The Clear team on what 2025 taught them about leadership
For the last episode of 2025, host James Groom asked members of the Clear Career Professionals team the same questions: what are you thankful for, what are you looking forward to and what advice would you give leaders heading into 2026?
The episode features Kevin Boese, Vice President of Candidate Relationships; board member Marty Schmitt, President and CEO of AGCM; DeAnna Hendrix, Vice President of Organizational Development; Senior Vice President Kelly Kuenstler; and James Hopper. Groom opens by answering the questions himself.
James Groom: take care of the people
Groom looks back at the first episode of the show, recorded late at night from a cruise ship in the Mediterranean with the City of Pflugerville as the test case. His advice for 2026 is the theme he says took him years to learn: people do the work, and a leader's job is to give them the tools and support they need.
Kevin Boese: genuine care, for candidates and employees
Boese's team contacts every candidate each week so they know where they stand. Over Thanksgiving he sent a short note in place of a call, and one candidate replied that no search firm had ever done that. His advice from 20 years of leading teams is that a leader has little to offer employees without real care for who they are.
Marty Schmitt: humility, vulnerability and an open mind
Schmitt leads AGCM, an owner's representative firm for public construction projects, and serves on Clear's board. He is both excited and anxious about artificial intelligence and has set up an internal committee to test it. His advice is to stay humble, be vulnerable and self-aware, and keep an open mind, because none of it is technical. It comes down to attitude.
DeAnna Hendrix: transparency goes further than honesty
Hendrix is most thankful for relationships and plans more small acts of kindness at conferences, because working in government can be lonely. Her one word for 2025 is omnicompetent. Her advice is to create a safe space for staff to speak up. Honesty answers the question you asked, she says, and transparency tells you before you have to ask.
Kelly Kuenstler: kindness, values and professional development
Kuenstler's word for the year is limitless, which she finds exciting and a little scary. She is proud of the cities Clear helped see the value of professional development for staff, and of a team that would sooner under promise and over deliver. Her advice: uphold your integrity, stay engaged with the community and keep building skills.
James Hopper: self-regulation and small habits
Hopper tells the story of a man whose favorite day is Thursday because he has a muffin before work and a haircut after. For Hopper it is a picture of self-regulation, which he calls the most common attribute of successful people. He recommends rereading Atomic Habits by James Clear and previews an upcoming episode on depopulation.
His closing advice is that leaders are always on. Act as if you are on camera, because you probably are, and be a statesman when coarse language is the trend.
Advice for leaders heading into a new year
Take care of your people and they will take care of the work.
Get to know employees as people, including what is happening outside work.
Stay humble and open to new tools such as AI.
Build a culture where staff bring problems forward before being asked.
Invest in professional development for staff.
Conduct yourself as if you are always on camera.
Episode chapters
- 00:00James Groom looks back on 2025
- 03:18Kevin Boese on staying in touch with candidates
- 14:21Kevin's advice: genuine care for your people
- 16:16Marty Schmitt on AGCM and Clear's board
- 19:54AI, humility and an open mind
- 22:52DeAnna Hendrix on relationships and conferences
- 27:17Transparency and a safe space for staff
- 28:51Kelly Kuenstler on a limitless year
- 31:38Kindness, values and professional development
- 35:46James Hopper on serving in leadership
- 39:00The Thursday muffin and self-regulation
- 42:27Atomic Habits and a preview of Depopulation
- 45:06Leaders are always on camera
Questions this episode answers
What leadership lessons did the Clear team take from 2025?
The common thread is people. Team members talk about caring for employees as individuals, staying humble, building transparency, choosing kindness and practicing self-discipline in small daily habits.
How does Clear stay in touch with job candidates?
Kevin Boese says the candidate relationships team contacts each candidate weekly by phone or email to tell them where they stand in the process, even when there is no new decision to report.
What is the difference between honesty and transparency at work?
DeAnna Hendrix puts it this way: honesty is answering truthfully when asked, and transparency is sharing the information before anyone has to ask. She says transparency depends on staff feeling safe to speak up.
What book does the team recommend for leaders?
James Hopper recommends Atomic Habits by James Clear for its case that very small changes, repeated consistently, change what a person accomplishes over time.
Mentioned in this episode
Depopulation and the Future of Local Government with Bill King
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Watch the episode
Watch Clear Reflects on 2025: A Year of Growth and Gratitude on YouTube
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About The Clear Voice Podcast
The Clear Voice is a dedicated platform for transparency and expert led dialogue within the professional and public sectors. The show serves as a vital resource for leaders who want to move past surface level discussions and dive into the real world mechanics of governance, management, and organizational growth. James Groom is the host of the program.
About Clear Career Professionals
Clear Career Professionals is a specialized recruitment and strategic consulting firm focused on the public sector. We believe that the strength of any municipality or school district lies in the quality of its leadership and the cohesion of its teams. Our team is comprised of former practitioners and retired executives who understand the nuances of public service. We provide organizations with more than just a list of candidates; we provide the strategic oversight and expertise necessary to navigate transitions, maximize taxpayer funds, and implement long term solutions.
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