197: Leaders with Heart Have a Commitment Worth Fighting For

Subscribe to the Leadership with Heart Podcast:

In this episode, Heather interviews JC Hite, the founder and CEO of Hite International. Hite International is a holding company focused on marketing & communications worldwide, and Hite Digital is a fast-growing digital marketing agency in the U.S. JC believes that his success is found in 3 core pillars: Truly caring about people, knowing how to balance work, family & faith, and having a commitment worth fighting for. Their sole purpose was to create stability in Latin America. Take a listen.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Jobs that empower people are more fulfilling
  • Taking a risk on doing what you want can be rewarding
  • It's possible to create the jobs you wanted
  • You have the power to change peoples lives through leadership
  • Leadership requires continuous improvement
It almost doesn't matter your leadership style as long as you're finding a tribe that matches that leadership style. - JC Hite #leadershipwithheart Share on X

JC Hite's Bio

In 2016, JC began working in client services at a top PPC agency in Nicaragua, eventually as a manager. The company was growing incredibly fast, and he met many talented people there. However, he felt that the company culture focused more on making money than anything else, and he felt he didn’t belong there. He wanted to create something different. So, he left my six-figure salary and stability and started Hite Digital.

Hite Digital began with JC and one employee in a spare bedroom in his house. The company quickly grew from 2 people to 5, to 20, and that year they took their whole team to a Caribbean getaway to celebrate.

Hite Digital continued to grow, and in 2021 they launched a new model: franchises. The new company structure kicked off with five franchises throughout the United States. Hite Digital now has 100+ team members.

A Group of Talented People

You know, I'm not smart enough to build this company on my own. So we've got to have really good people around and treat them stupidly well. Growing this fast has just been an incredible journey for me because I depend on this mission of helping leaders come to light. As a leader, it's important to learn from each other and grow. So to have that at the core has been critical, and to see the growth has been so rewarding. Now we're one of the fastest growing marketing franchises. Our model is unique because you get the best of both worlds - it allows us to serve well at the local level but also at a large scale.

leaders with heart have a commitment worth fighting for

197: Leaders with Heart Have a Commitment Worth Fighting For Share on X
I'm not smart enough to build this company on my own. - JC Hite #leadershipwithheart Share on X

Mentions

Connect with JC Hite on LinkedIn

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts

Listen to the podcast on Spotify

Becoming Unshakeable Podcast

With Heather R. Younger

Becoming Unshakable is the podcast for leaders, creators, and changemakers who know TRUE LEADERSHIP starts from within.

Each episode explores what it takes to lead with resilience, compassion, and purpose while staying human through it all.

Through candid conversations with executives, frontline leaders, coaches, and everyday heroes, Heather uncovers the real stories behind growth, compassion, setbacks, and transformation.

From navigating change to creating emotionally safe cultures, Becoming Unshakable reveals what it really takes to create leaders—and organizations—that can’t be shaken.

Hi, I'm Heather

I've been through every type of
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
you can think of.

Layoffs, reorgs, mergers, acquisitions and major technology shifts. More than 20 years leading teams through high-stakes situations where results mattered, people depended on me, and decisions couldn't wait.

Those years taught me how to lead. But they also showed me the hidden cost of always being the one who holds it all together.

During our second reorg in less than a year, I walked out of a meeting with no say in what was happening, just marching orders. When my team asked how the meeting went, I should have said, “Give me 15 minutes to process this.” But I didn't. Instead, I let them absorb every ounce of my frustration.

Then I saw their faces.

The people who looked to me for stability had just watched me unravel. What was that teaching them about their ability to handle the pressure?

That moment changed how I saw my role as a leader. Leading teams isn't only about grit or resilience. It's about how your presence builds the trust your team needs to function when things get hard.

Today, I help organizations build unshakable leaders, teams, and cultures. Because when leaders become the calm teams can count on, organizations don't just survive change, they come out strong enough to handle what’s next.

Heather Sitting
Heather_Younger_The_Cycle_of_Active_Listening_Guide

The Cycle of Active Listening

Create a listening culture that elevates the workplace experience for everyone.

Through this guide, uncover how to ensure those in your care at work feel heard and valued, resulting in increased loyalty and satisfaction.

  • Understand why listening is the key to improved engagement
  • Learn how the Cycle of Active Listening contributes to strong workplace relationships
  • Get a practical framework for creating a listening culture that is bidirectional, responsive, and supportive

Contact Heather Today!
+1 403-398-8488

Contact
Contact

I'm really interested in...

(select all that apply)*

I can be reached at...

Additional Comments

Contact Heather Today!
+1 403-398-8488

Contact
Contact

I'm really interested in...

(select all that apply)*

I can be reached at...

Additional Comments