In sports, the best teams are not always the loudest. They are the ones that stay composed when the game tightens, trust each other when pressure rises, and show up the same way when the stakes are at their highest. That is the kind of leadership Kevin Greiner has spent the past 20 years building at Gas South.
As President and CEO, Kevin has guided the company from a small team of 36 employees into a business with nearly 500 team members and close to $2 billion in revenue. But this conversation is not just about growth. It is about what makes growth sustainable—building a culture where values are not simply stated, but measured, reinforced, and lived out every day.
Kevin reflects on stepping into the CEO role at just 37 years old while feeling “woefully unqualified,” and how that experience shaped the way he leads today. He shares why great leaders recognize the people who stop bad deals, not just the ones who close them, and how something as simple as knowing employees by name can become a powerful signal that people truly matter.
Throughout the episode, he makes a compelling case that generosity and accountability are not soft ideas—they are strategic advantages that drive long-term success.
You will learn:
As a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and 14-time New York Times Best-Selling author, Don Yaeger is one of America’s most provocative thought leaders. From walking into Afghanistan with the Mujahadeen to living with football legend Walter Payton, Don has spent three decades embedded with the world’s greatest "Greats." Now a sought-after executive coach and host of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, he translates the lessons of sports and business legends into actionable strategies for building a culture of greatness.
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
Sign up to receive Don Yaeger’s weekly leadership contributions, and be the first to listen to new Corporate Competitor Podcast episodes.