From Building Systems to Cultivating People: A Path to Trust and Growth

In this episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, host Dr. Rob McKenna sits down with Josh Wylie, President of Villara Building Systems, to reveal a leadership metaphor that reshapes how we think about influence: the builder and the gardener.

Great leaders must be both. Builders focus on visible structures—systems, strategies, and profits. Gardeners nurture what is unseen—the trust, relationships, and culture that make growth sustainable. Wylie shares how Villara Building Systems, a national leader in its industry, has built its mission around “building people, building trust, and building dreams.”

From leveraging the WiLD Trust Index to creating an in-house coaching program, Wylie demonstrates how leaders can systematize trust and invest in people holistically. This conversation is a blueprint for leading organizations with integrity, intentionality, and a relentless commitment to human flourishing.

• Be Both a Builder and a Gardener Success requires more than structures and systems. Leaders must also cultivate the “invisible” work of trust, culture, and relationships.
• Systematize Trust Trust isn’t a buzzword—it’s a discipline. Measure it, track it, and reinforce it with accountability, clear expectations, and consistent feedback.
• Invest in the Whole Person Villara’s in-house coaching program is proof that when employees grow personally and professionally, loyalty, ownership, and performance follow.
• Lead with Vulnerability In moments of pressure, honesty—even about uncertainty—builds trust and calms fear. Vulnerability creates credibility.
• Empower People to Own Their Plans Don’t just give answers. Ask better questions. When team members design their own development and commitments, their motivation and accountability multiply.