249 | The Hidden Skills That Make Great Leaders With Vicky Brown

You know that moment when someone sees something in you long before you’re ready to claim it? For many leaders, that moment becomes the spark that changes everything. For Vicky Brown, it was the gentle (yet persistent) nudge that pushed her from devoted “number two” to founder of a thriving HR firm that’s been supporting high-performance companies for more than two decades.

Too often, business owners think of HR as paperwork, policies, or “the stuff you deal with when something goes wrong.” But Vicky’s story—and her expertise—reveal a very different truth: HR is leadership. HR is vision. HR is the people strategy that creates growth, retention, and long-term success.

With 20+ years of corporate leadership behind her, Vicky stepped into entrepreneurship almost by accident. But what she built—Idomeneo Enterprises and the Leaders Journey Experience—now helps business owners streamline their operations, strengthen their culture, and lead with confidence. And yes, her unexpected background as an opera singer plays a surprising role in how she shows up as a leader today.

In this episode, Vicky breaks down how to hire well, retain top talent, lead remote teams, and embrace the mindset required to grow—and how you can do the same.

Finding & Keeping the Right People

Hiring high performers doesn’t start with a job post—it starts the moment you recognize a gap on your team. Vicky explains that clarity is everything: when leaders don’t define what they truly need, they end up hiring “whoever sticks” instead of hiring strategically.

Onboarding goes beyond SOPs. High performers want context—why their work matters, where it fits in the bigger picture, and what success actually looks like. When people feel informed and empowered, they stay engaged and contribute at a higher level.

And retention? It comes down to vision. Vicky shares that great leaders build a vision big enough to hold their team’s dreams. Some people will eventually pursue their own path—and that’s a win. But the right culture gives ambitious, talented people room to grow with you.

Leading With Vision—And Letting Your Team Shine

With decades of HR leadership behind her, Vicky reminds us that great CEOs don’t know everything—they know enough to hire the right experts. She encourages leaders to stay curious, keep learning, and stay connected to every part of the business, even the parts outside their natural strengths.

Culture is equally essential, especially for remote teams. Vicky shares how her company maintains connection through weekly team touchpoints—tactical meetings, kudos and wins, shared learning, and a beloved “Wednesday Water Cooler” that mixes fun with genuine relationship building. These small rituals create trust and make work feel human.

And then there’s her opera background. Her teacher’s advice—“Sing with your opera voice all the time”—became a leadership mantra about confidence, presence, and stepping fully into your role. It’s the mindset that helped Vicky evolve from a reluctant founder to a visionary leader.

Enjoy this episode with Vicky Brown…

Soundbytes

08:53 - 09:10
“You’re good at what you’re good at, but now you’re responsible for a whole world of other tasks. I had never sold anything—now suddenly I’m responsible for sales, marketing, accounting, all of it.”

14:14 - 14:25
“Your vision needs to be large enough to hold their dream. If your vision is big enough, there’s infinite opportunity for them with you.”

Quotes

“You just have to step into that suit and wear it.”

“High performers don’t just want to make widgets—they want to know how their work fits into the bigger picture.”

“Recruiting is a marketing function. You’re selling the opportunity to the right people.”

“You need to know enough to be dangerous, but not enough to do it all. Hire experts.”

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://idomeneoinc.com/

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-brown-4160061/

The Ultimate HR Workflow Guide: http://vickybrownhr.com/podcastgift

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