"A Title Doesn't Earn You Respect, You Have to Earn Respect" - Kurtis Krentz of ALLO Fiber

In this episode of Land and Lead, Dr. Josh Elmore sits down with Kurtis Krentz, President of ALLO Fiber, to explore the realities of stepping into a leadership role within a fast-growing, founder-led organization. Kurtis shares his journey from a decades-long career at Ernst & Young into a scaling company, highlighting the shift from operating within a large, resource-rich environment to navigating the constraints and complexity of a high-growth business.

The conversation centers on what it takes to evolve an entrepreneurial organization into a more structured, performance-driven one, without losing the culture and momentum that fueled its success. Kurtis reflects on the importance of complementing a founder’s strengths, earning trust over time, and resisting the urge to make big, immediate changes. Instead, he emphasizes listening, learning, and allowing credibility to build through contributions and helping others succeed.

Kurtis also discusses the differences in leading diverse workforces, from corporate teams to field operations, and the need for leaders to adapt to the organization, not the other way around. Throughout, Kurtis offers grounded advice for leaders entering new roles: manage your ego, stay patient, and focus on enabling your team. Ultimately, leadership success comes not from individual control, but from building a cohesive, high-performing organization.

Listen to the full Episode: