Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts)

What if failure unlocks everything? COO Gaurav Juneja didn’t climb the ladder—he took the hard route no one wanted… and built the ladder himself. He failed early. He raised his hand for the toughest projects. He switched industries. He even coached squash at Harvard before becoming COO of a national fiber infrastructure company (Consolidated Communications/Fidium Fiber) 🎧 Discover Gaurav's empowe...

How do you revive a 100-year-old brand… without playing it safe? Andy Mecs, President of Chicken of the Sea, didn’t just inherit a legacy—he reshaped it. But not by chasing trends. Not by copying the competition. And definitely not by playing defense. Instead, he made a series of bold moves that most would’ve avoided— And in the process, turned a fading favorite into a rising force. In this episod...

Warehouse Unrest. 3 AM. T-shirt soaked in sweat. Alone. That’s where Joe Perkins, now COO of Carolina Handling, found himself early in his career —after pushing team productivity too far, too fast. 💥 His team walked out . But instead of doubling down, Joe went back in— this time with humility. Together, they rewrote the rules. Built a new plan. And blew past the goals he thought were impossible....

Flex. Adapt. Win. That’s the playbook for Ananta Islam, CEO at Körber Supply Chain Americas, who’s scaling a global operation with one mission: Build teams that trust, strategies that empower, and a culture that moves at the speed of change. Here’s what stood out in our conversation: 👉 Why leadership must flex across generations—even down to emojis 👉 The underrated power of self-awareness (and s...

Lifeline in a War Zone 📡 Nicole Robinson, President of DataPath, shares the harrowing moment when her team’s satellite system—the world’s largest fleet of defense-certified terminals—helped civilians escape to safety.... ...in the middle of a war. ⚠️ This wasn’t luck. It was leadership. And for Nicole and her team, saving lives isn’t a one-time story—it’s the mission. Every. Single. Day. Imagine...

🍴 CHEF’S FIRE. Talent gets you started. Obsession takes you further. But it’s fire and vision that forges a true chef. Mike Lata , James Beard Award-winning chef and founder of Charleston’s celebrated FIG and The Ordinary , didn’t just build restaurants — ...he's built a legacy grounded in passion, resilience, and relentless pursuit of excellence. In this conversation, Mike shares what few ever s...

Some leaders manage. Some leaders survive. A rare few — power the world. Brad Childers , President and CEO of Archrock , doesn’t just lead a company. He fuels the infrastructure that powers modern life — keeping energy flowing when the world needs it most. With over a decade as CEO and a 30-year career at the intersection of energy, innovation, and strategy , Brad has a deep conviction about the r...

💥 Ever felt like the underdog… and wondered if you could actually win? Richard Leurig, President of Accruent, built an entire career out of beating industry titans — with speed, clarity, and purpose. ✅ Outlasted the mortgage meltdown ✅ Scaled MoneyGram in a federal crisis ✅ Built “The Better Everyday Way” In this bold episode, he shares how to lead through chaos, simplify to grow, and turn set...

What happens when a doctor, raised to save lives, suddenly finds himself in the high-stakes world of business with no playbook to guide him? Dr. David Stern, CEO of Experity, opens up about his journey from the fast-paced world of urgent care to leading a tech company that serves thousands of clinics across the country. But his isn’t just a story of business success—it’s a story of raw determinati...

The Hard Conversation What if your biggest leadership breakthrough, started with a brutally honest performance review? Well Shri Parikh, didn’t just turn around an underperforming team member—he changed that person’s life. And in return? That person incredibly mentored his teenage son through one of the most difficult chapters of his life. The result? A lifelong bond… and a leader reborn. Shri is...

What if your biggest leadership advantage… was knowing when to say less ? Today’s guest is Hans Stig Moller, CEO of Odyssey Logistics—a global logistics powerhouse that moves freight across 130 countries. But here’s the twist: Hans doesn’t lead with volume. He leads with calm. Curiosity. And radical humility. Raised in Denmark, shaped by gritty experience in the shipping yards, and guided by a dee...

Where do you draw the line as a leader? Stan Howell, a pharmaceutical powerhouse with 25+ years at giants like Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Novartis, shares a powerful message. He's now risen to the corner office as COO at Wedgewood holding true to his personal values and guiding principles. Wedgewood is the largest US veterinary compounding pharmacy , serving over 70,000 vets and one million...

