Thoughts after 4 Episodes of Gensyn’s Create Together Podcast

We started this podcast to do what the logo says: to have conversations with leaders and strategists. Our purpose was, and still is, twofold.

1.        To talk with them about their approaches to leadership and strategy.

2.        To pass that on to you, our listeners and readers.

Here’s a quick preview of what you’ll find in the first 4 episodes. We hope you enjoy them and learn from them. We did!

Episode 1 – Evan Wood

In Episode 1, we kicked off the Create Together series by featuring Evan Wood, Vice President of People and Strategy at Fort Wayne Metals.

Evan’s style, characterized in one word, is “Learning”. As he put it, “Leadership is about continuous learning”. He sees that the best leaders keep learning about their environment, their people, and more - so they can put people to their highest and best capability.

As Evan thinks about strategy, he refers to Peter Drucker’s timeless sentence about the purpose of an organization: “A group of people that come together and the belief that achieving some common goal will help each of them accomplish their wants and needs.“ It reminds him that organizations are made of people and just as the organization has wants, needs, and goals, so do its people!

Fun fact. Evan is a vocal advocate for accessibility. His daughter recently helped Team USA win Gold in Sitting Volleyball at the 2025 Youth Parapan American Games in Chile and was named tournament MVP!

Episode 2 – Rena Shown

In Episode 2, we talked with Rena Shown, Chief of Development and Strategic Partnerships at Turnstone Center.

We’re going to characterize Rena’s style with the one word, “Inclusivity.” And add, in her words, “Start from a place of affection and love for who you’re working with.”

Rena believes that great strategy requires a vision and learning by doing. One of her quotes that we can’t get out of our head is, “I look to surround myself with number ones.”

Fun fact. Before Rena began her decade+ role in Development, she and her husband spent time in South Korea where Rena taught English as a second language.

Episode 3 – John Niederman

Episode 3 featured John Niederman, Regional Director for Entrepreneurship at the Fortitude Fund, but perhaps best known as the former President and CEO at Pathfinder Services.

John’s one word is “Collaborate.”

Heavily influenced by coming of age at Notre Dame during the height of the Civil Rights movement, his long career has revolved around social justice. As he puts it, “Leadership that embraces collaboration and embraces inclusion means that you're embracing all people as worthwhile and as capable and having something to contribute to society.”

A lifelong learner with multiple degrees, John devoted 35 years of his life to fostering inclusivity at Pathfinder Services. Now he serves regional entrepreneurs at the Fortitude Fund, where he is spearheading a new financing vehicle.

Fun fact. John is a Fahe Fellow, helping the people of Appalachia prosper.

Episode 4 – Mike Clem

In Episode 4, we talked with Mike Clem, CEO and President at $2 Billion music retail market leader, Sweetwater.

We’ll describe Mike’s one word as “Act”. Not surprising for someone who has helped Sweetwater grow dramatically. Mike leveraged his background and skills in ecommerce as he worked with Sweetwater founder, Chuck Surack, to grow the company from $4 Million when he joined to be a near-$2 Billion company 22 years later. Mike was appointed CEO upon Chuck’s retirement two years ago.

What you’ll find as you listen to the podcast, is that Sweetwater’s growth came because of a people-oriented mindset, not by just focusing on money. The founder-led mantra that Chuck established early on, and that Mike keeps alive today, is “Do the right things for human beings” coupled with “Always be doing.”

Listen to learn the difference between “Big S” strategy and “Small s” strategy and how it aligns strategy up and down the org chart.

Fun fact. Like his predecessor, saxophonist Chuck, Mike is also a musician (a drummer).

What’s Coming Up for the Create Together Podcast?

We’ve completed recording discussions with two more awesome leaders. Conversations with Jacob Schpok of Elevate Ventures and Edwin Chow of Summit City Climbing Gym will drop soon!

And, of course, more discussions are being scheduled.

Don’t miss them. Subscribe now at https://www.gensyndesign.com/podcast!