Business growth takes more than a great product. It takes strong teams, thoughtful reinvestment, and a CEO willing to evolve alongside the company. Are you building the capabilities your business needs for its next stage of growth?
In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser welcomes Drew Allen, President and CEO of Grace Technologies, to discuss building strong teams and reinvesting for success. Drew shares how a costly product launch failure changed his approach to customer validation, engineering capabilities, and product development.
Learn why Drew hires curious, adaptable people who can work across disciplines, and how that approach reduces handoffs and helps ideas reach customers faster. Discover how reinvesting in employee skills, prototyping tools, and manufacturing capabilities supports growth. Jim and Drew also explore how strong teams benefit from leaders who remove bottlenecks, welcome feedback, and approach challenges with greater resilience.
Listen to the full episode for practical lessons you can apply to your business. Consider where an investment in your people, tools, or capabilities could remove a barrier to growth.
Reinvesting in the Capabilities That Drive Growth
[00:00] Growth Requires a Different Approach to Leadership
Jim Schleckser introduces Drew Allen, President and CEO of Grace Technologies, and explores why the behaviors that build a smaller business must evolve as the company grows. Their conversation connects leadership development, reinvestment, and innovation.
[03:00] Turning a Customer Problem into a Product Business
Drew recounts how his father developed a safer way to access industrial computers without opening electrical panels. That customer request became the foundation for Grace’s transition from engineering services to a business focused on electrical safety products.
[05:00] An Expensive Launch Changes the Development Process
A product inspired by one prospective customer consumed roughly $450,000 and nine months of engineering time, only to launch with little demand. Drew explains why broader customer and distributor validation became essential before committing significant resources.
[08:00] Investing in Skills and Tools Builds Strong Teams
Grace responded to its development challenges by upskilling engineers and bringing prototyping capabilities in-house. Drew explains how strong teams need both customer feedback and the tools to act on it quickly, reducing the time and cost of testing ideas.
[11:00] Making New Products a Consistent Source of Revenue
Drew describes Grace’s goal of generating about 30% of annual revenue from products developed within the previous three years. He also shares how investments in 3D printing helped shorten mold validation from several months to just days.
Building Strong Teams Through Focused Leadership and Smarter Hiring
[15:00] Treating Internal Work as a Customer Deliverable
Drawing on his experience working with Google engineers, Drew considers how internal departments can approach their work as products delivered to customers. Jim reinforces the importance of clear outcomes, useful documentation, and internal capabilities that provide a competitive advantage.
[19:00] Removing Bottlenecks Helps Strong Teams Perform
Drew explains how his leadership shifted from broad delegation toward targeted involvement where progress stalls. His “Five Things Friday” questions surface accomplishments, blockers, lessons, and product ideas, helping him identify where strong teams need the CEO’s attention.
[22:00] Personal Growth Comes Before Organizational Change
Drew shares how a demanding Camino de Santiago journey challenged his assumptions about his own capacity. He connects that experience to leadership, arguing that meaningful business transformation begins with CEOs changing how they think, learn, and respond to obstacles.
[25:00] Hiring Adaptable People Reduces Development Friction
Jim discusses interviewing for the ability to handle competing demands, while Drew explains his preference for engineers who can work across disciplines. These adaptable contributors help strong teams reduce communication delays and develop initial concepts before specialists refine them.
[28:00] Looking Beyond the Résumé for Curiosity and Potential
Drew shares examples of unconventional hires whose interests and experiences revealed strengths beyond the roles they initially pursued. Jim and Drew emphasize that strong teams benefit from curious people who can learn new skills as business needs change.
About Drew Allen
Drew Allen is the President and CEO of Grace Technologies, Inc. Under his leadership, Grace has become a recognized leader in electrical safety and predictive maintenance solutions. Drew is passionate about building intelligent technologies that protect lives, optimize industrial operations, and help facilities achieve zero downtime and zero harm.
He is also the founder of Maple Studios, an industrial venture studio that helps early-stage companies scale from prototype to production. Drew believes in empowering the next generation of industrial innovators through collaboration, entrepreneurship, and a belief that the world needs better leaders.