Disruptive Thinking: Fresh Perspectives on Business Turnarounds with Ted Santos

 

In this dynamic episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, I sit down with Ted Santos—founder of Turnaround Investment Partners—for a powerful conversation on leadership, disruption, and transforming companies from the inside out.

With over two decades of experience turning around distressed businesses and scaling organizations growing faster than they could handle, Ted brings a wealth of insight. He shares his early leadership journey as a COO in the transportation and translation sectors, where he radically improved operations by shifting culture and introducing new service lines. One standout story: how his lack of industry knowledge in translation actually became his superpower. Ted spearheaded cultural translation services for websites—an innovative leap that reshaped how companies approached global communications.

That sparked a familiar theme for me. I reflected on my own healthcare leadership journey—stepping into the industry without direct experience. Sometimes, not knowing “how it’s always been done” is exactly what’s needed to drive game-changing innovation.

Reimagining Growth Through Diverse Lenses

We explored how bringing in external perspectives—whether from different industries, cultures, or life experiences—is a powerful way to break the echo chamber of internal assumptions. I shared a story from my days running a multicultural healthcare clinic, where dialogue and inclusion—not rigid policies—became the key to navigating cultural complexity and driving operational excellence.

Ted offered insights on his disruption framework for organizations, helping leaders embrace volatility and turn it into a strategic advantage.

Discomfort as a Catalyst for Innovation

Ted and I went deep into why organizations must learn to disrupt themselves before the market does. Drawing on both history and personal experiences, Ted cited icons like Rockefeller and Ford, reminding us that lasting innovation doesn’t come from comfort zones—it comes from shaking them up.

As leaders, we must be willing to challenge norms, ask uncomfortable questions, and reinvent systems. I added some examples from my own path—like pivoting to virtual events long before it became a necessity—and how that foresight unlocked unexpected growth.

Leading With Boldness in a Changing World

Ted laid out a compelling case for what he calls "disruptive leadership"—the ability to invent new possibilities and even “create problems” that force organizations to stretch. We discussed how leaders must confront blind spots (both personal and organizational), embrace continuous learning, and build the muscle to delegate strategically if they want to scale sustainably.

Owning Your Narrative: Responsibility and Reinvention

We closed on a deeply personal note—how early life experiences shape behavior, and how owning your story is the first step in transforming it. Ted and I unpacked the role of ego, unconscious patterns, and the necessity of unlearning behaviors that no longer serve our leadership.

It’s a conversation about growth, yes—but more importantly, about responsibility. Innovation isn’t just about ideas—it’s about the inner work we do to lead ourselves and others through disruption.

Connect with Ted Santos:
Ted’s work is ideal for organizations navigating rapid change or seeking bold new strategies. If you're looking to challenge your current trajectory, this episode is your invitation to start.

Ted Santos is the ultimate “Disruptor of Limits”—a bold strategist who trains and develops  CEOs and executives to stop solving problems and start creating them to fuel breakthroughs that redefine industries.

 

As the creator of the Disruptive Leadership Model, Ted flips conventional wisdom on its head, proving that chaos isn’t a threat—it’s the catalyst for transformation. With a track record of turning impossible visions into unstoppable growth, Ted challenges leaders to think bigger, act bolder, and turn uncertainty into opportunity.

 

Whether he’s helping businesses scale without breaking or reshaping corporate cultures to thrive under pressure, Ted is the go-to expert for leaders who refuse to settle for incremental growth and are ready to disrupt their way to dominance.