What separates companies that scale from those that stall?

According to Kevin McCarthy, it isn't luck, funding, or even a great product. It's building a team of exceptional people, creating absolute clarity around the mission, and leading with humility instead of ego.

In this episode of Rockstar Talent, Rita Baroody sits down with Kevin McCarthy, CEO of Unreal Snacks and EY Entrepreneur of the Year winner, to discuss what it takes to build high-performing teams, hire transformational leaders, create a culture rooted in trust and accountability, and scale a mission-driven business without losing what made it successful in the first place. Kevin also shares the leadership lessons that helped simplify Unreal's business, accelerate growth, and inspire people to rally behind a common purpose. 

Whether you're a founder, executive, entrepreneur, hiring leader, or aspiring CEO, this conversation offers practical insights on leadership, hiring, company culture, business strategy, and building teams that thrive through every stage of growth.

In This Episode

• Why great companies are built by great people—not just great products

• How trust, clarity, and accountability create high-performing teams

• Why simplifying your business can unlock extraordinary growth

• The biggest leadership mistakes companies make while scaling

• How the best leaders inspire confidence while taking complete accountability

Memorable Quotes

"There's no substitute for great people when building a company, a culture, or a team." 

"You need to build trust with people. You need to be human with them." 

"Culture is everyone's job." 

"As a leader, you need to take accountability for everything your team does—or fails to do." 

About Rockstar Talent

Rockstar Talent features conversations with founders, CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who share how they built high-performing teams, created exceptional cultures, and achieved extraordinary results. Each episode uncovers the leadership lessons, talent strategies, and defining moments behind their success.

About the Host

Rita Baroody is the Founder of Selective Insight, executive recruiter, talent strategist, and author of Find Me a Rockstar. She helps organizations attract, hire, and retain exceptional talent while empowering leaders to build winning teams.

Follow Rita Baroody

For more insights on leadership, talent, hiring, executive leadership, AI, innovation, and building high-performing teams, connect with Rita on LinkedIn.

SelectiveInsight.com

What separates good leaders from extraordinary ones?

According to Amy Upchurch, it isn't the perfect strategy, product, or team.  It's having a purpose strong enough to carry you through the inevitable challenges of building something meaningful.

In this episode of Rockstar Talent, Rita Baroody sits down with Amy Upchurch, Founder and CEO of Pink Stork, to discuss transforming adversity into purpose, building a mission-driven company, creating a values-based culture, making bold leadership decisions, and why knowing your "why" is the foundation for long-term success. 

Amy also shares how her own personal health journey inspired her to build one of the fastest-growing women's wellness brands dedicated to empowering women at every stage of life.

Whether you're a founder, executive, entrepreneur, hiring leader, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers practical insights on leadership, resilience, culture, decision-making, and building an organization that stays true to its mission.

In This Episode

• Why your "why" matters more than your strategy, product, or team

• How strong values create stronger leaders, cultures, and long-term businesses

• Why speed, urgency, and trusting your instincts are competitive advantages

• The leadership principles behind building a purpose-driven, customer-first organization

• Why alignment—not just experience—is the key to building winning teams

Memorable Quotes

"You can figure out strategy. You can figure out product. You can figure out team. But if your why is shallow, when those blood, sweat, and tears come, you will quit."

"You shouldn't negotiate your values."

"There are going to be mistakes. There are going to be really hard days. But if you understand why you're doing what you're doing, it's so much bigger than those hard days."

"You have to surrender the fact that you're never going to have all the information you need. Move fast anyway."

About Rockstar Talent

Rockstar Talent features conversations with founders, CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who share how they built high-performing teams, created exceptional cultures, and achieved extraordinary results. Each episode uncovers the leadership lessons, talent strategies, and defining moments behind their success.

About the Host

Rita Baroody is the Founder of Selective Insight, executive recruiter, talent strategist, and author of Find Me a Rockstar. She helps organizations attract, hire, and retain exceptional talent while empowering leaders to build winning teams.

Follow Rita Baroody

For more insights on leadership, talent, hiring, executive leadership, AI, innovation, and building high-performing teams, connect with Rita on LinkedIn.

SelectiveInsight.com

According to Carlos Ventura, it's not a mission statement hanging on a wall. It's creating a culture people genuinely believe in.

In this episode of Rockstar Talent, Rita Baroody sits down with Carlos Ventura, Founder and CEO of Feast & Fettle, to discuss building a customer-obsessed company, scaling a high-growth business, and why success doesn't always feel the way people expect.

Whether you're a founder, executive, hiring leader, entrepreneur, or ambitious professional, this conversation offers practical lessons on leadership, culture, growth, innovation, and defining success on your own terms.

In This Episode

• What most leaders get wrong about company culture

• How to build a customer-obsessed company that fuels growth

• Why success doesn't always bring fulfillment

• The leadership principles behind building winning teams

Memorable Quotes

"What we really sell back is our customers' time."

"You can't just write a mission statement and put it on the wall. There needs to be substance and realness to it."

"Every business at this point should be a tech business."

 "You have to write your own story. Write your own blueprint. That's success."

About Rockstar Talent

Rockstar Talent features conversations with founders, CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who share how they built high-performing teams, created exceptional cultures, and achieved extraordinary results. Each episode uncovers the leadership lessons, talent strategies, and defining moments behind their success.

Connect with the Host

Rita Baroody is the Founder of Selective Insight and author of Find Me a Rockstar. She helps growth-minded organizations attract, hire, and retain exceptional talent while empowering leaders to build winning teams.

For more insights on leadership, hiring, and building high-performing teams, connect with Rita on LinkedIn.

SelectiveInsight.com