From The Top with Chad Hesters

What if the difference between burnout and sustained high performance came down to four fundamental skills? In this episode, Chad Hesters sits down with Dr. Amy Athey, a performance psychologist who's spent 25+ years helping everyone from Navy SEALs to Fortune 500 executives show up at their best, to explore why most leaders miss the holistic approach to performance, how the "four C's" composed, c...

What if the secret to scaling a billion-dollar business came down to one principle: never let your people feel the fear you felt on day one? In this episode of From the Top with Chad Hesters, host Chad Hesters sits down with Josephine Sukkar AM, co-founder of construction powerhouse Buildcorp, to explore how intentional, controlled growth builds lasting culture, why family business partnerships re...

From starting as "employee number seven" at a startup to becoming a multi-exit entrepreneur and award-winning CEO, Donald Thompson shares his blueprint for elite leadership. In this conversation with Chad Hesters, discover how "hustling with humility," fostering psychological safety, and leading with empathy drive organizational success. Learn valuable lessons on making tough decisions, navigating...

What makes a leader truly effective in high-stakes, complex environments? In this episode, Chad Hesters sits down with Jonny Gray, a global sports executive and former military commander, to explore how to lead through uncertainty, manage competing stakeholder interests, and build resilient teams when the stakes—and emotions—run exceptionally high. Whether you're navigating regulatory challenges,...

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, successful leadership requires a combination of curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to balance specialist expertise with generalist perspectives. In this episode of From the Top, host Chad Hesters speaks with Xenia Wickett, founder of Wickett Advisory and former leader at prestigious institutions including Chatham House and the US National Secur...

From navigating military leadership to steering a $3B telecom enterprise, Laurent Therivel shares candid insights on authentic leadership, strategic career progression, and maintaining work-life balance in today's complex business environment. In this engaging conversation with Chad Hesters, discover how playing to your strengths while acknowledging weaknesses, building genuine consensus, and mast...

Global complexity and rapid change are fundamentally reshaping how leaders must think, operate, and make decisions in an increasingly unpredictable world. In this inaugural episode of From the Top with Chad Hesters engages with Gordon Dee Smith, CEO of Strategic Insight Group (SIG) and expert in intelligence and global change analysis, to explore how leaders can navigate today's volatile business...

Welcome to From the Top, the podcast for CEOs, founders, and decision makers looking for a straightforward perspective on issues facing global leaders. No fluff, no jargon, just real conversations with people who've made tough calls, sometimes got it wrong, but figured it out and are here to share what they learned. If you're ready to make better leadership decisions and avoid the costly ones.