--- title: "Building a Culture ofKindness and HighPerformance: LeadershipLessons from Dakota" description: Discover how Gui Costin, founder and CEO of Dakota, built a culture of kindness and high performance. In this podcast, he shares leadership lessons on empathy, resilience, and creating lasting impact through clear values and intentional culture image: https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Imagining%20Bridges%20Podcast.jpg --- [![GuiCostinLogo](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/GuiCostinLogo.svg) ](https://www.guicostin.com/) - [Books](https://www.guicostin.com/books) - [Podcast](https://www.guicostin.com/podcast-listing?hsCacheBuster=10754) - [Blog](https://blog.guicostin.com/the-gui-costin-blog) - [Be Kind](https://www.guicostin.com/be-kind) [![GuiCostinLogo](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/GuiCostinLogo.svg) ](https://www.guicostin.com/) ** - (610) 764-0538 - (610) 764-0538 - [ Books ](https://www.guicostin.com/books) - [ Podcast ](https://www.guicostin.com/podcast-listing?hsCacheBuster=10754) - [ Blog ](https://blog.guicostin.com/the-gui-costin-blog) - [ Be Kind ](https://www.guicostin.com/be-kind) September 18, 2025 | ** 29 MIN ** # Building a Culture ofKindness and HighPerformance: LeadershipLessons from Dakota ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Imagining%20Bridges%20Podcast.jpg) Listen Here: [![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Costin/Images/Spotify_Button.svg) ](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0d9Jydvk7eYjYyxuoqvAjn) ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Costin/Images/Youtube_Button.svg) [![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Costin/Images/Apple.svg) ](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gui-costin-building-a-culture-of-kindness/id1796461426?i=1000727328177) [** Download Transcript ](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Dakota%20Gui%20Costin%20Transcript-%20Imagining%20Leadership.pdf) ### Episode Summary | [** Download Summary ](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Dakota%20Gui%20Costin%20Imagining%20Leadership%20Podcast-%20Summary.pdf) In this episode of Imagining Bridges to Better Leadership, Gui Costin, founder and CEO of Dakota, joins host Dr. Kevin Neal to share his journey of leading with empathy, grit, and intentional culture. Gui reflects on founding Dakota in 2006 after working 13 different jobs, and how those experiences shaped his mission to build a company where people can grow, stay, and thrive. Dakota has become a standout in the finance and technology space by focusing not just on performance, but on people. Gui and Kevin dive into the mindset that drives leadership excellence — one rooted in problem-solving, emotional self-awareness, and what Gui calls “getting to yes.” He discusses how trauma and upbringing shape leadership tendencies and highlights the importance of healing, kindness, and clarity in how leaders treat others. Through Dakota’s unique core values — known as “Dakotaisms” — like “Don’t go cowboy,” “Throw your hat over the wall,” and “Ask,” Gui has cultivated a culture where creativity, honesty, and hard work are non-negotiable. Throughout the conversation, Gui shares personal stories, including the bold risk he took in launching Dakota after being fired for pitching an idea — a decision that ultimately led to his biggest breakthrough. He explains how building a culture of kindness and high standards isn’t just a philosophy — it’s a daily practice. At Dakota, culture is upheld through clear communication, mutual respect, and surrounding the team with high- performing “A players” who align with the company’s values. Gui also speaks candidly about the responsibility leaders have to create opportunities for their people and why upward mobility should be a core principle, not an exception. He emphasizes that great leadership requires both high expectations and deep compassion, and that success comes from helping others get what they want out of life. He concludes by offering listeners a free signed copy of his book, The Dakota Way, and shares that his upcoming book, Be Kind, will further explore the intersection of leadership, culture, and service. His message to leaders is simple yet powerful: when you lead with clarity and kindness, you don’t just build a company — you build a legacy. ## Podcast Experiences ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Costin/Images/leftArrow.svg) ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Costin/Images/rightArrow.svg) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Imagining%20Bridges%20Podcast.jpg) Building a Culture ofKindness and HighPerformance: LeadershipLessons from Dakota [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/building-a-culture-ofkindness-and-highperformance-leadershiplessons-from-dakota) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Sales%20POP!.jpg) Mastering Sales Targeting & Outreach with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/mastering-sales-targeting-outreach-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Measure%20Success-1.jpg) Measure Success: Successful Sales Strategies That Actually Work [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/measure-success-successful-sales-strategies-that-actually-work) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/ART_rmp_thumbnail_square_allen_gray.jpg) Mastering Institutional Sales with Allen Gray of Silvercrest [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/mastering-institutional-sales-with-allen-gray-of-silvercrest) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/ART_rmp_thumbnail_square_brad_jung.jpg) Driving Sales and Success with Brad Jung, Russell Investments [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/driving-sales-and-success-with-brad-jung-russell-investments) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/ART_rmp_thumbnail_square_john_bailey.jpg) Democratizing Private Equity with John Bailey, OneFund Investments [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/democratizing-private-equity-with-john-bailey-onefund-investments) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/ART_rmp_thumbnail_square_Guantong_Sun.jpg) Guantong (“GT”) Sun on Process-Driven Fundraising at Turning Rock Partners [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/guantong-gt-sun-on-process-driven-fundraising-at-turning-rock-partners) - 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![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/ART_rmp_thumbnail_square_michael_rubenstein.jpg) Inside the Capital Formation Playbook of RMWC with Michael Rubenstein [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/inside-the-capital-formation-playbook-of-rmwc-with-michael-rubenstein) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/ART_rmp_thumbnail_square_Danielle%20Brown.jpg) Educate, Don’t Sell – Danielle Brown’s Fundraising Playbook at Altriarch [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/educate-dont-sell-danielle-browns-fundraising-playbook-at-altriarch) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/RMpod_spotify_thumb_%20JDonovan.jpg) John