The CEO Project Podcast

Ever wonder how a CEO goes from managing 2,000 apartments to building multiple seven-figure ventures backed by private equity? If you've ever struggled with scaling a service business, finding reliable vendors, or wondered how to make the leap from bootstrapping to private equity funding, this episode will feel like it's speaking directly to you. Tyler Dunagin shares the real story of how he solved a problem most property managers know all too well and turned it into a rapidly growing portfolio of companies. Here's what you'll take away from this conversation: How to create a focused business model in a crowded industry that instantly speaks to your ideal clients. The step-by-step reality of moving from self-funding to securing private equity while keeping control of your business. What really works (and what doesn't) when acquiring companies and integrating teams into your growing portfolio. Hit play now to learn Tyler's hard-earned lessons—and discover strategies you can use to scale smarter and faster in your own business. About Tyler Dunagin At the crossroads of innovation and leadership, Tyler founded and scaled multiple seven-figure ventures, consistently driving industry transformation. Over the past decade, he started and expanded both service and product-based companies, notably Turnserv—a platform of self-started brands revolutionizing the housing sector by streamlining turnover processes. With operations extending to new locations every few weeks, Turnserv addresses critical operational challenges for property managers with unparalleled reliability and efficiency.

Have you ever wondered why the 80/20 rule works in almost every aspect of life, from business to personal connections, and how you can use it to optimize your success? The Pareto Principle, or 80/20 rule, has been around for decades, but do you really understand how deeply it impacts your business? In this episode, we explore not just the basics of 80/20, but how digging deeper into this principle can radically shift your approach to everything from customers to employees, and even your own personal life. Learn how applying 80/20 can uncover your business's true power and profit centers. Discover how to maximize talent and resources by focusing on the most productive elements of your team and customers. Understand why focusing on fewer, better relationships can transform your personal and professional life. Tune in now to discover how embracing 80/20 could be the key to unlocking exponential growth and serenity in your business. Check out: 4:30 – Discover how the 80/20 rule impacts customer relationships and why focusing on your most profitable clients can save time and boost profits. 19:45 – Learn about the "80/20 inside the 80/20" concept and how breaking it down further can reveal hidden opportunities in your business. 35:10 – Gain insights into how the 80/20 rule applies to talent management and why doubling down on strengths, rather than weaknesses, leads to explosive growth. About Our Guest Perry Marshall is one of the most expensive business strategists in the world. He is endorsed in FORBES and Inc. Magazine and has worked with clients such as FanDuel, InfusionSoft, and LoanBuilder. He founded the $10 million Evolution 2.0 Prize, with judges from Harvard, Oxford and MIT. Launched at the Royal Society in London, it's the world's largest science research award. He is co-founder of the AACR's Cancer & Evolution Working Group. NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs uses his 80/20 Curve as a productivity tool. His reinvention of the Pareto Principle was published in Harvard Business Review.

What if behavioral science—not just branding—was the key to finally getting people to pay attention, change habits, and take action? Whether you're launching a product, driving cultural change, or working to influence public behavior, you're up against deeply ingrained habits. In this episode, you'll hear how expert Tim Berney uses behavioral science to create campaigns that do more than inform—they shift mindsets and drive real-world results. This approach works just as powerfully for CEOs as it does for public health leaders. Here's what you'll walk away with: A framework for using behavior science to guide people through awareness, belief shifts, and sustainable change. Lessons from successful campaigns that moved entire communities—from recycling to water conservation to anti-smoking. Insight into how these same tools apply to internal culture change and leadership development. Listen now to discover how behavior-driven marketing can help you solve your toughest communication and culture challenges. Check out: [12:43] – How a $1,300/month media buying side hustle turned into a nationally recognized behavior change agency—and what it took to get there. [24:10] – The 4 stages of behavior change explained with real-world campaigns like recycling, seatbelts, and anti-smoking. [47:22] – A candid take on how AI is reshaping the marketing landscape—and why the winners will be those who lean in, not resist. About Our Guest Tim Berney is the CEO and Founder of VI Marketing & Branding, a multi-million-dollar, independent agency known for creating behavior-changing campaigns that drive measurable success. With decades of experience in marketing and branding, Tim has led VI to become a nationally recognized firm, helping businesses scale through strategic innovation. His expertise spans brand development, market growth and leadership in an evolving digital landscape.

