Firing Customers, Hiring Rockstars: How Great Leaders Retain Talent | Jacob Karnes | S1 E20
Download MP3In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, business coach and former Chick-fil-A leader Jacob Karnes ( @WavesBusinessCoaching ) shares practical insights on leadership, team dynamics, and employee retention. He dives into why clarity is a leader’s superpower, how to build strong workplace cultures, and why belonging matters more than money when it comes to retention.
Jacob discusses how to grow yourself and your team, the power of feedback, and the role of personal branding in leadership. From navigating conflict to building community at work, this episode is packed with real-world strategies to help you lead with purpose, empower your people, and drive impact.
Learn more about Jacob at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobkarnes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobkarnes/
Website:https://wavesbusinesscoaching.com/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@WavesBusinessCoaching
Podcast https://wavesbusinesscoaching.com/podcast
Get my Book For Free: https://masteryourfirstjob.com/free
Mentioned in this episode:
Atomic Habits: https://amzn.to/3FC3uXi
Man's Search for Meaning: https://amzn.to/3FAMDnM
Hero on a Mission: https://amzn.to/3Hi0zDT
Storyworthy: https://amzn.to/3HpqDwF
The 6 Types of Working Genius: https://amzn.to/43G88f3
Radical Candor: https://amzn.to/4kJ69xd
The Making of a Manager: https://amzn.to/3HoxFlp
Scott Wozniak’s episode: https://youtu.be/YJ05Ewazics?si=w14rrl67JEeYxsga
Anne Chow’s episode: https://youtu.be/JrgdCCOwkG0?si=VZHi7xMyesEmEyaO
Kristi Shaw’s episode: https://youtu.be/_beumKc6pDI?si=0A12Co7KsOASNGRJ
A famous quote was once said by a one Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group. It was simple, “take care of your employees and they'll take care of your business”.
Angela’s working genius:
Genius: Galvanizing and Discernment
Competency: Tenacity and Enablement
Frustration: Wonder and Invention
Produced by: The AGN Group, Host: Angela Gill Nelms, Producer: Katie Hart
Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.
Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com
About The AGN Group:
At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.
Social Media Channels:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2
Want to be a Podcast Guest?
If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@badassleaderspodcast.com @AngelaGillNelms
Jacob discusses how to grow yourself and your team, the power of feedback, and the role of personal branding in leadership. From navigating conflict to building community at work, this episode is packed with real-world strategies to help you lead with purpose, empower your people, and drive impact.
Learn more about Jacob at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobkarnes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobkarnes/
Website:https://wavesbusinesscoaching.com/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@WavesBusinessCoaching
Podcast https://wavesbusinesscoaching.com/podcast
Get my Book For Free: https://masteryourfirstjob.com/free
Mentioned in this episode:
Atomic Habits: https://amzn.to/3FC3uXi
Man's Search for Meaning: https://amzn.to/3FAMDnM
Hero on a Mission: https://amzn.to/3Hi0zDT
Storyworthy: https://amzn.to/3HpqDwF
The 6 Types of Working Genius: https://amzn.to/43G88f3
Radical Candor: https://amzn.to/4kJ69xd
The Making of a Manager: https://amzn.to/3HoxFlp
Scott Wozniak’s episode: https://youtu.be/YJ05Ewazics?si=w14rrl67JEeYxsga
Anne Chow’s episode: https://youtu.be/JrgdCCOwkG0?si=VZHi7xMyesEmEyaO
Kristi Shaw’s episode: https://youtu.be/_beumKc6pDI?si=0A12Co7KsOASNGRJ
A famous quote was once said by a one Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group. It was simple, “take care of your employees and they'll take care of your business”.
Angela’s working genius:
Genius: Galvanizing and Discernment
Competency: Tenacity and Enablement
Frustration: Wonder and Invention
Produced by: The AGN Group, Host: Angela Gill Nelms, Producer: Katie Hart
Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.
Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com
About The AGN Group:
At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.
Social Media Channels:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2
Want to be a Podcast Guest?
If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@badassleaderspodcast.com @AngelaGillNelms
Creators and Guests
Host
Angela Gill Nelms
Angela Gill Nelms is a founder, board leader, podcaster, and award-winning entrepreneur with a career spanning SaaS, medical devices, biotech, and clinical research. She builds high-impact teams and organizations rooted in culture, resilience, and strategic execution—helping innovators move ideas from lab to market and leaders grow with intention. She hosts three podcasts that reflect her mission to elevate leadership and accelerate biomedical innovation: Badass Leaders Podcast, Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow, and Recovery Advocate Network: Coffee & Conversation. Across each show, Angela creates space for honest conversations that drive impact, reduce stigma, and shape the future of leadership and health. A Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Alumni honoree and INC 500 award recipient, Angela serves on multiple boards across innovation and mental health ecosystems. Outside of work, she’s beekeeping, blacksmithing, turning wood, or training—6× IRONMAN and lifelong advocate for humans being human.
Producer
Katie Hart
Katie Hart is the Senior Client Relations Manager and Executive Podcast Producer at The AGN Group, where she leads podcast production, brand strategy, and client experience from concept to launch. Equal parts creative and operational powerhouse, she guides clients through branding, recording, and distribution while ensuring every detail runs seamlessly. Known as a customer experience magician, Katie is passionate about making every client and guest feel seen, supported, and celebrated—delivering a five-star experience that amplifies bold stories and builds meaningful impact.
