CEO.com | Dispatches from the frontiers of leadership
CEO.com
197 episodes
2 days ago
CEO.com features full-length interviews with the world’s most prominent CEOs and leaders.
The show addresses a variety of topics, including current events, leadership, economics, entrepreneurship, and philosophies on life itself.
In addition to the full-length interviews, CEO Notebook is your backstage pass to the minds of the world’s most influential leaders, trailblazing entrepreneurs, and renowned experts. Each episode distills powerful moments and practical insights from exclusive CEO.com interviews — conversations you won’t find anywhere else.
More than just sound bites, CEO Notebook delves into the strategies, life lessons, and leadership philosophies that drive top performers. Whether you’re scaling a startup, leading a team, or simply eager to grow, this show provides the kind of wisdom that transforms careers and companies.
Expect actionable advice, untold stories, and the type of clarity that only comes from those who have been in the arena. This is your dose of perspective, performance, and personal growth — straight from the source.
All content for CEO.com | Dispatches from the frontiers of leadership is the property of CEO.com and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
CEO.com features full-length interviews with the world’s most prominent CEOs and leaders.
The show addresses a variety of topics, including current events, leadership, economics, entrepreneurship, and philosophies on life itself.
In addition to the full-length interviews, CEO Notebook is your backstage pass to the minds of the world’s most influential leaders, trailblazing entrepreneurs, and renowned experts. Each episode distills powerful moments and practical insights from exclusive CEO.com interviews — conversations you won’t find anywhere else.
More than just sound bites, CEO Notebook delves into the strategies, life lessons, and leadership philosophies that drive top performers. Whether you’re scaling a startup, leading a team, or simply eager to grow, this show provides the kind of wisdom that transforms careers and companies.
Expect actionable advice, untold stories, and the type of clarity that only comes from those who have been in the arena. This is your dose of perspective, performance, and personal growth — straight from the source.
In this episode of the CEO.com Podcast, Clint engages in a riveting conversation with Prashant Fuloria, the CEO of Funbox. Prashant shares his incredible journey from being an early product manager at Google to leading Funbox, a capital platform dedicated to empowering small businesses.
Timestamps: 00:07 - Introduction and Career Overview 00:32 - Early Career at Google 01:14 - Transition to Facebook and Flurry 01:35 - Joining Fundbox 01:56 - Fundbox's Mission and Services 03:44 - Importance of Small Businesses 05:09 - Fundbox's Strategy 05:52 - Impact of AI on Fundbox 08:01 - Future of AI in Business 10:41 - A Day in the Life of a CEO 12:33 - Importance of Sleep for Leaders 12:47 - Company Culture and Values 15:15 - Economic Outlook for Small Businesses 19:02 - AI's Role in Supporting Small Businesses 21:57 - Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements
In this episode, Clint sits down with Michael Litt, the co-founder and CEO of Vidyard, a leading video platform for businesses. Michael shares his incredible journey from being a Systems Design Engineering student at the University of Waterloo to building a successful tech company that has been thriving for over a decade.
