In this episode, Joseph Lesser shares his journey to Regional Sales Director at Courser and the purpose-driven mindset that guides his leadership. Grounded in faith and shaped by mentorship, Joseph reflects on the shift from individual contributor to people leader and the lessons that helped him grow. He fosters a culture of trust, feedback, and accountability where team members feel seen, supported, and challenged.

Key Takeaways:

• Bold action and initiative can open doors that talent alone cannot
• A curious mindset fuels personal growth and drives long-term success
• Leading others requires shifting focus from performance to purpose
• Trust and feedback are the foundation of strong, connected teams

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 05:05 - A Bold Ask
• 08:19 - Growing Roles
• 14:43 - Faith and Conviction
• 22:42 - Grounded Leadership

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

There you will also find our other Everyday Heroes episodes, alongside our series Microcap Moments and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore Capital University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, nor a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Dardi, an alumnus of the CXO Fellows Program who was CFO of Behavioral Innovations at the time of recording and now serves as COO. Chris shares why he left financial due diligence to build something bigger, how he navigated the leap into healthcare, and the mindset shifts that helped him succeed. He reflects on lessons learned during his time as a CXO, the demands of leading through an exit as CFO, and the importance of process, adaptability, and knowing how to focus when everything feels urgent.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning the business from the ground up builds credibility, accelerates impact, and helps new leaders drive meaningful change
• Opportunities often come disguised as problems, and tackling unglamorous challenges creates momentum and visibility in microcap environments
• Process, discipline, and adaptability are essential skills for CXOs stepping into new industries or scaling companies through rapid growth
• Exit readiness is an ongoing effort that starts with how the business is built, not when a banker is hired, and it requires tight operations, clear data, and a compelling story

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 05:27 - Discovering Purpose in the Mission
• 09:00 - Learning Fast and Building Structure
• 13:40 - Leading Through Change
• 21:04 - Lessons in Leadership

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore Capital University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Anderson Williams, Principal of Talent Development, is joined by Jackson Sprayberry, Director of Talent Development, and Ben Gilbert, Associate of Talent Development, to share how Shore University customizes talent development to meet the unique needs of each portfolio company. They explore how surface-level requests like conflict resolution or performance management often reveal core challenges with communication, accountability, and time management. Through examples including mentorship programs, frontline development, and shift manager coaching, the team highlights how they tailor content and delivery formats to drive real impact. They also discuss tools in development, such as case studies and a Train the Trainer model, designed to scale learning while keeping it deeply contextual.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategic questioning during early conversations helps uncover root issues, like conflict resolution, communication breakdowns, and unclear expectations
• Custom programs are co-created with portfolio leaders to support goals like performance management rollouts, mentorship launches, and frontline customer training, all tailored to team needs and company context
• Mindset shifts, such as moving from captain to coach or working in the business to working on it, are essential for leaders in fast-growing environments
• Clarifying the distinction between feedback and accountability helps managers create lasting behavior change and stronger team performance

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 06:36 - Leadership Mindset Shifts
• 10:56 - Customized Solutions
• 15:42 - Feedback vs Accountability
• 21:19 - Creating Scalability

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore Capital University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Michael Burcham, Chief of Strategy, Research, and Talent Development, joins Anderson Williams, Principal of Talent Development, along with Ben Gilbert, Associate of Talent Development, and Jackson Sprayberry, Director of Talent Development, to share how Shore University has grown into a platform that supports learning at every level, including executives, managers, and frontline team members. They talk about the systems behind ShoreU, like the LMS (learning management system), scenario-based training, and pathway programs, and how these tools help leaders apply what they learn in real situations.

Key Takeaways:

• Pattern recognition across portfolio companies makes it possible to build leadership programs that scale across industries and business models
• A mix of live sessions, self-paced tools, and media-driven content makes learning accessible to those with different learning styles and work flows
• The talent pipeline is strengthened by identifying high-potential individuals early and preparing them to take on key roles as companies grow
• As the platform evolves, the focus is on building both standardized pathways and customized experiences to meet companies where they are

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 05:19 Building the System
• 14:13 Development Programs
• 18:34 Content that Connects
• 21:20 What's Next?

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore Capital University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Michael Burcham, Chief of Strategy, Research, and Talent Development, joins Anderson Williams, Principal of Talent Development at Shore Capital, to explore why investing in people has been core to Shore since the beginning. Michael shares how the firm’s founders valued learning as a strategic advantage and how that mindset led to the creation of Shore University, the talent development function supporting both the firm and its portfolio companies. They discuss the challenges of scaling teams, the shift from individual contributor to manager, and the importance of trust, communication, and consistency in leadership. Through stories and examples, they show how ShoreU ensures that as companies grow, their people are prepared to grow with them.

Key Takeaways:

• Shore University was built on the belief that learning is a strategic advantage.
• Developing people is essential to scaling teams and sustaining performance.
• First-time managers need support to grow from doing the work to leading others.
• Companies are strongest when their people grow alongside the business.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 06:09 The ROI of Talent Development
• 10:12 From Contributor to Leader
• 20:24 Navigating Change
• 23:59 Growing with Your People

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore Capital University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Zachary Nippert, Chief Commercial Officer at Shore Capital, discusses building out the Commercial Center of Excellence (COE) to accelerate organic growth across the firm’s portfolio. Drawing from his experience in global advertising, tech entrepreneurship, and revenue leadership, Zack shares how he is creating a structured approach to commercial strategy, talent development, and sales enablement. He also explains how peer collaboration within the COE fosters innovation, enabling commercial leaders to exchange insights, overcome challenges, and enhance performance across diverse industries.

Key Takeaways:

• How Zachary Nippert is building the Commercial Center of Excellence at Shore Capital
• The three core pillars of commercial excellence: talent, strategy, and sales process
• How peer collaboration within the COE drives innovation and growth
• Real-world strategies for sales training and go-to-market success
• Why commercial excellence is crucial for scaling microcap companies

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 06:14 The Role of the Centers of Excellence
• 07:15 Commercial Excellence Function
• 10:46 Challenges and Opportunities
• 16:09 Success Stories and Future Aspirations

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore Capital University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, Head of Events at Shore Capital, Julia Dilday, shares insights into how thoughtful event design and relationship-building strengthen the firm’s brand and fuel growth. She discusses her path from TV production to private equity, the importance of small details in creating memorable experiences, and how collaboration across teams shapes the Shore culture. Joined by Jeff Williams (COO), Julia also reflects on the evolution of Shore’s events function and its growing impact on building a robust network of executives, board members, and investors.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:40 The Role and Impact
• 08:25 Building World-Class Events
• 10:46 Unique Aspects of Shore's Events
• 14:34 Memorable Moments

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore Capital University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, the Shore Capital Strategic Planning team explores how they partner with portfolio companies to build and execute strategic plans. They discuss bridging the gap between the investment thesis and real-world execution, helping teams prioritize key initiatives, align stakeholders, and make data-driven decisions. Their structured yet adaptable process ensures companies stay focused, respond to market dynamics, and drive sustained growth.

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

There you will also find our other "Bigger. Stronger. Faster." episodes, alongside our "Microcap Moments" and "Everyday Heroes" series, which highlights the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore Capital University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, nor a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.