Mike Harris in Rick’s Room
In this episode of Rick’s Room, Rick Grant reconnects with longtime friend and industry leader Michael Harris to go beyond the philosophical and get practical about vision-driven leadership.
Michael reflects on how successful leaders don’t just talk about culture—they build it from the inside out. Together, Rick and Mike explore:
- How marketing decks, messaging tools, and visual storytelling help leaders bring clarity to their team and clients.
- Why brand isn’t a logo—it’s the story your company tells consistently across every touchpoint.
- How adaptable messaging and team collaboration drive sales success.
- Why top-performing companies align internal culture with external communications.
Mike shares his approach to assembling and empowering cross-functional teams who share the same story, represent the brand authentically, and stay adaptable based on what they’re learning from clients and each other.
As a leader and consultant, Mike offers rare insight into the real work of creating unity and direction inside an organization—work that often gets overlooked in the rush to market.
Quote from Mike:
“It might sound a little contrived, but I really wanted to be the brand. I wanted people to see and feel what our company stood for—through me and through my team.”
If your organization is navigating internal growth, messaging challenges, or change management, this episode is a must-listen.
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Show Highlights
Rick Grant: Welcome back to Rick’s Room—the online destination for thought leaders. This is where I get to sit down with experts I’ve reported on for years and dig deeper into what they know. You never know exactly what we’ll uncover, but it’s always valuable, and it will always help you do a better job in your company.
My guest today has been with us before—Michael Harris. He’s the owner of Genic Asset Management and a managing partner at BlackFin Group. Mike, thanks for being with us again.
Michael Harris: Always a pleasure, Rick. I really enjoy these—thanks for having me.
Rick: Last time, we got a little philosophical about BISD—how everything fits together. But it struck me afterward—you’ve actually led teams through this on the ground. Can you go deeper into that today?
Michael: Sure. Last time was fun and philosophical, but there’s real-world stuff behind it—tools and action items. You mentioned strategy, culture, and partnership—that’s all crucial. But equally important are the tangible tools: marketing decks, email-ready assets, and visual aids.
I still use those today. I’ll build a seven-page deck for in-person presentations and a tighter 2-3 pager for pre-meeting emails. They’re scalable and adaptable so I can tailor the message to the prospect’s needs. That’s critical.
Rick: One of the things I always appreciated about you was that you brought your team together around that messaging. A lot of CEOs delegate that away or rely on AI—but your decks actually told a story. A cohesive one.
Michael: I’ve always felt it was my responsibility as a leader to own that message—and to represent it fully. You helped a lot with that, Rick—helping us make the messaging cohesive and clear. Today, I still build visual storytelling into our consulting engagements.
Rick: And your consistency across channels—that’s what branding really is. Not the logo, not the color scheme—it’s doing the same thing, telling the same story, across all formats. People start to recognize and trust it.
Michael: Exactly. Consistency is everything—visuals, catchphrases, mission statements—they need to show up in advertising, PR, presentations. You taught me that early on.
Rick: Let’s get into team structure. How do you build a united front when you’re out in the field?
Michael: I always brought my team with me—COO, CMO, salespeople. That way, the company isn’t just represented by me. Everyone’s delivering the same core message, but from their own perspective. It brings the story to life and keeps it authentic.
Rick: A lot of what we’re talking about is past tense—but you’re still helping companies with this today, right?
Michael: Absolutely. It’s more complex now, even more exciting. As consultants, we go in, uncover processes, identify risk, look for improvements. That still requires a united front—and a strong message.
Rick: I always say, once you have the vision and the documents, the hard part is getting the internal team aligned. What tips do you have for leaders trying to do that?
Michael: Two big things:
- Constantly go back to your vision and mission. They should be a touchpoint during product development, strategy sessions—everything.
- Do your homework. Study the prospective client’s history, their evolution, who they want to become. Don’t just solve the problem they bring—understand how they got there. That context is everything.
Rick: That’s so important. Now I want to bring you back just to dive into that! But we’ll wrap it here.
Michael Harris—Genic Asset Management and BlackFin Group. If your company is going through any of this, you’ll find his contact info in the show notes. He’s one of the best people to have in your corner. Mike, thanks again.Michael: Thanks for having me, Rick. Always fun.
