Built, Not Born: The Hidden Power of Deliberate Leadership

In this episode, Rob Levin speaks with Laura Crothers, founder and CEO of Crothers Consulting, about how leadership planning and deliberate talent development can dramatically impact company growth—especially for small and mid-sized businesses. Laura shares actionable strategies for building leadership pipelines, navigating succession, and assessing culture fit in acquisitions.

About Laura Crothers
Laura Crothers is the founder and CEO of Crothers Consulting, a leadership and HR advisory firm helping high-growth companies scale effectively for the past 15 years. With 25+ years of experience in HR leadership, M&A strategy, and executive coaching, she has worked with organizations like McGraw Hill, ADP, and Merrill Lynch, as well as countless SMBs navigating rapid growth and culture shifts.

Episode Highlight
"Leadership is a differentiator—and having really good, effective leaders and a plan around your leadership will differentiate you."
— Laura Crothers, [08:58]

Actionable Insights

• Build leaders, not just managers: Management is about execution; leadership is about vision. High-growth companies invest deliberately in developing both. [03:56]
• The #1 leadership gap? Communication: Most leaders fall short on strategic and consistent communication—both internally and externally. [04:50]
• Plan your succession early: Especially for founders and retiring baby boomers, breaking apart multifunctional roles and planning realistic handovers is essential. [06:37]

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More About Laura Crothers  

• Check out Crothers Consulting.
• Connect with Laura on LinkedIn. 

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