Honestly, We're Learning
Claim This Podcastby ClearEdge
Podcast Overview
<p>Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned.</p><p></p><p>As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen.</p><p></p><p>The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/16/2025
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Recent Episodes
July 21, 2026
Reframing Failure and Embracing a Nonlinear Path to CEO
<p>On this episode of Honestly, We’re Learning, hosts Leslie Vickrey and Lesly Cardec kick things off by tackling the ultimate executive vacation dilemma—how to actually disconnect. Leslie shares how her recent vacation went after silencing notifications, giving yourself grace on the road, and how a team challenge on Strava is keeping the ClearEdge crew moving.<br /></p><p>Then, they are joined by Kellen Smith, CEO of 8020 Consulting. From playing Rice University Division I soccer to leading over 25 M&A transactions and successful exits for private equity-backed firms, Kellen is the definition of a high-impact operational leader.<br /></p><p>Leslie, Lesly, and Kellen dive deep into the power of a winding career path, examining why Kellen rejected a "perfect on paper" Fortune 500 offer for a smaller entrepreneurial firm to gain the operational role she wanted. Kellen opens up about reframing failure as a required variable for scaling, knowing when a CEO must get out of the way, and how mid-market companies can leverage practical, piece-by-piece AI integration.<br /></p><p>Finally, Kellen pulls back the curtain on the intense "architecture" of a hyper-busy life, sharing the reality of climbing into the C-suite with four kids under four, and the non-negotiable "family school drop-off" routine that keeps her grounded.</p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellenssmith" target="_blank">Connect with Kellen Smith on LinkedIn<br /></a><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://8020consulting.com/" target="_blank">Learn more about 8020 Consulting</a></p>
July 7, 2026
Leading with Purpose, Building Discipline, and Delegating to Win
<p>On this episode of <i>Honestly, We’re Learning</i>, hosts Leslie Vickrey and Lesly Cardec kick things off by celebrating a massive milestone—20 years of ClearEdge! They reflect on how the marketing landscape has transformed over two decades, the ongoing battle to prove marketing’s value as a growth driver, and why leaders can never afford to get comfortable.<br /></p><p>Then, they are joined by Kelly McCreight, CEO of Hamilton-Ryker and owner of School of Rock Nashville. With over 30 years in staffing, Kelly is the definition of a multi-dimensional leader. Kelly opens up about his roots baling hay in Tennessee and how those formative, gritty years shaped his definition of hard work.</p><p></p><p>Leslie, Lesly, and Kelly dive deep into the ultimate leadership hurdle: learning to let go. As a self-proclaimed "recovering CPA," Kelly shares his journey of embracing the discipline of delegation—even when it means letting his team fail forward. They also tackle a massive macroeconomic shift: how the impending "baby boomer exit" is forcing traditional staffing models to evolve into innovative apprenticeship programs that create genuine upward mobility for workers.</p><p></p><p>Finally, Kelly shares a humbling, hilarious story about hitting rock bottom inside a porta-potty at mile 16 of a marathon, and the profound leadership lessons that endurance sports teach us about discipline.</p><p></p><ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmccreight/" target="_blank">Connect with Kelly McCreight on LinkedIn</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.hamilton-ryker.com/" target="_blank">Learn more about Hamilton-Ryker</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.schoolofrock.com/locations/nashville" target="_blank">Check out School of Rock Nashville</a></li></ul><p></p><p><b>Episode Chapters</b></p><p>0:00 – Celebrating 20 Years of ClearEdge & The Evolving Value of Marketing</p><p>05:50 – Introducing Kelly McCreight: CEO, 8-Time Iron Man, and Rockstar</p><p>08:45 – The Ultimate Walk-Up Song & Getting Grounded Baling Hay</p><p>12:40 – Preparing for Sudden Market Shifts</p><p>15:25 – How Apprenticeships Can Solve the Workforce Crisis</p><p>21:10 – Confessions of a Recovering CPA: The Discipline of Delegation</p><p>24:50 – Hitting Rock Bottom at Mile 16: Endurance Sport Lessons for Business Leaders</p><p>33:33 – Take Three: The ClearEdge Debrief on Being Change-Ready and Starting Small<br /></p><p><b>About Honestly, We’re Learning</b></p><p>Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned.<br /></p><p>As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen.<br /></p><p>The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning.<br /></p><p>Learn more about ClearEdge: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meetclearedge.com/" target="_blank">https://meetclearedge.com/</a> </p>
June 23, 2026
Building Communities and Claiming Your Value Through Resilience
<p>On this episode of <i>Honestly, We’re Learning</i>, hosts Leslie Vickrey and Lesly Cardec dive into what happens when you step out of your comfort zone—and why sitting in uncomfortable moments is often the catalyst for our biggest growth. </p><p></p><p>They are joined by Lamees Abourahma, CEO of the Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association (RPOA). From her roots as a math student organizing college clubs to leading a global trade association, Lamees has organically built communities her entire life. But stepping into the public spotlight didn't come naturally. Lamees opens up about her journey learning more about public speaking through Toastmasters, challenging herself with improv classes, and learning to embrace her role as an industry storyteller.</p><p></p><p>Leslie, Lesly, and Lamees also tackle a critical conversation for women in the workforce: knowing your worth. They discuss the internal narratives that hold women back from negotiating, the power of mentorship for the next generation, and how RPOA is actively shaping the future of talent acquisition with their brand-new AI task force.</p><p></p><ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lameesabourahma/" target="_blank">Connect with Lamees Abourahma on LinkedIn</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.rpoassociation.org/" target="_blank">Learn more about the RPOA</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.rpoassociation.org/AI-and-the-Future-of-RPO" target="_blank">Check out RPOA’s new portal: <i>AI and the Future of RPO</i></a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.rpoassociation.org/Time-to-Hire-Podcast" target="_blank">Listen to RPOA's podcast: <i>Time to Hire</i></a></li></ul><p></p><p><b>Episode Chapters</b></p><p>2:10 – The parenting struggle of resisting the "rescue" </p><p>10:45 – Lamees’s organic journey from math society president to CEO </p><p>15:58 – Unlearning the fear of public speaking with Toastmasters and improv </p><p>22:53 – How AI is shaping the future of Talent Acquisition and RPO </p><p>25:22 – Knowing your worth and teaching the next generation to negotiate</p><p>30:52 - Top 3 Takeaways<br /></p><p><b>About Honestly, We’re Learning</b></p><p>Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned.<br /></p><p>As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen.</p><p></p><p>The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning.</p><p></p><p>Learn more about ClearEdge: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meetclearedge.com/" target="_blank">https://meetclearedge.com/</a></p>
14 total episodes available
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- What is Honestly, We're Learning?
<p>Join ClearEdge’s CEO and founder, Leslie Vickrey, and CMO and SVP of Recruiting, Lesly Cardec, for a raw look at the career turning points that make or break a person. Together, they speak with guests who have handled it all—from successes to roadblocks to pivots—for a candid, witty, never-judgmental exploration of their journey. Focus not just on their wins, but the messy middle—failures, pivots, and lessons learned.</p><p></p><p>As leaders of a marketing agency that also helps place marketers in roles where they thrive, Leslie and Lesly bring a unique perspective to every conversation—one grounded in both building great brands and great careers. Between guest episodes, they dive into what’s happening in marketing and talent today: the trends reshaping how brands connect, the shifts redefining hiring, and what makes truly impactful marketing happen.</p><p></p><p>The banter is warm. The coffee is hot. And there’s no need to pretend you have it all figured out because, honestly, we’re all still learning.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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