Powerful Healing Force Dr. Tom Britton, CEO of Accanto Health, shares how his personal experience with addiction and recovery has shaped his approach to leadership. He's powerfully leveraged it to build a thriving culture at Accanto Health, the parent company of the Emily Program and Gather Behavioral Health. They focus on treating those impacted by eating disorders and other behavioral heath chal...

Data Doesn't Lie! Andrew Frawley, CEO of Data Axle, shares the key for leveraging data and AI to create emotional connections at scale...a game-changer for EVERY business. It's incredible they equip organizations to leverage a database of 90 million businesses and 300 million consumers to find their best customers. Forget Mad Men, this is the new era of connection. You'll learn how AI can predict...

Are you a true leader? Ever wonder what happens when a leader loses their title? Josh Whitley, CEO of AlaTrade Foods, reveals the raw truth about leadership, identity, and the importance of life beyond the job. In this gripping interview, Josh shares his journey from climbing the ranks to facing a layoff, and the profound lessons he learned along the way. It's a wake-up call for any leader priorit...

Your AI Edge Fredrik Thomassen, CEO and Founder of Superside, stands at the forefront of the AI creative revolution. His mission is to empower in-house creative teams, often overlooked and under-resourced, by unlocking the transformative power of AI. Superside, serving giants like Amazon, Salesforce, and Vimeo, is proving that AI is the creative edge that teams need. You'll hear how Fredrik and hi...

Unstoppable Resilience Ever been laid off? Patricia Coan, COO at Pura, has not once, not twice, but THREE times! But her story isn't one of defeat. It's a powerful lesson in resilience and adaptability that every leader needs to hear. How did those setbacks actually accelerate her career? You'll have to listen to believe it. Patricia shares how those experiences shaped her leadership, offering inv...

Razat Gaurav, CEO of Planview, shares his experience leading a company formed by merging three competing entities. Imagine the challenge of uniting three rival companies with distinct cultures and values into a cohesive team. This is the situation he faced when he took the helm at Planview. You'll learn the powerful strategy he used to build trust, establish a shared vision, and align incentives a...

Limitless Energy Source? The future of energy is changing, and business leaders NEED to know what's coming. Michael Ginsburg, President of Tokamak Energy USA, distills he groundbreaking potential of fusion energy and how it can revolutionize our world! 🤯 This is NOT just a pipe dream! Michael, a leading expert in energy and the fusion industry, boils down the opportunity, the latest advancements,...

Ditch Fear Jeff Mills, President of iMerit, shares a difficult moment in his career when he was asked to do something that completely went against his core values. What do you do when your leader asks you to do something that you don't believe in? For Jeff, it was an easy decision, but it wasn't a popular one. What would you do in this situation? He also shares why fear is a relic of the past, a s...

Take Charge Courage Kristy Knichel, President and CEO of Knichel Logistics, shares THE defining moment in her leadership journey. Despite being appointed President, Kristy faced a situation that challenged her authority and tested her resolve. Discover how she defied expectations, navigated family dynamics, and took courageous action to protect her company. Learn from her experience and gain valua...

AI is Changing Everything Do you feel like you and your team are barely keeping up? Marco Santos, Global CEO of GFT Technologies, shares his insights on navigating change and leading in a world of constant transformation...specifically the AI revolution. His journey from computer science student to global CEO provides an incredible perspective on adapting to new technologies and leading teams thro...

Kindness Conquers Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean, reveals how prioritizing kindness fuels business success. Discover how Club Med's values, mirroring Carolyne's own, create a positive work environment that boosts employee engagement and customer satisfaction. Learn how kindness can be a powerful tool for achieving extraordinary results, fostering a su...

Listen then Win. Matt Hartman, Chairman and CEO of One Compass Holdings and FST Logistics, shares a candid story about a painful realization that led to monumental business growth. This difficult moment drove Matt's decision to conduct 60+ personal interviews with employees and customers. It uncovered a critical issue that changed everything. You'll hear why Matt's story is a testament to the powe...

Pay It Forward Power How does a 15-year-old emancipated minor go on to become the CEO of a leading healthcare organization? Lynn Mason, CEO North America of IVI RMA Global, shares her extraordinary journey from emancipated teen to securing a full-ride scholarship to Washington University and attending Stanford Business School as one of just six black women in her class. Discover how these experien...