Are you leading a high-performing team but still struggling to handle stress as it builds behind the scenes—despite doing all the "right" things? In this episode, you'll hear from Keri Ford—former creative director turned global leadership advisor for top-tier women leaders—who explains why success often comes with silent struggles no one talks about. Through her work in nervous system regulation and somatic strategies, Keri helps founders and CEOs break patterns they didn't know were sabotaging their leadership and well-being. If you've ever wondered why the same challenges keep resurfacing no matter how hard you work, this conversation will hit home. By tuning in, you'll discover: How unresolved trauma and nervous system dysregulation show up in leadership decisions, hiring patterns, and team dynamics. What "functional freeze" looks like—and why chronic stress might be hiding behind your drive to succeed. How building somatic fluency can expand your capacity to handle pressure, avoid burnout, and lead with more clarity, creativity, and control. If you're ready to lead with less stress and more impact, press play now and hear how Kerry Ford helps elite leaders rewrite their internal wiring for lasting success. Check out: [08:43] – From Creative Director to Somatic Leadership: Kerry shares the personal journey that led her from launching luxury brands to discovering the transformative power of somatic work through her son's sensory challenges. [24:16] – How Trauma Patterns Show Up in Leadership: A powerful breakdown of how unresolved trauma manifests in hiring decisions, burnout cycles, and the chronic stress that top-tier leaders often normalize. [39:50] – Building a Bigger Window of Tolerance: Learn how expanding your nervous system's capacity can help you handle stress more effectively—and why it could be the missing leadership skill no one taught you. About Keri Ford KERI FORD, former Creative Director and ex-corporate leader, now serves as the Holy High Council & Elite Advisor to the world's most influential women in business. As CEO & Founder of Elevate with Keri, a global wellness coaching company, she empowers female founders and executives to achieve new heights through her cutting-edge methodologies in nervous system regulation, peak neuroscience performance, and an embodied approach in leadership.

What if the secret to remarkable sales growth isn't a new hire, but an AI that works like one? If you're leading a business and wondering how AI will actually impact your bottom line—not in theory, but in real, everyday decisions—this episode is for you. With AI evolving faster than most leaders can keep up, it's no longer about if you'll use it, but how well and how soon you adapt. In this episode, you'll discover: Why the most valuable AI applications today aren't about replacing jobs, but augmenting your team's performance—especially in sales, marketing, and customer success How to think about AI not just as a tool, but as a new kind of "employee" that brings autonomy, initiative, and bottom-line results What roles are on the endangered species list, and which skillsets will matter most in the AI-powered workplace Listen now to learn how you can make smarter decisions about AI before it reshapes your team, your tech stack, and your competitive edge. Check out: [06:50] – The Real Business Case for AI Thiago explains how companies are utilizing AI today to achieve practical ROI, such as generating more effective sales follow-ups than top-performing reps. If you've been wondering how AI helps close deals, start here. [24:15] – The Endangered Roles (and the Ones That'll Thrive) A candid look at which job functions are likely to shrink—project managers, content marketers, even product managers—and which new roles AI is creating instead. A wake-up call for leaders planning their org charts. [39:30] – What Will Win the AI Race? Thiago breaks down why the future belongs to AI tools with autonomy, not just clever text generation. This is where the conversation shifts from hype to true competitive advantage. About Our Guest Thiago da Costa is a technology entrepreneur specializing in physics simulation, cloud computing, and AI. He founded Lagoa, which developed a cloud-based mechanical CAD product later acquired by Autodesk and integrated into Fusion 360. While at Autodesk, he led major cloud, data, and AI initiatives across construction, manufacturing, and media entertainment divisions. Thiago holds two patents in collaborative high-frequency data systems and actively invests in startups and late-stage private companies, including SpaceX, Vention, and others. His visionary approach to AI-driven innovation, data management, and the transformative potential of technology in traditional industries continues to shape the future of tech. With a career marked by groundbreaking achievements and a passion for pushing technological boundaries, Thiago da Costa remains at the forefront of digital transformation, inspiring the next generation of tech innovators and entrepreneurs.