Timestamps: 00:06 - Introduction and Background 00:23 - University of Waterloo Experience 01:06 - Early Work Experiences and Entrepreneurial Drive 01:50 - Starting Vidyard 02:22 - Initial Business Model and Early Challenges 03:24 - Developing Video Technology 03:46 - Y Combinator Application and Experience 05:01 - Becoming the CEO 05:38 - Lessons from Y Combinator 08:37 - Fundraising and Demo Day 10:49 - Early Investors and Series A 11:15 - Evolution of Vidyard's Product 14:53 - Inflection Points and Product Market Fit 17:17 - AI and the Future of Video 22:17 - Building Vidyard in Canada 26:28 - Reflecting on Key Support and Personal Story 28:28 - Conclusion and Thanks
In this episode, we sit down with Hamza Alsmaraee, an extraordinary young entrepreneur who has already achieved more than most do in a lifetime. At just 22, he's a published author, a Stanford undergrad, and the Co-founder and CEO of NewForm. Join us as we dive deep into his journey from writing a calculus book at 16 to building a multimillion-dollar business while still in college.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Hamza's Background 00:17 - Publishing a Calculus Book at 16 01:04 - Marketing the Calculus Book 01:25 - Starting a Math Page on Instagram 01:46 - Growing the Instagram Page 02:07 - Book Sales and Revenue 02:36 - Documentary and Stanford 03:02 - Founding NewForm 03:12 - Shift from Social Media to Interest Media 03:44 - New Form of Marketing 04:15 - Content-First Marketing Strategy 05:08 - Scaling a Consumer App with TikTok Ads 06:01 - NewForm's Role in Growth Marketing 07:03 - Simplifying Complex Software Marketing 07:27 - Effective Short-Form Content 08:09 - Visual Appeal in Ads 09:08 - Misconceptions About Marketing in Tech 10:00 - The Importance of Marketing in Tech 11:06 - Evolution of Marketing in Tech 12:20 - Elon Musk and Marketing 12:52 - Typical Day of a 22-Year-Old Entrepreneur 14:19 - Implementing AI in Marketing 15:02 - AI in Marketing Workflows 16:05 - Woolbot: AI Performance Marketer 17:08 - AI-Assisted Workflows vs. AI-Generated Content 18:24 - Future Vision for Nuform 19:08 - Woolbot's Role in Marketing 21:01 - Connecting Media and Creative Teams 21:58 - Great vs. Good Short-Form Ads 23:30 - Social Media Celebrities vs. Traditional Media 24:47 - The Importance of IRL Experiences 25:03 - The Chance That Made a Difference 26:19 - Majoring in Math at Stanford 26:57 - Conclusion and Farewell
In this episode, Clint sits down with Veer Gidwaney, the founder and CEO of Ansel Health, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the mission behind Ansel Health. Veer shares insights into the challenges of the U.S. healthcare system, the importance of supplemental health insurance, and how his company aims to alleviate the financial burden of health distress.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:16 - Veer's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey 00:37 - The Mission of Ansel Health 01:08 - Challenges in the Healthcare System 01:51 - Understanding Supplemental Health Insurance 03:21 - The State of Healthcare in the U.S. 05:28 - Leadership Lessons and Company Culture 07:13 - Managing Stress and Work-Life Balance 08:19 - A Day in the Life of a CEO 09:33 - The Role of AI in Insurance 11:27 - Advice for Success 12:19 - Reading Recommendations 13:31 - Finding Purpose and Motivation 14:11 - Learning from Failure 15:09 - Company Values 17:32 - The State of the Economy 19:08 - The Importance of Giving Chances 20:23 - Closing Remarks
In this episode, we sit down with Dinakar Munagala, the co-founder and CEO of Blaize, a pioneering company in the realm of physical world AI. Blaize is revolutionizing industries such as agriculture, healthcare, smart cities, and defense with their novel chip processor architecture and software solutions.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:17 - Dinakar's background and Blaize's mission 01:02 - The rise of AI and its impact on various industries 03:23 - AI's potential to transform jobs and productivity 04:11 - Advice for CEOs on implementing AI 06:40 - A day in the life of Blaize's CEO 08:08 - Leadership and managing a hybrid workforce 10:05 - Democratizing AI and making it accessible 12:34 - Downsides and risks of AI 13:51 - Reading recommendations and staying informed 15:09 - Economic perspectives and navigating challenges 16:03 - The importance of mentorship and support
In this episode, we sit down with Max Ma, the founder and CEO of 7thOnline, a company revolutionizing the retail industry with cutting-edge AI solutions. Max shares his incredible journey from identifying inefficiencies in the retail supply chain to building a global enterprise that partners with top brands like Birkenstock, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Patagonia.
