CEO Coaching International Podcast

Guest: Matt Dunie, a coach at CEO Coaching International. Matt  has founded or co-founded four companies and served as CEO or President five times across the information services and SaaS sectors. He's led businesses ranging from startups to enterprises approaching $400 million in revenue, and he's executed more than 20 acquisitions and exits. Quick Background: Successful startups and small businesses eventually reach a place where complexity starts to stall growth. It's at this early turning point that the CEO has to take their leadership up a notch and make the tough decisions that will Make BIG Happen. On today's show, Matt Dunie discusses how to navigate the challenges of the "messy middle," including dealing with change, decentralizing decision-making, and finding the courage to lead with transparency and empathy.

Guest: Joanne Starkman, the co-founder of Innersense Organic Beauty, a clean hair care brand that she launched with her husband Greg. Overview: All successful CEOs pour their hearts into their businesses. But a company that truly lives and breathes your mission can be as BIG as it is rewarding and impactful.  On today's show, Joanne Starkman discusses how her deeply personal mission to create non-toxic, high-performing hair care products has grown into a category-defining brand that's beloved by salons, stylists, and customers across the country.

Guest: Dr. Joel Myers,  the Founder and Executive Chairman of AccuWeather. Dr. Myers is considered the father of modern commercial meteorology. Overview: CEOs often feel like they're making "life and death" business decisions. But, as we saw during the pandemic, when the safety of your customers and employees is at stake, CEOs need reliable data that will help them adapt to the facts on the ground quickly and lead decisively.  On today's show, Dr. Joel Myers  explains how technology, including AI and predictive analytics, is shaping the future of weather forecasting and how businesses can prepare to mitigate risks, protect their people, maintain efficiency, and keep Making BIG Happen.

Guest: Don Yaeger,  a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, a business leadership coach, and a 12-time New York Times best-selling author. Don is the host of the highly rated Corporate Competitor Podcast and National Geographic's Storyteller in Residence. He's also a longtime associate editor for Sports Illustrated and one of America's premier thought leaders on storytelling, leadership, and greatness. Overview: Your company's tech stack needs AI integration. But stories are like software for the brain.  Once you've uploaded them, they can be recalled and replayed to inspire action in your audience again and again. On today's show, Don Yaeger discusses the art and impact of storytelling. We explore how mastering this skill can transform your business, your leadership, and your personal life. We also talk about why storytelling is one of the most powerful leadership tools available to you and how it can help drive meaningful action and Make BIG Happen. To get a jump start on improving your own storytelling skills, download Don's 45 Questions to Help You Develop Your Story Bank.

Guest: Chris Braun a coach at CEO Coaching International. Chris is a YPO member who has served as a CEO for 24 years across a diverse range of industries, including franchising, medical devices, power generation, SAS, and specialty plastics. He's also led multiple companies through successful exits and private equity transactions. Quick Background: Consistent, transparent communication is a hallmark of great leadership. But a CEO is never communicating to just one audience. Employees, customers, shareholders, board members, regulators, franchisees, and the press are rarely all tuned to the same frequency. If you want to be heard and understood 100% of the time, it's essential to learn how and when to adjust your messaging. On today's show, Chris Braun discusses  how to communicate effectively to multiple stakeholders to drive alignment, maximize value, and Make BIG Happen.

Guest: Smith Holland, a coach at CEO Coaching International. Smith served as President & CEO of three businesses, including Crayola, Hallmark Global, and Hallmark Canada, with revenues ranging from $125 million to $2 billion. Quick Background: No "good" company makes the leap to "great" without exceptional leadership. Where good CEOs just keep the gears turning, great CEOs actually create value by managing a culture that inspires peak performance and drives consistent growth.  On today's show, Smith Holland discusses how leadership drives value creation, how the CEO multiplier effect amplifies the CEO's impact across the organization, and how he coaches CEOs to unlock their potential and Make BIG Happen.

Guest: Brian Mergelas, a coach at CEO Coaching International.  Brian is an accomplished leader with over 25 years of experience in driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence for global technology companies and startups. Quick Background: As AI usage becomes more and more mainstream, companies that didn't have the foresight to include an AI road map in their last few annual planning sessions are scrambling onto the bandwagon. But if your company is in catch-up mode, you'll never gain ground in this rapidly evolving space without a plan for analyzing your options, building up your infrastructure, and streamlining integration. On today's show, Brian Mergelas  explains how leaders can use AI to unlock value in their businesses. Brian shares his insights on developing an AI strategy, navigating its challenges, and its potential to revolutionize industries, including yours. We also explore practical examples of leveraging AI for process improvements, innovation, and decision-making to Make BIG Happen.

Guest: Jeff Tennyson, a Coach and Partner at CEO Coaching International and the former CEO of Lima One Capital, one of the country’s leading lenders to real estate investors. Jeff is also a former coaching client of CEO Coaching International. Quick Background: Every entrepreneur dreams of a BIG exit. But having a dream isn't the same as having a plan. To attract an ideal buyer, owners and CEOs need to scale smart, assemble the right team, and adopt a strategic mindset that will turn their dream into a reality.  On today's show, Jeff Tennyson shares his blueprint for preparing yourself and your company for a BIG exit.

Are you ready to achieve the unimaginable this year? Then register now for the 2025 Make BIG Happen Summit, April 24-27 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel. This year, in addition to our usual lineup of world-class speakers and social events, we’re excited to unveil our exclusive “MBH” program—a full MBA experience distilled into one intensive day. You’ll gain strategies and insights directly from renowned experts like Good To Great author Jim Collins, and Harvard Business School professors Deepak Malhotra and Boris Groysberg.  For a preview of the kind of inspiring, motivating, and actionable presentations you can expect at the Make BIG Happen Summit, listen to 2019 speaker John DiJulius deliver a masterclass on exceptional customer service.  Guest: John DiJulius, Chief Revolution Officer and President of the DiJulius Group. Quick Background: Most companies get customer service all wrong. They make a big show of designing shiny apps, building amazing showrooms, and rolling out cutting-edge products. But they forget to put laser focus on who actually pays for all that—the customer! When you deepen your customer relationships and focus on creating a memorable experience, you can charge a premium price and retain clients for life. “Technology is only 10% of the experience,” says customer service expert John DiJulius, while your person who delivers the service is the other 90%. “Technology can never build a rapport, show empathy, or make a brilliant comeback when we drop the ball, but you can,” John says. Many businesses are trying to de-emphasize the importance of the employee and replace them with chatbots and AI. But that technology will never outperform a well-trained human who steps in when your customer needs personalized help. In this presentation, recorded live at the 2019 CEO Coaching International Summit, John DiJulius explains how you can train your team to own every problem, make meaningful connections with every customer, and create a world-class customer experience that will drive BIG business.

Guest: Chris Stakich, Chief Community Officer at CEO Coaching International. Chris oversees our business forums, in-person events, and communication hubs. Prior to joining the team, Chris was the Chief Experience Officer at YPO where he oversaw 500+ global events, 6,500+ forums, all strategic partnerships, and the member learning strategy. Quick Background: Learning and leadership growth should always be at the top of a CEO's list of New Year's goals. One of the most impactful ways to accelerate that learning is by connecting with other leaders. Business forums can  provide a structured and supportive environment to share your experiences, reflect on your challenges, and learn from your peers so that you can elevate your business skills and accelerate your success. On today's show, Chris Stakich discusses how CEO Coaching International's new business forums complement the coaching experience and will help CEOS Make BIG Happen in 2025.