Are you still managing your team the old way—while others are using breakthrough strategies to build unstoppable momentum? In a world where AI is reshaping entire industries and the workforce is more dispersed than ever, staying relevant as a leader means more than just adapting—it means radically rethinking how your team operates. This episode is for CEOs and executives who want to build resilient, innovative, high-performing teams—and stop carrying the weight of leadership alone. In this episode with Keith Ferrazzi, you'll learn how to: Build a culture of "teamship" where leadership is shared, not hoarded—so your company thrives even when you're not in the room. Adopt battle-tested collaboration practices that drive innovation, accountability, and psychological safety in remote or hybrid teams. Replace outdated "report outs" with "stress tests" that elevate performance, challenge complacency, and deepen peer-to-peer support. Press play now to discover the 21st-century leadership tools that will help you future-proof your team and free up your time without sacrificing results. Check out: [08:52] – The Power of Peer-to-Peer Groups Keith shares how radical innovators—top CIOs and CHROs—are gathering to reinvent the workforce. If you've ever wondered how small groups can spark massive change, this segment reveals why peer-driven collaboration is the real competitive edge. [39:17] – From Leadership to "Teamship" This is where Keith lays out the heart of his new book: how CEOs can shift from being solo leaders to architects of high-performing teams. You'll hear practical strategies for empowering others, boosting team energy by 30%, and achieving more by doing less yourself. [53:00] – The "Stress Test" Meeting Framework Tired of useless status updates? This part introduces a simple but powerful practice that replaces the traditional report-out with a feedback-rich "stress test." It's one of the most actionable takeaways in the episode—and could change how your team collaborates starting tomorrow. About Our Guest Keith Ferrazzi is a renowned executive team coach, keynote speaker, influential thought leader and founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight, where he has spent more than 20 years coaching Fortune 500 companies, unicorn startups, and even governments. Keith leads the Greenlight Research Institute, which is focused on team transformation. He is a business coach who challenges the way teams work to achieve breakthrough results through more connection and collaboration across silos, with a revolutionary shift from leadership to teamship. His Radical Innovators Collaborative brings together disruptive thinkers for peer-to-peer interaction and ongoing best practice sharing.

What's the secret behind remarkable sales growth—especially when it comes from landing just a few large, high-stakes accounts? If you're tired of chasing endless leads with little payoff, this episode will show you how to stop playing the numbers game and start playing a smarter one. You'll discover what truly drives growth in companies that consistently win big deals—and how to build a sales process that scales beyond one superstar rep. You'll walk away from this episode with: A structured large-account acquisition process that transforms sales from guesswork to predictable growth. A clear framework for identifying and engaging the right executive sponsors who can actually say yes. Insight into how cross-functional alignment and peer-to-peer trust seal deals—and set your team up for long-term success. Listen now to learn how to engineer remarkable sales growth by mastering the process behind landing big. Check out: [13:20] Why executive sponsors—not procurement—make or break your big sales strategy. [28:45] The one mindset shift that keeps your salespeople from wasting time on the wrong leads. [51:10] How a robust process protects your business when your "rockstar" rep walks out the door. Our Guest: Tom Searcy is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and leading authority on large account sales. His strategies for driving explosive growth are grounded in years of real-world success. Tom is a two-time winner of the Global Gurus "World's Top 30 Sales Professionals" list—ranked #5 in 2024, #8 in 2025, and #1 overall for his expertise in big sales.

What can a smart business leader learn from a softball field to build a thriving, multi-million-dollar company? If you've ever wondered how to build a resilient company culture, lead with decisiveness, and navigate the messy beauty of running a family business, this episode is for you. Derek Volk, third-generation CEO of Volk Packaging, shares unfiltered stories and hard-earned leadership lessons drawn from the softball diamond and decades in the corrugated box industry. Whether you're in manufacturing, family business, or just looking to lead with more clarity, you'll find yourself nodding along. By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with: A powerful mindset shift around decision-making that could change how you lead under pressure A fresh take on company culture rooted in loyalty, trust, and "no bureaucracy" empowerment Real strategies for growing a family-owned business without losing your soul—or your sanity Hit play now to discover how to lead like a coach, build a team that thinks like owners, and create a business your customers love doing business with. Check out: [10:34] – How Derek's family turned a GE stationery account into a multi-generational manufacturing empire [28:47] – The softball coaching philosophy that inspired his bestselling business book, "Go For Third" [51:10] – A candid look at succession planning, ESOP dilemmas, and what it really means to build a business worth inheriting About Derek Volk Derek Volk is the owner of Volk Packaging Corporation, a third-generation family-owned and operated corrugated box manufacturer in Biddeford, Maine, and Volk Paxit, a contract packaging fulfillment center in Sanford, Maine. He released his second book, Go for Third: Leadership Lessons from the Softball Field to the Workplace in 2024. Derek has been working at Volk Packaging since high school and has been running the company for over 20 years. Derek is a Maine businessman, best-selling author, former radio personality, and nationally recognized public speaker. He is a grateful supporter of veterans' organizations and created the Volk Packaging Heroes Wall as a way to honor members of the US Armed Forces, past and present. Derek was named the 2015 Spurwink "Humanitarian of the Year." That same year, Maine Biz named Derek to their NEXT List, recognizing him as one of Maine's business trailblazers. In 2020, Derek was inducted into the Manufacturer's Association of Maine's "Manufacturer's Hall of Fame."

