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

Gresham Harkless discusses his current journey toward franchise brokering, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and rest in professional and personal life.   He frames his current day as a "rest day" after running six miles the previous day, recognizing the value of listening to your body and adjusting plans when needed.   Gresham discusses planning for the future—both for his marketing busin...

Gresham Harkless begins by referencing Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which speaks about different seasons in life—times of joy, struggle, growth, and loss.   He highlights the challenge of accepting that not every moment is about success or reaping rewards; sometimes, life requires patience and perseverance through tough times.   Gresham recognizes that it can feel like something is wrong when facing diffic...

Amrit Dhaliwal is an innovative entrepreneur leading Walfinch, a premium home care franchise in the UK.   Amrit's entrepreneurial spirit began at a young age, when he was 8, and he started trading Ryan Giggs posters in the playground. After university, he worked in various businesses, including cafes and delis, winning business awards by his early twenties.   Walfinch now has a turnover of £18 mil...

Susan Levin is an expert consultant with over 25 years of experience working with thousands of employees across 40 countries.    Susan specializes in helping organizations recognize employee strengths, improve productivity, enhance teamwork, and provide strategic solutions.    She also teaches at Columbia University and is passionate about unleashing the authenticity of her clients to help them ac...

Vikram Rajan is a co-founder of PhoneBlogger.net and VideoSocials.net—two marketing services tailored for attorneys, accountants, and consultants.   Vikram has been featured in Forbes and other major publications, and he shares his journey from working with his father, a management consultant, to launching his businesses focused on word-of-mouth referral marketing.   Vikram explains how he initial...

Michael Blank is a successful entrepreneur, investor, and author specializing in apartment investing. He is the CEO of Nighthawk Equity, author of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, and host of the Apartment Building Investing podcast.   He shares how his journey began in software development, leading to a lucrative IPO, only to realize that true wealth comes from passive income.   Afte...

Gresham Harkless is conducting a brand presentation for a candidate but isn’t certain they will move forward. He views this as part of his learning process, gaining valuable experience through repeated practice.   Gresham recognizes that some candidates may seem like a perfect fit but don’t work out, while others may unexpectedly succeed.   He underscores the importance of customized presentations...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless is nearing day 40 of his journey and considers himself "ready" to start after completing training. He has an upcoming presentation and is preparing a deck for it.   Gresham acknowledges the challenge of juggling multiple responsibilities, citing the quote, "He or she who chases two rabbits catches none."   He intends to refine his focus through a "detox" p...

Gresham Harkless shares his experience with Google Ads, noting that while he has heard mixed reviews, he sees some leads.   He emphasizes the importance of exploring multiple lead generation avenues rather than relying on just one method.   Gresham highlights that in the early stages of a business, testing and iterating are crucial for finding the best strategy.   Gresham acknowledges that marketi...

Cahill Camden is an entrepreneur who helps business leaders grow their brand and authority through podcast appearances, PR, and LinkedIn strategies.   He founded the AI-powered tools EchoJockey and PressJockey, which automate podcast and PR placements.   Cahill emphasizes that AI should be seen as an enhancement, not a replacement for human connection.   He believes that founders should take the i...

Steve Durbin is recognized for his ability to modernize financial ecosystems, integrating traditional and decentralized finance (DeFi) with a focus on transparency, accessibility, and resilience.   Steve is the President of Quail Bend Capital Partners, a private equity firm he founded in 2010, which has investments in fin-tech and mining, including a controlling interest in Save Daily Holdings.  ...

Mark Anderson has had a distinguished career in law enforcement and investigations, spanning over 30 years.    His roles have included working as a Senior Special Agent for the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, along with experience as a forensic chemist. He also served as the Deputy Inspector General for New York State.   After retiring, Mark and his wife...

Dr. Fern Kazlow (Dr. K) is a licensed clinical psychotherapist, speaker, author, and business mentor. She is the founder of the No Doubt Zone and works with high-performing individuals, particularly entrepreneurs, to help them overcome stress and mental blocks while enhancing their personal and professional lives.   She combined her expertise in therapy with marketing, helping high performers such...

