Jesse Grapes, President, Benedictine Schools of Richmond, talk leadership
Release Date: 10/16/2023
Maureen Dingess, COO, Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA)
Lead. Learn. Grow.
Episode Summary Robin sits down with Maureen Dingus, Chief Operating Officer of the Virginia Society of CPAs, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, lifelong learning, and the future of the accounting profession. From a $5/hour internship that launched an entire career to navigating AI, digital wellness, and the talent pipeline — Maureen brings candor, humor, and real insight to every topic. What We Cover How It All Started Maureen never planned a career in associations. A paid internship at VSCPA during her VCU days — the only one that paid anything — turned into a...
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From Garage Startup to Nine-Figure Exit: Kevin Rice on Leadership, Burnout, and Showing Up at Home
Lead. Learn. Grow.
Episode Summary In this episode of Lead. Learn. Grow., Robin Green talks with entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host Kevin Rice about the journey from starting a business in a garage to building a 250-person company and achieving a nine-figure exit. But this conversation goes beyond entrepreneurship. Kevin shares the hard lessons behind growth, including layoffs, reinvention, focus, and what it really takes to create meaningful differentiation in the marketplace. He also opens up about the personal cost of high performance, describing the “robot mode” many leaders fall into when...
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Andy McGowan, VCU Center for Professional Selling - From Pro Sports to Teaching Future Sales Pros
Lead. Learn. Grow.
In this episode of Lead. Learn. Grow., Robin sits down with , Director of the VCU Center for Professional Selling, to unpack Andy’s unconventional career path — from professional sports and corporate communications to building one of the nation’s top collegiate sales programs. Andy shares how an early mentor recognized his natural ability to teach, how real-world selling shaped every chapter of his career, and why developing young sales talent has become his calling. He offers an inside look at VCU’s nationally ranked sales team, the rapid growth of collegiate sales competitions, and...
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Hugh Hornsby, VP of Sales at Everflow: The Most Important Conversation You'll Ever Have
Lead. Learn. Grow.
What if the biggest limitation in your sales, career, and life isn’t the market… it’s the conversation in your own head? In this episode of the Lead.Learn.Grow podcast, I sit down with sales leader and industry “Person of the Year” Hugh Hornsby to talk about belief, resilience, and what it really means to live – and sell – from the inside out. Hugh went from a ninth-grade kid headed for special needs classes… to top producer… to industry consultant… to navigating a misdiagnosed stage-four cancer diagnosis and coming out the other side cancer-free. Along the way, he...
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Kit Moore, Damage Prevention Solutions, From Seminary to Sales Leadership
Lead. Learn. Grow.
In this episode 62 of the Lead. Learn. Grow. Podcast, Robin Green sits down with Kit Moore—musician, theologian, and head of sales for Damage Prevention Solutions—for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, authenticity, and the art of sales. Kit’s career path is anything but linear. From earning a master’s at Princeton Theological Seminary to pursuing a professional music career in Nashville, Kit made courageous decisions to stay true to his values—even when that meant walking away from prestigious or high-profile opportunities. Now leading an innovative manufacturing...
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Dr. Sherri Mylott, Univ of La Verne: Fundraising Lessons for Any Leader: Patience, Storytelling & Building Relationships
Lead. Learn. Grow.
💡 About This Episode Dr. Sherri Mylott has spent more than three decades leading advancement and fundraising at universities across the country — from small liberal arts colleges to large public research institutions. Today, as Vice President for University Advancement at the University of La Verne, she oversees the vital work of connecting donors’ passions with a purpose that transforms students’ lives. In this episode of Lead. Learn. Grow., Sherri joins host Robin Green to share timeless lessons that apply far beyond higher education. We talk about: 🎓...
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Nhat Pham, Entrepreneur and Author: Lessons on Success, Perspective, and Growth
Lead. Learn. Grow.
🔹 Episode Overview: In this powerful episode of Lead Learn Grow, Robin sits down with Nhat Pham, entrepreneur, executive coach, and author of Elevate X. Nhat shares his incredible journey from fleeing Vietnam as a child to building a life of success in America. He discusses the mindset shifts, daily habits, and strategic frameworks that help leaders break through plateaus and achieve exponential growth. We dive into his P.A.C. Model (Perspective, Accelerators, and Compound Action), the importance of resilience, and why mindset—not just tactics—determines success. Nhat also shares...
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Bill Lopez, Co-Founder of Strategic Solutions -- How a Growth Mindset Transformed Business & Sales Success
Lead. Learn. Grow.
🚀 How a Growth Mindset Transformed Business & Sales Success 🔹 Episode Overview: In this episode of Lead Learn Grow, Robin sits down with Bill Lopez, a seasoned entrepreneur and sales leader, to explore his journey from IT engineer to successful business owner. Bill shares his gritty early days, including failures, lessons in resilience, and the sacrifices it took to build a thriving IT business. Bill's story highlights the relentless hustle required to succeed in business, from working out of his garage to making a Thanksgiving Day cannonball run to Tampa for a client. The...
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Ed Johnson, Executive Coach, talks about Positive Intelligence
Lead. Learn. Grow.
🔹 Episode Overview In this episode of Lead. Learn. Grow., Robin sits down with , an executive coach specializing in Positive Intelligence (PQ), to explore how mental fitness shapes success in business, leadership, and personal growth. Ed shares how self-sabotaging behaviors (saboteurs) hold us back and how shifting to a sage mindset can improve decision-making, relationships, and resilience. We dive into how negative emotions hijack our thoughts, how to recognize and shift out of them, and how simple exercises (PQ reps) can rewire your brain for better focus, confidence, and emotional...
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Kim Leibowitz talks about Emotional Intelligence
Lead. Learn. Grow.
In this insightful episode of Lead. Learn. Grow, Robin welcomes Kim Lebowitz, a passionate expert in emotional intelligence (EQ). Kim shares her unconventional journey into the world of EQ, from her corporate and entrepreneurial experiences to an unexpected opportunity that led her to immerse herself in the science of emotional intelligence. She explains how EQ is not just about emotions but about understanding and retraining the brain to manage stress, improve decision-making, and foster stronger relationships in business and life. Kim breaks down the five dimensions of EQ—self-awareness,...
info_outlineJesse Grapes is the President of Benedictine Schools of Richmond, which include both Benedictine College Prepartory School for boys, and St. Gertrude's School for girls. These unique schools offer single-sex educational opportunities for high school students on a growing, beautiful campus on the bluffs of the James River.
Jesse earned his B.S. in Information Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University and upon graduation, joined the world of business consulting. He shares that although his career was off to a good start, he felt like something was missing. Then, the world changed.
On September 12, 2001, he volunteered for the United State Marine Corps. That began a long and storied career that included three combat duties in Iran, and many notable achievements, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
After his military career, Jesse began his equally successful career in education. He was Principal and Regional Director of an innovative, 7,000 student for-profit school in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also was the Headmaster at BCPS prior to his current role.
Jesse Grapes is a leader of leaders, and he shares his philosophies, stories, and how he has continually re-invented himself to live a meaningful and virtuous life.
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My Early Life by Winston Churchill Jesse shares this as one of his favorite books and an example of seeking opportunity, taking risks, and inspiration stories.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People and the importance of sharpening the saw.
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Contact Robin Green at robin.green@sandler.com.
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