You Need to Be Replaceable: Interview with Ryan Parsons, CEO of Evive Brands

I recently went one-on-one with Ryan Parsons, CEO of Evive Brands.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here?

Ryan: My journey to becoming CEO of Evive Brands is a blend of entrepreneurial spirit and strategic foresight. I began my career in graphic design, eventually advancing to Vice President at a startup. However, a pivotal moment came in 2002 when I shifted my focus and joined forces with my brother Ken in the gutter business. Together, we founded The Brothers that just do Gutters, aiming to transform the gutter industry. As Vice President, I played a key role in scaling the business, ultimately helping it grow into a nationwide franchise system with over 400 territories. We learned early on that focusing on a specific niche was our strength, and that’s been a core driver of our success. Now, as CEO of Evive Brands, I’m leveraging those same principles to expand our footprint in the broader home services and healthcare markets. My goal is to continue growing our brands with a focus on quality care and service while fostering innovation.

Adam: What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Ryan: Early on with The Brothers that just do Gutters, we made the mistake of diversifying beyond our core focus into general construction. When the recession hit, we nearly lost everything. It was a failure, but also a turning point. We realized the importance of sticking to what made us successful—gutters. That experience taught me the value of niche focus, and it ultimately laid the foundation for our transition to franchising. As the saying goes, "the riches are in the niches." Narrowing our focus helped us not only survive but thrive, and it's a lesson that continues to guide me at Evive Brands.

Adam: In your experience, what are the key steps to growing and scaling a business?

Ryan: First and foremost, you need a vision that's bigger than yourself. A compelling vision is essential, but having the right people around you is just as important. Scaling a business is impossible without a strong team. It’s all about people—finding great talent and empowering them to grow alongside the business. Processes and strategies matter, but at the end of the day, it’s the people who drive the results.

Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?

Ryan: Effective leaders are decisive and visionary, but it’s not just about setting the direction. It’s about getting people excited and motivated to achieve that vision. Transparency and respect are also key. A good leader values input from their team and fosters inclusivity—asking for opinions, inviting people into the decision-making process. People want to feel like they’re part of something bigger, and it’s the leader’s job to make sure they are.

Adam: How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Ryan: Never stop learning. Leadership is a journey, not a destination. I’m a firm believer in being a lifelong learner, whether it’s through books, podcasts, or seeking out mentors. There’s so much accessible information out there, and the knowledge you gain can fast-track your growth as a leader. Continuous learning keeps you adaptable, which is crucial in today’s fast-changing world.

Adam: What are your three best tips for entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?

Ryan: First, have a clear vision. Know where you’re going, and be able to communicate that effectively. Second, attract and retain the best talent. The people around you are your biggest asset. Third, don’t be afraid to pivot when necessary. Flexibility in strategy, while staying true to your core mission, is key to long-term success.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?

Ryan: If you hire great people, you don’t need to micromanage. I’ve found that the worst management experiences come when you’re trying to manage mediocre talent. You spend more time creating systems to keep them on track than leading. But when you have a strong team, you can focus on being a visionary leader. Clarity in vision, combined with trust in your people, enables you to build amazing things together.

Adam: What are your best tips on the topics of sales, marketing, and branding?

Ryan: I believe sales solve everything. If you can build a strong sales pipeline, many of the other problems take care of themselves. You also need the right people in sales, and they need to have clear KPIs and goals. On the marketing side, technology is evolving so quickly embracing the latest tools is a must. Have a well-thought-out marketing plan and be intentional with your brand. A strong brand builds trust, and that trust translates into customer loyalty. Invest in your brand—it’s a reflection of the customer experience.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Ryan: The best advice came from a work-study professor during my college years. I was studying fine arts, but struggling to find my path. He told me to acquire as many skills as possible, because they would all be useful at some point. That advice led me to pivot to graphic design, and it ended up being invaluable when we built The Brothers that just do Gutters. Even now, I still apply those skills at Evive Brands, whether it’s designing marketing assets or understanding the creative process. Every skill you pick up along the way contributes to your success.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Ryan: I’d say that if you want to be promotable, you need to be replaceable. What I mean by that is you should always be training your successor, sharing your knowledge, and empowering others to take on leadership roles. When I was recruited to be the CEO of Evive Brands, I had already been training my replacement at The Brothers that just do Gutters. That mindset of growth and succession planning has been key to my career development.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter at @adammendler and on LinkedIn and listen and subscribe to Thirty Minute Mentors on your favorite podcasting app.