In this special episode, Gresham shares his journey of noticing fluctuations in his blood sugar, despite being active and working out regularly. He was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic, which surprised him since he exercises about 4-5 times a week and follows a meal prep routine.   Gresham affirms the significance of knowing your health numbers (like glucose levels) and filling up your "cup" (ma...

Gresham Harkless delves into the importance of leveraging Virtual Assistants, especially in businesses like franchise brokerage or digital marketing.   He highlights how VAs can help amplify productivity by taking over tasks that otherwise consume valuable time, allowing business owners to focus on higher-priority activities.   Gresham shares that he’s moving toward co-brokering deals instead of t...

Gresham Harkless discusses how business is about finding opportunities and doing things differently, even if it means going against the grain.    He believes innovation in business doesn’t always mean creating entirely new technologies but can also involve approaching things in unique ways, especially in execution.    Gresham shares the emotional toll of losing his dog and his grandmother to cance...

Idan Shpizear is the founder and CEO of 911 Restoration, a top disaster restoration company in the U.S. He started with little—just an $800 Volvo and a carpet cleaning business—and built it into a national franchise.   911 Restoration focuses on helping homeowners and businesses recover from disasters, emphasizing a "fresh start" philosophy.   Idan also founded Milestone SEO and Gazingle, a CRM pl...

Susie Hewson established Natracare, a brand that manufactures organic and environmentally-conscious period care products.    Susie is recognized for her environmental activism and has been awarded numerous accolades, including an MBE from King Charles III for her work in women's health and the environment.   In the late '80s, Susie was motivated by the harmful chemicals used in conventional period...

Lorena Tomasini owns MALM Life and Health Insurance Agency in Miami, Florida. With over 12 years of experience in the insurance industry, she helps families and business owners with financial protection.    Lorena also hosts the "12-Minute Podcast," where she speaks with entrepreneurs about problem-solving.   Lorena highlights that many people are unprepared for catastrophic events like health iss...

Nahamani Yisrael is an Organizational Development Consultant and Senior Webmaster at Nahamani.org.    Nahamani holds a BSBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a certified Ice House Entrepreneurship Program Facilitator.   She was recognized as one of Natural Woman Magazine's Top 10 Women of the Year in 2017 and 100 Wise Women of Cincinnati in 2018.   Nahamani explains that she start...

Gresham reflects on one of the challenging aspects of entrepreneurship and personal growth—knowing when to pivot or stop.   Gresham explains that society often teaches us not to quit, but there’s a time for persistence and knowing when to let go.   He emphasizes that complexity can be a barrier, so simplifying processes is essential. Simplification doesn’t mean lowering standards; it’s about makin...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless shares how he’s using ChatGPT to help him work through business ideas. He calls it his "CEO hack," noting that it serves as a virtual sounding board for brainstorming and coaching.    He discusses recalibrating his 12-week goals, realizing that some earlier targets weren’t as realistic or achievable as he thought.    Gresham also recognizes that while secu...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless acknowledges that he has the advantage of an additional marketing company, but he recognizes that growth and success don’t come instantly and that there’s a lot of experimentation involved.   He notes that he hasn’t worked with franchise brokers, franchisees, or anything related to franchising before, which means it’s all new territory for him. Despite thi...

Dean Stanzel is the founder of Top of Mind Gifts and Strategic 3D Cards. Dean’s business focuses on providing creative and memorable gifts, such as Cutco knives and pop-up cards.    Dean emphasizes his mission to create Top of Mind Awareness through carefully chosen gifts. He explains that having a client say they would refer you doesn’t automatically mean they will; it’s all about staying fresh i...

Phil Lashley is a sought-after framework designer specializing in visual storytelling, with over 15 years of experience creating custom visuals and animations to simplify complex concepts.   His work has been featured by major brands like The Drew Barrymore Show, Adobe, Microsoft, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing.   His passion led him to study Visual Effects and Motion Graphics at the Art I...