Convene Podcast

Where is God working and how can we join Him?  Jon Porter, Founder of Masaka Creamery, shares how God redirected his steps to focus on the gifts, talents and business acumen He gave Jon, and the God-sized result.

How BIG is your dream for generosity? Have you allowed yourself to dream, really dream about what God has put on your heart and what He wants you to do about it? Join Kendra Vandermeulen, CEO of National Christian Foundation and Greg Leith, CEO of Convene as they explore strategies to see your generosity dream through the lens of ALL of what God has entrusted to you instead of seeing it only through the lens of your cash flow. Your big dream can be fuel in your engine for building value into your business and stepping up to another level of living out Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Dare to dream BIG and see the Kingdom impact that unfolds.

“Learn to do good; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 is one of many verses in the Bible about justice and protecting the most vulnerable. But did you know that the ‘business' of labor slavery has a massive footprint around the globe and is about a 150 billion dollar a year industry? It directly impacts about 25 million people, half of the estimated 50 million people who are enslaved around the world. Jeff Hancock, International Justice Mission's Director of Church Mobilization, joins Greg Leith on the Convene Podcast to give us an eye-opening perspective on justice, the ‘justice gap', slavery, injustice, the work of restoration, and what it means to us as business owners.

If you want to grow your business, find solutions to your business issues, AND help people in need (both globally and domestically), then listen to our latest Convene podcast with Larry Noble, National Director, Corporate Engagement, and Greg Leith, CEO, Convene to find out how! Coming from a business-owners mindset, the World Vision Corporate Engagement Team will walk alongside you to help find answers to some aspects of your business that ‘keep you up at night.' These aspects include building a stronger brand, what to do with downfall / excess product / lack of warehouse space, employee engagement (increasing employee loyalty and retention), and - cause marketing (a proven way to increase sales and attract customers). World Vision's Corporate Engagement Team works with companies of all sizes, within all industries, to create solutions that align with your company goals and missions in unique, impactful ways. Now, learn more about what World Vision can do for you and your company - all while helping the most vulnerable of our citizens.

Do you ever wonder, “What will be the value of my life and what will other people say about me?” Or, “Will my kids follow in my faith?” The Master's Program offers life coaching for marketplace Christian leaders to help them discover their unique Kingdom calling in order to maximize their potential for Kingdom influence. Learn more as Jeff Gerhardt, CEO of The Master's Program, joins Greg Leith, CEO of Convene, on our podcast.

Dr. John Townsend is a nationally-known leadership consultant, author and psychologist. He has written over 30 books, selling 10 million copies, including the New York Times bestselling Boundaries series. John founded and operates the Townsend Institute for Leadership and Counseling, and the Townsend Leadership Program. Dr. Townsend travels extensively for corporate consulting, speaking events, and to help develop leaders, their teams and their families. John has a weekly call-in program, Dr. Townsend LiveDr. Townsend and his family live in Southern California and Texas. One of his passions is playing in his and his sons' band, The Bandits, at local venues and parties!Visit DrTownsend.com.

What's the true purpose of business? What about your business' purpose? Join Greg Leith, CEO of Convene, and Brian Audia, President of Audia Consulting, on the Convene Podcast as they explore the powerful relationship between your business thriving and your people flourishing.

Everyone wants to lend a helping hand - and how many times, as a business owner or CEO, have you personally helped (or “passed the hat” amongst your employees to help) an employee going through a rough time?The Convene podcast is proud to hear from Bryan Green, CEO of Helping Hands Ministries.Bryan will share how the Helping Hands' family of companies can unlock your ability to help individuals and come alongside you as a CEO, founder, or business leader to set your company apart in today's challenging talent market.After the podcast, learn even more about Helping Hand's CAP (Corporate Assistance Program) in 2 minutes and 9 seconds HERE. Greg and Bryan will give examples of various solutions Helping Hands Ministries offers to take care of companies that take care of people.