Timestamps: 00:06 - Introduction and Background 00:21 - Founding 7thOnline 01:26 - Business Evolution and Leadership 03:25 - Daily Routine and AI Integration 04:54 - AI in Retail and Supply Chain 06:30 - AI Growth and Industry Impact 08:21 - Moving Beyond Excel 09:55 - Work-Life Balance 11:15 - Reading Recommendations 13:32 - Economic Outlook and Tariffs 15:00 - Mentorship and Support 16:39 - Closing Remarks
In this episode, we sit down with the CEO of Solutions by Text, Dave Baxter, to hear his incredible journey — from turning down a board seat to leading one of the most innovative companies in fintech.
Dave shares how he scaled a small, founder-led family business into a fintech powerhouse by combining mobile messaging, AI, and compliance-driven solutions for the financial industry. We dive into his leadership lessons, the lonely reality of being a first-time CEO, how he leverages AI to drive better outcomes for clients, and how he balances family, work, and personal growth along the way.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:06 - Dave's Background and Career Path 02:08 - The Aha Moment and Vision for Solutions by Text 06:45 - Leadership Lessons Learned 10:38 - AI Integration in Solutions by Text 13:39 - A Day in the Life of a CEO 16:15 - Reading Recommendations 18:34 - The Importance of Mentorship 22:00 - Closing Remarks
In this episode, Clint sits down with Somia Farid Silber. They dive into the incredible journey of how a young girl dipping strawberries in her family's store grew up to become the CEO of one of the most recognizable gifting brands in the world — Edible Arrangements.
She shares how she’s leading the next chapter of the company, from expanding into new wellness markets with Edibles.com to innovating the in-store experience with Edible Next Gen. We also discuss leadership lessons, balancing family and business, using AI to personalize customer experiences, and how to future-proof a brand in both retail and e-commerce.
Timestamps: 00:07 - Introduction and Early Business Experience 01:32 - Running a Family Business 02:48 - Launch of Edibles.com 04:37 - Sourcing and Product Selection 05:08 - Integrating AI in Business 07:20 - A Day in the Life of a CEO 08:28 - Mental Health and Well-being Strategies 09:48 - Impact of Tariffs 11:18 - Leadership Lessons 12:29 - Brick and Mortar vs. E-commerce 14:36 - Customer Response to Cannabis Industry Entry 15:44 - The Importance of Giving Chances 16:52 - Closing Remarks and Gratitude
In this episode, Clint sits down with Joe Davis, the former head of BCG North America and author of "The Generous Leader: Seven Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain." Joe shares his journey, leadership philosophy, and the inspiration behind his book. We dive into what it means to be a generous leader, the importance of connecting with your team, and how to thrive in uncertain times.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:17 - Why Joe wrote "The Generous Leader" 01:43 - What is a generous leader? 02:32 - Joe's leadership philosophy 04:02 - Joe's career journey at BCG 06:25 - The impact of AI on consulting 10:02 - Leadership and personal impact 13:27 - Balancing work and family life 17:14 - Reading recommendations 19:08 - Challenging leadership moments 22:07 - The importance of giving chances
Welcome to another episode of our podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Steve Blue, the President and CEO of Miller Ingenuity, a global supplier of diverse technology products and systems. With 26 years at the helm, Steve has grown the company's EBITDA by seven times without using outside capital.
Join us as Steve shares his journey from being a divisional general manager to leading Miller Ingenuity, the importance of building a strong company culture, and the challenges of transforming an established organization. He also discusses the significance of cash management, the role of philanthropy in business, and how to effectively manage a board of directors.
Steve also touches on the impact of AI in manufacturing, the importance of strategic planning, and his experiences co-authoring books with Jack Canfield. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or an aspiring leader, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.
