How Tom Embley scaled a scrap of an idea into an industry-leading business—without losing himself along the way.
In this week’s episode of Outside Insights, I sit down with longtime friend, entrepreneur, and mechanical engineer turned CEO, Tom Embley—and he tells the kind of founder story we rarely get to hear in full.
From his earliest days as employee #1 at a small industrial startup to founding a direct competitor, merging businesses, buying out partners, and ultimately selling to a global player, Tom’s path is one of grit, strategy, and deep self-awareness.
But what really stuck with me?
His honesty about the moments in between.
- Leaving a secure job (and paycheck) with nothing but a plan and a belief in himself.
- Navigating difficult partnerships and learning the hard way what equity really means.
- Borrowing against his home to chase opportunity—and doing the math to make it work.
- Being called out by his wife for missing their child’s christening—and choosing from that point forward to be a great father and founder.
This conversation is about more than building a successful business—it’s about building a life. One with values, mentorship, resilience, and (yes) a few sleepless nights.
We also dig into:
- How Tom learned to love leadership and tolerate sales
- Why peer groups saved his business (twice)
- His favorite practices from Rockefeller Habits
- What advice he’d give his 21-year-old self (spoiler: “Stop being so damn arrogant”)
- And how a strong culture—not just great products—became his company’s greatest asset
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re cut out for entrepreneurship, or if you’re simply trying to build something that lasts, this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen to the full episode HERE
📩 Forward it to someone who needs a nudge to bet on themselves.
Until next time, friends,
Chris
If this conversation resonates, forward it to a friend or colleague. Insight is meant to be shared.
If you found this conversation with Tom Embley insightful and valuable, make sure to subscribe to Outside Insights, with the links below, for more enriching discussions on entrepreneurship, creativity, and mental health. Join our community of entrepreneurs and thought leaders, and let’s grow together! You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you find your podcasts and on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this, I recommend listening to these past Outside Insights Podcast episodes:
Born to Be Made: Building the MUSCLE of Leadership with Dr. Bryan Deptula – Episode 61
Peter Samuelson on Finding Happy, Paying It Forward, and Why Empathy Still Wins – Episode 60
Jonathan Stanley on Building Culture, Leading with Heart, and the MEAN Framework – Episode 59
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