Apr 30, 2025
When there’s a leadership shift in a manufacturing organization it leads to major change—and brings its own unique challenges like new team dynamics, cultural shifts, and general growing pains. With the right approach, a change in leadership can also lead to valuable opportunities for growth.
Just ask Joe Carrothers and Kristin Rivait from SWT Group. Joe is
the president of SWT Group who moved from being the CFO to being
the president of the organization, and Kristin is SWT Group’s HR
director who worked closely with Joe during this unique leadership
transition. In this story-filled episode, Joe and Kristin give a
peek behind the scenes of SWT Group’s leadership transition. They
give a honest look at both their success and struggles, offer
insights on building trust and advocating for a stronger culture,
and share why curiosity and patience are the keys to turning a
leadership transition into an opportunity for transformative
change.
1:07 – Some leaders struggle with being results-focused and being
seen as unapproachable by teams
2:02 – During a time of transition, executive coaching can be a
valuable tool
2:54 – How do you quantify the ROI of people-focused
initiatives?
6:15 – If you want to grow and learn, you need to be willing to
have tough respectful conversations
8:26 – Shift away from pre-formulated answers to truly listening
and responding
11:17 – Patience and curiosity are key ingredients to a strong
partnership
16:29 – When there is transparence and humility at the top of an
organization, it contributes to a more accountable and open
culture
18:00 – By being present on the floor as a leader you create a
stronger sense of unity and collaboration
21:51 – It is important to be your authentic self and build true
relationships with your team
28:13 – In times of leadership transition, practice patience and
perseverance
Connect with Joe Carrothers and Kristin Rivait
Learn More about SWT Group