Success Leaves Clues: Ep 299 What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated | Kristian Gaetano, COO at Achievers

Success Leaves Clues with Robin Bailey and Al McDonald · 2026-07-21 · 37 min

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Topics in this episode

Employee engagement Customer success leadership podcast employee recognition Success Leaves Clues

Episode notes

What if one of the most effective ways to improve employee engagement, workplace culture, and business performance costs nothing more than a thoughtful thank you? In this episode of Success Leaves Clues, Robin Bailey and Al McDonald sit down with Kristian Gaetano, Chief Operating Officer at Achievers, to explore why employee recognition is far more powerful than an annual award or expensive incentive. Since joining Achievers nearly 15 years ago, Kristian has progressed from customer success into the C-suite by volunteering to solve the complex problems others avoided. He shares how leaning into his strengths, embracing challenges before he felt fully qualified, and becoming known as a dependable problem-solver shaped his leadership journey. The conversation also explores how leaders can balance data with instinct, why information requires human context, and how Kristian uses a “worry list” and trusted truth tellers to manage high-stakes decisions. As AI reshapes the workplace, he offers an important reminder that technology remains a tool. Critical thinking, community, empathy, and human connection are still what move organizations forward.