Donovan on Building Trust and Transparency at TowerBrook [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/john-donovan-on-building-trust-and-transparency-at-towerbrook) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/ART_rmp_thumbnail_sweissman.jpg) “Thinking Big” with Urban Standard: Seth Weissman’s Approach to Fundraising and Growth [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/thinking-big-with-urban-standard-seth-weissmans-approach-to-fundraising-and-growth) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/ART_rmp_thumbnail_square_Andrew%20Saunders.jpg) Andrew Saunders on Building a Collaborative Sales Culture at Castle Hill Capital [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/andrew-saunders-on-building-a-collaborative-sales-culture-at-castle-hill-capital) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/RMpod_spotify_thumb_LBrujis.jpg) Inside 65 Equity: Leon Brujis on Partnering with Founders for Growth [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/inside-65-equity-leon-brujis-on-partnering-with-founders-for-growth) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/RMpod_spotify_thumb_jcurry%2cabrown.jpg) Inside Dundas Global Investors: James Curry & Andrew Brown on Hybrid Sales and Service [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/inside-dundas-global-investors-james-curry-andrew-brown-on-hybrid-sales-and-service) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Grow%20Your%20Business%20Podcast.jpg) Culture, Content, and the Future of Investment Sales [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/culture-content-and-the-future-of-investment-sales) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Evolve.jpg) The No Policy, Policy with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/the-no-policy-policy-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Transition%20to%20Sales%20Podcast.jpg) Sales Confidence, Culture & Connection with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/sales-confidence-culture-connection-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Chasing%20Insights%20Podcat.jpg) Gui Costin On How To Create a High Performing Sales Team [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/gui-costin-on-how-to-create-a-high-performing-sales-team) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Sales%20Made%20Easy%20Podcast.jpg) How To Win More Deals with Effective Cold Email Techniques with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/how-to-win-more-deals-with-effective-cold-email-techniques-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Strategic%20Counsel.jpg) How to Build Unconventional Cultures That Thrive with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/how-to-build-unconventional-cultures-that-thrive-with-gui-costin) - 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![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Lifetime%20Work.jpg) What We’re All Missing to Be Successful at Sales and Like It with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/what-were-all-missing-to-be-successful-at-sales-and-like-it-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Market%20Impact-1.jpg) A Culture Of Success [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/a-culture-of-success) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Notable%20Leaders%20Radio.jpg) Words Matter: How Gui Costin Built a Culture of Kindness and ExcellenceNotable Leaders' RadioPlay [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/words-matter-how-gui-costin-built-a-culture-of-kindness-and-excellencenotable-leaders-radioplay) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Innovation%20and%20Leadership-1.jpg) Mastering the Art of Fundraising: $40 Billion Raised Dakota CEO, Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/innovation-and-leadership-with-jess-larsen) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/The%20Leadership%20Tool%20Kit-1.jpg) Unlocking the Leadership Code: Lessons from the Frontlines [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/unlocking-the-leadership-code-lessons-from-the-frontlines) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Manage%202%20Win-1.jpg) The $40 Billion Secret: Gui Costin on Trust, Leadership, and Redefining Sales [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/the-40-billion-secret-gui-costin-on-trust-leadership-and-redefining-sales) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Fastlane%20Founders-1.jpg) Helping Investment Firms Thrive – Fastlane Founders with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/helping-investment-firms-thrive-fastlane-founders-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/As%20the%20Leader%20Grows-1.jpg) The Power of Kindness [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/the-power-of-kindness) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Enlightenment%20of%20Change.jpg) Sales Leadership in the Investment Industry with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/sales-leadership-in-the-investment-industry-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/The%20Leadership%20Habit.jpg) A Modern Leader’s Guide to Sales Success with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/a-modern-leaders-guide-to-sales-success-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/The%20Sales%20Podcast.jpg) Gui Costin’s Proven Formula for Coaching Sales Teams to Success [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/gui-costins-proven-formula-for-coaching-sales-teams-to-success) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/The%20Deal%20Scout%20Podcast-2.jpg) Capital Raising Campaign Strategies with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/capital-raising-campaign-strategies-with-gui-costin) - ![](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Sales%20Leaders%20Operating%20System-1.jpg) Embracing Accountability in Sales with Gui Costin [ Listen Now **](https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/how-dakotas-gui-costin-masters-capital) [** (610) 764-0539](tel:%20(610)%20764-0539) [** Gui@dakotaLive.com ](mailto:Gui@dakotaLive.com) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/guicostin/) [**](https://www.instagram.com/allthingsfundraising?igsh=dWtueTcwdTVzbG5w) [**](https://www.youtube.com/@AllThingsFundraisingByDakota) ![GUI SIGNATURE-3](https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/GUI%20SIGNATURE-3.svg) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Gui Costin", "url" : "https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/author/gui-costin" }, "dateModified" : "2025-10-02T15:58:23.062Z", "datePublished" : "2025-09-18T14:15:00.000Z", "headline" : "Building a Culture ofKindness and HighPerformance: LeadershipLessons from Dakota", "image" : [ "https://blog.guicostin.com/hubfs/Imagining%20Bridges%20Podcast.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.guicostin.com/podcasts/building-a-culture-ofkindness-and-highperformance-leadershiplessons-from-dakota", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "Dakota- guicostin.com" } } ```