Ep 20: This isn’t Rocket Science. It’s Relationship Science. With Ira Gleser, Author of Stewardship for Business and Longtime Leader at Coke and Microsoft
💡 Episode Summary
In this insightful and connection-driven conversation, Lori Pine sits down with Ira Gleser—former Coca-Cola colleague, #1 Amazon bestselling author, and executive coach—to explore how stewardship and relationship-building can transform the way we do business.
From their time working together at Coca-Cola to Ira’s later experiences at Microsoft and as an author, this episode reveals the power of trust, storytelling, and partnership in driving both personal and professional growth. Ira shares the origins of his book Stewardship for Business and offers actionable advice for sales professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to move from transaction to transformation.
If you believe business is built on relationships—and you want to deepen yours with integrity and purpose—this episode is for you.
🔑 Key Takeaways
1. Relationships Are Your Real Currency
Ira reminds us that success in business isn’t about the next deal—it’s about the next conversation. Building genuine relationships grounded in trust and curiosity is what creates long-term value.
Audience follow-up → Who in your network could you reconnect with—not to sell, but to serve?
2. Stewardship Is the New Leadership
Stewardship is about caring for the people, ideas, and resources entrusted to you. Ira believes leaders who prioritize stewardship inspire loyalty, innovation, and lasting results.
Audience follow-up → Where can you shift from ownership (“mine”) to stewardship (“ours”)?
3. Storytelling Builds Trust Faster Than Data
Numbers can inform, but stories connect. Ira shares how narrative bridges gaps between brands and people—whether in marketing, leadership, or customer engagement.
Audience follow-up → What’s one story you can tell this week that shows, not just tells, your brand’s value?
4. Horizontal Thinking Expands Opportunity
When you think across disciplines—rather than only up the ladder—you open doors to creative problem-solving and collaboration. Ira calls this “horizontal thinking.”
Audience follow-up → What adjacent industry or team could you learn from right now?
5. Value Proposition Starts with Understanding, Not Selling
Before you articulate your value, you must understand your customer’s reality. Stewardship begins with listening.
Audience follow-up → In your next client conversation, can you spend 80% listening and 20% speaking?
🔎 Mentioned in the Episode
- Book: Stewardship for Business by Ira Gleser
- Companies: The Coca-Cola Company, Microsoft
- Concepts: Stewardship, Relationship Marketing, Horizontal Thinking, Storytelling in Leadership
- Project: The Coca-Cola case study where Lori and Ira collaborated to enhance internal and external brand trust
✨ Reflection Prompts
- How do you define stewardship in your business or team?
- Where are you building transactions instead of relationships?
- What story from your own journey could help someone trust you more deeply?
🧠 Who This Episode Is For
- Sales professionals and account executives seeking deeper client trust
- Entrepreneurs who want to build loyal, values-driven communities
- Corporate leaders looking to create more connection and purpose at work
- Anyone interested in turning relationships into a legacy of stewardship
📩 Want to Go Deeper?
