In this episode of The Unscripted Leader, host Steve Margerin sits down with civic leader and nonprofit founder Libby Stegger for a powerful conversation about leadership, community, and navigating complexity in today’s divided world.
 
Libby shares her journey from earning an MBA at Yale to dedicating her career to nonprofit and civic leadership. Together, Steve and Libby explore how leaders can build trust across differences, develop sustainable organizations, and stay energized while managing growing demands.
 
From youth civic engagement to building earned-revenue models and hiring at the “edge,” this episode delivers practical insight for founders, executives, and emerging leaders alike. If you’re looking to lead with clarity, purpose, and resilience, this conversation is for you.
Guest Introduction:
Libby Stegger is the founder and Executive Director of Civic Bridges and the CEO of Peer Partners. A Yale School of Management MBA graduate, Libby has spent her career in the nonprofit and civic sectors, leading statewide programs and building cross-sector partnerships. She is passionate about developing young leaders, strengthening democratic culture, and helping organizations thrive through collaboration and trust.
Key Takeaways:
Leadership requires energy, creativity, and intentional self-awareness.
Sustainable organizations start with a clear mission and strong financial structure.
Hiring “at the edge” helps leaders stay ahead of growth challenges.
Founders must recognize their skill gaps and empower strong team members.
Civic engagement extends beyond politics into everyday leadership.
Building trust and curiosity across differences strengthens communities.
 
Chapter Markers:
0:00 Welcome to The Unscripted Leader
0:50 Introducing Libby Stegger
1:55 America’s Future Summit overview
3:15 Youth civic engagement and leadership
5:20 Private vs. nonprofit leadership paths
6:50 Libby’s MBA and career journey
8:20 Organizational structure and mission
9:55 Revenue models in the social sector
11:20 Hiring at the edge of growth
12:45 Founder capacity and complexity
14:10 Building strong leadership teams
15:30 Finding your leadership “sweet spot”
17:00 Little “d” democracy explained
19:10 Community-level engagement
21:00 Navigating conflict productively
23:15 Leadership and emotional intelligence
25:00 Final reflections and advice
End: Closing remarks
Keywords:
The Unscripted Leader podcast, Steve Margerin, Libby Stegger, civic leadership, nonprofit leadership, democracy building, leadership development, founder mindset, organizational growth, community engagement, sustainable leadership, executive coaching, nonprofit management, leadership podcast
Pull Quotes:
“Leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself — it’s about knowing when to let great people lead.”
 
“A healthy democracy starts with everyday leaders choosing curiosity over division.”

Episode Description:
What happens when marketing lives in an ivory tower and sales is left to improvise in the field?
In this episode of The Unscripted Leader, I sit down with Jennifer Zick, Founder and CEO of Authentic, to unpack the real work behind building a unified revenue organization. We dive into the evolution of the fractional CMO model, the difference between “little m” and “big M” marketing, and why sales and marketing alignment is the connective tissue every growth company needs.
 
Jennifer shares how values-driven leadership, humility, and strategic marketing orchestration can eliminate “random acts of marketing” and build sustainable, profitable growth.
 
If you’re a CEO, sales leader, or marketing executive looking to create true revenue alignment, this episode is for you.
 
Guest Introduction:
Jennifer Zick is the Founder and CEO of Authentic, a fractional CMO firm helping growth companies move beyond random acts of marketing and build strategic revenue engines. She serves on multiple boards, has been recognized by the Minneapolis–St. Paul Business Journal and Enterprising Women, and leads one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Jennifer brings both sales and marketing perspective to the revenue conversation.
 
Key Takeaways:
 Sales and marketing alignment isn’t optional — it’s the connective tissue of a healthy revenue organization.
“Little m” marketing supports sales; “Big M” marketing drives the entire customer experience and revenue flywheel.
Fractional leadership isn’t a temporary fix — it can be a long-term strategic advantage.
Marketing must move beyond random acts and become an orchestrated operating system.
True alignment requires empowered leadership seats that can handle healthy friction and real-time feedback.
Humility and confidence must coexist in modern marketing leadership.
 
