Moniker Group: Ryan Sisson - The 3 Key Ingredients of an Authentic Community

“For me, that's really where you get the highest ROI. Just to hear from a person: this matters.” - Ryan Sisson

When’s the last time you thought to yourself, “Wow, this is real community”?

That magical, visceral feeling of true human connection? It’s rare—feels like lightning in a bottle. Many nonprofit leaders have tried to capture it within the community they cultivate for their team, their donors, and the people they serve. But the truth is, it can be tricky to nail the secret sauce. 

Luckily, our guest knows the recipe for that kind of community—and it’s just three simple ingredients.

Ryan Sisson is the CEO of Moniker Group, a collective of visionary entrepreneurs crafting spaces that are designed to help people not just gather—but truly connect. From coffee shops and retail stores to coworking spaces and creameries, Moniker creates environments that blend creativity, purpose, and hospitality.

I (Ted) chose Ryan for this conversation because I’ve seen firsthand the powerful communities he cultivates. I’m thrilled to share with you his practical insights for creating environments where people feel safe to offer feedback, encouraged to share ideas, and excited to collaborate. 

In this episode, you’ll discover the one leadership trait that’s a prerequisite for effective communication, the secret to building a team culture so strong it sustains itself, why your people have the potential to make or break your brand, and so much more. 

If you feel like your organization is being held back by a lack of internal or external synergy, this one’s for you.

Links

• Historic Agency
• Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn or Instagram
• Connect with Moniker Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or their website

Key Takeaways

1. Demonstrate how much you care. If you are truly passionate about your mission, that passion will rub off on the people around you. Beyond caring for your cause, supporting your team members and ensuring the people you serve—and your donors—feel valued is essential. Sometimes, that means investing in the small details or putting resources into elevating your operations—because a strong foundation allows you to make an even greater impact in the long run.
   
   
2. You need strong communication. No authentic community has ever been built from disconnected or inauthentic leadership. Be willing to have open, honest, vulnerable conversations—whether that’s receiving negative feedback from your team with grace, having a difficult conversation with a friend you hired whose performance is lacking, or talking directly to the people your organization serves. As Ryan shares, the key to good communication all boils down to humility.
   
   
3. Build an intentional culture. What are your core values—or even better, what are the Principles that guide your team’s actions and behaviors? What kind of people do you want your team to be made up of? It’s wise to check back in regularly and ask—are we really living up to these core ideals, or are they just bullet points on our mission statement? The amazing thing about building a strong, clear culture is that it can sustain itself—if you keep hiring the right people, they will hire the right people and your culture will continue blossoming.

Meet the Guest

Ryan Sisson is the Founder and CEO of Moniker Group. He attended San Diego State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business at the University of Phoenix before going on to gain extensive business experience in a diverse array of ventures. He started Moniker in 2010 and has been passionate about growing it ever since. Today, his day-to-day includes dreaming up exciting design concepts, supporting his team in their workshop or on project sites, and exploring what new and creative areas of business Moniker can move into.