Magic in the Room #137: Pushing the Envelope with David Dexter

January 16, 2023

On this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke and Hannah sit down with David Dexter, CEO of Cornerstone Management Services, a construction company based our of Big Sky, Montana. Together, they discuss his work with sustainable building envelopes, or the outer structure of a building that protects it from the elements. Sustainable building envelopes are key not only in the alpine climate of Big Sky, but also globally, as we look to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions efficiently as possible. Other topics include his lessons learned as a first-time CEO, visionary leadership, and how to be approachable. 

 

Find David and Cornerstone Management Services at cmsbigsky.com 


Listen now on your favorite platform!

   

Magic in the Room listeners can get $100 off our Coaching Skills for Leaders class. Just use the promo code Magic100 when you sign up. More information is at www.purposeandperformancegroup.com/coaching-cohort 

 

Music by evangrimmusic.com 

Support from techblogwriter.co.uk 

Magic in the Room #195: Activity vs. Impact

By Sarah Whitfield • December 3, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke, Hannah, and Chris unpack the difference between being busy and being truly impactful, exploring why organizations often get stuck in high-activity, low-impact cycles. They identify five common contributors: compliance-heavy environments, resistance to change, disconnected decision-makers, fear-driven “CYA” cultures, and firefighting systems that reward heroics over long-term strategy. From there, they highlight what creates real impact: clarity of purpose, agency, curiosity, intentionality, and the discipline to question assumptions and align action with a meaningful “why.” The conversation encourages leaders to build awareness of their strengths, design systems that support healthy impact, maintain congruence between their public and private influence, and cultivate the kind of presence that can genuinely move a room. 

Magic in the Room #194: NNAHRA Interview

November 4, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Chris interviews board members from the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) discussing the power of purpose-driven leadership within tribal organizations. Recorded at the NNAHRA annual conference, they explore themes like courage, vulnerability, accountability, community service, and fostering environments where all employees feel valued and able to contribute. They share how NNAHRA builds a supportive professional network for tribal HR leaders, encourages alignment between individual roles and tribal purpose, and creates space for courageous conversations across governance and enterprise structures. They also discuss future initiatives, including new certifications and the 2026 conference at the Hilton Village in Hawaii. The overarching message: lead with purpose, support one another, and build cultures rooted in respect, courage, and shared responsibility.
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