It’s time to shift the spotlight.

If you are like us, you want to know what is happening in the real economy. Not the economy of derivatives trading, credit default swaps, politics, media or Silicon Valley. On Real Leadership, we spotlight the heroes at the helm of companies who make, move and process things. Leaders in a world that is more pragmatic than pretty, more steak than sizzle, more guts than glory.  Discover with us what it takes to lead in that world. 

– Real Leadership 

Latest Episode

Your Host

Meet Jim Weaver

When he’s not hosting the Real Leadership Podcast, Jim is Chief Executive Officer of The Ōnin Group, one of the largest staffing companies in the United States. 

Jim began his journey at Ōnin in 2001 as an account executive in Nashville, Tennessee, and has become integral to The Ōnin Group’s phenomenal growth. Under Jim’s guidance, Ōnin has become a leader in the staffing industry and is recognized as one of Staffing Industry Analysts’ fastest-growing and best places to work. As CEO, Jim’s focus lies in developing smart systems and a corporate culture that boosts employee performance and delights customers.

Meet our latest guest

Mike Oakman

Co-founder of Content Logistix

Before leading 400 engineers at one of America’s largest health and wellness platforms, Mike Oakman was deep in the trenches—managing global tech projects in his twenties and learning how to turn complex systems into engines that scale.

That early exposure to big challenges built a habit: simplify, align, and move. Over a 30-year career, Mike has done just that—across startups, private equity-backed firms, and billion-dollar enterprises. At RVO Health, he helped unite multiple trusted consumer brands into a single platform serving 70 million people a month.
Now, Mike is focused on the future of work—helping industrial and manufacturing leaders bring AI into the real world. For him, AI isn’t about chasing shiny tools. It’s about freeing people to focus on what only humans can do: solve problems, connect with customers, and build companies that last.

In this episode:

  • Why most startups aren’t companies—they’re projects
  • The difference between communication and real connection
  • What “boring” companies get right
  • The four gears of AI adoption
  • How great leadership turns clarity into momentum

This one’s part playbook, part masterclass, and part gut check for anyone trying to lead in the “real economy.”

Previous Real Leadership Guests Include:

Are You a Real Leader?

If you are a top executive in the real economy — like the manufacturing, logistics and food processing sectors — we’d love to talk.  

Real Leadership is a platform for you to promote your business and amplify your leadership message as subscribers listen in on a meaningful conversation between our CEO and you. Our goal is to capture legacy career moments for our guests and high-quality, evergreen media content you can leverage for years to come.   

We have a thorough guest evaluation process, and you will be joining a select group of world-class leaders. 

Real Leadership is a great way to:

Build your personal brand

Promote your company across our listener base

Share your leadership message at a pivotal moment in our industry

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