CXO Conversations

What does it take to go from West Point to the corner office? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Jack Blaha, CEO of Cendyn, opens up about his path from Army officer to five-time SaaS CEO and the lessons he's learned along the way. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability, continuous leadership development, and building a strong professional network, while sharing strategies for excelling i...

In "West Point to CEO," Jack Blaha , CEO of Cendyn, shares his remarkable journey from Army veteran to seasoned executive leading multiple SaaS companies. On this episode of CXO Conversations, Jack reflects on how military-honed adaptability and leadership shaped his transition into the corporate world, from hospitality to social media marketing software. He discusses the impact of emotional intel...

What does it take to go from making cold calls to leading a hyperscale data center company powering the cloud? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Laura Ortman, CEO of COLOGIX, shares her journey through pivotal roles across tech, the lessons she carried into the C-suite, and why broad business experience is critical for informed leadership. She reflects on perseverance, mentorship, and transfor...

In "Leading with Impact: Laura Ortman's Journey to CEO at COLOGIX," Laura shares how her career path—spanning Lockheed Martin, Jeppesen, VMware, and Hologic—prepared her to lead North America's leading network-neutral interconnection and Hyperscale Edge data center company. On this episode of CXO Conversations, she discusses the unique challenges of scaling with private equity partners, her custom...

From Army paratrooper to Chief Transformation Officer, Sean Odendahl's career path is a masterclass in adaptability and leadership. In this episode of CXO Conversations, discover his lessons on mergers, building high-performing teams, and creating a culture of trust and feedback. For the full interview: https://ocns.co/sean-odendahl-partner-and-chief-transformation-officer/    #mentorship #executi...

Mentorship and direct feedback can make or break a career. Sean Odendahl , Chief Transformation Officer, joins CXO Conversations to discuss how candid conversations, military discipline, and legal expertise shaped his leadership style. A must-listen for executives and future leaders.  For the full interview: https://ocns.co/sean-odendahl-partner-and-chief-transformation-officer/   #mentorship #exe...

What makes a successful executive worth following? In this CXO Conversations episode, Rand Lewis—accomplished investor, co-founder of Delta-v Capital, and former McKinsey consultant—shares lessons from hiring and backing leaders across some of tech's most recognized companies, including Zayo, Iterable, and Chegg. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Rand explains the traits he looks for...

With over 24 years of experience in venture capital and private equity, Rand Lewis has seen what separates good leaders from great ones. In this episode of CXO Conversations, the Managing Partner and co-founder of Delta-v Capital—whose investments include Zayo, Cloud Sherpa, LogRhythm, Iterable, and Chegg—shares why he invests not just capital, but real relationships. Rand also offers candid advic...

From co-founding Techstars to authoring several books on startup leadership, Brad Feld has spent decades shaping the future of entrepreneurship. In this episode of CXO Conversations, Brad talks about the evolving role of boards, why supporting the CEO is a board's most critical responsibility, and how diversity and culture drive long-term success. He also shares stories from the Colorado Trail and...

What does it really take to build an effective board and foster a thriving startup community? In this episode of CXO Conversations, Brad Feld —venture capitalist at Foundry Group, Techstars co-founder, and co-author of the released second edition of Startup Boards—shares lessons from serving on more than 30 boards (and why he'll never do that again). Brad also reflects on leadership, diversity, an...

From Director to President overnight—Stephen Brown's career pivot is the stuff of bold leadership moves. In this CXO Conversations episode, Stephen tells the story of how one transition memo at Travelers Insurance turned into running an entire division in California. He opens up about the challenges of leading executives older than him, the importance of continuous improvement, and how he built th...

What happens when you propose leading a transition project—and instead get promoted to President overnight? In this episode of CXO Conversations titled "Creating the President Role for Yourself at 32 Years Old," Stephen Brown shares how a bold memo at Travelers Insurance changed his career forever. Thrust into leading an older C-suite generation at just 32, Stephen talks about overcoming self-doub...

Big news from CXO Conversations. After 70+ in-depth interviews with executives across the C-suite landscape, we're unlocking the best moments. Starting soon, you'll get 10-minute clips—actionable insights on leadership, hiring, growth, and navigating the C-suite. These clips will give you a front-row seat to how leaders think, decide, and lead. Actional insight you can apply to your career growth....

