CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co

Justine Beauregard is a seasoned sales strategist and People Over Profit podcast host.   Justine’s entrepreneurial spark began at just 6 years old, and her passion evolved into a career focused on helping business owners grow their income in authentic, feel-good ways.    She shares the powerful story of leaving her corporate job after becoming a mom, navigating early struggles in business, and lan...

Kevin Wilhelm, CEO of Sustainable Business Consulting, shares his journey from being a “reluctant entrepreneur” to one of the leading voices in sustainability consulting.   Kevin started his firm after realizing that no one was effectively making the business case for sustainability, and he stepped up to fill that gap.    His firm helps companies integrate sustainable practices by showing how they...

Justin Breen is the founder and CEO of BrEpic, a PR firm specializing in crafting compelling, newsworthy stories for clients and pitching them to media nationwide.    Justin explains that his business was born out of frustration with traditional PR methods that he found ineffective during his 20-year journalism career.   Justin highlights the importance of building genuine relationships with media...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on personal and professional growth as he kicks off a fresh 12-week year, marking day 64 of his overall franchise broker journey.   Gresham set three focused goals: adding $5K in recurring revenue (mainly through CEO Hacks), generating 300 new leads for Blue Star Franchise, and completing a year-long Bible reading plan.   Gresham emphasizes the im...

On Day 63 of the Franchise Broker journey, Gresham Harkless shares a candid update about recent life changes and their impact on his focus and priorities. With the arrival of his new son, he's been adapting to a new routine, which has brought both challenges and clarity.   Gresham highlights how having less time has helped him become more intentional and focused, a concept aligned with the princip...

On Day 59, Gresham Harkless explores how chasing perfection can stop people from getting started.   Gresham explains that high-quality work doesn’t come instantly—it’s built over time through consistent practice and action.   He challenges the habit of merely checking off tasks, urging a focus on impactful activities that align with core KPIs and business goals.   Gresham highlights the importance...

Gresham Harkless reflects on Day 58 of his Franchise Broker journey, noting that it has been a slower period, but a good time for planning for the upcoming year.   He shares excitement about new beginnings, particularly the personal milestone of his relationship with his bonus son.    On the business side, Gresham mentions that Google Ads hasn't been as effective as hoped, but organic search has y...

Dan DeGolier is the founder and CEO of Ascent CFO Solutions, a fractional CFO firm providing a part-time, flexible way for growing companies to engage with an experienced chief financial officer.    Dan has operated as a CPA with a global accounting firm, a full-time CFO with multiple private companies, and a fractional CFO with companies in all stages across diverse industries.   Dan is recognize...

Keisha Charmaine is a small business owner, content creator, and author best known for documenting her 9-year loc journey on YouTube.   Keisha shares how her loc journey led to creating organic hair products, writing a self-reflective book, and becoming a trusted voice in the natural hair community.   She talks about the importance of mindfulness, how to stay grounded as a solopreneur, and why con...

Kevin Brown is a former educator and global development professional turned entrepreneur, now based in Nicosia, Cyprus.   His career began in education, teaching in D.C.’s public schools after earning a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Trinity University.   Kevin manages operations and digital strategy at HR Innovate. His title varies—sometimes Chief of Operations, sometimes Chie...

Gresham Harkless reflects candidly on the emotional and operational challenges of working as a business broker, especially after five to six months without closing a deal.   Gresham emphasizes that the most difficult aspect of the role is managing the human element—navigating silent objections, inconsistent communication, and the emotional ups and downs of clients.   Despite enjoying certain parts...

In this special episode of Franchise Broker Journey (Day 56), Gresham Harkless shares a blend of personal and sports-related insights. He begins by touching on his exhaustion from lack of sleep, hinting at preparation for his newborn, and then transitions into his thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys’ football season.   Despite initial disappointments, Harkless emphasizes recognizing that not every seas...

