Podcast

The Business Case for Empathy: Leadership That Drives Ownership

Aug 19, 2025

1 min read

The Business Case for Empathy: Leadership That Drives Ownership

Episode Overview

Empathy, transparency, and strong communication have fueled employee satisfaction and impressive business growth for Ross Pest and Lawn in Aledo, TX.

Kevin McKee, the president and CEO, shares how simple habits like answering the phone and showing up on time drive customer trust, but more importantly, how investing in employees as people builds long-term loyalty.

From open-book financials and profit-sharing to teaching strategic thinking and soft skills, McKee explains how he’s intentionally built a culture where employees feel true ownership in the business.

Join McKee and Pest in Class podcast host Amanda Salvatore as they discuss:

[5:16] The simple habits behind Ross Pest & Lawn’s 30+% growth.
[14:44] Why sharing the P&L with the entire team builds trust.
[20:51] How to talk to your team about soft skills without micromanaging.

To hear more stories from the pest control industry, subscribe to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or subscribe on YouTube to watch episodes. And as always, FieldRoutes welcomes your review and rating.

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About the Show

The Pest In Class podcast from FieldRoutes is your destination for hearing insight, inspiration, and stories from fellow pest control industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Pest In Class host Amanda Salvatore will interview a new leader each episode as FieldRoutes celebrates the success of its customers while delivering software solutions to help them along their growth journey.

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