Sean Dunn, Founder and President of Groundwire joins Greg Leith, Convene CEO on our podcast to share what we need to know about how the younger generation thinks if we desire to move them toward faith in Christ. As a business owner, CEO, parent, or grandparent, Groundwire can give you tools to help you share authentic hope.

David Collum, CEO of the Pocket Testament League joins Greg Leith to discuss the global movement that helps believers like you share the Gospel. Hear examples of how other business owners use this easy tool to share the Gospel. Be encouraged as David and Greg share how God blesses the seeds planted over the rich history of the Pocket Testament League, and learn how you can be part of accelerating the deployment of the Gospel around the world! To learn more about David Collum and The Pocket Testament League, head to: ptl.org

Tom Lutz is the author of the newly released "Equipping Christians for Kingdom Purpose in Their Work". An expert in faith-work integration, Tom joins Greg to discuss some key elements from his book and help give practical ways to influence the faith of others outside of the church. Tom is a Convene Chair based in the Atlanta region.Buy "Equipping Christians for Kingdom Purpose in Their Work": https://amzn.to/3umRGP7Learn more about Tom's Convene Team: https://www.convenenow.com/tomlutz

Active and intentional giving should be part of the repertoire of every Christian leader, but creating the space and time to strategize and execute on that is frequently the roadblock to getting it done. Douglas Cobb, the managing partner at The Finishing Fund, joins Greg to discuss what investing together for the Great Commission looks like, and how The Finishing Fund helps leaders like you invest in reaching parts of the world that are yet untouched by the Gospel.Doug is joining us at Convene 2022, make sure to register soon to hear him speak live!

Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, president and owner of In-N-Out burger, and her husband Sean Ellingson, Co-Founder of Slave2Nothing and Army of Love, join the Convene Podcast to discuss the importance of guarding your organization's mission.In-N-Out Burger is a family-owned business that was established in 1948. Its incredibly simple menu increases the focus on three aspects of the business: quality, service, and values. Hear how Lynsi upholds those three aspects all through the lens of faith, and how the success of In-N-Out has led to the establishment of some incredible organizations led by Lynsi and Sean.Learn more about their organizations here:Slave 2 NothingArmy of LoveIn-N-Out Burger FoundationsIn-N-Out Burger

John Lynch, author of On My Worst Day and The Cure, joins Greg Leith to discuss the beauty of being your truest and most vulnerable self in relationships. As John says in the interview, “What if there was a place so safe that the worst of me could be known, and I could discover that I would be cared for, valued, and loved more in the telling of it, not less. And Convene is daring to risk, they're doing that”.

The Convene Podcast is joined by Shannon Royce, the president of Christian Employers Alliance. Christian Employers Alliance unite, equip, and represent Christian-owned businesses to protect religious freedom and provide the opportunity for employees, businesses, and communities to flourish. Join Shannon and Convene CEO, Greg Leith, as they discuss the current problems facing Christian business leaders in the nation, as well as critical moments on the horizon that we should all be aware of.

Dr. Dan Allender, author and founder of The Allender Center, joins Greg Leith for a discussion on managing personal trauma as a leader. Dan is the author of "Leading with a Limp", which focuses on understanding the value of one's brokenness. To learn more about Dr. Allender and his work, visit https://theallendercenter.org/

With a background at places like Intel and Toyota, Dale Hedges had early and successful exposure to lean thinking and process. His overview and insights make for a great and compelling primer on the subject.

Executive Coaching is a new field with many entrants. Carlos Rosales describes the value proposition as well as the qualifications of what Convene provides.

This conversation touches on the interplay of governance and organizational performance. RandalDick says both of these touch spiritual perspective and right use of power.

Michael Magalsky is the founder and Principal Architect at infoVia. He draws from a quarter-century of data and analytics experience at Micron Technologies, where Michael helped lead the big data effort to integrate the company’s massive volumes of manufacturing data to improve cost structure and quality of Micron's world-leading memory products. Now, as an independent consultant with infoVia specializing in Information Architecture, Data Warehouse Modeling and Implementation, and Data Security, his team helps other organizations benefit from the lessons learned in the data journeys with numerous clients in the United States and abroad.Michael joins Mark L. Vincent to discuss the importance of well-managed data to critical decision making and what it looks like for any sized business to take on the task of data management.