Chapter Markers:
 0:00 Intro
1:05 Welcome & Jennifer Zick Introduction
3:05 The Origin of Authentic & Values-Driven Leadership
7:30 Hiring, Clients, and Values Alignment
10:00 From Random Acts of Marketing to Fractional CMO
14:10 The Evolution of Fractional Leadership
19:40 Big M vs. Little m Marketing
24:20 Sales & Marketing Alignment and Revenue Teams
28:00 The “Connective Tissue” Breakdown
31:20 Speaking Truth as a Fractional Leader
34:15 Leadership Growth, EQ, and Self-Awareness
39:00 Women in Business & What’s Next for Authentic
43:10 Closing Thoughts
 
Keywords:
Steve Margerin, Jennifer Zick, The Unscripted Leader, Authentic Brand, fractional CMO, sales and marketing alignment, revenue organization, Big M marketing, little m marketing, random acts of marketing, revenue growth strategy, fractional leadership, business leadership podcast, marketing strategy, customer experience

Episode Description:
What happens when marketing lives in an ivory tower and sales is left to improvise in the field?
In this episode of The Unscripted Leader, I sit down with Jennifer Zick, Founder and CEO of Authentic, to unpack the real work behind building a unified revenue organization. We dive into the evolution of the fractional CMO model, the difference between “little m” and “big M” marketing, and why sales and marketing alignment is the connective tissue every growth company needs.
 
Jennifer shares how values-driven leadership, humility, and strategic marketing orchestration can eliminate “random acts of marketing” and build sustainable, profitable growth.
 
If you’re a CEO, sales leader, or marketing executive looking to create true revenue alignment, this episode is for you.
 
Guest Introduction:
Jennifer Zick is the Founder and CEO of Authentic, a fractional CMO firm helping growth companies move beyond random acts of marketing and build strategic revenue engines. She serves on multiple boards, has been recognized by the Minneapolis–St. Paul Business Journal and Enterprising Women, and leads one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Jennifer brings both sales and marketing perspective to the revenue conversation.
 
Key Takeaways:
 Sales and marketing alignment isn’t optional — it’s the connective tissue of a healthy revenue organization.
“Little m” marketing supports sales; “Big M” marketing drives the entire customer experience and revenue flywheel.
Fractional leadership isn’t a temporary fix — it can be a long-term strategic advantage.
Marketing must move beyond random acts and become an orchestrated operating system.
True alignment requires empowered leadership seats that can handle healthy friction and real-time feedback.
Humility and confidence must coexist in modern marketing leadership.
 
Chapter Markers:
 0:00 Intro
1:05 Welcome & Jennifer Zick Introduction
3:05 The Origin of Authentic & Values-Driven Leadership
7:30 Hiring, Clients, and Values Alignment
10:00 From Random Acts of Marketing to Fractional CMO
14:10 The Evolution of Fractional Leadership
19:40 Big M vs. Little m Marketing
24:20 Sales & Marketing Alignment and Revenue Teams
28:00 The “Connective Tissue” Breakdown
31:20 Speaking Truth as a Fractional Leader
34:15 Leadership Growth, EQ, and Self-Awareness
39:00 Women in Business & What’s Next for Authentic
43:10 Closing Thoughts
 
Keywords:
Steve Margerin, Jennifer Zick, The Unscripted Leader, Authentic Brand, fractional CMO, sales and marketing alignment, revenue organization, Big M marketing, little m marketing, random acts of marketing, revenue growth strategy, fractional leadership, business leadership podcast, marketing strategy, customer experience

In this episode of The Unscripted Leader, host Steve Margerin sits down with Clint Hooppaw—Mayor of Apple Valley, Minnesota and leadership coach behind High Point Advisors—for a refreshingly honest conversation about leading with intention in challenging environments. Clint brings 30+ years of executive experience and over a decade in public service to explore how leaders can embrace productive conflict, recognize the loudest voices aren’t always the majority, and create space for meaningful dialogue—even when emotions run high.
 
Guest Introduction:
Clint Hooppaw is the Mayor of Apple Valley, MN and a seasoned executive with more than 30 years in banking and credit unions. Alongside his public service career, Clint leads High Point Advisors, helping financial institutions strengthen leadership, communication, and decision-making. Known for his thoughtful approach to conflict and consensus-building, Clint bridges public and private leadership in a uniquely relatable way.
 
Key Takeaways:
Productive conflict is essential—if everyone agrees all the time, someone isn’t needed.
The loudest voices aren’t the majority; leaders must seek out quieter perspectives.
Assuming positive intent changes the tone of disagreements and fosters trust.
Public service and corporate leadership share surprising similarities in conflict, culture, and communication.
Titles often create hesitation—leaders must intentionally draw out unheard voices.
 
Keywords:
The Unscripted Leader, Steve Margerin, Clint Hooppaw, Apple Valley Mayor, High Point Advisors, productive conflict, leadership communication, positive intent, public service leadership, conflict resolution, verbal judo, executive coaching, civic leadership, organizational culture, consensus building

In this episode of The Unscripted Leader, host Steve Margerin sits down with Clint Hooppaw—Mayor of Apple Valley, Minnesota and leadership coach behind High Point Advisors—for a refreshingly honest conversation about leading with intention in challenging environments. Clint brings 30+ years of executive experience and over a decade in public service to explore how leaders can embrace productive conflict, recognize the loudest voices aren’t always the majority, and create space for meaningful dialogue—even when emotions run high.
 
