Strong business relationships don’t happen by accident — they’re built with intention, consistency, and genuine care. In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, I’m joined by Brad Englert, business advisor, former CIO at the University of Texas, and author of Spheres of Influence: How to Create and Nurture High-Quality Connections.

Brad shares the three keys to build strong business relationships that last. Drawing on decades of leadership experience and client work, he explains how these principles work in practice and why so many leaders unintentionally undermine their relationships by skipping them.

We explore real-world stories of trust, missteps, and turning points — from leading complex change to creating partnerships that stand the test of time. Whether you’re managing stakeholders, working with clients, or leading a team, Brad’s approach will help you build stronger, more mutually beneficial relationships that drive results.

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Key Takeaways

• Relationships need intention. Strong partnerships aren’t built on chance — they’re created with purpose and consistency.
• Know their goals. Understanding someone’s aspirations is the first step to earning trust and creating value.
• Set clear expectations. Misunderstandings shrink when everyone knows what’s expected from the start.
• Care about their success. Genuine care turns transactions into long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

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Key Moments

The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:10 – Welcome and why relationships matter now
0:03:25 – Meet Brad Englert: advisor, former CIO, author of Spheres of Influence
0:04:08 – From CIO to advisor: lessons that shaped Brad’s approach
0:09:40 – Partnerships and trust: the foundation of strong relationships
0:15:38 – When ‘selling’ erodes trust (and what to do instead)
0:19:38 – Building relationships with intention inside complex organisations
0:26:04 – A simple system to stay connected and build strong business relationships
0:33:25 – Where to start when you’re early in your career or lack influence
0:35:32 – When relationships go wrong: how to reset and repair
0:49:25 – Brad's 3 Sticky Notes of advice

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Get the full transcript of the episode here