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...
