Work Hard, Get Results: A Journey to Leadership with Jeff Hancher

Pathfinders Podcast: Navigating Your Career Map with a Personal Board of Advisors

In this episode, Pete Schramm sits down with Jeff Hancher — veteran, former Fortune 500 executive, leadership podcast host, and founder of Jeff Hancher Enterprises. From humble beginnings in a one-light Pennsylvania town to leading a thriving consulting practice, Jeff shares how grit, mentorship, and a commitment to service shaped every step of his journey. His story began with dreams of becoming a truck driver, a path he eventually took with Cintas Corporation after serving in the U.S. Army. That “seasonal job” lasted 24 years and led to 10 promotions, thanks to what Jeff calls his earliest career plan: “work hard and get great results.”

But Jeff also reveals what that plan lacked — intention. After missing out on a major promotion, a mentor handed him the book Career Warfare, opening his eyes to the importance of personal branding, mentorship, and strategic planning. That moment sparked a new chapter: actively building a personal board of advisors and seeking feedback from leaders he admired. He credits much of his growth to mentors like Dan Billy, who didn’t just teach him sales strategies, but practical insights like the difference between a suit coat and a sport coat — and how to lead with both humility and polish.

Now, Jeff leads a firm specializing in executive coaching, sales strategy, and leadership development — and he’s on a mission to “pay forward” what so many mentors gave to him. His new book, Firm Feedback in a Fragile World, launches June 2025. It’s designed to help leaders master the art of delivering challenging feedback without damaging trust — a skill Jeff calls essential for the future of leadership. His mantra? Be soft on people, hard on standards, and never stop growing. He also shares one of his top tactical tips: send personalized, under-60-second video messages on LinkedIn to reach out to potential mentors or leaders. It’s how he landed connections with top names in leadership, and it works.

Jeff closes by urging organizations to shift from checkbox-driven mentorship to true engagement. Career mapping, when done right, isn’t about compliance — it’s about clarity, confidence, and creating cultures where people grow with intention. His advice is simple but powerful: “Leaders are busy — so make mentoring something they get to do, not something they have to do.” Whether you’re leading a team, looking for your next move, or searching for the right guide to help you level up, this episode is packed with insight you can put into action.