Guest Introduction:
Clint Hooppaw is the Mayor of Apple Valley, MN and a seasoned executive with more than 30 years in banking and credit unions. Alongside his public service career, Clint leads High Point Advisors, helping financial institutions strengthen leadership, communication, and decision-making. Known for his thoughtful approach to conflict and consensus-building, Clint bridges public and private leadership in a uniquely relatable way.
 
Key Takeaways:
Productive conflict is essential—if everyone agrees all the time, someone isn’t needed.
The loudest voices aren’t the majority; leaders must seek out quieter perspectives.
Assuming positive intent changes the tone of disagreements and fosters trust.
Public service and corporate leadership share surprising similarities in conflict, culture, and communication.
Titles often create hesitation—leaders must intentionally draw out unheard voices.
 
Keywords:
The Unscripted Leader, Steve Margerin, Clint Hooppaw, Apple Valley Mayor, High Point Advisors, productive conflict, leadership communication, positive intent, public service leadership, conflict resolution, verbal judo, executive coaching, civic leadership, organizational culture, consensus building

In this episode of The Unscripted Leader, host Steve Margerin sits down with Dustin Bruzenak, CEO of Modern Logic, to talk about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the business landscape—especially for small and mid-sized companies. Dustin shares how AI is democratizing technology, freeing up teams from repetitive tasks, and empowering leaders to focus on creativity, innovation, and purpose-driven growth. If you’ve been curious (or even skeptical) about how to actually make AI work in your organization, this conversation breaks it down with clarity, humor, and hard-earned experience.
Guest Introduction:
Dustin Bruzenak is the CEO and co-founder of Modern Logic, a digital innovation firm specializing in helping small and mid-sized businesses leverage AI and automation. With over 15 years of experience leading technology ventures—including five startups he’s founded—Dustin’s passion lies in making emerging technologies accessible, ethical, and actionable for everyday business leaders.
Key Takeaways:
AI is not just for big tech—small businesses can see real ROI within months by automating repetitive work.
The most effective leaders are those learning how to apply AI strategically, not just tactically.
“Human-in-the-loop” workflows are essential to keep authenticity and prevent what Dustin calls work slop—AI output without human empathy.
Use frameworks like ICE (Impact, Confidence, Ease) to prioritize where to apply AI in your business.
The next revolution is agentic AI—systems that act on tasks autonomously—but we’re not there yet. Start simple, start now.
AI adoption isn’t about replacement; it’s about reallocation—freeing people to do more meaningful, creative work.
 
Chapter Markers:
0:00 – Intro
1:00 – Welcome and Guest Introduction
2:20 – Why AI is the “Industrial Revolution” of our time
5:20 – Dustin’s entrepreneurial journey and founding of Modern Logic
8:00 – Making AI accessible for small and mid-sized businesses
10:00 – The real-world impact of AI on jobs and creativity
13:30 – How AI empowers small teams to scale faster
17:00 – Rapid ROI: How businesses are saving hours (and headcount) with automation
20:00 – The ethics of AI and the role of human oversight
23:00 – Preparing the next generation of talent for an AI-driven economy
26:00 – Practical advice for business leaders starting with AI
28:00 – Top 3 AI use cases moving the needle today
31:00 – The future of agentic AI and where it’s headed next
33:00 – Human creativity, authenticity, and “work slop”
36:00 – Closing reflections on leadership in the age of AI
 
Keywords:
Steve Margerin, Dustin Bruzenak, The Unscripted Leader, Modern Logic, AI for business, artificial intelligence, small business automation, AI strategy, human-in-the-loop, digital transformation, leadership podcast, business innovation, agentic AI, AI consulting, AI workflow automation

In this episode of The Unscripted Leader, host Steve Margerin sits down with Dustin Bruzenak, CEO of Modern Logic, to talk about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the business landscape—especially for small and mid-sized companies. Dustin shares how AI is democratizing technology, freeing up teams from repetitive tasks, and empowering leaders to focus on creativity, innovation, and purpose-driven growth. If you’ve been curious (or even skeptical) about how to actually make AI work in your organization, this conversation breaks it down with clarity, humor, and hard-earned experience.
Guest Introduction:
Dustin Bruzenak is the CEO and co-founder of Modern Logic, a digital innovation firm specializing in helping small and mid-sized businesses leverage AI and automation. With over 15 years of experience leading technology ventures—including five startups he’s founded—Dustin’s passion lies in making emerging technologies accessible, ethical, and actionable for everyday business leaders.
Key Takeaways:
AI is not just for big tech—small businesses can see real ROI within months by automating repetitive work.
The most effective leaders are those learning how to apply AI strategically, not just tactically.
“Human-in-the-loop” workflows are essential to keep authenticity and prevent what Dustin calls work slop—AI output without human empathy.
Use frameworks like ICE (Impact, Confidence, Ease) to prioritize where to apply AI in your business.
The next revolution is agentic AI—systems that act on tasks autonomously—but we’re not there yet. Start simple, start now.
AI adoption isn’t about replacement; it’s about reallocation—freeing people to do more meaningful, creative work.
 
