Beyond The Handshake
Welcome to Beyond The Handshake, hosted by Lucy Miller—Founder of Women Connect and a passionate advocate for building meaningful business relationships. On this podcast, we dive deep into the stories behind businesses and their leaders, exploring what drives their success, what keeps them going, and the challenges they face. We’ll uncover the “why” behind their work, their biggest struggles, triumphs, and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way.
It’s time we go beyond the handshake—beyond the business card exchange and initial introduction—to cultivate deeper, more authentic relationships.
Lucy’s experience creating Women Connect, a fast-growing professional women's networking group with chapters across Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky, fuels her love for helping others build lasting connections. What began in 2020 as local networking events has expanded into a thriving community, hosting monthly events and the annual LIVE conference—a highlight of Lucy’s year.
Join us as we take business relationships to the next level and learn from the best in the business world.
Learn more: https://wearewomenconnect.com/
Beyond The Handshake
Culture by Design: Building and Evolving with Marvel HR’s John Sharpe
This episode of Beyond the Handshake, host Lucy Miller sits down with John Sharpe, CEO of Marvel HR, to unpack what it really takes to build—and evolve—an intentional company culture.
What we explore:
- Culture as the foundation: Hear how John defines a strong company culture and why it's central to growth and retention. Learn how Marvel HR helps companies foster inclusive environments where people thrive.
- Grit + persistence: John shares insights on the resilience and leadership qualities required to nurture purpose‑driven organizations—even when growth strains systems and processes
- People‑first strategy: Discover how Marvel HR and its affiliate Staff Source support clients through tailored HR solutions—from compliance, payroll, benefits administration, to strategic recruitment and retention—empowering leaders to focus on culture and performance
- People problems as catalysts: We dive into why “people problems” can trigger essential change—and how strategic HR partnerships help businesses scale healthily, not just rapidly.
Tune in to gain tactics and inspiration for staying human-centered while scaling your business effectively.
Connect with Marvel HR:
• Visit their website: marvelhr.com
• Find them on LinkedIn: just search Marvel HR for updates on culture, HR best practices, and strategic growth insights.