Scott Pischke was known for his technical expertise at his previous company, but when it came to leading people, he knew he had room to grow.
“I was very direct in my leadership style,” Scott said. “I focused heavily on getting results, but I wasn’t always considering how my communication style affected my team.”
Today, Scott leads Josko with a completely different approach: one built on empathy, accountability, and genuine investment in his people.
The Coaching Journey Begins
Scott’s coaching journey started eight years ago when a business partner recognized his technical abilities but encouraged him to develop his people skills.
“He said, ‘You’re amazing at the technical stuff, but I want to help you become even better at connecting with people,'” Scott said.
That honest feedback led him to his first coach, then eventually to Trent Booth, an executive coach and founder of Veritas Leadership Group. Scott has now worked with Booth for nearly a decade. The relationship has been transformative both personally and professionally.
“Coaching doesn’t work unless you want it to work,” Scott said. “Just like any personal development. You have to be willing to buy in and do the work.”
By the time Scott joined Josko, he was already six years into his coaching journey and understood the power of investing in people.
“I came to Josko knowing that relationships and developing our people would be key to our success,” Scott said.
Living Our Values Through Leadership
Scott’s transformation embodies Astra’s core values in action. His journey demonstrates what it means to Coach, being a servant leader responsible for developing others. It also shows that he can Commit, summoning the dedication to become the best version of himself, even when it’s challenging.
Scott’s personal transformation inspired him to invest in coaching for his entire leadership team at Josko. With three of his four leaders under 30, Scott recognized they faced similar growth opportunities.
“People skills aren’t taught in school, business school, or MBA programs,” he said. “You learn how to run a business, but developing people is a different skill set entirely. That’s where coaching makes the difference.”
This year, Scott invested in coaching for five team members, a significant commitment that’s already showing results.
“You can see the confidence in employees improve,” he said. “Their communication is stronger. The accountability is better.”
The Ripple Effect
For Scott, the ultimate goal isn’t just better individual performance, it’s to create a culture where leaders develop other leaders. This reflects Astra’s Collaborate value — believing in the power of the network and prioritizing both local autonomy and collective growth.
“I’m trying to create five general managers who can take my role in 10 years,” he said. “When everyone focuses not just on their own success but on elevating the person next to them, you get that rising tide that raises all ships.”
The Long Game
For Scott, coaching transformed him from someone who excelled technically into a leader who invests in developing others while maintaining and developing world class technical talent.
“My favorite part of the job now is getting to coach people and see them reach their next level,” he said. “Once you have coaches in your organization, they develop the next level of coaches. You’re building capability that compounds over time.”
The journey from technical expert to empathetic leader reflects what’s possible when someone commits to growth and development. At Josko and across the Astra network, leaders like Scott are creating cultures where everyone has the tools and support to reach their potential.