

CEO: Behind the Scenes
The CEO Magazine
It's easy to forget that behind the title of CEO lies a human. In CEO Behind the Scenes, a podcast from The CEO Magazine, we want to explore the human behind the company and the figure behind the figurehead role as CEOs share their journeys with us.
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Access our free digital content: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com/?r=global
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Follow us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ceo-magazine
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X: @TheCEOMagazineG
Instagram: @theceomagazineglobal
Episodes
Mentioned books

8 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 28min
Stop chasing AI cost savings and start fixing your data foundation
Marc Potter, CEO of Actian and expert in data intelligence, discusses the pitfalls of chasing AI cost savings without a solid data foundation. He highlights the urgency for organizations to address data quality to prevent poor AI outcomes. Marc introduces the concept of governance-by-design, stressing the importance of classifying data correctly. He also offers insights on how to drive AI adoption through education and clear use cases, plus the need for thoughtful, value-driven AI strategies instead of rushed implementations.

Dec 10, 2025 • 35min
Why AI adoption fails – and how to get it right
AI is reshaping industries, yet many leaders still struggle with effective adoption. In this episode of CEO: Behind the Scenes, Optimal Blue CEO Joe Tyrrell explains why AI initiatives often fail in complex, high-stakes environments and what it takes to make them succeed.Tyrrell shares how to overcome operational resistance, why outdated processes cannot simply be automated and how AI can reduce human bias when applied with precision. He highlights the difference between interesting and important data and the mindset leaders need to create real value with emerging technology.If you want to understand how AI can succeed where traditional systems fall short, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Access our free digital content: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com Follow us: LinkedIn: @the-ceo-magazine-global Facebook: @theceomagazineglobal X: @ceomagazinegl Instagram: @theceomagazineglobal Follow Joe Tyrrell and Optimal Blue: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joetyrrell4/ Website: https://www2.optimalblue.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 8, 2025 • 26min
The real reason groundbreaking innovations never get seen
Maximilian Werner, Founder and CEO of INSPIRED, a platform democratizing access to innovations, discusses the hidden challenges innovators face. He reveals that lack of visibility often outweighs funding issues in bringing ideas to life. Maximilian emphasizes the power of visual storytelling in attracting support and how community-driven approaches can accelerate solutions to global problems. He also highlights the importance of showcasing prototypes to engage supporters while maintaining essential secrets.

Dec 3, 2025 • 57min
Inside the bold leadership transforming healthcare access
What happens when a CEO reimagines the dentist’s chair as a powerful gateway to whole-person health? In this episode of CEO: Behind the Scenes, Sarah Chavarria, CEO and President of Delta Dental of California, shares how her bold leadership is reshaping access to care for millions of people. Chavarria reflects on the future of preventative care and the creation of an innovation clinic that uncovered lifesaving insights. She also explores how curiosity, trust and courageous thinking fuel the cultural transformation behind this work. This conversation offers an inspiring look at the vision, commitment and innovative leadership that are reshaping the future of healthcare access for communities everywhere. Access our free digital content: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com Follow us: LinkedIn: @the-ceo-magazine-global Facebook: @theceomagazineglobal X: @ceomagazinegl Instagram: @theceomagazineglobal Follow Sarah Chavarria and Delta Dental of California: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahchavarria/ Website: https://www1.deltadentalins.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 1, 2025 • 50min
How great leaders invest in their people
What does it mean for leaders to truly invest in their people? In this episode of CEO: Behind the Scenes, Finseca CEO Marc Cadin shares how responsibility, mentorship and meaningful relationships shape effective leadership. Cadin breaks down the lessons that guided his leadership journey, the importance of listening and how he unified eight nonprofits into one mission-driven organization. He also explains why employee financial security is essential for performance and resilience. The conversation highlights how responsibility, trust and financial security contribute to stronger, more confident teams. It’s a must-listen for leaders who want to support their people and create lasting impact. Access our free digital content: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com Follow us: LinkedIn: @the-ceo-magazine-global Facebook: @theceomagazineglobal X: @ceomagazinegl Instagram: @theceomagazineglobal Follow Marc Cadin and Finseca: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cadin-059014a Website: https://www.finseca.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 26, 2025 • 35min
This crucial element builds a winning company culture
Most leaders think company culture is about values on walls and team-building events, but what if they're missing the most important element? In this episode, Amaysim Vice President Virinder Nath reveals the single transformation that turns struggling teams into self-managing powerhouses and why execution beats perfect strategy every time. From his journey leading 20,000-plus team members in India to building startup energy at one of Australia's largest mobile virtual network operators, Nath shares the belief-action-results formula that drives consistent high performance. Packed with practical insights on leadership philosophy, team dynamics and sustainable growth strategies, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about building a successful culture. Listen now to discover how to transform ordinary teams into extraordinary ones. Access our free digital content: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com Follow us: LinkedIn: @the-ceo-magazine-global Facebook: @theceomagazineglobal X: @ceomagazinegl Instagram: @theceomagazineglobal Follow Virinder Nath and Amaysim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virinder-nath-422752 Website: https://www.amaysim.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 snips
Nov 24, 2025 • 28min
Why great leaders choose respect over popularity
In this enlightening conversation, Anthony De Fazio, CEO of BankVic, shares insights from his journey leading a member-first bank dedicated to police and emergency services. He emphasizes the power of respecting foundational identity over seeking popularity, revealing that this approach strengthened BankVic’s culture. De Fazio discusses practical strategies for reconnecting teams to purpose and highlights the importance of authenticity in decision-making. He also reflects on overcoming leadership isolation while scaling operations, demonstrating that true leaders stand firm in their values.

