CEO.com | Dispatches from the frontiers of leadership

In this episode, the CEO of Octopus Energy US, Nick Chaset, shares his bold vision for the future of energy—one built on manufacturing, not extraction. From navigating the rapid growth of electricity demand driven by AI, to leveraging smart tech and AI for better customer service, he breaks down how Octopus is revolutionizing renewable energy in the U.S. With insights from his time advising the California Public Utilities Commission and leading community energy initiatives, he explains the challenges of affordability, infrastructure, and innovation in today’s energy market—and what it will take to build a cleaner, more reliable grid for everyone.Timestamps:00:07 - Introduction and Background00:17 - Nick's Career Journey01:18 - Future of Energy03:29 - Consumer Engagement in Energy04:49 - A Day in the Life of a CEO05:58 - Octopus Energy's Presence in the US06:41 - AI Integration in Operations09:26 - Current Energy Market Overview12:11 - Experience at California Public Utilities Commission14:00 - Impact of Tariffs on Energy Prices16:00 - Leadership Lessons17:34 - Acknowledging Mentorship18:35 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, Clint sits down with Gwen Lighter, the CEO and founder of GoAERO, a groundbreaking global emergency response competition supported by industry giants like RTX, NASA, Boeing, and Honeywell. Gwen shares her inspiring journey from a personal emergency to leading a multi-million-dollar initiative aimed at revolutionizing emergency response through innovative aviation technology.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:17 - Gwen's background and the inception of GoAERO00:38 - The mission of GoAERO01:10 - Personal story that inspired GoAERO03:04 - The golden age of aviation and breakthrough technologies03:54 - Partnering with industry giants06:22 - Stages of the GoAERO Prize competition10:02 - Insights from the Go Fly competition11:51 - A day in the life of Gwen as CEO13:48 - Building a community and ecosystem16:08 - Technical challenges and innovations20:40 - Gwen's legacy and vision22:17 - The importance of giving and taking chances

In this episode of the CEO Podcast, we sit down with Bill Smith, the founder and CEO of Landing, the leading network for flexible lease apartments. Bill shares his incredible journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to dropping out of high school at 16, starting multiple businesses, and eventually founding Landing.Bill discusses the challenges and triumphs he faced while building his companies, including the pivotal moments at Shipt and Landing. He also delves into the importance of unit economics, the impact of AI on business operations, and the significance of maintaining a consistent customer experience.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:16 - Bill's entrepreneurial journey01:16 - Founding Landing and the inspiration behind it02:04 - The tech and business community in Birmingham03:30 - Lessons from Shipt applied to Landing04:46 - The impact of COVID-19 on Landing's business model06:12 - Target market and consumer needs07:13 - A day in the life of a CEO08:46 - The role of AI in business operations10:44 - Reading recommendations11:22 - Recruiting and maintaining company culture14:34 - Competitors and market positioning17:22 - Funding the business and building relationships20:10 - Market outlook and economic cycles22:19 - Thoughts on the AI bubble24:29 - Ensuring consistency in customer experience26:19 - The importance of giving and receiving chances

In this episode, Clint sits down with the President and CEO of TIGER 21, a premier peer membership organization for high-net-worth individuals. Discover the fascinating story behind TIGER 21, its mission, and the unique community it fosters. Our guest shares his personal journey, from his early career in leveraged buyouts to leading global education companies, and ultimately, to his current role at TIGER 21.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Overview00:20 - History and Founding of TIGER 2101:57 - Joining TIGER 21 and Initial Impressions03:42 - Career Background Before TIGER 2105:55 - Profile of a TIGER 21 Member08:22 - Origin of the Name TIGER 2109:52 - Membership Requirements and the Five Cs12:07 - Pivotal Moments in Personal and Professional Life15:49 - Core Values and Decision-Making19:01 - Desired Legacy21:08 - Typical Day as CEO23:41 - The Power of Network Effect26:38 - Impact of AI on Human Connections29:16 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

In this episode, Clint sits down with Todd Marks, the founder, president, and CEO of Mindgrub Technologies. Todd shares his journey from a high school math teacher to leading a digital innovation agency that has worked with major brands like Wendy's, Geico, and Yamaha.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:14 - What is Mindgrub Technologies?00:54 - Industry Outlook02:08 - AI Agents and Automation04:09 - Working with Startups06:01 - Startup Advice for VCs10:21 - AI Agents in Various Industries12:29 - Todd's Greatest Life Hack13:43 - What is the EOS System?16:06 - A Day in the Life of Todd Marks17:10 - Reading Recommendations19:02 - The Baltimore Tech Scene24:13 - Maintaining Culture in a Remote World28:37 - Macroeconomic Environment33:40 - Final Thoughts and Mentorship

