The Scaling Executive

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Karla Johnson, CEO of the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School. Karla shares how her view of leadership changed completely over 30 years — from trying to do everything herself to realizing that true leadership is about what you get done through your team. We also talk about building trust, scaling education with technology, and preparing the next generation of le...

In this episode, I talk with Fran Brzyski, the CEO and co-founder of Hark, a feedback intelligence platform that turns customer stories into business insight. Fran shares why believing in yourself (even when it feels a little crazy) is what it really takes to build something great. We also talk about scaling empathy with AI, trusting your gut as a founder, and learning how to scale yourself before...

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Shevelenko, CEO and co-founder of Relayto AI, to explore how AI is redefining the way we share ideas. Alex explains why information alone doesn’t move people — and how static documents like PDFs and slides are holding companies back. He shares his lessons from scaling SuccessFactors to a $3.4B exit and why every business must design intelligent, interactive co...

In this episode, I sit down with Norberto Clemente, founder of ProTopVA, to talk about the art of letting go. Norberto shares how founders can escape the chaos of doing it all, build systems that scale, and delegate with confidence. He explains why every entrepreneur must shift from hustle to structure — because holding on too long keeps your business from growing. A must-listen for CEOs learning...

In this episode, I sit down with Kian Alavi, CEO of Mazlo, to talk about purpose, leadership, and building tech that serves the greater good. Kian shares why he believes it’s immoral to let nonprofits fight for good with outdated tools, how values alignment builds trust, and how AI can help nonprofits close the gap and scale impact faster. A powerful reminder that capitalism and compassion must gr...

In this episode, I sit down with Dario Markovic, CEO of Eric Javits, to discuss what it really takes to transform a 40-year-old luxury brand for the digital age. Dario shares how focusing on less helped him scale more, why patience beats speed, and how discipline and focus can help any leader balance legacy with growth. A must-listen for CEOs driving transformation without losing their roots.

In this episode, I talk with Francois Byrne, the CEO of Hybrid Power Solutions. He shares his journey from building his first prototypes in his parents’ basement to running a successful clean-tech company. We talk about why your first hires should be your most experienced people and how trying to save money on talent can end up costing you much more. Francois also shares what he has learned about...

In this episode, I sit down with AJ Bruno, the CEO of QuotaPath and a two-time founder. We talk about why every software company needs to become AI-first to survive. AJ shares how AI is changing leadership, productivity, and company culture, and what CEOs can do to adapt fast. He also speaks highly of our coaching work together and how it has shaped his leadership approach. We discuss his lessons...

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Chavez, founder of super{set}, the startup studio that builds and scales data-driven companies from scratch. Tom has sold companies to Microsoft and Salesforce, generating over 17x returns for investors. We talk about why data isn’t something to process, it’s the main event, how ego can stop CEOs from scaling, and why the best leaders stay curious like kids.

In this episode, I sit down with Avanish Sahai, the executive behind Salesforce’s AppExchange, Google Cloud’s partner ecosystem, and ServiceNow’s explosive growth. We talk about what CEOs often get wrong about scaling, why purpose is the real growth engine, and how AI is changing not just business, but people. He also shares lessons from his work at the Stanford Center on Longevity, exploring the...

In this episode, I talk with Jason Baumgarten, Global Head of the CEO and Board Practice at Spencer Stuart, about what it really takes to step into the CEO role. We discuss how to know if it’s the right time, what boards actually look for in top leaders, why self-awareness matters more than ambition, and how technology and AI are redefining what great leadership looks like today.

In this episode, I talk with Joshua Daiter, CEO and co-founder of Inventory, about how he built a lean, product-driven company that uses AI to transform how the wine industry operates. Joshua shares how his team replaced costly manual workflows with AI systems that saved them over a million dollars — while improving accuracy and speed. We also discuss scaling from product to CEO mindset, learning...

In this episode, I sit down with Sheldon Fernandez, CEO and AI strategist, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming leadership and scale. We talk about bias in AI, the ethics behind machine decision-making, explainability, and what happens when technology becomes more powerful than its creators understand. Sheldon also shares his personal journey from technologist to CEO and why the...

