Episode Overview

In this episode, Luke interviews Lindsay Martin-Nez, CEO of BadgePass, author, and host of the Badge Banter podcast. Lindsay shares her journey from beverage cart girl to CEO, the inspiration behind her book Badge Passion, and how she built a company culture centered on problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork. She also discusses the future of badge issuance, balancing work and family, and the importance of taking action over waiting for perfection.

Key Takeaways

• Career Journey: Started in sales at BadgePass, worked her way up through leadership roles, and eventually became CEO—without a traditional roadmap to success.

• Building a Strong Company Culture: Emphasizes the “Figure It the F* Out” (FITFO) mentality**, where every team member takes ownership, collaborates, and finds creative solutions.

• Taking Action vs. Perfectionism: Encourages professionals to start projects rather than waiting for the “perfect” moment, using her own experiences with writing a book and early video content as examples.

• Work-Life Balance as a CEO & Mom: Shares how she sets boundaries and prioritizes what truly matters, focusing on high-impact commitments rather than trying to do everything.

• The Future of Badge Issuance: Discusses the industry’s shift toward mobile credentials and why she believes physical and digital badges should complement each other rather than replace one another.

• Leadership & Communication: Talks about learning to communicate ideas clearly, especially as a verbal processor, and making leadership accessible through initiatives like “Wine with Lindsay.”

Final Thoughts

Lindsay’s passion for leadership, company culture, and innovation shines through in this episode. Her insights on taking action, embracing challenges, and building strong teams make this a valuable conversation for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone looking to grow their career.