In this episode, Clint sits down with Scott Voigt, the co-founder and CEO of Fullstory, a leading behavioral intelligence platform. Scott shares the fascinating journey of how Fullstory was founded, the innovative approach they took to capture and structure data, and how they help over 3000 customers worldwide improve their digital experiences.Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:17 - What is FullStory?1:15 - Founding FullStory4:09 - Product Evolution5:49 - AI Integration9:52 - Company Culture14:17 - Atlanta Tech Scene16:37 - Scott's Daily Routine18:16 - Reading Recommendations20:14 - Understanding Customers22:40 - Macroeconomic Environment23:58 - Who Gave Scott a Chance?

In this episode of our podcast, we sit down with Bryan Murphy, the CEO of Smartling, to discuss the transformative power of AI in the translation and localization industry. With a rich background that includes a successful tenure at eBay, Bryan shares his journey to leading Smartling, an AI-driven translation platform that's revolutionizing the $50 billion translation market.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:16 - Bryan’s journey to becoming CEO of Smartling00:30 - Overview of Smartling and its impact on the translation market01:18 - The state of the translation market and Smartling’s advantages01:55 - The role of AI in translation and Smartling’s innovations03:54 - The future of AI and its impact on productivity05:27 - AI as a productivity tool and its implications for the workforce07:10 - Bryan’s daily routine and operating plan07:52 - Book recommendations08:14 - Company culture and remote work09:35 - Expanding into international markets11:30 - Company mission and values13:50 - Lessons from eBay15:20 - Economic outlook and global trade16:37 - The importance of giving and receiving chances

In this episode, Clint sits down with Blima Ehrentreu, the inspiring founder and CEO of The Designers Group. Blima shares her incredible journey from a childhood fascination with construction to leading a world-renowned interior design firm. Discover how The Designers Group, with offices in Toronto, New York, and Miami, is transforming spaces across North America with a mission-driven approach to design.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:13 - Blima's journey to becoming CEO01:03 - Early inspiration and passion for design02:14 - The impact of COVID-19 on workplace design04:15 - Realizing the success of The Designers Group05:32 - A typical day in the life of Blima Ehrentreu07:06 - Creating collaborative and well-designed environments09:11 - The role of AI in the design process11:14 - The mission and values of The Designers Group13:30 - The TDG Furniture Exchange initiative17:00 - Misconceptions about interior design19:11 - Balancing mental health and wellness22:02 - Navigating economic challenges24:33 - The importance of giving and receiving chances

In this episode of the CEO.com podcast, Clint Betts sits down with Ben Borodach, the co-founder and CEO of april, the first AI-powered embedded tax platform. Ben shares his journey from an NYU student to a successful entrepreneur, his insights on integrating AI into the tax industry, and the challenges and triumphs of building a groundbreaking company.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:17 - The Need for AI in Taxes00:39 - Embedding Tax in Financial Decisions01:42 - AI's Role in april's Development03:24 - Ben's Background and Journey07:45 - Fundraising and Series B Announcement10:23 - Business and Personal Tax Solutions11:23 - Future of AI in Business14:32 - A Day in the Life of a CEO15:47 - Maintaining Company Culture18:00 - Thoughts on Recent Legislation18:42 - Macroeconomic Perspectives21:25 - NYC's Startup Ecosystem24:07 - Final Thoughts and Gratitude

In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Boyd, the Co-CEO of The Digital Dept., to discuss her incredible journey from fashion PR to leading a top influencer marketing agency. Sarah shares her experiences, the evolution of her career, and the strategic acquisitions that shaped The Digital Dept. into what it is today.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:15 - Sarah's career journey and becoming CEO00:59 - The formation of The Digital Dept.02:10 - Importance of social presence for CEOs and influencers05:01 - Types of influencers and pairing them with opportunities06:57 - What makes a great event and experience08:52 - Impact of AI on influencer marketing11:32 - A typical day in the life of Sarah14:25 - Maintaining company culture in a remote environment16:11 - Economic challenges and strategic shifts17:33 - The importance of giving and taking chances