The Modern CEO Podcast

The Modern CEO's Guide to the Chief of Staff Role In this episode of The Modern CEO, we covered the rising significance of the Chief of Staff role, joined by experienced Chief of Staff Catherine Shepherd and Nick from the Chief of Staff Association. Catherine provides an insightful look into her day-to-day responsibilities, the importance of building trust and authority, and how she amplifies...

The Modern CEO Podcast, Episode 3: The CEO’s Guide to Success (Execution-First Leadership) What separates good CEOs from great ones? In this episode of The Modern CEO, Joe is joined by Professor Steven Kaplan of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business,  one of the world’s leading voices on CEO performance, hiring, and boards. About the guest: Steve Kaplan is a top private equity scholar...

Episode 2 — The CEO’s Guide to Being Punched in the Face (Metaphorically, Mostly) What does it really feel like to lead when the stakes are high, the spotlight’s on you, and everything’s breaking at once? In this episode of The Modern CEO , Joe sits down with Roan Lavery , CEO and co-founder of FreeAgent — a UK-based accounting software platform for small businesses. They talk about the real punch...

What really happens when the CEO–investor relationship breaks down? In this bold first episode of The Modern CEO , Joe Leech and guest Paul Traynor (veteran VC and author) unpack the unspoken dynamics between CEOs and private equity investors. Expect sharp insight, real stories, and the kind of candor that never makes it into investor decks. From brutal clarity to boardroom blowups, we talk about:...

The Rules Have Changed. Welcome to The Modern CEO. This new season of the podcast is for leaders who aren’t following the old rules, they’re rewriting them. In this short kickoff, Joe Leech shares what to expect this season: unfiltered conversations, bold insights, and real talk about power, pressure, presence, and the hard calls every CEO has to make. No fluff. No safe takes. Let’s redefine leade...