Unmasked: The CEO Files

We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader...

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why i...

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why i...

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why i...

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why i...

If you’re a CEO, founder, executive, or investor navigating growth and high-stakes decisions, this episode offers powerful insight into the invisible variables shaping leadership outcomes! 🔗 Connect with Kerry Siggins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/ Check out Kerry's books by visiting these two Amazon links: 📚Talk with Trust: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GX7N175H...

What if the fear holding you back was actually the fuel for your biggest breakthroughs? In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Patrick Sweeney - Wall Street Journal bestselling author, investor, entrepreneur, world-record athlete and globally recognized fear expert known as “The Fear Guru”. Patrick shares his incredible journey from battling rare leukemia and cripp...

In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, host Alan McLaren sits down with entrepreneur and YPO leader Jeff Cullen for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, neurodiversity, trust and building a values-based business that lasts. Jeff shares his journey from founding a Canadian logistics company at 27 to scaling it into a multinational organization across 17 countries and navigating both...

In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, host Alan McLaren chats with Richart Ruddie, Founder of Captain Compliance, to unpack the real journey behind building exiting and scaling businesses in fast-changing digital environments. From starting his career during the financial crisis to becoming an entrepreneur by accident, Richart shares how relentless learning shaped his leadership journey whil...

In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, host Alan McLaren sits down with Dusty Holcomb, a leadership advisor and YPO member for a deeply personal and insightful conversation on what it really takes to lead. From growing up homeschooled to building a 30-year career in leadership and corporate growth, Dusty shares the experiences that shaped his mindset and the lessons he learned from a retired...

Join Alan McLaren as he chats with Pádraig Ó Céidigh (teacher, lawyer, accountant, entrepreneur, and former senator) who built a €150M airline from the ground up, is a former winner of Ireland EY Entrepreneur of the Year and represented Ireland at EY World Entrepreneur of the Year. Alan and Pádraig discuss the art of purposeful decision-making in leadership, exploring how to align personal values...

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of business. Click the links below, hit that 'Follow' button, and let the journey towards a stronger, more authentic personal brand begin! Connect with us and learn more about how you can create your own authentic personal brand: Website: https://strataoriginals.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linke...

Running a family business is rewarding, but succession, buyouts, and leadership transitions are never simple. In this episode of STRATA Originals, Alan McLaren speaks with Chuck Phillips- CEO, board member, and family business consultant about the realities of keeping both businesses and families thriving across generations. Chuck unpacks the emotional, financial, and governance challenges that co...

While he may not wield a lightsaber, this Mark Hamill is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to guiding executives through the next chapter of their leadership journey! Mark Hamill, founder of The Naked Headhunter, Virtual Advisory Board, and MyFractional, joins Alan McLaren to break down how high-level executives can navigate life after the C-suite - and find new purpose, relevance, and opp...

From the Streets to the C-Suite, Kevin Johnson, CEO of WPP Media Group, joins Leanne to unpack what it really takes to lead with bold inclusive leadership. In this episode, Kevin shares the personal story behind his leadership: how one teacher nearly broke him and another lit the fire that never went out. That fire led him to the C-Suite and to Launchpad, an internal WPP program that trains people...

In this episode of STRATA Originals, Leanne Bucaro chats with Jeremy Sharpe, President of Sharpe Development Group on how he grew a multigenerational real estate and development company behind Rancho Sahuarita- a 3,000-acre award-winning master-planned community in Southern Arizona. Jeremy shares his passion for creating a better life for people through thoughtfully built communities. From residen...

In this STRATA Originals episode, Alan McLaren is joined by two industry leaders, David Tsubouchi and Marc Kealy, as they dive deep into their groundbreaking book, The Ripple Effect. Together, they explore how building authentic relationships, offering real value, and staying true to oneself can lead to long-term success and credibility in business and beyond. David Tsubouchi is an author, former...

In this episode of STRATA Originals, Alan McLaren chats with Smoke Wallin, YPO member and visionary entrepreneur who bridges business success with spiritual depth. Smoke discusses his pivotal moments and what it means to live consciously, rise above reactionary patterns, and lead with purpose. From supporting survivors of abuse to building solutions for homelessness, our guest opens up about two l...

In this episode of STRATA Originals, Leanne Bucaro chats with Amanda Reali, a compassionate therapist and coach and the founder of Mindful Path Wellness as she shares her journey to emotional resilience—and how you can start building YOURS today. From navigating conflict with curiosity to helping her daughter understand boundaries, Amanda shares real-world wisdom on how to manage your reactions, r...

In this episode, we explore: ➡️ The connection between childhood adversity and visionary leadership ➡️ How Justin and Patricia are helping entrepreneurs tell real stories ➡️ The danger of faking it—and the power of showing up authentically ➡️ What it means to build a personal legacy through relationships ➡️ Why inner work is the foundation for external success Connect with Justin Breen on LinkedIn...

YOU are an Original. The Strata Originals Podcast is designed to provide valuable insights and inspiration in business and in life. All of our guests stand-out in their “uniqueness”. Whether you are on your own personal branding journey, or just curious to find out what it’s all about, there are always a few take-aways in every episode.

Culture isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of business success. In this episode of STRATA Originals, Alan McLaren chats with Hilton Barbour, a marketing and culture expert, to explore how businesses can align culture with strategy to drive real impact. From leadership and decision-making to the evolving workplace, Hilton shares insights that challenge conventional thinking and offer a fresh...

Are you searching for more fulfillment, connection, and purpose in life? In this episode of the STRATA Originals podcast, Oliveyah Fisch (AKA Liv) goes into detail about the transformative power of radical living, intuitive decision-making, and self-empowerment. She shares her personal journey growing up in a cult-like environment and how it shaped her understanding of authenticity, personal growt...

🔗 Download the attachment mentioned in the podcast: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/2025-02/trouble-with-canada-and-the-return-to-prosperity.pdf  Explore more at the Fraser Institute: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/about-us Read the rest of Niels Veldhuis profile and connect with him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nielsveldhuis/overlay/photo/