Timestamps: 00:06 - Introduction and Background 00:18 - Overview of Miller Ingenuity 01:02 - Becoming CEO 02:05 - Achievements and Growth 02:34 - Leadership and Culture Change 03:12 - Funding and Financial Strategy 04:36 - Importance of Company Culture 06:02 - Building and Sustaining Culture 09:12 - Employee Empowerment 10:31 - Hiring Process and Employee Engagement 11:26 - Profit-Driven Incentives 13:13 - Community Engagement and Philanthropy 16:44 - Typical Day as CEO 18:10 - Managing the Board 22:09 - Impact of Tariffs 24:46 - Strategic Planning and Cash Management 27:27 - Book Co-Authorship with Jack Canfield 29:33 - Unlocking Success Book Overview 32:21 - Integration of AI 34:44 - Reading Recommendations 37:13 - Final Question: Who Gave You a Chance?
In this episode, Clint sits down with Ahmed Khattak, the founder and CEO of U.S. Mobile, to discuss his incredible journey from Pakistan to leading one of the most innovative wireless connectivity platforms in the U.S.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:17 - Ahmed's background and inspiration for U.S. Mobile 02:11 - Challenges of getting a cell phone as an immigrant 03:16 - The role of immigrants in the wireless connectivity space 04:07 - How U.S. Mobile operates on top of major U.S. networks 06:38 - Funding and growth journey of U.S. Mobile 09:18 - Customer base and global reach 12:22 - Marketing strategies and the power of Reddit 16:20 - Integrating AI into U.S. Mobile 19:06 - A day in the life of Ahmed Khattak 21:10 - Building a business in the U.S. and New York 23:02 - Reading recommendations and the importance of history 25:34 - Leadership lessons as a CEO 28:29 - The importance of giving and receiving chances
In this episode, Clint sits down with Kerim Kfuri, the CEO of Atlas Network, a global supply chain solutions company with over 20 years of experience. Kerim shares his journey from consulting and regulatory roles to leading a company that helps businesses of all sizes navigate the complexities of the global supply chain.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Atlas Network 00:57 - Kerim's journey to becoming CEO 03:08 - Leadership lessons in supply chain management 05:08 - Navigating tariffs and trade challenges 06:35 - The role of AI in supply chains 08:31 - Energy implications of AI 10:51 - Future of tariffs and trade agreements 12:50 - Kerim's daily routine 13:52 - Reading recommendations 14:45 - Kerim's legacy and moral compass 15:35 - The chance that changed Kerim's life
In this episode of The CEO.com Show, Clint Betts sits down with Ken Rusk, a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. Ken defied the odds by achieving Wall Street Journal bestseller status with his book, "Blue Collar Cash." He also hosts the podcast "Comfort, Peace, and Freedom" and offers a course titled "The Path to a Successful Life." Ken shares his fascinating journey from being a proud ditch digger to leading a successful company with 200 employees. He discusses the importance of blue-collar work, the value of a clear vision, and the power of goal setting. Ken also touches on the impact of AI on blue-collar jobs and the significance of lifelong learning.
