The Scaling Executive

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Spector to unpack why impatience quietly destroys good strategy. We talk about why founders change direction too early, how many decisions require more time and data than CEOs expect, and why execution compounds when leaders stay focused. Adam also shares hard truths about delegation, outsourcing non-core work, valuing CEO time correctly, and how AI should be...

In this conversation, I talk with Brett Sharenow about why most CEOs struggle to clearly explain their business and why that failure blocks both growth and capital. We break down what a compelling case for customers actually is, why investors don’t fund technical explanations, and how clarity drives revenue, valuation, and exits. Brett also shares common CEO blind spots around focus, financial mod...

In this episode, I sit down with Ross Wainwright to talk about why AI is no longer optional for CEOs. We unpack what it really means to have an AI agenda, why moving too slowly now creates existential risk, and how leaders should think about AI beyond hype, cost cutting, or automation. Ross also explains the difference between employee experience and customer experience, why leadership vulnerabili...

Over the last few months, I interviewed 50 CEOs across manufacturing, logistics, SaaS, and EdTech to understand how leaders are actually using AI today. What I found is clear: the experimentation phase is over. CEOs are embedding AI directly into strategy, operations, engineering, customer support, and risk management. In this episode, I break down five real ways AI has moved from pilot to infrast...

In this episode, I sit down with SC Moatti to explore how AI is redefining product management. We discuss why traditional experimentation is breaking down, how AI introduces new risks, and what CEOs must rethink when building and scaling products today.

In this episode, I talk with Patrick Brown about why execution breaks down without measurement. We explore how CEOs can build measurable systems, scale global teams, and avoid being controlled by the business instead of controlling it.

In this episode, I talk with Chris Jones about how cash flow—not outside funding—powered his company’s growth. We break down why starting with limited capital forced discipline, protected margins, and helped build a profitable business while others burned cash.

In this conversation, I speak with David Rabie about the moment a critical funding round collapsed with only weeks of runway left. We unpack how he managed the pressure, kept the team aligned, and turned a near-failure into a defining leadership moment.

In this episode of The Scaling CEO Podcast, I speak with Levi King, CEO and Chairman of Nav, about a hard truth of leadership: many problems at scale start with the CEO. We talk about self-reflection, owning mistakes, people decisions, and how leaders lose alignment when they blame others instead of looking inward. Levi also shares lessons from building multiple companies, sitting on boards, and h...

In this episode of The Scaling CEO Podcast, I speak with Carver Anderson, CEO of Suggestic and former co-founder of MindBodyGreen, about the real decisions that determine whether scaling works—or quietly fails. We talk about recognizing when a strategy is no longer right, scaling teams and leadership capacity, trusting others to take ownership, selling into large regulated enterprises, and how AI...

In this episode, I talk with Mark Wald about the financial blind spots that show up as companies scale. Mark explains why growth puts pressure on cashflow before it shows results, how CEOs should think about the right metrics, and why poor visibility hides real performance issues. We also talk about the shift from founder to CEO, building systems that scale, and where AI actually helps in finance...

In this episode, I talk with Mehdi Daoudi about failure, leadership, and what really matters when you’re scaling a company that can’t afford downtime. Mehdi shares a mistake that took down 5,000 ad servers and explains how the response to that failure shaped how he leads teams today. We also talk about blind spots CEOs develop as they scale, why staying close to customers and hiring matters more t...

In this episode, I talk with Lindsey Carnett about the competitive mindset every CEO needs to scale. Lindsey shares the tough-love lessons she learned as an athlete and how they shaped her approach to beating competitors, building a stronger team, and finding blind spots in your growth strategy. We also talk about financing, data-driven marketing, and how AI is changing the way agencies operate.

In this episode, I talk with Damon Lembi about imposter syndrome and why every CEO feels it at some point. Damon walks through his four-step process for beating it, built from his years as an athlete and CEO. We also discuss delegation, building a learning culture, developing leaders at every level, and how AI is reshaping what it means to lead today.

In this episode, I talk with Jim Schleckser about one hard truth: most CEOs are the bottleneck in their own companies. Jim breaks down how to find the real constraint, why great CEOs delegate early, and how to shrink your to-do list so you can focus on what actually drives growth. We also talk about hiring, replacing yourself in key roles, and how AI is changing the work of every leader.

In this episode, I talk with Simon Goodall about why your team sees problems long before you do. Simon shares how frontline insight can transform a company, how leaders create clarity during change, and why every person in an organization is a leader. We also discuss scaling yourself as a CEO and how AI is reshaping operations and customer experience.

In this episode, I talk with Sam Hodges about what founders get wrong as they try to scale. Sam shares why many CEOs fail to grow with the company, how to shift from doing the work to building a machine that can scale, and why honest feedback is so critical. We also talk about the real impact investors have on a business and how AI is reshaping insurance and startup risk.

In this episode, I sit down with Karl Hughes to talk about what it really takes to scale a business when the playbook stops working. Karl shares why Draft.dev grew fast, why it slowed down, and the lessons he learned by going back to the basics. We talk about niching down, staying close to your customers, removing yourself from day-to-day work, and the new pressure AI is putting on every service c...

In this episode, I talk with James Hotson about why most CEOs are stuck at “automation” instead of fixing the real issue—their process. We break down the difference between logic and reasoning in AI, how agentic workflows are changing operations, why customer insight matters more than ever, and what it really takes to scale with speed, clarity, and smarter systems.

In this episode, I sit down with Davide Viola to unpack why CEOs are only as good as the information and insight they get. We dig into value stream mapping, how leaders misunderstand value creation, why discipline and calendar control matter, and how AI is changing what CEOs must see, measure, and fix to scale with clarity.

In this episode, I sit down with Omar Sahyoun, a proven operator who has scaled companies in e-commerce, retail, and technology. Omar explains why short-term thinking kills scale, and why CEOs must treat their business like real operators — focused on revenue, fundamentals, and long-term stability. We also talk about white space opportunities, building teams that follow you for years, and how to g...

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Lieb, a CEO who has been building companies since he was 11 years old. Adam talks about one of the hardest parts of scaling — letting people go sooner. He explains why waiting too long hurts the company, why roles that work at 15 employees don’t work at 50, and how CEOs must keep evolving as the business grows.

In this episode, I sit down with Christophe Zoghbi, the founder and CEO of ZAKA. Chris explains why scaling too fast can destroy a company, and why building the right foundation matters more than speed. We also talk about sustainable growth, the power of community, and how CEOs can use AI to stop being the bottleneck.

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Philippe Bousso, CEO of Blue Dots Partners and author of Aligning the Dots. Philippe explains why alignment is the real driver of growth and why most companies slow down when they lose that alignment. He breaks down how to match what you offer with what customers truly want, how to create real delight, and why CEOs must fix internal and board alignment if they want...

In this episode, I talk with Kiran Mann, CEO of Brar’s and founder of M2M Business Solutions. Kiran explains why burnout has little to do with long hours and everything to do with ignoring your own signals. She talks about the power of pausing, the importance of clarity at the top of an organization, and how her Harmonic System helps leaders create fulfillment and growth at the same time. We also...