so we had to bring in other smart, talented people to help us."
"Rocks are the big things that need to happen for you to achieve the goal."
"True success is when you serve others... that comes tenfold."
"If you're not using ChatGPT or something of that sort as a Google search, you probably should get on board."
Books: "Traction" and "Rocket Fuel" by Gino Wickman
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