You might have heard the phrase ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast.’ But how many leaders are actually willing to prove it when there is serious money on the line?
My guest today, Tony Gareri, believes that if you aren’t hiring and firing by those values, they simply aren’t real.
Tony is the CEO at Roma Moulding and a man I’ve known for a decade now. He took a 40-year-old manufacturing business during the global financial crisis and completely reinvented it by focusing on one thing: Culture.
In this conversation, Tony takes us behind the scenes of what it really takes to build a high-performing team.
We break down his culture based hiring process that ensures the team only hires the best. We talk about why he believes success is largely defined by what you are willing to tolerate, and he shares his personal philosophy on ‘living life backwards’ to maximize every moment.
If you lead a team, run a business, or just want to raise your own standards, this conversation is a masterclass.
“They could be the best sales person ever. If they come back and say, they’re not a culture fit, we will not hire them, and we have never deviated from that.” – Tony Gareri
In This Episode, You Will Learn
- Why the biggest leadership mistake is waiting too long to fire and how to handle it with grace.
- The step by step six month process for creating core values that your team actually believes in.
- How to implement a “Culture Vet” in your hiring process to weed out toxic high performers.
- Why leadership starts with self care and the direct correlation between physical fitness and professional excellence.
- How to use “Core Value Cards” to create a culture of authentic appreciation and gratitude.
- Plus much more…
What We Discuss:
- 0:00:00 – Episode Opener and Introduction
- 0:02:53 – The Biggest Leadership Mistake
- 0:06:17 – The Origin Story: Reinventing the Business in the 2008–09 Crisis
- 0:10:52 – Inside the Six-Month Core Values Process (From 400 Ideas to 10)
- 0:16:53 – Hiring for Values: Interview Questions That Reveal True Fit
- 0:22:40 – The Culture Vet: Real-World Tests, Pressure, and No Exceptions
- 0:29:42 – Hiring in the AI Era: Remote Vetting, Fake Resumes, and Deepfakes
- 0:32:16 – Rewarding the Culture: All-Hands Meetings, Awards, and Core Value Cards
- 0:38:51 – The “I Wish You Knew” Card: Building a Habit of Real Appreciation
- 0:46:39 – Turning Values into Language & Behavior: Defining “Wow” Service
- 0:49:09 – Giving Autonomy with Standards: How Values Become Coachable Rituals
- 0:50:47 – Coaching Through Conflict: Yes/No Core Values & Defusing Tension
- 0:52:37 – Making Core Values Real: Training “Deliver Wow” with Examples & Language
- 0:55:43 – Zappos Culture Lesson: The 10-Hour Call & Why Actions Define Culture
- 0:58:55 – AI, Commoditization & the Human Advantage: Frictionless but Memorable
- 1:05:51 – What Drives Him: Faith, Family, and Helping People Become Their Best
- 1:08:28 – Living Life Backwards: The Countdown Clock, Mortality & Intentional Choices
- 1:10:20 – Mastermind Communities: The “Giver” Room That Raises Your Standards
- 1:15:56 – Aligned Action in Real Life: Finding Love, Discipline, and Creating Luck
- 1:28:14 – Habits for an Extraordinary Life: Fitness, Serving at Home, Learning
- 1:34:13 – Rapid Fire + Wrap-Up: Integrity, Standards and Where to Find Him
About Tony
Tony Gareri isn’t your typical CEO – and Roma Moulding isn’t your typical company.
When he took the helm in 2011, Tony didn’t just step into leadership – he redefined it. He turned a 41-year-old picture frame manufacturer into a globally respected brand, admired for its design, craftsmanship, and people-first philosophy. But Tony’s impact goes beyond products. His true legacy is a new way of leading. He believes leadership isn’t about titles – it’s about building teams that thrive.
By establishing a clear mission, vision, and 10 core values, he laid the foundation for a company where people feel inspired, supported, and equipped to win. The results speak for themselves: record-breaking growth, world-class service, and industry recognition – from Manufacturer of the Year to Most Admired Culture to Certified Great Place to Work. All proof that when leaders prioritize people, performance follows.
Tony doesn’t teach theory. He shares battle-tested leadership strategies that create results in the real world. Whether he’s on stage delivering a keynote, hosting conferences, coaching executives, or being interviewed on countless podcasts with leaders across North America, his message is bold and clear: great leadership drives culture, and culture drives performance.
Featured in premier publications such as Forbes, Inc., and The Drive Magazine, Tony Gareri has risen as an internationally sought-after authority on leadership, culture, and building high-performing teams—shaping the conversation for leaders and organizations worldwide.
His mission is crystal clear: To help leaders build happy, high-performing, winning teams.
Leadership is an action, not a position!
Show Notes
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