Things to ponder

What does it take to lead a company through a legal crisis, cultural chaos, and strategic drift—and come out stronger on the other side? And what really happens behind the scenes when you’re brought in to clean up the mess you didn’t create? If you’ve ever stepped into a leadership role mid-firestorm or wondered how to get an entire organization aligned around a single vision, this episode is for you.

Our guest, Bill Chiles, is no stranger to turbulence. From rebuilding offshore drilling businesses to turning Bristow Helicopters into a values-driven global brand, Bill has made a career out of guiding companies through high-stakes transformation. But he’s not the kind of leader who shouts from the top—he rolls up his sleeves, builds trust, and brings teams together through shared values and clear direction. Now, as a partner at Pelican Energy Partners, he helps founders scale their businesses by leveraging culture as a competitive advantage.

Whether you're a founder preparing for a private equity investment, a CEO managing culture post-merger, or simply a leader looking to rebuild after burnout or misalignment, Bill’s approach is a playbook for leading with humility, clarity, and conviction. He doesn’t pretend to be perfect—but he’s mastered the art of assembling the right team, utilizing the proper guardrails, and letting execution take care of itself.

In this episode, you’ll learn how core values and strategy aren’t just motivational posters on a wall but tools that guide hard decisions. You’ll hear how rebranding became a culture shift, why “Target Zero” wasn’t just a safety program but a mindset, and how private equity can be people-first without sacrificing performance.

• Resources
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• Find Bill Chiles on LinkedIn
• linkedin.com/in/bill-chiles
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