CEO 2 CEO - Conversations with Executive Leaders of The CEO Roundtable

AI is everywhere, yet many business leaders still wrestle with the same question: How do you embrace it without disrupting your culture, overwhelming your team, or creating fear about the future? In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, Scott Sustacek sits down with Jason Dailey, Founder and CEO of Brandography, to explore what AI adoption really looks like inside growing companies. Rather than focusing on t...

In this episode of  CEO 2 CEO , Scott Sustacek sits down with Andy Siemens, CEO of Tailwind Voice and Data, to explore what it really means to think—and lead—at a 10X level. But this isn’t about bold declarations or flashy growth goals. Instead, Andy shares a more subtle, strategic approach—one that quietly reshapes a business from the inside out. He reveals how focus, discipline, and the right pe...

Aspirations for a board seat can often be viewed through a glamorous lens — a prestigious,  and perhaps cushy , gig as a next step in one’s career. In reality, true board work is very different than anticipated, board readiness is far more nuanced than many realize, and being good at it requires an approach unlike the one that made you successful operating a business. In this episode of  CEO 2 CEO...

Stepping into the CEO seat for the first time can feel like walking into a room where every light switches on at once — the ability to change the trajectory of a company through the decisions made and direction set; the tension between immediate business pressures and long-term strategy; and the surprising duality of feeling connected to the organization and isolation. This episode is a candid con...

Artificial intelligence is continuously evolving and rapidly redefining how middle-market companies can operate — far beyond the early days of experimentation with ChatGPT. In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, Scott Sustacek sits down with Nick Archer, CEO of Industrial Tool, who shares how he and his leadership team moved beyond cautious Chat GPT use to embed AI into their sales and marketing efforts. W...

What happens when a succession plan is also a growth strategy? Done right, transforming a business into an ESOP doesn’t just secure the future—it reshapes culture, influences recruiting, sparks collaboration, and impacts retention. Sam Olinger, COO of Christensen Group, and host Scott Sustacek dive into what makes ESOPs such a powerful —but often misunderstood—tool for business growth, employee en...

What happens when a CEO dares to lead with purpose — even when the stakes are high? In this episode, Storm Creek CEO Teresa Fudenberg joins Scott to share the remarkable story behind the reinvention of a brand built on  “Doing Good and Doing Well.”  From repurposing millions of plastic bottles to building a culture that attracts mission-driven talent, Teresa opens up about the challenges, pivots,...

What if stepping back could actually move your business forward? In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, host Scott Sustacek sits down with John Martin, Chairman of FlutterBee Education Group, for an interesting conversation on how selling a minority stake in his company became the catalyst for compounding value, faster growth, and greater fulfillment. John’s thoughtful and purposeful journey into recapital...

What does it take to build a company where culture isn’t just talked about—but lived at every level? In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, host Scott Sustacek sits down with Travis Peterson, Founder and CEO of Snap Install, to explore how intentional culture can drive performance, loyalty, and long-term growth.  From his early experience in a toxic workplace to starting his own business to building a team...

Thought leadership isn’t just for Fortune 500 executives. It’s for any CEO with expertise, passion, and a story to tell. In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, host Scott Sustacek talks with Alexis Walsko—founder and CEO of Lola Red, a Minneapolis-based PR firm—about how thought leadership can amplify your brand and elevate middle-market companies in surprising ways. From launching a PR agency at 22 to sha...

The Twin Cities is an EOS hotbed with many companies using or considering the Entrepreneurial Operating System, aka Traction, to help accelerate growth.  In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, host Scott Sustacek sits down with Brent Lau, Partner, COO, and CFO at Medina Electric to dive into the transformative power of EOS and its impact on Medina Electric’s business growth, leadership alignment, and custo...

In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, host Scott Sustacek sits down with Adam Berry, CEO of Summit Orthopedics. With orthopedic facilities popping up at a rapid pace in the Twin Cities and Minnesota, Adam shares how Summit is carving out its unique niche in this crowded and competitive market.  Get a rare view of the fast-moving world of orthopedic care and discover the strategic game plan that has accele...

