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212: The Secret System That’s Driving Behavior At Every Level Of His Company | Curtis Hite
Episode 212
What if not every executive needs to be a “leader,” and the secret to scaling smart is building trust, not just in people, but in processes? In this thought-provoking episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with Curtis Hite, CEO of Improving, to explore the transformative power of conscious capitalism, purpose-driven business, and the nuanced difference between leaders, managers, and administrators. Curtis pulls back the curtain on the culture strategies that helped Improving grow to over 2,000 employees, $280M+ in revenue, and repeated “Best Place to Work” awards. Discover how trust is turned into action, and why “inspire, not require” is more than just a motto. Plus, Curtis shares the inside scoop on Improving’s internal engagement platform, AI’s real-world impact, and why celebrating (not bashing) capitalism is more urgent than ever.
Packed with actionable advice for executives, culture builders, and anyone rethinking what it means to lead, this episode is a roadmap for scaling teams, winning hearts, and transforming companies from the inside out.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why Curtis believes we need to “stop bashing capitalism and start elevating it,” and how conscious capitalism creates positive change
- The foundational role trust plays in culture-building, and how Improving operationalizes it using Stephen M.R. Covey’s “Speed of Trust” framework
- How to create a best-in-class culture at scale, without falling into the trap of “command and control”
- Why not every executive should be a leader, and how to optimize for leaders, managers, and administrators
- The power of visibility and engagement with Improving’s proprietary “Engage” platform (and how it can transform accountability)
- How to embrace artificial intelligence as a superpower for executives, and the easiest first step to get started
Timestamps:
00:00 – Curtis on why not all executives are leaders, and why that’s okay
01:43 – The case for celebrating (not bashing) capitalism
03:34 – The big myths about capitalism, poverty, and progress
05:43 – What is conscious capitalism, and how does it differ from stakeholder capitalism?
07:27 – “Inspire, not require,” why framing matters in business initiatives
10:56 – Curtis’s entrepreneurial journey: from defense tech to CEO
13:55 – Turning shame and setbacks into entrepreneurial drive
16:04 – The story behind the “Improving” brand and company
17:13 – How to scale culture with 2,000+ employees and 17 offices
19:24 – Real-world examples of values-driven local flexibility
22:00 – Vetting for “we” vs. “me” cultures in acquisitions
24:06 – How to shift a team from “me” to “we,” practical trust behaviors
26:32 – Institutionalizing trust: trainings, trustpods, and everyday habits
29:05 – All about Improving’s “Engage” platform: visibility, coins, and real impact
32:20 – Handling pushback and building engagement for all personality types
33:47 – Will “Engage” launch as a product?
34:40 – Why not every executive is, or should be, a leader
39:12 – The dangers of promoting only “leaders,” and how to build a balanced org
44:19 – How Improving is leveraging AI now, and what every executive should do next
47:37 – Staying agile with a 10-year vision in a fast-changing world
50:49 – How Curtis continues to learn, grow, and seek feedback, even after winning major awards
52:41 – Damon’s takeaways: why team, trust, and frontline ideas matter most
About Curtis Hite
Curtis Hite is the CEO and founder of Improving, a technology consulting and training company he launched in 2007. Under his leadership, Improving has grown to over 2,000 employees with 17 offices and revenues surpassing $280 million, winning
Published on 3 months, 1 week ago