What can an orchestra conductor teach a business owner about leadership? Devin Patrick Hughes explains how to earn influence, raise standards, and bring skilled people together, even when everyone knows their own instrument better than you do. Devin describes the preparation, trust, shared vision, and rehearsal work that help skilled musicians perform together. For leaders of creative or highly skilled teams, the episode offers a different way to think about getting the best out of people. Devin is Music Director of Boulder Symphony & Music Academy and Artistic Director & Conductor of Symphony of the Rockies. He shares how a childhood love of music, college baseball, and a change of direction from pre-medicine led to his career on the podium. The conversation explores music education, the discipline of rehearsal, what gives creative work lasting impact, and how leaders keep growing alongside their teams. Devin also discusses building a music academy, making concerts accessible, his perspective on AI and live performance, and balancing family life with demanding creative work. TOPICS • Earning influence with experienced specialists • Shared expectations, healthy pressure, and preparation • Music education, collaboration, and community access • Mozart, Beethoven, and the context behind enduring art • Creativity, career direction, and finding your calling • AI and the human experience of live music GUEST LINKS Devin Patrick Hughes: https://devinpatrickhughes.com/ Boulder Symphony & Music Academy: https://bouldersymphony.org/ Symphony of the Rockies: https://www.symphonyrockies.org/ Find current concert dates and tickets through the orchestras' websites. SPONSORS Thank you to the sponsors featured in this episode. Diamond read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Bellwether read: Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST Conversations with Colorado entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders about building teams, creating value, and serving their communities. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@ColoradoBusinessPodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ How do you earn trust and bring out the best in a skilled team? Share your experience in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #DevinPatrickHughes #Leadership