In this episode, host Michael Mitchel interviews Laura Hamirani, a speech language pathologist specializing in therapy for voice disorders. They discuss vocal executive presence and preventing vocal strain in the new Zoom culture. Laura emphasizes the importance of vocal warm-ups, breathing techniques, and vocal hygiene for maintaining a healthy voice. They also explore the impact of remote work a...

In this episode of CXO Conversations, Michael Mitchel interviews Anna Conrad, CEO of Impact Leadership Solutions, about executive coaching and the changing landscape of executive presence. They discuss the importance of reflection, self- awareness, and personal growth in executive coaching. They also explore how executive presence has evolved over the years, emphasizing the need for authenticity,...

In this episode of CXO Conversations, Michael interviews Mike Murphy , Managing Partner of Sunstone Management Advisors, about the skills he gained during his career growth in the insurance industry and the advice he received throughout his career. They discuss the importance of building a diverse skill set and over earning your pay. They also emphasize the value of having an internal Sherpa who a...

Abbas Udawala is the CFO of Hexagon Digital Wave who is a seasoned financial veteran with a track record of turning companies around. He joins us today to share his insights on leadership  and building a strong personal brand. With a resume that includes nine transactions and executive roles in multiple industries, Abbas knows a thing or two about navigating the complex world of business. He's bee...

Veracode's CRO Andre Cuenin joins CXO Conversations and shares his journey from sales to the C suite. He doesn't like the title Chief Revenue Officer as it puts the focus on him versus the customer. Andre moved from presales to sales by having a post presentation conversation with a customer; he casually asked for the signature. During the conversation, Andre shares his three core management philo...

In this episode, Dave Wynne , CFO of Hootsuite, discusses his career journey, from starting as a consultant to becoming a leading financial executive. He shares how his foundational consulting experience applies across different industries and shaped him into the leader he is today. Dave dives into his unique perspective on the CFO role, comparing it to the central nervous system of a company. He...

Join Michael Mitchel for a sneak peek into the upcoming season of CXO Conversations. We've lined up a stellar lineup of guests who share their invaluable perspectives and experiences on leadership, innovation, and success. From Dave Wynne , CFO of Hootsuite , discussing the power of internal sponsorship, to Carlos Abisambra , former CEO of Travelers Haven , sharing insights on scaling a business s...

As CXO Conversations wraps up another season, host Michael Mitchel reflects on the increasing role of AI in our daily lives. From streamlining tasks to enhancing productivity, Michael shares practical examples of how AI is making an impact, both personally and professionally. Join us for a brief yet insightful episode, and stay tuned for the return of engaging interviews next spring!   More episod...

In this special edition of CXO Conversations, host Michael Mitchel revisits an engaging dialogue with John Vranas , who at the time was the Chief Development Officer for the Humane Society of America. This episode covers a breadth of topics that all can benefit from; from program creation to donor ( or sales) engagement and executive leadership preparation.  John's insights transcend organizationa...

Join host Michael Mitchel as he welcomes back Ben Deda, CEO of Food Maven, for a revealing look at the company's four-year journey. Explore key milestones, strategic shifts, and insights into navigating challenges in the food industry. Gain valuable lessons in leadership, resilience, and adaptability while gaining optimism for the future of Denver's startup ecosystem.   Full show notes and resourc...

In this episode of CXO Conversations, host Michael Mitchel revisits an insightful interview with Ben Deda, CEO of Food Maven, and co-founder of Denver Startup Week. This conversation dives deep into Food Maven's mission to combat food waste by revolutionizing the distribution model, prioritizing sustainability, efficiency, and community impact.  Ben shares his personal journey transitioning from t...

In this episode of CXO Conversations, host Michael Mitchel engages with Laura Ortman , CEO of COLOGIX , to explore her dynamic journey from the athletic fields through various pivotal roles in the tech industry to her current position at the helm of a leading network-neutral interconnection and Hyperscale Edge data center company. Laura shares her comprehensive insights into the power of teamwork,...