The Executive Podcast

Elly Perets , joined as CEO of Asterra, a technology by Utilis in 2015. Previously, he founded Progressive Labs and served as the CEO, providing an innovative SAAS-based software solution for retailers worldwide. In this conversation, Elly, and I discuss how to build a culture of innovation and prioritization, the gift of boredom, and the importance of saying no in order to say yes. Find out more...

Cordell Bennigson, is an experienced leader with a diverse background spanning public and private companies, large and small businesses, for profit and not-for-profit organizations, and military and private sector careers. He is currently a leadership instructor with Echelon Front and an independent coach and advisor for executives and teams. In this conversation, Cordell and I discuss how change...

Doug Bouton is the cofounder of Halo Top , the iconic low-calorie ice cream brand that grew to more than $300 million in sales and became the #1 selling ice cream in the United States, outselling the likes of Ben & Jerry’s, Haagen-Dazs, and Breyers. Halo Top sold its business in September 2019, after which Doug spun out Halo Top’s international operations into Halo Top International where he c...

Nirit Harel, A veteran of the Israeli start-up environment with 20+ years of turnaround, marketing, and management experience positioning ventures for growth, public offering, and acquisition, including MRV Communications which subsequently reached a valuation of $5B+ (NASDAQ MRVC). Nirit has extensive experience negotiating partnerships with world leaders in the European Framework Program/ Horizo...

Tinia Pina began her career in sustainability as a former student pursuing a Masters of Science degree at Columbia University prior to becoming the CEO and Founder of Re-Nuble , Inc., an agricultural technology company headquartered in New York City. As a strong advocate for sustainable waste management and regenerative agriculture, she has been involved in management and business development role...

Paul Smith is the founder of Twelve Rivers and Rise Title . He grew up in New England and made a 4-year pit stop at Fort Hood before making his way down to Austin. The Army instilled in Paul many of the core values that he lives by today including honesty, integrity, and an unparalleled work ethic. Austin afforded him the opportunity to turn his passion into a career and he co-founded Twelve River...

Daniel Nicholson is the CEO of NadaMoo! , a plant-based ice cream brand based in Austin, Texas. Daniel discovered NadaMoo!, for himself, in 2008 after an introduction he received to the founder and her CFO business partner. Since immediately falling in love with the product and brand, NadaMoo! has become his sole focus for the past 13+ years. He started as the Controller, and after 3 years of this...

Christine Mei is the CEO of Gathered Foods , makers of Good Catch®, a chef-driven revolutionary food company developing flavorful, 100% plant-based seafood alternatives. She is a global leader with extensive consumer goods experience - based in the US, China, and Hong Kong - with roles in general management, marketing, strategy, sales, and operations. Christine has held various leadership position...

Rodney Northern is a Managing Partner at the Nucleus Group, CTO at the Behavioral Science Lab, and faculty member at the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business where he lectures and coaches in the curriculum of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He has been a corporate executive for over two decades specializing in brand marketing, business/product innovation and human centered design for...

Charlotte A. Lee  is the Managing Consultant, SVP and ICEO Advisor in the New York office of Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH), the world’s largest outplacement firm, with 300 offices in 67 countries, and has been awarded the Firm’s Global Coach of the Year Award for “Exceptional Consulting/Coaching Performance.,” the Firm’s Superstar award for the number one coach in the Northeast, and was selected t...

Shermin Kruse is an executive, attorney, consultant, author, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law adjunct professor, TED talk producer garnering millions of views, and thought leader with a long history of civic engagement.  Shermin is the founder and CEO of My Reality Cubed, providing organizational and management consulting; leadership, diversity, and inclusion training; stoic tactical empat...

What does it mean to be a leader? The Executive podcast highlights the career journeys, struggles, successes, and day to day experiences of leaders. Your host Dr. Benjamin Ritter brings over 10 years of experience as a leadership and career coach, L&D consultant, healthcare executive, and international speaker focused on guiding others in finding, creating, and sustaining a career they love. F...