Team Building and Leadership with Brad Stephenson

In this power-packed episode, Brad Stephenson, CEO of Newcastle Lawn and Landscape, joins Brittany Auman to share hard-earned lessons from his climb from laborer to majority shareholder of a 100-person landscaping business.

Brad didn’t found Newcastle, but he shaped it. His journey highlights what’s possible when you embrace opportunity, empower others, and focus on creating career paths — not just jobs. Starting as a field worker and later becoming a minority and then majority owner, Brad’s rise mirrors the core message of the episode: great companies are built by lifting people up.

He dives into the importance of projecting opportunity when trying to attract and retain talent — especially entrepreneurial-minded individuals. Brad discusses how understanding personality types (using tools like the DISC assessment) helps create roles where people can thrive.

Leadership is another major focus. Brad opens up about personal struggles — from addiction to burnout — and how those experiences shaped his people-first leadership style. His authenticity drives home the message that leaders must work on themselves to effectively lead others.

Key Takeaways:

• Create a culture of opportunity and ownership.

• Allow team members to fail and grow through challenges.

• Invest in leadership development — including your own.

• Lead people based on their potential, not just their current role.