How to Build a Resilient Mindset in High-Stakes Roles
Episode description
In this episode of Hire Learning, Oz sits down with Chris Knight—founder of Chris Knight Coaching and a former nonprofit executive turned executive coach—to talk about building better teams, smarter hiring, and how to lead with curiosity.Chris brings 15+ years of leadership experience to the conversation and shares why mental fitness is the key to unlocking high-performance leadership. From his nonprofit days to launching his coaching practice, Chris has worked with leaders through inflection points, burnout, and everything in between.You’ll learn:
- Why the best interviews don’t feel like interviews
- The one question Chris always asks to test manager fit
- How to spot coachability early in the hiring process
- What he looks for (and avoids) when building high-growth teams
- A powerful story of a leader who turned failure into her biggest opportunityWhether you’re a founder, hiring manager, or someone building your own career with intention—this episode is filled with wisdom, heart, and practical tools.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:42 – How Chris fell into coaching (and knew it was his calling)
05:10 – Why entrepreneurship is more about the stomach than the heart
08:04 – What “mental fitness” really means (and why leaders need it)
11:25 – A powerful coaching turnaround story
15:40 – The #1 reason coaching doesn’t work
18:25 – Why executive coaching should hurt your wallet a little
20:45 – Life in Buffalo and the startup scene there
24:18 – Chris’ hiring philosophy: adaptability over perfection
27:10 – The interview question every manager should ask
30:42 – When hiring goes wrong (and how to recover with grace)
36:55 – The case for treating hiring like a team sport
42:30 – Chris’ favorite books + advice for his 20-year-old self
45:00 – Buffalo vs. Boston vs. SF (and where to get the best wings)
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