What if the most important conversation is the one happening beneath the words?
James Freeman, CEO of PJ Fitzpatrick, believes great leadership begins by asking “the question beyond the question.” Instead of accepting the first answer, he teaches leaders to look deeper—to uncover potential, understand what truly matters to people, and help them become more than they thought possible.
Since becoming CEO in 2020, James has led PJ Fitzpatrick through extraordinary growth while preserving a culture centered on trust, intentionality, and people development. Under his leadership, the company has expanded from 150 to 800 employees, grown revenue more than twelvefold, and earned one of the highest employee approval ratings in the country.
In this conversation, James and Dave Osh explore why kindness is a leadership choice, why failure is an essential part of growth, how leaders create cultures where people thrive, and why developing people—not managing them—is the ultimate competitive advantage.
This episode is about leading with intention, seeing the person behind the role, and discovering the potential that often lies just beneath the first answer.
About James Freeman
James Freeman is the CEO of PJ Fitzpatrick, one of the leading home remodeling companies in the United States. Since taking the helm in 2020, he has led the company’s remarkable growth while building a people-first culture recognized nationally for employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and leadership excellence. James was named Power100’s #1 CEO in America in both 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. He was an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist in 2024 and 2026.
About Dave Osh
Dave Osh is the founder of Varlinx and a transformation catalyst dedicated to evolving leadership potential and creating a ripple effect of unity in our divided world. His conversations surface practical, human strategies leaders can use tomorrow. Dave is the author of The CEO Potential: Transcend Self, Team and Organization for Lasting Success in the New Age of AI, and is known for his TED talk, Overcoming Bias to Unite Our Divided World.