Brett Schrock recruits Convene Chairs and is a Chair himself. He is in the trenches for the very thing he is helping to develop. This discussion is helpful for those considering the Convene Chair role for themselves to find clarity in the decision-making process.

Coaching executives and coaching executive teams are similar, yet different. Paul Aubin draws on his experience as an executive, an executive team member, and later as a business owner, to develop his skills to coach both. This conversation explores what is involved.

Organizational development includes alignment of mission, vision, values and executive talent. Without it how can there be organizational health in which people flourish? This conversation with Matthew Painter explores the interface between talent and the business.

Figuring out the marketing blend that supports sales, especially in a COVID era, is something we are all having to rethink. However, even a perfect marketing mix cannot act as a substitute for client-centered service. Those emerging quickly out of COVID era changes were already doing it as an expression of their culture. Those that find themselves on the brink will need to get it right.

The ServiceMaster Story, written by faith and business expert Albert M. Erisman, examines how the first five leaders of ServiceMaster managed to develop and give deeper purpose to their employees, while also growing into a financially successful organization. From 1929 to 2001, ServiceMaster grew from a few people making their living in Chicago to a publicly traded company with revenues of $6 billion, in 40 countries--with 5 different CEO’s. Each leader built on the work of the previous leader, focusing on helping workers to develop as people. Their number one goal was "to honor God in all we do."

Unethical leadership seems to keep making the headlines while ethical leadership does not. Michael Marx makes ethical leadership understandable and actionable.

Putting together a talent strategy is not just an HR matter. Deciding which aspects should be prioritized and what external and internal resources should be brought to bear is a complex recipe. Bruce Lane helps us think.

It is silly to do a retreat just because you think you should. Checking the box does not add value! When held as one among several means to reinforce strategic activity and organizational culture, the value grows. As the interview moves along the value of the Joe and Rob duo just keeps growing!

Futures thinking is not the same as forecasting or strategic planning. Dr. Michael Petty gives listeners a primer.

If you are an emerging leader or responsible to foster the leadership gifts of others, our conversation with Harris Wheeler is an inspiration.

Finding the balance between ​generic learning products and tailored training programs that are developed specifically for the context and culture of your company can be difficult to navigate. Senior leaders need to be strategic about their choices.

Leadership teams are both individuals and teams. Breaking the team down to the individuals and putting together as a team is the deep experience of Dr. Merlin Switzer.

The Convene Consulting Network does not endorse a specific scaling or operating system, but we do foster relationships with experts who are passionate about those the tools they know well. An enterprise operating system is a respected tool that helps C-suite leaders get their heads up and empowers them to look forward strategically, rather than heads down and unable to see beyond their feet. Even more, it brings everyone in as a participant in operating and monitoring the business. With this conversation, we are specifically considering EOS and benefitting from Wayne Kurzen's experience and insight. Connect with Wayne here: https://www.convenenow.com/waynekurzen

Getting the key business elements in alignment – getting them right – leads to results that clearly tie to the mission/vision and values of the organization. How well aligned is your organization?

Helen Mitchell is a leadership & strategy coach, speaker, and author. She is also the Director of the Talbot Center for Faith, Work & Economics at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, and an Ethics and Leadership professor in both the graduate and undergraduate programs in the Crowell School of Business at Biola University.Helen is also a certified leadership and strategy coach and a faculty member for Professional Christian Coaching Institute. She continues to stay connected to the business world as she oversees the Leader Learning Initiatives for Convene.In this episode of the Convene Podcast, Helen joins Mark L. Vincent in a discussion on what it means to live an integrated life and gives practical tips on how to actually implement the ideas.Learn more about Helen and connect with her here: https://www.convenenow.com/helenmitchell

Tom Harper is the CEO of Networld Media Group, an industry news media publisher in the banking, restaurant, retail, and tech industries. Tom has written several books on leadership and is also the publisher of https://biblicalleadership.com, a free site for Christian leaders in the marketplace and church.Tom's latest book, Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership, is the basis for his conversation with Greg today.Join Tom and Greg as they discuss Tom's pillars of the "new servant leadership", and learn how you can apply them to your business today as you weather the continued pandemic storm.

