CXO Conversations

In "Focus on Impact, Not Money," Todd Siegler shares candid lessons from a career spanning nearly every C-suite role—CFO, COO, CAO, CDO, General Counsel, and eventually CEO of his own company. A Princeton and Tulane Law graduate, Todd reflects on the differences in executive roles across organizations, the dynamics of C-suite interactions, and how managing direct reports effectively builds trust a...

In "Being a Blue Collar LGBTQ Executive," Jamey Seely, Chief Legal Officer at Gates at time of recording and now General Counsel for Crusoe, shares her journey to the C-suite and what it means to lead authentically in traditionally blue-collar industries like energy, manufacturing, and nuclear. Named one of Denver Business Journal's Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, Jamey reflects on her car...

In "Pros & Cons of Long Tenure at Same Company," Michelle shares how she built an HR organization from scratch and the lessons she learned across leadership roles at ASAP Software, Dell, GiveForward, and CompPsych. A graduate of Indiana University and Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, Michelle reflects on the advantages and challenges of staying with one company for 16 years, the import...

In "CEO Bill Wosilius, Why and How to Prepare for CEO Chair,"  Bill Wosilius , who was CEO of NexusTek at the time of recording, shares candid insights on declaring your career goals, assessing situations with clarity, and making the tough executive calls that define leadership. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Bill served eight years before moving into executive roles at InFlow, Sungard,...

What does it take to get noticed by both venture capitalists and C-suite recruiters? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Steve Joanis—CEO of PlanetIQ and veteran of more than $200M in venture fundraising—shares how his career path from Army combat aviator to consultant, investor, and CEO shaped his leadership style. Drawing on decades of experience scaling startups and serving on 20+ boards, Ste...

In "CEO Steve Joanis, Getting Noticed for C-Level & by VCs," Steve Joanis , the CEO of PlanetIQ (at time of recording, now a PE Managing Director), shares lessons from 25+ years in management consulting, venture capital, and executive leadership. A West Point graduate, decorated Army aviator, and Wharton MBA, Steve has served as CFO, President, board member, and investor across more than 20 compan...

What does it take to build a high-performing sales organization from scratch? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Carlos Perez, CRO of Simuwatt, shares lessons from leading revenue teams at startups, global enterprises, and everything in between. He talks about the changing nature of sales leadership, the importance of aligning marketing and sales under a unified revenue vision, and why adaptabi...

In "CRO Carlos Perez, Building a Sales Org from Scratch," Carlos shares how he's grown revenue organizations across startups and billion-dollar companies alike. From his early consulting days to CRO roles at Wowza and now Concept3D, Carlos reflects on the evolving role of the Chief Revenue Officer, aligning sales, marketing, and customer success to accelerate growth. He also discusses how sales ha...

What does it take to know when to step aside and hire the right CEO? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Heather Callender-Potters—global investor, co-founder of PharmaJet, and experienced board member—discusses the lessons she's learned from founding companies, navigating leadership transitions, and serving on boards. From her international upbringing to launching one of the first private equit...

In "Heather Callender-Potters, Founder and Board Member. Hiring a CEO and Board Member Perspectives," Heather shares lessons from a remarkable career that began in Poland just after the fall of the Berlin Wall, bringing access to capital during a time of historic transformation. Now co-founder of PharmaJet and a seasoned board member, Heather reflects on the challenges of handing over leadership t...

What does it mean to lead with authenticity in the C-suite? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Doug Gattuso talks about the importance of leaving ego at the door and focusing on creating value for people and organizations. He shares lessons from building teams, returning to companies multiple times, and leading international initiatives across Europe, Mexico, and India. Doug offers candid advic...

In "C-Suite Perspective in Leading with Authenticity," Doug Gattuso shares why true leadership is about focusing on opportunities and outcomes—not titles or ego. A veteran of the Naval Academy and Marine Corps, Doug reflects on a career spanning executive roles including President and Chief Customer Officer. He explains why burning bridges is never wise, the lessons gained from international work...

