SightShift with Chris McAlister

#10Years10Stories | Mike Clouse | Story #5

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation, moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly.
In this episode, Mike shares what happens when a coach realizes he needs a coach.
By the time we met in 2016, Mike was already years into executive coaching. He’d found the work he was made to do and had just launched his own practice. The goal wasn’t to build an empire, it was to stay close to the work that mattered most. But there was one problem: he jumped in before he had a framework.
He didn’t want formulas that told people who to be; he wanted something deep enough to meet leaders where they are and help them discover who they are. A few weeks into Figure That Shift Out, something clicked. This wasn’t another tool, it was the work itself.
 

#10Years10Stories | Ryan Magada | Story #4

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation—moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly.
In this episode, Ryan shares what it looks like to lead with clarity after seasons of confusion and burnout. When he stepped into this work, he was carrying old wounds and questions that haunted both his leadership and his home life—how to lead without toxicity, how to stay grounded when everyone has an opinion, how to find a center that lasts.
That shift changed everything. Today, Ryan leads Brave Little Beast with steadiness, courage, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing who you are.
 

#10Years10Stories | David Sherry | Story #3

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation, moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly.
In this episode, David shares what happens when growth outpaces identity. His company was scaling fast—revenue up, visibility high—but the pressure behind the scenes was mounting. Bigger team, bigger stakes, bigger fear of getting it wrong.

#10Years10Stories | Tim McLeroy | Story #2

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation, moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly.
Tim shares the night that cracked everything open, naming fear, insecurity, and the patterns that quietly shape every relationship. He calls it “the best session and the worst session” because it was raw and unfinished, but something real happened.

The FreshPro Story: Friendship. Failure. Growth

From a 250-square-foot office with one desk and a shared bathroom to becoming one of the top watermelon shippers in the U.S., this is the story of FreshPro and its founders, Mike and Jose.
In this C-Suite Series episode, Chris sits down with two lifelong friends who built a thriving produce business from scratch, without investors, blueprints, or corporate playbooks. What started as a hustle turned into a legacy.
This conversation explores:
The wild early days of selling watermelons by sheer tenacity
How friendship, trust, and conflict shaped their partnership
Why rediscovering purpose mattered more than profit
How they’re now building a culture that lasts
Whether you’re leading a startup or a legacy company, this is a story about grit, growth, and learning to lead for impact, not just validation.

#10Years10Stories | Reagan Pugh | Story #1

In this special 10-year anniversary series celebrating Figure That Shift Out, we’re sharing ten stories of transformation, moments when leaders figured it out not by pushing harder, but by seeing more clearly.
In this episode, Reagan shares how the ideas of proving and hiding became a daily barometer for his leadership — those moments when he felt the urge to get big and prove his worth or shrink back and hide. Learning to notice those patterns helped him flip the lie beneath them and lead from a secure identity.

Finishing Well at the Top: John Carter’s Story

On his last day in the office, John Carter, President & COO of Nationwide Financial, shares the lessons of a 40-year career in financial services. Under his leadership, Nationwide grew by 50%, delivered record results, and set the tone for admired leadership across the industry.
 
This conversation explores:
Building a performance culture that lasts
How empathy, clarity, and focus shaped his leadership
Why leaving well is as important as leading well
 
Named President & COO Emeritus, John leaves behind a legacy that will shape Nationwide and the financial industry for decades to come.
 
👉 Get the new book: makecultureyouredge.com
👉 More from Chris & SightShift: sightshift.com

From HR to Finance: Building Culture That Lasts

At Miles-McClellan Construction, rapid growth and market uncertainty put leadership under pressure. Instead of just tightening budgets or systems, they chose to double down on culture.
In this episode, Chris talks with Devin Stein (VP of HR) and Owen Wyss (CFO) about what it takes to align strategy with people, accelerate trust on an executive team, and prepare the next generation of leaders.
 
This conversation explores:
Why leadership development pays off in performance and morale
How trust and vulnerability fast-tracked executive alignment
Practical shifts that helped managers lead with more clarity and meaning
 
Whether you’re an HR leader, a CFO, or a CEO facing growth pressures, this episode shows how culture work can unlock results faster than strategy alone.