7 snips
Nov 19, 2025 • 29min
What founders get wrong about scaling, hiring and culture
Marcus Zeltzer, Co-founder and Managing Director of Yellow Canary, shares his insights on hiring, culture, and the challenges of scaling startups. He discusses how the wrong hiring decisions can hinder growth and the pivotal role of compliance in building trust within teams. Zeltzer reveals the impact of AI on workforce dynamics and the importance of strategic, long-term planning. He also reflects on the evolution from founder to CEO and the critical decision-making that shapes a company’s future. A must-listen for aspiring leaders!

Nov 12, 2025 • 41min
How AI is revolutionizing early cancer detection
When Michelle Aquilina became CEO of MoleMap Australia and New Zealand, the company was in financial distress and lacked a clear identity. Today, it's a global leader in skin cancer detection, combining clinical expertise with proprietary AI technology that achieves 95 percent accuracy. In this episode, Aquilina discusses the boldness required to take the first steps with AI technology, why human clinicians will never be replaced in healthcare and how she led her team through integrating Kāhu AI into clinical workflows without resistance. This conversation reveals what courageous leadership looks like in practice. Access our free digital content: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com Follow us: LinkedIn: @the-ceo-magazine-global Facebook: @theceomagazineglobal X: @ceomagazinegl Instagram: @theceomagazineglobal Follow Michelle Aquilina and MoleMap: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-aquilina-emba-44852727 Website: https://www.molemap.net.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 10, 2025 • 41min
Why time in the market beats timing the market every time
Most property investors wait for the perfect moment that never comes. In this episode, Lloyd Edge, Founder and Managing Director of Aus Property Professionals, reveals why getting started matters more than perfect timing – and how he built a portfolio that generated passive income equal to his teaching salary in just 10 years. Edge discusses the misconception that you need to be wealthy to invest in property, why analysis paralysis keeps people on the sidelines and the strategic approach that allowed him to scale from a single bedroom apartment to a multi-state business. Packed with insights on portfolio strategy, this conversation offers a masterclass in long-term wealth building. Access our free digital content: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.comGet your copy of Positively Geared: https://www.auspropertyprofessionals-invest.com.au/ceo_magazine Follow us: LinkedIn: @the-ceo-magazine-global Facebook: @theceomagazineglobal X: @ceomagazinegl Instagram: @theceomagazineglobal Follow Lloyd Edge and Aus Property Professionals: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyd-edge-b417a399 Website: https://www.auspropertyprofessionals.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


