Charlie Cole Talks Turnarounds, Transformations, and Tough Calls

What does it take to walk into a struggling company, make the tough calls, and turn it into a high-performing business?

That’s the world Charlie Cole (see bio below) lives in.

Charlie is a private-equity-backed CEO who has built a reputation for stepping into complex situations and creating momentum fast. From transforming global consumer brands to scaling AI and SaaS platforms, his career has been defined by high-stakes leadership and measurable results.

In this episode, Charlie shares the real story behind turnaround leadership and what happens when strategy meets execution under pressure.

We talk about:

• Driving rapid revenue growth at XGEN AI

• Reversing a steep decline and integrating 13 acquisitions as CEO of Tribute Technology

• Leading the transformation of FTD after bankruptcy and delivering a major private equity exit

• Scaling digital commerce to nearly $1 billion across brands while at TUMI and Samsonite

• The difference between theory and reality when you’re responsible for thousands of employees and a balance sheet

• Why great leaders must be willing to make uncomfortable decisions quickly

Charlie also shares lessons about culture, speed of execution, and the mindset required to lead during uncertainty and change. He gets brutally honest about how he had no empathy early in his leadership career.

This conversation offers a candid look at leadership inside private equity environments, the realities of corporate transformation, and what it takes to build businesses that not only survive but thrive.

If you’re fascinated by turnaround stories, digital transformation, or the pressure that comes with leading at scale, this episode delivers both insight and perspective.

 

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About​ Charlie: ​Charlie Cole is a private-equity-backed CEO who builds and transforms AI/SaaS platforms and global consumer brands. He most recently served as President of XGEN AI, where he drove 2.5x revenue growth in five months. Previously, as CEO of Tribute Technology (Carlyle), he reversed a -22% decline and centralized 13 acquisitions in nine months. At FTD (Nexus Capital), he led a post-bankruptcy transformation that generated over $140M in dividends and a 3-4x exit. Charlie also scaled digital commerce to approximately $1B across 14 brands as Chief Digital Officer at TUMI and Global Chief eCommerce Officer at Samsonite. He's a frequent keynote speaker at industry forums, including eTail, Shoptalk, and NRF.