Timestamps: 00:06 - Introduction to Ken Rusk 00:43 - Ken Rusk's Blue Collar Beginnings 01:33 - The Importance of Blue-Collar Work 03:13 - The College Controversy 05:43 - Vision and Goal Setting for Leaders 07:28 - Creating Personal Visions 09:43 - Response to Blue Collar Cash 11:27 - Lifelong Learning and Hard Work 13:48 - Focusing on What Truly Matters 15:11 - The Impact of AI on Blue-Collar Jobs 16:49 - Ken Rusk's Course and Its Purpose 18:25 - Motivation for Donating Course Proceeds 20:04 - Ken Rusk's Legacy 21:03 - The Importance of Giving Chances 21:56 - Closing Remarks and Website Promotion
In this episode, we sit down with Jon, the founder and managing partner of Torch Capital, to explore his fascinating journey from the music industry to venture capital. Jon shares his unique path, starting as a drummer and concert organizer in college, to working with legendary bands like Dave Matthews Band, and eventually transitioning into the world of venture capital. He discusses the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including his time at McKinsey, his mentorship under Jack Welch, and his early investments in companies like ZocDoc and Compass.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:07 - Jon's journey from music to venture capital 02:01 - Influence of diverse background on leadership and investments 03:05 - Mentorship under Jack Welch 06:14 - Early stage investing and recognizing talent 08:54 - Qualities to look for in startups 12:05 - Lessons from McKinsey 14:22 - Council of Foreign Relations insights 16:26 - Advice for mission-driven entrepreneurs 20:15 - Balancing life and work 22:15 - A typical day in venture capital 23:32 - Reading recommendations 24:48 - Surprising elements of the journey 26:42 - Mental health and resilience 28:09 - AI in early-stage startups 30:54 - The role of empathy in leadership 32:34 - Mentors who gave Jon a chance
In this episode, Clint sits down with Jason Beem, the former CEO of Panopto, to discuss his fascinating journey in the software industry and his role at Panopto. Founded in 2007, Panopto has become a leader in higher education video capture tools, helping students and faculty enhance learning outcomes through innovative video solutions.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:17 - Jason's career journey and Panopto's mission 01:50 - The culture and team at Panopto 02:47 - Panopto's customer base and market expansion 04:26 - The future of SaaS and AI 06:07 - How Panopto uses AI 08:38 - The magic of text-to-video technology 09:43 - A day in the life of a CEO 12:14 - Meeting structures and productivity tips 14:08 - Recommended reading and personal interests 15:50 - Work from home vs. office dynamics 18:13 - Communication strategies in a remote work environment 19:39 - Economic outlook and market trends 23:01 - The future of education and AI's role 26:00 - The tech scene in Austin, Texas 28:19 - The importance of mentorship
In this episode of the CEO.com Podcast, host Clint interviews Graham Dugoni, the founder and CEO of Yondr. Yondr is revolutionizing the way we experience live events and education by creating phone-free spaces. Discover how Graham's background in sociology, philosophy, and professional soccer influenced his journey to founding Yondr and the impact of phone-free environments on schools and live events.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:13 - What is Yondr? 00:26 - Concept of Phone-Free Spaces 00:47 - Implementation in Events and Schools 01:36 - Founding Yondr and Initial Vision 02:39 - Early Challenges and Validation 03:53 - Professional Soccer Experience 04:44 - Lessons from Sports to Entrepreneurship 05:35 - Thoughts on AI and Technology 07:20 - Impact of Phone-Free Schools 09:06 - Personal Experience Without a Smartphone 10:21 - Mental Clarity and News Consumption 12:13 - Reading Preferences and Recommendations 12:58 - Economic Outlook and Selling to Schools 15:07 - Importance of Giving and Taking Chances 16:46 - Collaboration with Dave Chappelle 17:59 - Cultural Impact of Phone-Free Spaces 18:26 - Closing Remarks and Appreciation
Welcome to the CEO.com Show! In this episode, host Clint Betts sits down with Aileen Alexander, the Chief Executive Officer of DSG Global, the world's largest woman-founded executive search firm. Eileen is also the co-author of the influential best-selling book, "Deliberately Different: 50 Years, Two Generations, Leading in a Changing World." Join us as Aileen shares her unconventional path to becoming the CEO of Diversified Search Group, her experiences in the US Army, and her insights from working in Washington, D.C. Aileen also discusses the evolving landscape of executive search, the impact of AI on leadership, and the timeless qualities that remain essential for leaders today.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:18 - Aileen's background and path to CEO 01:00 - The founding of DSG Global by Judy Von Zelnick 02:05 - Eileen's career in the US Army and Washington, D.C. 03:50 - Transition to the business world and executive search 05:29 - The decision to become CEO and the process 07:18 - Writing "Deliberately Different" and its significance 09:08 - Unconventional paths to leadership 10:40 - Leading in today's uncertain environment 11:24 - Essential qualities for modern leaders 13:10 - A typical day for Aileen 15:15 - The role of AI in executive search 17:13 - Timeless leadership principles 18:49 - The importance of giving and taking chances
Welcome to another episode of The CEO.com Show! In this episode, Clint Betts sits down with Denver Naidoo, the CEO of Zeligate, an innovative Australian startup that's revolutionizing the way businesses operate with AI. With 24 years of experience in the software industry, Denver shares his journey from working with the Commodore 64 to gaining early access to OpenAI's LLMs, and how these experiences led to the creation of Zeligate.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:17 - Denver Naidoo's Background 01:16 - The Journey to Zeligate 02:30 - Early Access to OpenAI's LLMs 03:55 - Building a Startup in Australia 06:39 - How Zeligate Uses AI 10:07 - Real-Life AI Use Cases 19:08 - The Future of Zeligate 27:01 - The Role of a CEO in a Startup 30:24 - Who Gave Denver a Chance?
