Ep 16: How Heart-Led Leadership Transforms “Dirty” Businesses with Brandon Denmon
Why Leadership Needs a Heart, Especially in "Dirty" Industries
By Sherry Sutton | Heart of the Hustle Show
Leadership is having a moment. We’re witnessing a shift across industries where empathy, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence are starting to matter as much as technical skills and financial acumen. But what happens when you apply these so-called "soft skills" in places they’re least expected? Enter Brandon Denmon, the founder of Peak Executive Solutions, who’s made a career leading from the heart in some of the grimiest, grittiest sectors out there—what he calls "dirty businesses."
These are places where machines run hot, where hands get calloused, and where trust isn’t built in a boardroom but on the floor, side-by-side with the crew. And as Brandon will tell you, that’s exactly where the biggest leadership transformations can happen.
The Backstory: From Garland, Texas to Billion-Dollar Boardrooms
Brandon Denmon grew up in Garland, Texas—a blue-collar town surrounded by heavy equipment and hard work. His first leadership lessons didn’t come from books or business school. They came from helping his grandfather install roofs, watching his grandmother rent out construction equipment, and working in machine shops while his peers were hanging out at the mall.
Those early experiences taught him two things: the value of work ethic and the reality of poor leadership. "I learned more from bad bosses than good ones," he shares. It wasn't until a job at Metro Store Fixtures that Brandon experienced something different. Barry, the owner, didn’t lead with fear. He led with trust. People wanted to talk to him, even after he left the room. That stuck with Brandon and shaped how he would lead teams in the decades to come.
Brandon later pursued a degree in mechanical engineering and climbed the ranks through leadership roles in billion-dollar companies. But the values he learned in those early days never left him: people over processes, empathy over ego.
What Is a Dirty Business and Why Does It Need Better Leadership?
"Dirty businesses" are industries like manufacturing, construction, industrial services—sectors where manual labor still rules and culture can often lag behind. These aren’t companies built in the cloud. They’re built on the ground, with dirt under the nails.
That’s precisely why Brandon believes they need leadership rooted in empathy, clarity, and alignment. "Just because you work with machines doesn’t mean you can treat people like machines," he says. In these environments, good leadership can mean the difference between high turnover and long-term loyalty, between chaos and a culture that actually drives growth.
These companies often face workforce shortages, generational gaps, and tech resistance. Leaders need to learn how to connect across different types of people—from welders to executives—and create systems that don’t just work, but work for humans. That’s where Brandon’s heart-led leadership shines.
The Core Pillars of Brandon Denmon’s Leadership Philosophy
1. Trust Before Tactics
You can have the best systems, metrics, and tools in place, but if your team doesn’t trust you, none of it will stick. Brandon emphasizes that trust is the foundation for vulnerability, open communication, and ultimately, alignment. "You can't align people to a mission if they don't believe you're in it for them."
2. Vulnerability as a Strength, Not a Risk
One of Brandon’s most effective workshop strategies involves having leaders share their personal stories—where they came from, what they struggled with, and why they lead the way they do. The results? Tears, connection, and more meaningful collaboration. Vulnerability isn’t a buzzword; it’s the first step toward real team cohesion.
3. On-the-Job Coaching Over One-Time Seminars
Through Peak Executive Solutions, Brandon offers coaching that’s immersive and ongoing. "You can’t expect someone to become a better leader because they sat through an eight-hour seminar once," he explains. His approach integrates coaching directly into operations so that leadership becomes a daily habit, not a quarterly checkbox.
4. Culture Over Strategy
Brandon is quick to point out that strategy is useless without culture. "If your people aren’t aligned or don’t feel safe speaking up, your strategy won’t get executed," he says. That’s why his focus is on creating an environment where people can find their part of the story.
5. Alignment Through Communication
Even in companies filled with brilliant individuals—PhDs, engineers, seasoned operators—there’s often a breakdown in execution. Why? Because people aren’t aligned. Brandon runs exercises where teams get radically honest about where they came from and where they want to go. Only when leaders truly know each other can they work with each other.
Real-World Impact: Brandon’s Work in Action
Brandon works with businesses typically between $6 million and $150 million in annual revenue. Some are private equity-backed. Others are still founder-led. What they have in common is a desire to grow, scale, or sell.
One powerful example? He worked with a team of PhDs who, individually, were excelling but collectively were missing the mark. Through intentional conversations and vulnerability exercises, the team started to see each other not just as colleagues, but as humans. Productivity, communication, and accountability all skyrocketed from there.
In another scenario, Brandon coached a manufacturing team struggling to communicate across shifts. Instead of hosting a seminar, he implemented real-time communication rituals and on-the-job coaching sessions. Within weeks, tensions cooled, productivity went up, and morale turned around.
Brandon’s philosophy isn’t about fluff—it’s about getting results through people.
Why Mid-Level Leaders Matter More Than Ever
A key insight Brandon brings to the table is that mid-level leaders—the shop supervisors, the plant managers, the team leads—are the most undertrained but most influential players in any company. "They set the tone. They either build trust or erode it," he says.
Yet many of these leaders are promoted based on technical skills, not leadership capacity. Brandon helps companies equip these leaders not just with skills, but with the mindset to coach, communicate, and lead. When you elevate mid-level leadership, the entire organization starts to shift.
What Business Owners and Leaders Can Learn from Brandon Denmon
Don’t hire for hustle, then manage with mistrust. If you expect your people to go above and beyond, meet them with clarity, empathy, and consistency.
Vulnerability creates velocity. Teams move faster when they feel seen, heard, and safe.
Your frontline leaders need coaching, not just directives. Equip your middle managers with the tools to actually lead.
Culture isn’t what you write on the wall. It’s how people feel when they walk through the door—and how they talk when you’re not in the room.
Leadership isn't reserved for executives. Every team member influences culture. Heart-led leadership empowers everyone to lead
The Future of Leadership Is Human (and Brandon Is Already There)
As we move into an AI-enhanced, automation-heavy future, the human side of leadership is becoming more important, not less. Machines may handle the tasks, but people still drive the mission. Brandon Denmon is proving that even in the dirtiest businesses, heart-led leadership isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.
So whether you’re running a manufacturing firm, leading a warehouse crew, or building a team from scratch, the question isn’t just "What do we need to do?" It’s "Who do we need to be for each other to get there?"
Work With Brandon or Learn From Him on Heart of the Hustle
If this message resonates with you, there's more where it came from. Brandon joined me on Heart of the Hustle for a full conversation about leadership, culture, and the coaching that actually works.
🎙️ Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
And if you're a founder, CEO, or expert with a story to tell, I’d love to help you amplify it. When you’re a guest on Heart of the Hustle, you leave with a full month of done-for-you content—social posts, video clips, captions, and a beautifully produced interview.
📩 Want in? Reach out and let’s make some content that works while you sleep.
Related Links:
Learn more about Peak Executive Solutions
Follow @Heartofthehustleshow on Instagram
Watch the full episode with Brandon Denmon on YouTube
