
Unscripted with Versique
Unscripted with Versique is a podcast brought to you by Versique Executive, Professional, and Interim Recruiting. This series offers a personal look into the inspiring stories of successful Minnesota business leaders and the pivotal experiences that shaped who they are today. Hosted by Kathy Robideau, Chief Growth Officer, and Chris Dardis, Chief Experience Officer, the podcast goes beyond the surface to explore the backgrounds of these accomplished executives, challenging conventional assumptions about climbing the ‘traditional’ corporate ladder. Whether seeking insights into leadership, career growth, or the human stories behind business success, Unscripted delivers thought-provoking conversations that showcase how people truly make a difference.
Latest episodes

Jan 21, 2025 • 54min
Scott Burns: Veteran Entrepreneur's Advice - Forget About "Failing Fast" and Focus on Success
Scott Burns, a seasoned entrepreneur and general partner at Mairs & Power VC, shares his journey from creating successful companies like GovDelivery to launching Structural. He discusses how his skiing background and family dynamics shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. Scott emphasizes the importance of resilience and community in overcoming setbacks while exploring innovative recruitment strategies. He also offers reflections on personal experiences and encourages listeners to pursue their passions with dedication, blending humor and insightful advice.

Dec 10, 2024 • 59min
Washburn Center for Children CEO Craig Warren: A Military Mindset and Passion for Helping Children
While he wasn't a military brat, he moved like one in his formative years. That exposure to different people and cultures, his service to our country, and his career journey into the private sector have all shaped the inspirational leader that Craig Warren is today. In this engaging conversation with Kathy & Chis, Craig shares his life and career journey which has led him to a critical role in the future of children across the Twin Cities.Connect with Versique

Nov 26, 2024 • 42min
Amy Ronneberg: Tell Her "No" and Then Look Out! How a Small Town Kid Rewrote the Rules to Reach the C-Suite
Successful executives who grew up in small towns, didn't attend the Ivy League schools, or were told they weren't qualified for leadership roles all have one thing in common: A burning desire to prove people wrong. Amy Ronneberg has done just that, every step of the way on her career path. Amy boldly states that "being authentic is my superpower", and her passion to break personal and professional boundaries is why she's now the CEO of NMDP, saving lives worldwide.Connect with Versique

Nov 12, 2024 • 57min
No Looking Back: Gillette Children's Leader Barbara Joers Focuses on the Future and Grows Leaders from the Bottom Up
As the President and CEO of Gillette Children's Hospital, Barbara Joers not only navigates the complicated world of healthcare, but the emotional aspect of the providers she leads and the patients and families they all care for. In this inspiring episode, Barbara reveals key moments on her own leadership journey, and how she empowers everyone to contribute by learning from the past, but focusing on the future to find solutions and improve care.Connect with Versique

Oct 29, 2024 • 31min
Bell Bank President Erin Procko Shares How Old Fashioned Customer Service and Servant Leadership Drive Success
Growing up in Duluth, Erin Procko's parents were her biggest influence as she considered a career in the legal profession. But she worked at a bank while in college and fell in love with that career path. In this episode, Erin shares her perspective on leadership- why it's all about your team, and serving others.Connect with Versique

Oct 15, 2024 • 31min
Welcome Kathy! Versique Makes a Statement Hire, Adding a Respected Business Leader
You know her as the Publisher and Market President of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal—make that former. While you were away over the summer, Kathy Robideau stepped into the role of Chief Growth Officer at Versique. It's a full-circle moment, as Versique CEO Tony Sorensen placed Kathy at MSPBJ 14 years ago and watched her rise from an advertising executive to one of the highest-profile business leadership roles in the Twin Cities. In this episode, Versique's President of Interim Solutions, Chris Dardis, welcomes Kathy to the team as she shares her passion for business—and, more importantly, for the people who make it happen.Connect with Versique

Dec 20, 2023 • 33min
Leadership Traits That Drive Success | John Mack (Medtronic)
John Mack was the Divisional President for the Cardiac Surgery division at one of the largest medical device companies in the world—Medtronic. John knows that great leadership skills are formed through following the path of great leaders; and through his mentors he picked up a slew of tips for success. It was these learned skills that brought him through long nights during mergers and acquisitions, leading new projects, and ultimately paving the path to his successful career today. In this podcast episode, John and Chris cover:Why you should get an Executive CoachSteven Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” How to push yourself but know when to ask for helpKnowing the business behind the numbersThe importance of surrounding yourself with a great teamAdvice for those who are trying to move up in their careerExpanding your circles of influence to determine where to put your focusConnect with JohnConnect with Versique

Sep 28, 2023 • 40min
Creating Pull Within Your Organization | with Bob Creviston (Agiliti)
"The sole measures of success for an HR team, as far as I'm concerned , is, how good are you at knowing where the push and where the pull is?" Bob Creviston is an avid storyteller who recounts his progression from football player at Cornell to Chief of HR at Agiliti Health, a world leader in Medical Equipment Management. His employee-focused leadership style and diligence in addressing challenges has made a lasting impact on his employees, business, and even countries’ labor laws. In this episode we cover: Breaking down what the push and pulls are in HR and how balancing it affects overall business successWhat’s the single best leadership advice Bob ever received that he still uses todayAn example of condensing leadership onboarding processes from 6 months to 4 hours. How COVID impacted Agiliti, responsible for supplying respirators across the nation Connect with Bob CrevistonConnect with Versique

Aug 16, 2023 • 41min
Roadmap to Transforming Culture
“Leadership is about lighting a fire within others, not under them” ~ Jaime TaetsWith over 20 years of experience within corporate business culture of which 13 were at Cargill, one of the largest privately held corporations in the world, Jaime Taets has honed the skill of conscious leadership. This ability led her to pave her own entrepreneurial path of starting her own business, Keystone Group International. Today, Jaime uses different platforms to extend her practice of helping leaders on a global scale. She is the host of the Superpower Success Podcast and the accomplished author of two noteworthy books — "You Are Here: Kick-Ass Inspiration for Navigating Your Journey to Success" and "The Culture Climb: How to Foster a Work Culture that Maximizes Your Impact". Jaime’s skills as a visionary and strategist have led her outside the professional world to climb literal mountains, such as Mt. Kilimanjaro, and glean lessons that she applies to her life and help others to do the same. In this episode we cover:How to enact conscious leadership and discover your own leadership superpowerHow to create a change-driven culture in your organizationNavigating your journey to success by getting “unstuck” Connect with JaimeConnect with Versique

Jul 12, 2023 • 1h 7min
HR Lab 2023 | Reimagining the Impact of Leadership Collaboration
This episode is the recording of Versique’s 12th Annual HR Lab where we dove into the topic of Reimagining the Impact of Leadership Collaboration with top leaders from the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx and The Minneapolis Foundation. This thought-provoking event brought together top HR professionals and executive leaders from various industries to explore innovative ways of working together to drive organizational success.In this session, Jenna Estlick, Vice President of HR Interim Solutions at Versique, moderated an expert panel of Twin Cities Leaders in Human Resources and Executive Leadership. In this recap, you'll learn about the various strategies they’ve implemented at their organizations and how they continue to influence culture to attract and retain talent while embracing continuous change in the labor market.Download the takeawaysWatch the recordingConnect with Versique