Real World Leaders

How far does inspiration take you? Moore High School and Belmont Charter High School students interview Jon Etter, President of B&G Manufacturing, and Jake Leone, CEO of Corporate Interiors, and discuss opening doors, slamming doors, remembering to celebrate, and having empathy.

 When is a B+ better than an A? Real World Leaders Institute externs interview Jim Ashton, General Partner of Newspring Capital, and Scott Rankin, CEO of Vulcan Spring, and discuss how to succeed with A.I., taking the limits off, and the most important things in life.

 When should you take dirty, hairy things off a plate? Real World Leaders Institute externs interview Eric Logan, CEO of Jacob Stern & Sons, and also go into deeper detail about their own dreams and aspirations. Listen as we discuss faith and fitness, everybody's isms, and the love of art.

When is looking like a fool okay? Real World Leaders Institute externs interview Sam Thevanayagam, President & CEO of Parts Life, Inc. DeVal Lifecycle Support, and LC Engineers, Inc., and Marc Albero, General Manager of PAC Strapping, and discuss prep school guys gone wild, being a good steward, and reserved parking spaces.

In this episode our first guest CEO dives deep into two critical pillars of lasting success: relationships and responsibility. First, we explore the undeniable power of networking—how talking to your peers, building connections, and surrounding yourself with the right people can open doors you never imagined. In business, it truly is about who you know. Then, we shift to leadership—the kind that t...

What does it take to just keep showing up? Real World Leaders Institute externs interview Joe Hand Jr.,President of Joe Hand Promotions, and Chris DiPaolo, President and CEO of Protecs, and discuss keeping an open mind, the two most valuable skills you can develop, and using your heart.

What's that about a solo act? Real World Leaders Institute externs and DC International School students interview Bill Edmonds, CEO of B&G Manufacturing, and Brett Levin, President of MHS Lift, and discuss not empowering the next generation, being a cook, and not having a set path.

n this motivating episode, our CEO's Bill Cumby III of Cumby Construction & Kareem Afzal of PD Machines talk about embracing the mindset that life—and your career—is never truly perfected. There’s always another step to take, another goal to reach, and something new to improve. That constant pursuit of growth is what keeps us sharp, humble, and motivated. Student reflections bring it home, esp...

 In this inspiring episode, a bold CEO encourages students to take the leap—to move beyond fear and step into the unknown with confidence. You'll also hear from a student whose biggest takeaway is the power of curiosity—how asking questions and staying open can lead to unexpected opportunities and life-changing connections. Whether you're choosing a career path or figuring out your next step, this...

As an entrepreneur, who's your boss? Belmont Charter High School and Hatboro-Horsham High School students interview Scott Hamberger, Retired CEO of Fortessa Tablewear Solutions, and Joe Arcangelo, Co-founder & Managing Partner of inSeption Group, and discuss failure, the foundation for starting a business, and being stubborn.

What does doing your best get you? Academies at Roxborough High School and Prep Charter High School students interview Joe Gambone, CEO of the Gambone Group, and Todd Shumacher, CEO of Vici Media, and discuss the fun of hard work, being detail-oriented in social situations, and how not to burn out.

What's the downside of planning? Executive Education Academy Charter School and Tacony Academy Charter High School students interview Joe Arcangelo, Co-founder & Managing Partner of inSeption Group, and Nate Bower, President of Rebling, and having work as a hobby, making your boss's life easier, and working hard but not too hard.

What makes a family? Tacony Academy Charter High School and Legends Charter School students interview Tara Carcillo, President & CEO of The Clearing, and Javier Solis, Founder & CEO of Toro Taxes, and discuss not backing down, moving past an idea into action, and building your inner circle. 

Can't we all just get along? Franklin Towne Charter High School and Sankofa Freedom Academy students interview Ernie Hanna, Senior Consultant at GZA, and John Blaskovich, CEO of MedEast, and discuss the keys to working together, having a village to push you, and getting a good dinner out of the deal. 

What's the worst part of life? Norristown Area High School and Freire Charter High School students interview Joe Arcangelo, Co-founder & Managing Partner at inSeption Group, and Jonathan Evans, President & CEO of B&A, and discuss commonalities between bartenders and newspaper writers, what resilience really is, and winning where you can.

What does Culture eat for breakfast? KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy and TECH-Freire Charter High School students interview Craig Edsill, CEO of Clemens Food Group, and Mary Marcus, CEO of NewAge Industries, and discuss the importance of people, setting goals, and how to have fun.

What does “just go for it” look like? Upper Perkiomen High School and New Hope-Solebury High School students interview Gary Rubin, Sales Manager at Imperial Dade, and Paul Chantler, President of Sovereign Property Management, and discuss being an outsider, learning from many different sources, and how to be the biggest winner.

 Listen to our interview with students from KIPP Dubois Collegiate Academy as they interview Annie Frankel, former Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University. Listen as Annie provides the students with guidance and encouragement to step out of their comfort zones, raise their hands when opportunities...

In this episode of Real World Leaders, Larry Bendesky, Managing Partner at Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Bendesky, shares what it means to be at the center of the action—both on the baseball field and in the courtroom. From flipping burgers to leading one of Pennsylvania’s top personal injury law firms, Larry’s journey is built on hustle, teamwork, and learning from failure. He believes that empathy is just...

Students from Manassas Park High School interview Larry Blue, former CEO of Bell + Howell, and hear his insights on the importance of being present and actively listening to others, cultivating curiosity, staying flexible in the face of change, and embracing continuous learning. Through his experiences, students learn how these principles can shape effective leadership, foster strong relationships...

 ASPIRA Bilingual Cyber Charter School students sit down with Kevin O'Donnell, Owner and CEO of O'Donnell Roofing Co., to discuss leadership, work-life balance, and why it's important not to be too hard on yourself. Followed by, Is a career in banking all about the money? Listen as students from Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School interview Dave Freeman, President and CEO of QNB bank and learn how...

Tacony Academy Charter High School students interview Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage, and hear valuable insights on how staying true to yourself and seeking out guidance from others can help you reach your goals. Followed by, How do you build a pharma company dedicated to addressing women's health needs? In this episode, Legends Charter School student cohosts an inspiring conversation with Gerianne...

 Joe Messner, CEO & Founder of JGM, knows what it takes to rise, fall, and climb back to the top. Coming from a long line of construction entrepreneurs, he watched his family go from success to struggle and back again, shaping his relentless drive. A former football center and childhood leader, he understands the value of teamwork and resilience. Join us as Joe shares his journey of grit, grow...

Chris Caba, CEO of Total Rental, turned a childhood dream into a thriving business. Growing up in Phoenixville, PA, as the youngest of four, he spent his summers working in the family rental business, learning the ropes from an early age. After the loss of his father, Chris took the company from just 8 employees to 120, fueled by his competitive drive and passion for leadership. A former hockey te...

Listen as John Rapchinski, Principal at Maximus Partners shares his story of having 200 cousins and taking his dad's advice to work hard in everything he does has led to his success in business and life. Listen as John provides advice and guidance to students from Norristown Area High School about seeing past the dollars and cents and seeing the people you are helping. Followed by our interview wi...