Gresham Harkless reflects on Day 56 of his Franchise Broker journey, noting the emotional weight of the process despite having zero sales so far.   He's been engaging with candidates and recently had a promising conversation with a Google Ads lead, emphasizing the importance of building rapport and treating these talks like podcast interviews—conversational, yet intentional.   Gresham also shares...

Gresham Harkless reflects on his 55-day journey into franchise brokerage, sharing insights from a recent, unexpectedly powerful coaching session.   He realizes his true passion lies in being a “connection broker” — someone who thrives by linking people, tools, opportunities, and solutions across all areas of his work, from franchise consulting to digital marketing.    Gresham also acknowledges a m...

Chris Seveney, a real estate veteran with 25+ years of experience and the founder of 7e Investments.    Chris shares his journey from a high-level corporate career to building a thriving investment firm specializing in mortgage note investing.   He discusses the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship. There will be tough times, and you'll face challenges, but what matters is getting back up...

Ladana Drigo is the founder of My Fairy GodParents, a nonprofit based in the D.C. metro area that supports underserved youth and kids with incarcerated parents.    Her experiences with homelessness, single motherhood, and community support inspired her to create a charitable organization that connects resources to those in need.   Ladana discusses the power of giving, how being authentic opens doo...

Chermika Farkwar, the founder of Soka Tribe, discusses her entrepreneurial journey and how she built her brand.    Her business, Soka Tribe, now offers a variety of services, including fitness classes, performances, and products that connect people to Caribbean culture, especially Carnival.   Chermika highlights the importance of storytelling in connecting with consumers, noting that her narrative...

Gresham Harkless shares a lesson learned from his trainer about silent objections, which are when potential customers or clients stop responding or disappear without saying why.    Gresham explains that sales aren't just about selling a product or service. Everyone is involved in sales in some form—whether it's convincing a client to buy, persuading a team member to join, or even getting your kids...

Gresham Harkless discusses his journey and mindset around lead generation as a broker, emphasizing the importance of warm and cold markets.    He shares his evolving approach—initially avoiding leveraging close personal connections in favor of proving himself in a cold market, but now recognizing the value in his existing network.    Gresham explains the importance of experimentation in the early...

Gresham Harkless discusses his progress approximately 45 days into his journey post-training and reflects on one of the biggest ongoing challenges: generating quality leads.   Gresham explains that while his initial package included a set number of leads, he has likely exhausted them and now faces a key decision—whether to continue buying leads from the same source despite their limited success.  ...

Matt Hall is a Business Development Representative at Pivotal Advisors, where he assists business owners and sales leaders in identifying growth opportunities and enhancing sales effectiveness.   Matt’s approach is centered on systems, structure, and consistent processes—combined with a passion for coaching and meeting clients where they are.   His career began in sales out of necessity after coll...

Natasha Cornstein was the president and CEO of Blushington from January 2015 to January 2024, overseeing the national expansion and digital transformation of the beauty service and retail business.   Outside of Blushington, Natasha co-founded the Courts of Dreams Foundation, which restores outdoor basketball courts in underserved areas of New York City. She also mentors women of color in the beaut...

Quanna is an artist and founder of CareFree Black Girl (CFBG), a powerful platform and community centered around celebrating Black women through art, empowerment, and real-life experiences.   Quanna shares her journey from indie rapper to CEO, building something much bigger than a brand — a cultural movement.   She emphasizes the importance of authentic community engagement, hosting events in unde...

Jim Haudan is the CEO and co-founder of Root, an organization dedicated to helping leaders engage and motivate their teams.    He is the author of The Art of Engagement, a best-selling book that focuses on bridging the gap between people and possibilities, and What Are Your Blind Spots?, which he co-authored with Root President Rich Behrens.   Jim started his business with a belief in helping lead...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless is wrapping up the last week of a 12-week period, transitioning into a rest week (week 13). While he anticipates the next phase to be busy, he plans to take things slowly and not rush.    His main focus is staying intentional with his actions and prioritizing what’s most important as he moves forward.   This year has been challenging for Gresham, notably w...