Human resources can mean different things to different people, but to founder and president of Synergistic Resource Associates, Ron Smedley, it's all about a human-centered approach.During a time of unrest in the world, and more specifically the US, it's critical to be on your A-game when it comes to HR. That's why Mark L. Vincent sat down with Ron Smedley to talk about leading with HR at such a time as this.Ron shares his insights on the current state-of-affairs in the HR world and let's you in on what you need to know during this time.To connect further with Ron, who is part of Convene's Consulting Network, head to https://www.convenenow.com/ronsmedley

Transferring ownership of a family business can be messy. Managing relationships, expectations, and the business itself can come at a serious cost if not done thoughtfully and effectively.That's where Marcus Bigelow comes in. An experienced consultant to many different family businesses over the years, Marcus spent some time with Mark L. Vincent to discuss the ins, outs, and best practices for multi-generational businesses.Marcus is a consultant with the Convene Consulting Network, and a Convene Chair in the Sacramento, CA area leading two CEO Forum Teams.To connect with Marcus, head to https://www.convenenow.com/marcusbigelow

Josh Wilbur doesn't maintain the status quo. He seeks to push the boundaries of our preconceived ideas around the staples of our lives (payment processing, Bibles, coffee). A serial entrepreneur, Josh has been involved in the startup process of various organizations in his life before being called to work in the church.While on his "sabbatical" from the business world, Josh served at a local Bay Area church until the itch of entrepreneurship came back when he realized there wasn't a good single-serve coffee option that didn't require a machine. Making good coffee while traveling always required too much gear, and drinking bad coffee isn't appealing to anyone. Josh sought a solution, and through that process invented Steeped Coffee bags.Again, Josh jumped into the startup world to launch Steeped Coffee on Kickstarter. Steeped has now partnered with many specialty coffee roasters around the world along with the likes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show to bring good tasting, waste-free single-serve coffee to the world.In this episode of the Convene Podcast, Josh shares about his journey through the startup world, the role his faith plays in his work, and his experience starting a company again with a firmer vision for a way to use it to glorify God.

Finding the right space or opportunity to share your faith with someone can be difficult. Evangelism can often feel forced, unfun, and tense if not pursued in a thoughtful way. The Pocket Testament League seeks to create new opportunities for sharing the Gospel that allow space for those new to God's Word to hear it openly.David Collum, CEO of The Pocket Testament League (PTL), joins Greg in this episode of the Convene Podcast to discuss a few of the creative ways our Convene members have partnered with PTL to share the Gospel through their own businesses.The Pocket Testament League's mission is to carry Scripture with them for two purposes: to read and to share. They make it their goal to share a portion of God’s Word with another person, one-to-one. As an organization, they help Christians to READ, CARRY & SHARE the Word of God.

Jim Eaton joins Mark L. Vincent for a discussion on the ever-important topic of execution. Even the best-laid plans can fall apart if the execution is not managed properly, and executing on plans has been made even more complicated in the last few months. Listen in as they discuss options for overcoming execution problems in the middle of a crisis.Jim Eaton is the founder and CEO of Kingdom Partner Solutions, LLC. He also serves as a Convene Chair based in Newport Beach, California. To learn more about Jim and get in contact with him, head to https://www.convenenow.com/jimeaton

The term "worldview" may not be the first that comes to mind when thinking of your Christian faith as it relates to those around you. Many often consider it a religion, a relationship, a creed by which they live their life, but it is often an unconscious fact that your faith becomes the lens through which you view everything around you, your “worldview”.Clarifying that Christian worldview is critical because it applies to everything and everyone you interact with. From work to relationships to your perspective on challenging global issues, the worldview you have has drastic impact on the way you encounter them.John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, joins Greg Leith on the podcast to discuss this very subject. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint, a nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson, which reaches a daily audience of more than a million people. He is also the host of the BreakPoint podcast and the voice of the Point, a daily national one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics and cultural issues.