What if your childhood love for roller coasters could lead you to build a national empire of amusement parks? If you're leading a business—or dreaming of scaling one—you'll want to hear how John Dunlap, CEO of Five Star Parks & Attractions, turned a hospitality background and a Six Sigma mindset into a high-growth, family-focused entertainment powerhouse. In a post-COVID world with rising labor costs and shifting consumer demands, John shares real-world strategies for thriving in a category many thought was on the decline. Here's what you'll get from this episode: A playbook for balancing operational excellence with guest experience, including how Six Sigma translates to human-centered businesses. The secrets behind scaling through acquisition and development, especially in a fragmented market ripe for consolidation. How to compete with big-name parks by delivering affordable, high-value local experiences that build loyalty (and beat the weather). Hit play now to learn how John turned a childhood game into a national strategy—and how you can apply the same principles to scale your own business with purpose. Check out: [09:32] – From Starwood to San Diego Zoo: The Unlikely Career Pivot John shares how a Six Sigma background in hospitality led him to a surprising call from the San Diego Zoo—and how that jump-started his journey into the world of theme parks and cultural attractions. [26:47] – Solving Seasonality: Why Indoor Parks Became a Strategic Hedge Discover how John and his team countered brutal off-seasons by acquiring massive indoor entertainment centers—and what that did for cash flow, customer base, and geographic reach. [52:10] – Wristbands, VIP Packages, and the Art of Bundling for Value John breaks down their evolving pricing strategy, including how "best value" and "best experience" bundles are designed to fight inflation, increase revenue, and give families more reason to return. About John Dunlap John Dunlap is the CEO of Five Star Parks & Attractions, a rapidly expanding family entertainment company. Since taking on the role in January 2022, he has led the company's growth from three locations to 27 across 13 states. With a background in amusement and hospitality leadership, John has held executive positions at SeaWorld & Sesame Place in California, Iconic Attractions Group, and the San Diego Zoo. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, along with executive certifications from Cornell University. Based in Charlotte, NC, John is passionate about creating memorable guest experiences and fostering a culture of innovation in the industry.

Ever wonder how someone manages 4,000 real estate agents—and still has time to drive real social impact? If you're navigating today's volatile real estate market, whether as an investor, entrepreneur, or just trying to make sense of what's next, this episode offers clarity. Kimber Menkiti, a powerhouse in real estate leadership, breaks down how market dynamics, franchise models, and personal mission intersect—and what that means for anyone trying to build something sustainable. Here's what you'll take away from this conversation: A rare behind-the-scenes look at how modern brokerages run like mini-corporations—and why that matters. Insight into how real estate is evolving post-commission lawsuit and what it means for both agents and consumers. Smart strategies for standing out in a saturated, trust-driven marketplace (hint: it's not about the house). Tune in now to hear Kimber's battle-tested take on real estate, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to scale impact in a highly competitive industry. Check out: - [00:06:30] Attracting Top Talent in a Crowded Field Kimber gives a compelling look into how high-performing professionals—lawyers, finance execs, government leaders—are entering real estate with an entrepreneurial mindset. This segment reframes the stereotype of the "casual agent" and positions real estate as a legitimate business-building path. - [00:18:30] Post-Lawsuit Market Dynamics & Commission Transparency This part tackles a hot topic in the industry—commission lawsuits and fee structures—while offering a clear explanation of how it's reshaping consumer expectations and brokerage operations. Kimber's insights are both timely and practical. - [00:29:30] Exit Strategy: Are Brokerages Sellable? Jim and Kimber discuss the long-term viability and valuation of brokerages, drawing parallels to tech startups and investment banking. Kimber's comments on diversifying revenue through services like title and lending are sharp and strategic. About Kimber Menkiti Kymber Lovett-Menkiti is a pioneer in the real estate industry. With nearly 20 years of experience in the sales field, Kymber has a proven track record of success in leading teams, driving sales and revenue growth, and building strong relationships with clients, leaders, and industry partners. Kymber Lovett Menkiti serves as the President of Keller Williams Capital Properties (KWCP), a brokerage with ten offices across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia regions. She is also the Regional Director for the Keller Williams Maryland/ DC (MDC) Region where she oversees 4K+ agents and is the first African American female to hold this position. As Regional Director, Kymber works closely with market center owners, their leadership teams, and agents to develop and implement strategies for improving sales, productivity, and culture.