37. Kevin Schnieders - Servant Leadership

"If you don't love them [people], don't lead them." — Kevin Schnieders

Guest Info:

Kevin Schnieders is the CEO and President of EDSI. Striving to be the solution for companies and people in transition, EDSI is a workforce development, customized training and consulting company. The company focuses on providing innovative solutions to close workforce skills gaps around the country. Kevin started with EDSI as a Training Consultant in 1994. He gained additional responsibilities as the firm’s HR Manager and Director of Operations, before serving six years as the Chief Operating Officer. In 2007, he assumed the role of CEO, or as he refers to it, the “Chief Servant Leader,” and the company has quadrupled in revenue and number of locations, added 600 new employees and increased profitability since Kevin made this transition. This success can be attributed to putting others first, listening closely to their insights and needs, and helping them understand their unique strengths. Kevin says, “I had the humility to understand that I had purchased a great company, a tremendous respect for the legacy left by our Founder, and an unwavering desire to help people.”  
Outside of EDSI, Kevin mentors a high school student for Building Bridges, a charity that inspires children to believe in themselves by connecting them with caring adults. He has also been a partner to a grade-school student at Cornerstone Schools since 2007 and serves as Vice President for the Rainbow Connection, an organization that helps dreams come true for Michigan children with life-threatening illnesses and provides support to their families.  Kevin is also the President of the Berkley (MI) Education Foundation
He has a Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree in English and Secondary Education from Albion College.

 
Favorite Quote:
"Always be more interested than interesting." — Mark Goulston, PhD
Resources:
Kevin on Twitter (@KevinSchnieders)
EDSI Solutions
B Corp Impact Report
The Servant by James Hunter
The Motive by Patrick Lencioni

Credits:
Kevin Schieders, EDSI Solutions. Production Team: Nani Shin, Sheep Jam Productions, qodpod