Welcome to the CEO.com Show! In this episode, host Clint Betts sits down with Bill Donlan, the CEO of Astound Digital. With a rich background in IT services and consulting, Bill shares his journey from working at Arthur Anderson Management Consulting to leading Astound Digital.
Bill discusses the current state and future of consulting, emphasizing the transformative role of AI in the industry. He also delves into the challenges and opportunities of leading a private equity-owned company, the resilience of his team in Ukraine, and his approach to maintaining a work-life balance.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:17 - Bill Donlan's background and journey to becoming CEO 00:58 - Overview of Astound Digital 02:43 - The current state and future of consulting 04:25 - The role of AI in consulting and project delivery 07:36 - Balancing work-life as a CEO 09:52 - Bill's leadership style and company culture 11:17 - Remote and hybrid work at Astound Digital 12:56 - The resilience of the Ukrainian team 14:25 - Balancing work and personal life 15:14 - Leading a private equity-owned company 16:59 - Outlook for 2025 and comparison to 2024 18:37 - The importance of giving and receiving chances
Welcome to the CEO.com Show! In this episode, host Clint Betts sits down with Amir Elichai, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Carbyne, a global leader in mission-critical technologies. Amir shares his incredible journey from being an Israeli army officer to founding Carbyne, a company revolutionizing emergency communication with cutting-edge cloud and AI technologies.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Amir and Carbyne 01:00 - The Origin Story of Carbyne 02:33 - Carbyne's Technological Innovations 03:46 - Carbyne's Success and Reach 05:10 - The Role of AI in Carbyne's Growth 07:59 - Future of AI in Emergency Services 10:21 - Global Expansion and Use Cases 11:08 - Carbyne's Customer Base and Sales Strategy 12:39 - Fundraising and Investors 13:36 - Company Structure and Workforce 14:06 - Amir's Perspective on Current Events in Israel 15:40 - Challenges in Selling to Local Governments 17:49 - Future of AI in Law Enforcement 19:49 - Reflecting on Opportunities and Support
CEO.com | Dispatches from the frontiers of leadership
CEO.com features full-length interviews with the world’s most prominent CEOs and leaders.
The show addresses a variety of topics, including current events, leadership, economics, entrepreneurship, and philosophies on life itself.
In addition to the full-length interviews, CEO Notebook is your backstage pass to the minds of the world’s most influential leaders, trailblazing entrepreneurs, and renowned experts. Each episode distills powerful moments and practical insights from exclusive CEO.com interviews — conversations you won’t find anywhere else.
More than just sound bites, CEO Notebook delves into the strategies, life lessons, and leadership philosophies that drive top performers. Whether you’re scaling a startup, leading a team, or simply eager to grow, this show provides the kind of wisdom that transforms careers and companies.
Expect actionable advice, untold stories, and the type of clarity that only comes from those who have been in the arena. This is your dose of perspective, performance, and personal growth — straight from the source.
