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Why Ace Hardware Should’ve Failed (But Doesn’t) with Kane Calamari | Workplace Weirdness S2 E8

If your workplace runs on “vibes” and surprise criticism in Q4… congrats, you’ve unlocked the bad timeline. 

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, Kane Calamari breaks down what real leadership, employee engagement, and HR strategy look like inside Ace Hardware, a company he says “should be failing,” and yet keeps winning.

We cover retail culture, co-op business models, leadership development, succession planning, retention strategy, and how to build trust with ongoing feedback instead of annual blindsides. Kane also shares how AI tools are already changing frontline work and why human leadership still matters most when cultures collide, teams merge, and communication breaks down (looking at you, Slack screenshots).

Hit the like, share and subscribe buttons for more conversations about workplace culture, HR leadership, management, career growth, and the weird stuff that makes you say: “there’s no way this happened at work.” But it did.

In This Episode

  • [00:00] A Special Connection at a Hardware Store
  • [01:13] Introduction to Kane Calamari
  • [02:13] Ace Hardware’s Unique Business Model
  • [05:05] The Role of CHRO at Ace Hardware
  • [06:07] Lessons Learned in Leadership
  • [09:10] Weirdest Workplace Moment: The Drunk Futurist Incident
  • [13:06] Week in Work: AI’s Impact on Retail Jobs
  • [17:07] Listener Question #1: Performance Review Blindsides
  • [19:53] Listener Question #2: Company Culture Fusion
  • [23:06] Cringeworthy Question: Slack Message Mishap
  • [27:10] Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes

Resources and Links

Kane Calamari

    • Maya Kadar Kovalsky

    Workplace Weirdness

    Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.