Fearful Giants is a raw, honest look at how fear quietly shapes even the strongest leaders. Executive coach Clay Stelzer sits down with CEOs for unfiltered conversations about the fears they rarely name — failure, vulnerability, being irrelevant, or not enough.
This show isn’t about the fear itself — it’s about what happens when we stop performing and tell the truth. With humor, depth, and real coaching insight, Clay and his guests unpack how fear limits creativity and potential — and what becomes possible when leaders remember who they really are: giants.
When the Business Needs to Work for You with Dave Schneider
Red Wing Shoe Company has been an American icon for over 120 years. The kind of brand people grow up with, pass down to their kids, and feel something real when they put on. This week I'm sitting down with Dave Schneider, Chief Marketing Officer of Red Wing Shoe Company.
Dave leads the global marketing practice for Red Wing, overseeing brand management, digital and traditional marketing, ecommerce, retail experience, and corporate communications across a portfolio of purpose-driven brands. Before Red Wing, Dave held senior leadership roles at top marketing and corporate firms serving brands like MillerCoors, Dell, State Farm, Lowe's, McDonald's, and AT&T. He's been with Red Wing for over 12 years and says he expects to retire there. That alone tells you they are doing something right.
But this conversation goes far beyond brand strategy. We get into what that taught him about the difference between commitment and self-sacrifice, why he thinks culture is a two-way street, how Red Wing balances 120 years of heritage with staying relevant, and the leadership definition he's carried for 25 years.
In this episode, we explore:
- What it actually looks like to contribute to company culture (hint: it’s not just a poster in the break room!)
- The two moments Dave's leaders gave him "permission" to step away from work, and what that did to him as a leader
- How Red Wing balances 120 years of heritage with staying relevant in a fast-moving world
- What Dave means when he says "speed beats perfection" (+ when that rule doesn't apply)
- The leadership definition Dave has carried for 25 years and why it still holds
Connect with Dave Schneider:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daveschneider (http://linkedin.com/in/daveschneider)
- Email: dave.schneider@redwingshoes.com (mailto:dave.schneider@redwingshoes.com)
Connect with Clay:
- Website: https://15sixty.com/ (https://15sixty.com/)
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claystelzer (http://linkedin.com/in/claystelzer)
- Email: clay@15sixty.com (mailto:clay@15sixty.com)
Resources Mentioned:
- Red Wing Shoe Company (https://www.redwingshoes.com/)
- Red Wing Foundation (https://www.rwsf.org/)
- Will Your Wings Campaign (https://www.redwingshoes.com/stories/will-your-wings/)
🎵 Music License: CMUVN6N0WHFMBOOL
9 Jun 2026
Selling Your Business Without Losing Yourself with Michael Schodrof
Thinking about selling your business? Most business owners spend years planning what it takes to get there. Almost none of them plan for what happens after they cross the finish line..
The money hits your account, the deal is done, and then... the real fear starts.
In this episode of Fearful Giants, Clay Stelzer sits down with Michael Schodrof, CEPA, CFA, a private wealth advisor and exit planning specialist at Alex Brown, Raymond James, to talk about what business owners really need to know before and after a business exit.
75% of business owners who sell are disappointed with the outcome, and it has nothing to do with the sale price. It has everything to do with identity, preparation, and the personal questions that never get asked before the deal closes. Michael has spent 25 years in financial services working with ultra-affluent individuals and business owners navigating major liquidity events and wealth planning after a sale.
In this episode you'll hear about:
- The reasons most business owners aren't emotionally or financially ready to exit
- The two tracks every business owner needs to be working on before they exit
- What exit planning actually involves beyond valuing your business
- What happens to your identity, your family, and your wealth after the transaction closes
- The one conversation about family wealth few have before the deal is done
- How to find and work with a wealth advisor who understands the full picture of an exit
Connect with Michael Schodrof:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelschodrof/
- Email: michael.schodrof@alexbrown.com (mailto:michael.schodrof@alexbrown.com)
Connect with Clay Stelzer:
- Website: https://15sixty.com/
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claystelzer
Resources Mentioned:
- Exit Planning Institute (https://exit-planning-institute.org/)
- BOSS Events: Business Owner Strategy Summit (https://boss-summit.com/)
🎵 Music License: CMUVN6N0WHFMBOOL
2 Jun 2026
From Chasing Safety to Building Legacy with Bobby Achettu
Building a company from nothing and selling it is the entrepreneurship dream. But Bobby Achettu’s story isn’t just about growth, grit, or a successful exit. It’s about the fear, family, and longing for safety that shaped the whole journey.
Bobby came to the United States at four years old. His dad, a qualified engineer in India, started over by sweeping factory floors. Bobby watched that, absorbed it, and built a mindset around it: never give up.
What followed was a 13-year entrepreneurial journey building Accelerated Growth Advisors from a storage closet to a successful acquisition by Sikich in 2022. But this conversation goes so much deeper than the exit.
In this episode we explore:
- Why Bobby's relationship with money was never really about money
- How imposter syndrome followed him from childhood into the boardroom, and what he did with it
- The formula he's been living his entire career: vulnerability leads to trust, trust leads to accountability, accountability leads to performance
- What he had to let go of to fully show up as a leader after selling his company
- What legacy actually looks like to an entrepreneur 27 years in
Connect with Bobby:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyachettu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyachettu)
Connect with Clay Stelzer:
- Website: https://15sixty.com/
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claystelzer
Resources:
- Sikich (https://www.sikich.com/)
- Accelerated Growth Advisors
🎵 Music License: CMUVN6N0WHFMBOOL
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