In this episode, I talk with Jamie Shanks; a three-time founder who built and scaled Sales for Life and now leads GetLeverage. We discuss how loyalty, poor structure, and doing everything yourself can quietly destroy your business. Jamie shares the lessons behind his biggest failures, why most CEOs overpay for low-value work, and how global talent and AI can rebuild margin and freedom.

In this episode, I sit down with Joshua Fairbairn, CEO of MorphoMFG. We talk about how loyalty can quietly hold back growth and why the people who helped you start your company may not be the ones to help you scale it. Joshua shares lessons from building his business in China, what it takes to maintain quality while growing fast, and the tough decisions every CEO eventually faces.

In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Austin, CEO of Cognota, to talk about why impatience destroys more companies than competition ever could. We discuss the costly mistakes founders make, how to build better leadership alignment, and what it really takes to scale without burning out. Ryan also shares how AI is reshaping the way we run businesses today.

Glenn Gow talks with Sebastien Gendron, CEO and Co-Founder of TransPod, about building a team that can think and act beyond the founder. Sebastien shares how to scale a startup tackling one of the world’s biggest challenges—high-speed transportation—and why true leaders hire people who can solve problems they can’t.

Glenn Gow talks with Julie Szudarek, CEO of Self Financial, about how real leadership means balancing empathy with accountability. Julie shares lessons from scaling companies like Groupon, ATIDA, and Self Financial, leading through chaos, and why hard conversations are the most powerful form of kindness.

Glenn Gow talks with Devon MacDonald, CEO of Cairns O’Neill, about what it takes to lead with integrity when doing the right thing comes with a cost. Devon shares lessons from scaling global agencies, building teams that grow with change, taking a public stand on Twitter, and using AI to stay ahead in a fast-moving industry.

Shannon Swift has spent over two decades helping CEOs scale the people side of their companies, from leading HR at Zillow to founding Swift HR Solutions. In this conversation with Glenn Gow, she explains why people are hired for what they know but fired for who they are, how settling on the wrong hire destroys culture, what CEOs secretly admit behind closed doors, and why turnover is far more cost...

From chess grandmaster to tech CEO, Mark Bluvshtein has mastered the art of strategy under pressure. He helped scale Wave through hypergrowth to a $500M exit and now leads Collage HR. In this conversation with Glenn Gow, Mark shares why promoting your best people into management can ruin their superpower, why learning to say no is critical for CEOs, and how AI is reshaping the future of HR. It’s a...

Tom Alexander has spent his career at the intersection of people, policy, and technology — from the mayor’s office in Chicago to COO of 1871 and now CEO of Holistic. In this conversation with Glenn Gow, he reveals why internal communication is the true cheat code for scaling, why perks like snacks and ping pong are distractions, how leaders sabotage themselves by ignoring culture, and how AI can h...

In this episode, Glenn Gow sits down with Matt Cohen, CEO of PlaySpace, to unpack the hard truths of scaling in digital health. Matt shares why theory often looks right on paper but fails in reality, how market timing and geography shape growth, and why purpose-driven leadership matters in fixing broken systems. From tackling mental health accessibility to leveraging AI responsibly, Matt reveals t...

In this episode of the Scaling CEO Podcast, Glenn Gow talks with Jennifer Barnes, founder and CEO of Optima Office. Jennifer has built two fast-growing companies by putting people first. Her core belief is simple: “people over profits.” She shares how this approach led to 86% employee retention in a tough industry, why hiring for kindness matters, and how CEOs can avoid burnout in their teams. Jen...

In this episode of the Scaling CEO Podcast, Glenn Gow talks with Leigh Feldman, CEO of Youth Franchise Brands and former Google leader, about why not everything that’s measured truly matters. Leigh shares lessons from building iconic brands like Google, Nike, and Disney, and explains how CEOs can scale without losing the soul of their brand. From helping franchisees succeed in local markets to usi...