The Journey To CEO Success

What does it take to lead a family business across five generations, and still keep growing? In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , I sit down with Adria and Aaron Bagshaw of WH Bagshaw , the oldest pin manufacturer in America, to talk about legacy, reinvention, and leadership through change. We explore how they've navigated modern challenges while honoring 150+ years of history, and how...

From one embroidery machine to 1 million patches a day, Randy Carr⁠ , President & CEO of ⁠World Emblem™⁠ .shares how he scaled a family business into the world’s largest patch producer. Listen as Melissa Verzwyvelt Saunders and I sit down with Randy Carr, CEO & President, World Emblem, the ‘World’s Largest Patch Producer’. Randy took over his dad’s business in 1993 and grew the company fro...

Want to become the brand your customers can’t live without? It’s not just about what you sell - it’s how you make people feel. Join special guest John R. DiJulius III , Chief Revolution Officer at The The DiJulius Group , on the next episode of The Journey to CEO Success hosted by Patrick Thean . John reveals how world-class brands win loyalty for life by creating unforgettable customer experience...

Listen as Melissa Saunders and I sit down with our guest, Manny Ohonme, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Samaritans Feet International. Manny grew up in Nigeria and received his very first pair of shoes at the age of nine from a stranger he calls a “Good Samaritan.” That moment sparked a journey that led to a college basketball scholarship in the U.S., a successful career in tech, and ultimately,...

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean sits down with serial entrepreneur Colin Campbell, Founder of Startup Club, to explore the raw truth behind launching and growing multiple ventures. From crushing failures to successful exits, Colin shares the mindset shifts, hard-won lessons, and powerful frameworks that helped him start, scale, exit, and repeat. If you’ve ever wondere...

True leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about having the courage to face your fears. Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare, shares how embracing vulnerability became the key to building a confident, empowered team. On this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean and Melissa Saunders sit down with Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare, to explore the power of vulner...

What if your greatest leadership strength isn’t control, but flexibility? In this episode, leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry shares how adaptable leaders drive growth, clarity, and long-term success in an ever-changing world. They explore how rigid leadership styles can limit growth, the importance of adapting to context, and how to balance outcomes with relationships. Kevin also reveals how smal...

Can writing a bold letter land you your dream role or change the entire course of your career? In this episode, Paul Pirkle, President & COO of Midwest Ground Covers, shares how confidence, mentorship, and marathon-worthy endurance shaped his rise to leadership. What do baseball slumps, million-dollar mistakes, and marathon miles have to do with becoming a successful President & COO? Quite...

What does it take to grow a $100M business without losing your purpose or yourself? In this powerful episode, former CEO and current Executive Director Mimi Crawford of Crayex Corporation shares how she scaled her family company with trust, curiosity, and a people-first mindset. With over three decades of leadership experience, Mimi shares the story of transforming her family business from $28M to...

What happens when you pair entrepreneurial grit with a relentless focus on people and purpose? Stuart Bentley, co-founder of triOS College, shares how a 30+ year business partnership transformed the lives of thousands through career-focused education and bold leadership. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick and Melissa sit down with Stuart Bentley, Co-Founder of triOS College an...

What do Alice in Wonderland and digital medical imaging have in common? Join us as Dave Cook, CEO of InsiteOne, shares his remarkable journey—from selling one of the world’s largest SaaS imaging companies to reclaiming its leadership and reigniting its culture. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Melissa and Patrick sit down with Dave Cook, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and the current...

What do no-failure industries, third-generation leadership, and bold decision-making have in common? Today’s guest, Tanya DiSalvo, lives at the intersection of all three. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , hosts Melissa Saunders and Patrick Thean sit down with Tanya DiSalvo—CEO of Criterion Tool, a precision machine shop serving mission-critical industries like aerospace, medical devi...

Trying to sell to “mid-market tech companies” or “CFOs”? That’s not a core customer, it’s a segment. In this episode, Patrick breaks down how identifying the real person behind the purchase decision is the turning point from struggling to scaling. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean shares the critical lesson he learned the hard way: real growth starts when you deeply und...

As your company grows, your people must grow with it or risk falling behind. In this episode, Patrick Thean shares how to renew your team, elevate leadership, and future-proof your people ecosystem so your culture and results scale together. In Part 2 of our conversation on building a strong people ecosystem, Patrick and Melissa dive deeper into how to evaluate your current team, avoid the trap of...

Before you focus on growth, you need the right people in the right seats. In this episode, Patrick Thean breaks down how strong leaders, aligned teams, and a thriving culture create a company that scales and sustains. Patrick dives into one of the most critical elements of business success: your people ecosystem. From hiring A-players to dealing with poor leadership and designing your future org c...

What if your culture could help you win the talent war and outperform bigger competitors? In this episode, Patrick Thean shares how to intentionally design culture and mindset to attract A-players, drive collaboration, and create a true competitive edge. Get ready to dive deep into why culture isn't just a feel-good concept, it's a strategic lever. From onboarding misalignments to quiet qu...

What if the biggest thing holding your company back is you? In this episode, Patrick Thean shares the five essential habits every CEO must master to keep leveling up because your business can’t grow faster than you do. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean and co-host Melissa Saunders explore what it really means to “level up” as a leader. Drawing on insights from Chapter 6...

Think your team is aligned just because you all agree on the goal? In this episode, Patrick shares why the how matters even more than the what , and how a detour on a road trip with his wife became the perfect metaphor for leadership misalignment. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick unpacks one of the most overlooked causes of execution failure: lack of alignment on the how . F...

Ever woken up at 2 a.m. with that gut feeling something's wrong at work, even when all the reports say you're fine? In this episode, Patrick Thean shares how to build an early warning system using the right leading indicators to spot trouble before it hits. We dive into Chapter 7 of Patrick’s bestselling book, " The Journey To CEO Success," to explore the power of early warning systems. From cold-...

Curiosity isn’t just for kids - it’s a leadership superpower. In this episode, we dive into how staying genuinely curious can help you lead better, listen deeper, and replace fear with growth. What do toddlers, top-performing CEOs, and transformative leaders have in common? Curiosity. Join Patrick Thean and Melissa Saunders as they explore Chapter 6 of " The Journey to CEO Success" , revealing why...