Calvin Walsh, CEO of Unity Foods, is a dynamic and visionary leader, a dedicated entrepreneur, and a founder whose mission, vision, and values are lived out and operationalized at his company on a daily basis. It was a pleasure to sit down with Calvin and get a first-hand account of Unity Foods’ genesis and incredible growth. In our conversation, Calvin demonstrates his ingenuity and ability to pivot. He discusses his early attempts at starting and running a company, the lessons he learned from those experiences, and how they informed the growth of Unity Foods. He also discusses how these early challenges and other formative experiences have shaped him as a leader. Calvin talks about the importance of pushing himself to grow, the willingness to “fail forward,” and the desire to do something great. These values inform Calvin’s leadership and are at the heart of Unity Foods’ tremendous success. The company was recently recognized as one of the best places to work in Oregon and as the 13th fastest-growing company in the state.

Krishna Walker is a seasoned leader who brings strategic vision, a commitment to empowering others, and a track record of excellence to her role as Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs officer at Care Vet, where she has overseen over 175 acquisitions in the last four years. Krishna shares with us her practice of conducting a personal annual review and how it has helped her identify and evaluate the various opportunities that have come her way over the years. We also discuss her dedication to doing work that contributes to society, managing teams remotely, and how organizational culture is fundamental to success. Krishna’s job is unique in that she is a high-level corporate officer, transaction attorney, AND an outwardly facing cultural leader. Krishna is often the first point of contact with Care Vet for the companies they acquire, and her leadership helps set the tone for the entire relationship. It is a heavy responsibility that she takes on with grace, wisdom, and joy. Krishna invests in professional development for herself and her team, understanding that if you create an environment that supports growth, people will be fulfilled at work. She also discusses the importance of mentorship and the responsibility leaders have to speak and act with character at all times. It was a true joy to participate in this thought-provoking and inspiring conversation. Enjoy!

Dr. Andy Mendenhall is President and CEO at Central City Concern, a community-based non-profit dedicated to providing low-income people experiencing or at risk of homelessness with affordable and supportive housing, person-centered health care, addiction recovery, and employment assistance. There are formidable challenges facing Andy and his team, but his leadership is rooted in the belief that all people can and should be healthy, and it is his privilege and mission to support this goal.

Andy’s conversation with Suzanne covers his journey from working as a practicing physician to the highest levels of leadership at a large and complex organization; the work being done at Central City Concern, which directly addresses the many systemic and cultural challenges Portland is facing; his empowering vision for the future; and his strategic use of data, advocacy, and education to build a plan to reach that vision. We also discuss Andy’s personal beliefs and values, and how he operationalizes these values through his work.

Suzanne and I met Andy last year when he contributed to a panel discussion on the future of healthcare we coordinated at a Public Health conference. I was so moved by Andy’s words regarding courage and his mission at CCC that I asked him to be a guest on our podcast, which, at the time, had not yet launched. It is a tremendous honor to be sharing this conversation with our audience, as I believe Andy is the type of leader we can all learn so much from. The passion and heart he brings to his work inform, inspire, and ignite. Enjoy!

In this compelling interview, Suzanne sits down with the esteemed Skip Newberry, President and CEO of the Technology Association of Oregon to discuss leadership, learnings, and all things Oregon Tech. Skip is a seasoned entrepreneur and organizational leader with a fascinating array of experiences that have shaped him into the nuanced and multi-talented executive he is today. Long recognized as a visionary proponent of economic development at both the local and regional levels, his most recent efforts have been directly related to growing the Oregon Technology Industry. In addition to the typical topics covered on Hiring For Good, the conversation includes an Oregon technology “state of the union” and industry forecast, which was highly informative. Skip also offers wisdom on organizational growth, political leadership without holding office, his thoughts on the integration of AI into traditional technical channels, and lessons learned from his many years of service, stewardship, and envelope-pushing in the silicon forest. Enjoy this thoughtful and thorough discussion from one of the region’s shining stars!

Our conversation with Laura Salerno Owens, Shareholder and President at Markowitz Herbold, was so inspiring, it caused both Suzanne and I to reexamine and expand our own ideas about leadership. Our discussion covers a broad range of topics with Laura’s wit, humor, and humility a consistent unifying thread.

Recognized for her organizational leadership and achievements in the courtroom on both the local and national levels, Laura is a brilliant attorney and passionate advocate for justice, truth, and excellence in the workplace. She is also a fantastic litigator who offers her clients unique insight into their legal battles. She has successfully represented employers and employees in hundreds of disputes, ranging from single-person contract disputes to multi-thousand-person class actions. One client says about Laura: “If you are in the fight of your life, you want Laura in your corner.”

Foundational to her many successes is Laura’s heart for people and commitment to the success and empowerment of her teams. Enjoy learning more about Laura on this galvanizing and fun episode of Hiring For Good!

Sitting down with Darren Marshall was a delight! Darren brings a rich history of exceptional leadership, strategic growth, vision, and corporate governance to his current role as CEO at Steven Smith, Teamaker- a luxury tea brand dedicated to producing original, delicious, and innovative blends that continually delight their loyal and growing customer base. Our conversation covers Darren’s journey to the leadership team at Smith, including experiences at Coca-Cola, Proctor and Gam and Steinway and Sons. Darren offers thoughtful and wise insights into his various endeavors and the lessons he has learned along the way. Darren’s approach to empowering his team and building loyalty through his dedication to listening and learning are truly inspiring. Have fun listening to this engaging and fun conversation!