Month: April 2025

What does real ownership look like in leadership? In this episode, Mack McKelvey sits down with Jon Reilly, co-founder and CEO of Akkio, to explore the kind of decision-making that builds momentum.

Jon breaks down his mental model for making decisions—from obvious 80/20 calls to murky 51/49s—and shares how speed, clarity, and accountability help his team move faster and smarter. He also discusses the importance of hiring people with a strong sense of ownership—those willing to make decisions, stand by them, and lean in to learn from their mistakes.

We talk about:

💡 Why decision paralysis is the enemy of progress

🎯 Why prioritization is as critical as the decisions themselves

💥 What it means to bet on yourself—and stake your reputation on it

🛠️ Why “we can do better” isn’t just Jon’s mantra, it’s his leadership operating system

Jon also shares why he doesn’t read business books and the power of building a board that challenges you to think bigger. This episode is a must-listen for anyone building, leading, or learning how to make decisions that matter.

This week, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Sheila Marmon, founder and CEO of Mirror Digital, to explore the art of decision-making, overcoming obstacles, and embracing transparency. Sheila reflects on the valuable lessons from her first venture, highlighting the importance of alignment, shared vision, and the power of listening to diverse voices when making decisions.

At Mirror Digital, Sheila has built a tech-enabled media company that helps brands connect with diverse, trend-setting audiences. Her approach to decision-making is clear: “Decisions aren’t always easy, but you have to move when something is pressing. And if you make a bad decision, you pivot. Understanding the cost of not making the decision allows me to move forward with making decisions and trying new things.”

For Sheila, decision-making is a practice, not a process. Her “test and learn” mentality fosters a culture of experimentation, growth, and continuous learning. By standardizing smaller decisions, she frees up mental space for bigger challenges, creating a democratic culture at Mirror Digital that stays in tune with the cultural zeitgeist.

Every decision a leader makes sends ripples through a business, a team, and even a career. In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Jason Kaplan, CEO of SixMap, to explore the complexities of decision-making in leadership. From navigating tough calls—like leaving a company—to understanding when to go slow and when to move fast, Jason shares insights from his journey as a founder and executive.

In leadership, there are no easy answers—if it were easy, someone else would have already made the call.