Straight Talk For Business

Where strategy meets reality. Hosted by Dragica Grbavac Robinson, Straight Talk for Business explores what really happens when organizations try to execute strategy amid relentless change and growing risk. She brings unfiltered conversations with senior leaders who are navigating the real-world pressures of strategy, change, and risk. From C-suite executives to transformation leaders, each guest shares how they face invisible gaps — misalignment, performance drag, and resilience deficits — that make or break results. Expect intelligent, candid discussions that blend global insight with grounded practicality.

Ep. 304: Guido Palazzo - From Scandal To System Design 09/27/2025

Ep. 304: Guido Palazzo - From Scandal To System Design In this episode, I’m joined by Guido Palazzo, co-author of The Dark Pattern, to explore how corporate scandals emerge, not from isolated “bad apples” but from deeper system design flaws. Guido’s research unpacks the repeatable patterns that underlie cases like Volkswagen’s emissions scandal or Wells Fargo’s sales fraud, showing how culture and incentives interact in ways leaders often fail to see until it’s too late. We begin with the anatomy of a Dark Pattern. Guido highlights three foundational building blocks: rigid ideology, which narrows the range of acceptable thinking; perceived unfairness, which fuels resentment and rationalization; and the slippery slope, where small compromises accumulate until misconduct becomes normalized. These aren’t abstract theories; they are recurring structures that shape decision-making inside organizations across industries and geographies. From there, we move to prevention. Guido contrasts dark patterns with what he calls the “bright pattern” - - structures that reinforce transparency, fairness, and accountability. He shares three non-negotiables leaders should embed in their management systems to keep organizations aligned: create a speak up culture, be open to having moral conversations (no, they are not a sign of weakness), and create integrity goals. We then look at governance across regions. Guido draws lessons from Europe, North America, and Asia, identifying practices that boards would do well to adopt. He emphasizes that while cultural contexts differ, boards need to be prepared to ask more and better questions. Even a brief language audit can help a leadership team spot red flags before they escalate into scandal. Finally, Guido leaves listeners with practical takeaways. You’re invited to take three to five quick tests in the coming week to identify whether your own systems are drifting toward a dark pattern. His advice is clear: Leaders don’t need more rules; they need sharper habits of noticing and interrupting the signals already in front of them. If you've wondered how you can identify some of the patterns operating in your business, take this quick diagnostic and get a directional sense of where you're at. /episode/index/show/0dff15b2-5af8-4f0b-940b-4acc1efdfea0/id/38375100

Ep. 303: Jeff Leitman - The Gap Hunter 07/21/2025

Ep. 303: Jeff Leitman - The Gap Hunter Straight Talk for Business frequently speaks with entrepreneurs who have evolved their business to new levels. This conversation is no different. Jeff Leitman is the Montréal-born entrepreneur who co-founded Killer Concepts Inc. in 2011 and still serves as its President & CEO from Irvine, California. Before jumping into start-ups, he spent a decade on the big-box retail side as a category buyer, experience he credits with giving him the sourcing, merchandising, and P&L chops that drive the business today. Killer Concepts began with impulse-priced mobile accessories and has since grown into a multi-brand consumer goods house with multiple brands, such as Piggy®, Rocksteady Audio, and now Hell’s Kitchen™ cookware. Jeff’s is an interesting story . . . the “simple suction cup phone stand shaped like a pig” turned into a runaway hit after Walmart put it at every checkout. More than 20 million units sold in four years, proving that a 50-cent item can bankroll a portfolio strategy if the volumes are there. Through sister company Rocksteady Corp., Killer Concepts released the Rocksteady Stadium 2.0 line in 2025: hifi drivers, 30-hour battery, daisychain to “unlimited” speakers, and an addon portable subwoofer that fills out 150 ft² backyard parties without WiFi or an app. Leitman’s newest play is Hell’s Kitchen PFAS-Free Hybrid Cookware. It is stainless tri-clad pans with a ceramic non-stick surface that avoids “forever chemicals.” The line launched in early 2025 and quickly expanded to knives and pizza ovens, riding consumer and regulatory pressure to clean up non-stick coatings. What makes Jeff interesting Jeff is customer service CEO: He still answers emails and calls customers himself, using feedback loops to tweak products and policy in real time. Bootstrapped resilience: He scaled production to multi-million unit runs, survived pandemic supply chain shocks, and kept ownership rather than take VC money. Cross-industry agility: From $3 checkout trinkets to $400 speaker bundles and premium cookware, the Killer Concepts playbook is to spot a mass market gap, design fast, outsource manufacturing, and leverage retail relationships built during his buyer days. Bottom line Jeff Leitman runs Killer Concepts like a ‘consumer goods laboratory’: quick to prototype, obsessive about retail presentation, and willing to pivot from piggy-shaped phone stands to PFAS-free pans whenever he senses the next wave of impulse buys. Jeff Leitman 714.443.1111 If you want to better understand how — and whether—your capabilities line up with your ambitions, check out this quick diagnostic. The results may surprise you. /episode/index/show/0dff15b2-5af8-4f0b-940b-4acc1efdfea0/id/37485415

Ep. 302. Gareth Morgan: Winning Motivation & Leading From the Inside-Out 04/28/2025

Ep. 302. Gareth Morgan: Winning Motivation & Leading From the Inside-Out Elite performance coach and author Gareth Morgan joins Dragica to unpack his latest book The Winning Motivation: Turning Pressure into Progress and the mind-set leaders need to thrive in a hyper-volatile world. In this episode, we discuss the key takeaways from his book. Impact Substitute: Why the most valuable players often start on the bench - and how watching, spotting gaps, then stepping in with purpose creates game-changing influence. Observation = Advantage: Leaders who ask more questions than they answer unlock hidden talent, engagement and innovation. The Great Paradox of Change: The real “pain point” isn’t a problem itself; it’s the inner resistance to changing what created it. Seven Emotional Stages of Change: Dissatisfaction → Indecision → Inadequacy → Surrender (the valley) → Sifting → Stretching → Steadying. Each tough emotion is a signpost to the next positive action. Arrow of Values: Two strategic values form the arrowhead (Gareth’s are Clarity & Innovation); supporting values are the fletchings that keep your flight true. Use them as lenses when you feel lost. Surrender & Sifting: Letting go of outdated identities and relationships to make room for the future that’s trying to emerge. Stretch & Capacity: “Nine out of ten can’ts are really won’ts.” Create margin—time, energy, money—so unexpected opportunities can land. Steadying for the Long Game: Define success as “bringing my best each day to what matters most” and stick with the process when fog rolls in. Quick hits Ask “What do I want?”—but first list what you don’t want to surface true motivation. Anchor decision-making to the question: In 500 years, how will the world be thankful that I was alive? Growth without character becomes a curse; build people before profits. About Gareth Morgan Based in Greenwich, London, Gareth has spent 20+ years smashing performance ceilings in pro football, finance, healthcare and faith sectors. He publishes weekly insights on YouTube and is now drafting his third book—a manifesto for grassroots change leaders. Links & Resources (available on Amazon) Gareth on YouTube: We are all motivated differently, especially when it comes to being successful in business. Discover what gaps you must close in your business to succeed. Run this quick diagnostic for your business to get a 'directional' sense of how to put your business on a path to success. . You'll get the results within 24 hours to take action on. /episode/index/show/0dff15b2-5af8-4f0b-940b-4acc1efdfea0/id/36226665