The Leading Peers Podcast

In this conversation, Leo Popik and Matthew Dernis explore the journey of entrepreneurship, focusing on Matthew's experiences in financial planning. They discuss the importance of having a purpose, building trust with clients, and the challenges of starting and growing a business. Matthew shares insights on navigating partnerships, the significance of persistence, and the non-negotiables in cl...

What happens when two creative entrepreneurs turn a global crisis into a thriving agency built on empathy, strategy, and storytelling? In this episode, Steve Dobbins and Jason Leon-Baptista , co-founders of The Dobbins Group , share how they transformed challenge into opportunity — redefining what it means to build a people-first marketing company that helps CEOs grow with purpose. From a journali...

What does it take to scale an idea from a small startup to a $650M exit — and then shift gears into building a nonprofit that changes lives? Felipe Sommer’s journey from Argentina to Silicon Valley, from Accenture to Nearpod, and now to Bloom, is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, leadership, and purpose. His story blends resilience, strategy, and heart in ways few founders openly share. Felipe be...

Franck’s story is anything but ordinary. Born in France and raised between South Africa and the Congo, he went from working with Cartier, Tiffany, and Pandora to building his own advisory firm dedicated to helping family businesses grow, transition, and leave a legacy. In this deep and inspiring episode of the Leading Peers Podcast, Franck opens up about: ✅ What he learned from political uprising...

From undocumented teen to law firm founder and Pan-American jiu-jitsu champion—Larissa Salvador’s story is about grit, purpose, and leadership with heart. In this episode of The Leading Peers Podcast, host Leo Popik sits down with Larissa to explore her journey from the slums of Rio to becoming a U.S. citizen, business owner, mother of two, and resilient leader. She opens up about: The trauma and...

Welcome to The Leading Peers Podcast — Where Leaders Go to Grow. In this short trailer episode, host Leo Popik shares why he created this podcast, what you can expect from each episode, and how it’s designed to help CEOs and entrepreneurs grow through real stories, deep conversations, and leadership insights. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or simply seeking growth, this podcas...

More Information about Leading Peers: https://www.leadingpeers.com/ In this inspiring episode of Leading Peers, host Leo Popik sits down with Gonzalo Fernández—self‑made entrepreneur, family man, and CEO of Chamonix Yacht—to uncover how he went from cleaning bed sheets and parking cars to building a multi‑marina empire. You’ll learn: Grit & Gratitude: How Gonzalo’s childhood hustle at age five...