AI is everywhere in our lives and changing every day.  This is a hot topic for every leader.  In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, host Scott Sustacek goes overtime with Andrew Fernholz, CEO of Ambient Consulting in exploring the ways lower middle market companies can leverage AI. In this wide-ranging conversation, Andrew shares his experience with the transformative power of AI. We discuss the best ways...

This episode of CEO  2 CEO explores an incredibly unique transaction between a seller with a vision of the outcome he wanted and a buyer with a vision of how he would begin his own entrepreneurial journey.  Host Scott Sustacek met with Jeff Chanen, the former owner of the Maintenance Team, and Kai Milota, the current owner and CEO, to discuss their long, deliberate ownership transition and build a...

Selling your company is, without question, an epic event.  It can bring stress, uncertainty, and the full gamut of emotions that go along with letting go of a significant part of your life.  In this episode, I talk with a long-time friend, Jaime Harris, who sold his company, Hydra-Flex, in the middle of a great growth run.  Jaime reveals how he scaled his business from a two-person startup to a $4...

In this episode of CEO 2 CEO, I had the opportunity to talk with Bob Freytag, the CEO of Introworks, about branding.  When people use the term ‘branding’, I think of the true meaning of what a brand is and how building a truly differentiated brand can be the catalyst in changing your organization.  Brand is about the stories you have created where you have helped customers in a unique way.  It’s n...

In this episode, I talk with Karen Kleinhans, CEO of Community Dental Care, about change management.  Karen candidly shares her experience tackling the challenges she inherited and orchestrating a profound shift in her organization’s culture and results.   We explore how an organization can perceive their circumstances through a biased lens, overlooking harsh realities. Karen's data-driven app...

Tom Henrich, the CEO of Eagle Aluminum, talks with me about his decision to become a business owner and his process towards a successful acquisition in 2022. Amidst a landscape where transactions may be opportunistic or with tunnel vision, Tom's approach was very strategic and deliberate. He identified his preferred geographic area and targeted industry sectors and then did the really hard wor...

Forward thinking CEO’s will tell you how important executive development is to the growth and health of the organization.  Deliberate focus on the development journey can accelerate the pace of building solid teams aligned with your vision of the future.  The reality of today’s business world is that intentional development can often get overrun by the needs of today’s strategic and operational ch...

The strategic separation of visionary and integrator roles in a company, as emphasized by EOS Traction, can be a catalyst to accelerated business growth. Mike Monson, CEO of Benson-Orth General Contractors, talks about the inflection point when he knew he needed to make this move, his decision, as well as the execution plan for a successful leadership transition.   He shares how he successfully hi...

Matt Kucharski, President of Padilla, shares some deep insights from Padilla’s recently completed annual survey, " Mindset of the C-Suite" .  In just a year’s time, the major theme has shifted from 'conflicted' to 'fatigued.'  Matt and Scott go deeper on the significant factors driving this shift and why CEO’s are now thinking about stepping back and stepping away.  Matt...

Time, money, growth, and culture are on the line when hiring for an executive position so finding the right person is crucial. In this episode of CEO2CEO we talk with Steve Yakesh, President of Direct Hire and Executive Search for Versique.  Steve leads one of the top recruiting firms in the Midwest and he, along with his team, helps companies find exceptional talent to fill critical executive rol...

 Minnesota-based brand has built a growing national footprint while staying true to the Warner family roots – and values – planted in 1971. In this episode, Bob Warner, CEO of Warners’ Stellian Appliance Company, gives us insight into:  * Finding the right role for everyone in the family * Creating strong governance in a family business * G3- How Warners’ Stellian is thinking about family successi...

The fight for talent in small and medium-sized companies is ever present with nearly 10M job openings.  How do you attract and retain the talent you need?   Glenn Starfield, owner of two Express Employment franchises in Minnesota, shares how to find people faster and make better hires.  It will not be a surprise that it comes down to culture. Be sure to subscribe to CEO 2 CEO and listen in on conv...

Are you thinking about selling your business to private equity?  Renee Ernste, CEO of Orange Tree Employment Screening and John Dyke, Executive Chairman of All States Ag Parts, both sold their businesses to Private Equity firms as platforms and also acquired other companies, integrating them into their platforms.  They give great perspectives on how to begin building your playbook. Visit us at ceo...