Chapter Markers:
0:00 – Intro
1:00 – Welcome and Guest Introduction
2:20 – Why AI is the “Industrial Revolution” of our time
5:20 – Dustin’s entrepreneurial journey and founding of Modern Logic
8:00 – Making AI accessible for small and mid-sized businesses
10:00 – The real-world impact of AI on jobs and creativity
13:30 – How AI empowers small teams to scale faster
17:00 – Rapid ROI: How businesses are saving hours (and headcount) with automation
20:00 – The ethics of AI and the role of human oversight
23:00 – Preparing the next generation of talent for an AI-driven economy
26:00 – Practical advice for business leaders starting with AI
28:00 – Top 3 AI use cases moving the needle today
31:00 – The future of agentic AI and where it’s headed next
33:00 – Human creativity, authenticity, and “work slop”
36:00 – Closing reflections on leadership in the age of AI
 
Keywords:
Steve Margerin, Dustin Bruzenak, The Unscripted Leader, Modern Logic, AI for business, artificial intelligence, small business automation, AI strategy, human-in-the-loop, digital transformation, leadership podcast, business innovation, agentic AI, AI consulting, AI workflow automation

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Unscripted Leader! In this episode, I sit down with Steven Rothberg, founder and chief visionary officer of College Recruiter, a powerhouse in matching over 12 million students and grads with great jobs. We dive into his wild ride from printing campus maps in 1991 to pivoting through dot-com bubbles, recessions, and tech revolutions—all while staying true to helping young talent launch amazing careers. Steven shares how EOS transformed his business, why he's a recovering lawyer turned entrepreneur, and the tough decisions that scaled his company. If you're a leader navigating change, building teams, or just love inspiring stories of grit and innovation in recruiting, this one's packed with insights. Hit play, subscribe, and let's connect—drop your thoughts in the comments!
 
Guest Introduction:
I'm excited to feature Steven Rothberg, founder and chief visionary at College Recruiter, where he pioneered matching employers with college talent. A recovering lawyer turned recruiting expert, Steven's 34-year venture has been spotlighted in outlets like CNN and The Wall Street Journal. As of 2025, he's still driving innovation, appearing on podcasts discussing 2025 recruiting trends and AI in job boards—perfect for our dive into entrepreneurial resilience.
Key Takeaways:
Small starts spark big wins: Steven began with campus maps but embraced the internet pivot, building a recruiting powerhouse that's thriving into 2025.
Survival through adaptation: Dumping print for digital pre-dot-com bust was clutch—lessons that echo in today's AI-shifting recruiting landscape.
EOS for the win: Structuring with visionary and integrator roles brought clarity, especially post-'08 recession, and it's still powering teams today.
Mission matters: Focusing on great careers for every student and easy hiring for employers keeps the business laser-sharp—don't veer off course.
Build or buy evolves: License early for testing, but own core tech as you grow to cut risks, a strategy holding strong in 2025's market.
Customer-driven growth: One key shift to performance pricing quadrupled results—aligning wins that fuel ongoing success in high-volume hiring.
 
Chapter Markers:
0:00 Intro
00:00:10 Guest Introduction and Background
00:03:02 Origins of College Recruiter: Maps to Magazines
00:06:03 Internet Pivot in the '90s
00:09:33 Dot-Com Bubble and Transitions
00:11:24 EOS Implementation and Roles
00:15:59 From Lawyer to Entrepreneur
00:20:07 Mission for Student Careers
00:22:27 Future Tech and Risk Management
00:25:59 Build vs. Buy Decisions
00:28:27 MVP and Feedback Loops
00:31:01 Upside-Downside Decision Making
00:35:16 Performance Pricing Scale
00:38:13 Closing and Contacts
 
Keywords:
Steve Margerin, Steven Rothberg, The Unscripted Leader, college recruiting, entrepreneurial journey, EOS system, visionary leadership, dot-com bubble, college recruiter, job matching, recruiting technology 2025, AI in recruiting, business pivots, leadership lessons, student careers