Clueless CEO or Culture Genius? When Curiosity Beats Credentials

What happens when a self-proclaimed “mechanically deficient” leader takes the reins of a 170-person fabrication business? For Brandon Stanchock, it meant leaning into curiosity, asking “dumb” questions, and spending a week in every department—boots on the ground, in the heat of summer.

In this episode of Making Sparks, Brandon joins Casey and Matthew to talk about:

• How imposter syndrome shaped his leadership style
• Why asking the right questions beats having all the answers
• His mission to turn culture into a competitive advantage
• Practical ways he’s using AI and AR to improve operations
• And the launch of his internal content series: The Clueless CEO Chronicles

Whether you're a seasoned executive or an up-and-comer in the trades, this one’s for anyone who believes leadership is earned, not inherited.

Timeline:

00:00 – LinkedIn Is the Wild West 06:00 – From Project Manager to CEO 09:40 – Imposter Syndrome at the Top 14:30 – Leading Without Knowing the Trade 20:00 – Culture as a Leadership Strategy 24:00 – Walking the Floor, One Department at a Time 27:00 – AR, AI & Asking Better Questions 36:00 – Culture Sells

  Resources: 

  Join our Facebook Group for conversations that will help grow your business: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Dspnz4Qt5/  Brandon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonstanchock/ Lights Out Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/lights-out/ Buy the Numbers Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/buy-the-numbers/  Connect with Brandon: https://justsomebs.buzzsprout.com/share