The CEO Project Podcast

Could your business keep running if you stepped away for 30 days without a phone? If that question makes you uncomfortable, it may be time to rethink how much of the organization depends on you. In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser welcomes Ari Meisel, founder of Less Doing, to explore how CEOs can scale a business while doing less themselves. Ari shares his optimize, automat...

Are you chasing AI without a clear picture of the problem you need to solve? Before investing in another tool or application, identify the constraint holding your business back and how technology could help remove it. In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser explores AI, app development, and process automation with Ghazenfer Mansoor of Technology Rivers. They discuss why technolo...

AI can multiply your company's output, but it can also multiply its dysfunction. As CEOs explore AI intelligence, the real challenge is building the judgment, culture, and leadership needed to turn greater capacity into growth. In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser welcomes executive coach Maximos Lih, founder of Emboldened LLC, whose experience includes recruiting engineering...

What business constraint is holding your company back? Smart CEOs are exploring how AI can remove bottlenecks, free up valuable time, and help their teams focus on the work that drives growth. In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser welcomes Ray Meiring, CEO and founder of QorusDocs, to discuss practical ways to put AI to work. From streamlining proposals and RFP responses to re...

Business growth takes more than a great product. It takes strong teams, thoughtful reinvestment, and a CEO willing to evolve alongside the company. Are you building the capabilities your business needs for its next stage of growth? In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser welcomes Drew Allen, President and CEO of Grace Technologies, to discuss building strong teams and reinvestin...

Is your marketing making promises that your business isn't delivering? Jim Schleckser welcomes author, speaker, and agency founder Ron Tite to explore how CEOs can connect purpose, strategy, and marketing through his Think Do Say framework. Ron explains why purpose needs a clear connection to how a company makes money, grows, and serves its customers. Discover how to turn your company's beliefs in...

Effective exit planning prepares you for more than the transaction by protecting your financial future, personal identity, and sense of purpose after the business is sold. In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, host Jim Schleckser speaks with Nate Collins, a former CEO, financial advisor, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor who successfully sold his family business to a private equity-backed...

Elevating humanity through business starts with creating value for employees, customers, communities, and owners rather than treating profit as the only measure of success. In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, host Jim Schleckser speaks with Dan Simons, co-owner of Founding Farmers Restaurant Group, about building a profitable, mission-driven business in one of the most demanding industries...

Working Genius helps leaders understand the work that gives people energy, the work that drains them, and how to build more effective teams around those differences. In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, host Jim Schleckser speaks with Patrick Lencioni, bestselling author, leadership expert, and founder of The Table Group. Patrick explains the six types of Working Genius and how each contrib...

Soft leadership styles can help CEOs build trust, increase accountability, and create healthier teams without sacrificing performance. In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, host Jim Schleckser speaks with visionary entrepreneur, inventor, and movement leader Staci Wright about how workplace expectations are changing and why traditional leadership models are struggling to keep up. Staci expla...

In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, host Jim Schleckser speaks with fractional CMO, global keynote speaker, and bestselling author Alison Michaels about building a marketing ecosystem that is aligned, strategic, and scalable. Alison explains why strong marketing starts with more than ads or social media. It requires a clear brand story, a high-performing website, consistent messaging, the...

What really happens inside a CEO peer group meeting? In this episode, Jim Schleckser and Julie Walker share real-world CEO peer-group case studies involving multimillion-dollar decisions, organizational changes, acquisitions, succession planning, board expectations, and growth strategies. These confidential examples reveal the complex issues facing CEOs of companies with revenue ranging from hundr...

What if your workload isn't actually the reason you're overwhelmed? The real problem may be your thought load. CEOs can spend an entire day moving from meeting to meeting, making decisions, switching between priorities, and managing other people's problems, yet still wonder what they actually accomplished. In this episode, Jim Schleckser talks with teamwork expert and author Liane Davey about thou...

The next big innovation in the grocery industry isn't happening inside the store. It's changing how families shop before they ever walk through the door. The grocery industry has experienced rising prices, dynamic pricing, and changing consumer behavior, leaving many families searching for better ways to stretch their budgets. In this episode, Jim Schleckser talks with entrepreneur Andy Ellwood, f...

Most AI deployment initiatives don't fail because of the technology. They fail because CEOs start in the wrong place. AI is transforming business, but buying the latest tool won't create better results on its own. In this episode, Jim Schleckser talks with Christa Hill, Chief AI Learning Officer at Learnit, about why successful AI deployment begins with solving real business problems, preparing yo...

The biggest breakthrough in your business may not come from your next idea. It may come from the other entrepreneurs you surround yourself with. Building a successful business is about far more than selling a great product. It's about learning from setbacks, creating a strong company culture, and finding people who challenge you to become a better leader. In this episode, Jim Schleckser sits down...

What allows some CFOs to lead with influence while others never move beyond the numbers? Today's CFOs are expected to do much more than oversee financial performance. They must build trust, influence executive decisions, communicate with empathy, and help shape company strategy. In this episode, leadership expert and former CFO Dr. Emilia Bunea shares why technical expertise alone isn't enough and...

Is your leadership team truly aligned, or are competing priorities quietly slowing your company's growth? Even the most talented leadership teams struggle when everyone is chasing different priorities or measuring success differently. In this episode, Kristen McAlister shares a practical framework to help CEOs stay aligned by defining the right outcomes, assigning clear ownership, and creating acc...

What does it take to turn a simple idea like Chicken Salad Chick into one of the fastest-growing restaurant franchise brands in America? Growing a business from a handful of locations to hundreds of restaurants takes more than a great product. It requires the right culture, disciplined leadership, a scalable franchise model, and an unwavering commitment to the customer experience. In this episode,...

Are you looking for a way to build additional income without walking away from your career or wondering if franchise ownership is the right path for your next chapter? If you've thought about creating passive income, diversifying your investments, or transitioning out of corporate leadership, franchising can offer a compelling opportunity—but only if you choose the right business. In this episode,...

How do you know whether you've found a strong franchise or one that could quietly drain your time, money, and energy? If you're looking for a way to diversify your income, leave the corporate world, or build a business worth, franchising can be an attractive option. But not all opportunities are created equal. In this episode, you'll learn how experienced franchise operators evaluate opportunities...

Could choosing the wrong franchise cost you years of time, money, and opportunity before you even realize you've made the mistake? If you're considering franchise ownership, it's easy to get distracted by big brand names, flashy marketing, or promises of financial freedom. But as you'll hear in this first episode of a three-part franchising series, the wrong franchise isn't always a bad franchise—...

In a marketplace where AI is making information and expertise more accessible than ever, standing out has become harder—and more important. If your customers see you as just another option, you're likely leaving growth, loyalty, and valuation on the table. In this episode, Jim Schleckser sits down with branding strategist and futurist Kelly O'Neill to explore what branding really means, why it's m...

Have you ever wondered why some companies dominate a market while everyone else competes in a crowded space, and what it takes to create a category of your own? If you're leading a business and looking for a way to stand out, this episode will challenge how you think about growth. Rather than competing in an existing market, you'll learn how category creation can help you define a new space, solve...

Why do smart CEOs prioritize alignment over conflict when the stakes are highest? Every major negotiation — with investors, employees, customers, partners, or acquisition targets — shapes the long-term health of your business. But too many leaders still approach negotiations as a battle to win rather than an opportunity to build trust, expand the pie, and create better outcomes for everyone involv...