How Servant Leadership Builds Better Companies | Burton Hackney
Episode Summary
In this episode of Built With Purpose, host Chris Fay sits down with Burton Hackney, President of JORIS, one of Texas’s most respected and long-standing construction companies. Across a candid, energizing conversation, Chris and Burton explore what it really takes to lead a 700-person organization through growth, uncertainty, and generational change—without losing sight of culture, people, or purpose.
From JORIS’s 50+ year Texas legacy and the reboot that reshaped the company’s values, to Burton’s view on servant leadership, hiring for character over résumé, and creating psychological safety across four regional offices—this episode goes far deeper than construction. It’s a masterclass in what happens when a business bets everything on culture, clarity, and human connection.
Chris and Burton unpack how to develop young talent faster, balance demands on modern leaders, build powerful partnerships instead of transactional clients, and why focusing on who you’re being, not just what you’re doing, is the real competitive advantage in today’s market.
Whether you’re scaling a team, navigating change, leading a legacy business, or building one from scratch, this conversation offers grounded wisdom, tactical leadership practices, and the inspiration to build with more intention—inside and outside the jobsite.
Key Takeaways
• Culture IS strategy — JORIS believes its long-standing values are its true competitive edge in a crowded construction market.
• Leadership starts with authenticity — Burton models transparency and vulnerability to encourage honest communication company-wide.
• Psychological safety drives high-performing teams — people speak up when they trust the environment.
• Great companies hire for culture, not just capability — character, curiosity, and a servant mindset outrank résumé credentials.
• Legacy requires intentional resetting — JORIS hit pause, recalibrated its identity, and rebuilt values into daily habits.
• Growth without clarity leads to friction — regional expansion forced the company to rethink rhythms, communication, and accountability.
• Leadership is a mindset, not a title — employees at any level can lead without positional authority.
• Experience still matters, but tech can accelerate it — the future of knowledge transfer will blend mentorship with AI and accessible internal expertise.
• Healthy leaders create healthy companies — burnout, overextension, and lack of boundaries limit organizational impact.