The Convene Podcast is joined by Dr. Scott Rae, Dean of Faculty at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Together, Dr. Rae and Greg Leith explore the meaning behind "faith at work", and break down what people mean when they say your business can be a ministry. Work in itself is an act of praise to God, but the restorative power of work ripples beyond the simple task and into the lives of those that the task affects. Dr. Rae pulls from his extensive studies and book, "Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace", to help provide relevant examples of what utilizing your business as a ministry can look like. We hope this conversation is enlightening and reaffirming, especially during this particular time in history (podcast recorded May 2020). Purchase Dr. Rae's works here: https://amzn.to/2LwE51H

Jim Galvin of Galvin & Associates joins Mark L. Vincent to discuss the Sabbath as it relates to the leader. The Sabbath day is not just a nice suggestion from God, it's a commandment. How leaders choose to pursue that commandment varies, and there's a lot of misunderstanding about what it means to have a Sabbath day.Jim helps to break down what a Sabbath day might look like for a leader, but everyone's Sabbath experience can and should differ based on their own needs. There's no "one size fits most" model here, it's not a militant experience. The Sabbath is a gift that God gives you where in which you have the ability to use a day to pursue things that bring you closer to God and bring you peace. If mowing the lawn is joyful for you, mow the lawn on your Sabbath day!

We are excited to have market analytics expert Kay Edwards on the Convene Podcast today. In a time of noisy business advice and reactionary decision making, it is important to remember to listen to the voice of the customer.B2B organizations that spend 1% of annual revenue or more on customer listening grow faster than those that spend less. Large consumer brands spend significantly more, typically 15% or more. Unfortunately, during downtimes, spending on customer listening is often the first thing to be cut.In this episode, Mark L. Vincent and Kay Edwards discuss how to listen in a time of great change, with the goal of coming through the other side with a heightened understanding of the needs and desires of your customer.

We're back with M&A expert and Convene Consultant Garry Krum.During this conversation, he and Mark L. Vincent discuss how you can move forward on your plans to acquire, even during this economic shutdown.Specifically, they cover ways in which the shutdown might play to your advantage as a buyer, while still allowing space to be gracious to the business you may be trying to acquire.To get in touch with Garry to continue the conversation for your organization, head here: https://www.convenenow.com/garrykrumTo learn more about the Convene Consulting Network, head here: https://www.convenenow.com/consulting

Greg Leith is joined by Dee Ann Turner, former VP of Talent & Sustainability with Chick-fil-A, and author of "Bet on Talent" and "It's My Pleasure". Together, they discuss the importance of betting on the talent of your employees to build value in your organization. There's a reason why Chick-fil-A is the third-largest restaurant chain in the U.S.! Dee Ann is also an incredible speaker and consultant. You can learn more & contact her here: https://www.deeannturner.com/ To learn more about Convene, head here: https://www.convenenow.com/

Garry Krum is the founder and president of Agora Strategic Consulting Group and has over 37 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and strengthening businesses.He sat down with Mark L. Vincent, director of the Convene Consulting Network, to talk about what business who were planning to sell in 2020 need to do to protect their value and makes mart decisions in light of the Coronavirus business shut-down.To get in touch with Garry, head here: https://www.convenenow.com/garrykrumTo learn more about the Consulting Network, head here: https://www.convenenow.com/consulting

Welcome back to season three of the Convene Podcast! In this episode, Greg is joined by Carlos Rosales, a Convene Chair in Houston, Texas, and the author of a new devotional book, “10x For Christ”. Together, they discuss what it means to be in the Word every day, and the importance of the reader’s outlook on the process of reading through a devotional like “10x”. To purchase Carlos’ book, head to his website here: https://bit.ly/2NH5ShS, or purchase the book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2NEfycT. To learn more about Carlos and apply to join his Convene group, head here: https://www.convenenow.com/carlosrosales