What does it take to admit a prestigious path isn't for you—and have the courage to pivot? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Casey Woo, CFO of Landing.com, discusses his journey from West Point to Harvard, from Wall Street hedge funds to executive leadership roles at startups like WeWork and Zozi. Casey shares how he found fulfillment in finance by building teams, driving strategy, and embraci...

In "Making the Hardest Call – Admitting it's Not for You," Casey Woo ,  former CFO forLanding.com, shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career journey—from starting at West Point and pivoting to Harvard, to walking away from Wall Street to pursue his passion for building and leading companies. With CFO and COO roles at firms including WeWork and Zozi, Casey reflects on following your own pat...

What does it take to plan a career all the way to the CEO chair? In this episode of CXO Conversations, John Oechsle discusses the strategic decisions that helped him rise from technology leadership at J&J and IHS to CEO of Derive Systems. He reflects on how international assignments shaped his leadership style, why embracing "crackpot projects" at Kellogg's accelerated his growth, and the importan...

In "Career Planning and Strategic Decisions to Become CEO," John Oechsle, was CEO of Derive Systems and now Bolt On Technology, shares how purposeful choices shaped his path from CIO roles at Johnson & Johnson and IHS to leading multiple organizations, including Swiftpage and now Derive. John explains how he set a goal early to become a CEO, took on challenging assignments others avoided, and leve...

What does it take to transition from the battlefield to the boardroom? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Craig Cummings—Army veteran, Bronze Star recipient, and co-founder of Moonshots Capital—discusses the lessons he's carried from 17 years of military service into the world of startups and venture capital. He shares practical advice on creating a career-defining elevator pitch, supporting ve...

In "Building Your Career Transition Elevator Pitch," Craig Cummings shares how his journey from Army Intelligence Officer in Afghanistan to General Partner at Moonshots Capital shaped his approach to leadership, entrepreneurship, and investing. A Bronze Star recipient and West Point graduate with a Ph. D. from Columbia, Craig explains how veterans can craft an elevator pitch that opens doors, the...

What can hundreds of transactions and decades of leadership teach us about CEOs? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Chris Younger, CEO of Class VI Partners, reflects on buying, selling, and leading companies across industries. He shares candid insights on managing the stress of leadership, why presence and transparency matter, and how servant leadership builds lasting teams. From his experience...

In "CEO Insights & Self Care with Chris Younger," Chris shares lessons from a career spanning telecom, private equity, and advisory leadership. As President of Expanets, he acquired 27 companies in just 3 years before selling to Avaya, and today, as CEO of Class VI Partners, he advises middle-market businesses and family offices on transactions and growth. Chris opens up about the physical toll of...

What does it mean to be truly intellectually curious as a leader? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Christine Gagnon, CFO of African Asset Finance Company at time of interview, discusses the value of continuous learning and the global perspective she's gained from international assignments and advanced education at top institutions. From her early career at PwC and EY to her current role finan...

In "Christine Gagnon CFO, the Importance of Being Intellectually Curious," Christine shares how a lifelong passion for learning has shaped her global career. During recording, she was the CFO of African Asset Finance Company, she reflects on her journey through leadership roles at EY, PwC, and OneWest Bank, as well as earning multiple advanced degrees and executive certifications from Harvard, Sta...

In "General Kevin 'Chili' Chilton, Board Member, Astronaut and Flying the Space Shuttle," General Kevin "Chili" Chilton shares lessons from his extraordinary 34½ years in the U.S. Air Force and his successful transition into corporate leadership. On this episode of CXO Conversations, Chili reflects on problem-solving and leadership training, the astronaut band Max Q, and the experience of flying t...

What does it take to transform one of the world's most respected publications without losing its identity? In this episode of CXO Conversations, David Cox discusses his 14 years at The Economist, including his role as CFO and COO, where he spearheaded the company's global shift from print to digital and live events. He explains how he balanced editorial independence with client demands, why pricin...

In "Leading an Iconic Brand Through a Global Transformation," David Cox, former CFO of The Economist, shares how he helped guide the publication through its bold shift from weekly print to a digital-first and live events model. On this episode of CXO Conversations, David reflects on early digital adoption, the value of listening to clients, and how consultative selling reshaped the way advertisers...