From Chaos to Cohesion: Leading Turnarounds Without Losing the Team

In this episode of Crushing It, Jonathan Trimble and Rob Cochran sit down with Kevin Browett, a seasoned fractional CEO and transformation executive whose career spans pharmacy, retail, healthcare, media, and technology-driven organizations . With decades of experience leading turnarounds and scaling complex enterprises, Browett shares what it really takes to walk into chaos—“Legos all over the floor”—and build a high-performing organization from the ground up.

The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of transformation: diagnosing the true product a company delivers, aligning process and technology to support it, and making the hard people decisions that determine whether a business stagnates or accelerates . Browett explains why ego is often the hidden obstacle in executive teams, how over-communication and listening build buy-in, and why winning leaders must give credit away to create loyalty. Through stories from Kmart, healthcare, and private equity environments, he illustrates how trust is earned—not declared—when stepping into legacy cultures resistant to change.

This episode also explores one of leadership’s most difficult truths: sometimes the culture cannot be changed. Browett candidly reflects on moments when persistence becomes counterproductive, and how leaders must discern whether they are building momentum—or eroding themselves against an immovable wall . It’s a rare and honest discussion about knowing when to push harder and when to step away.

The discussion closes with a forward-looking perspective on technology and AI as tools for operational efficiency and smarter decision-making, not replacements for human leadership . For founders, executives, and operators navigating growth, dysfunction, or reinvention, this episode delivers practical insight into building teams that win, cultures that endure, and leadership habits that scale.