CEO School with Suneera Madhani

A candid look at running a major brand experience, from why systems beat ideas to the practical need for SOPs and a dedicated project manager. Timing and cash flow challenges for ticketed events are explored. Team structure, culture, and designing pacing and transitions get special attention. Leadership under uncertainty and how to protect core business during big builds are also covered.

An energetic recap of a large summit that gathered hundreds of ambitious women leaders. Reflections on why community can be a business’s biggest asset and how asking for support fuels growth. Behind-the-scenes of building a large-scale event, the team effort required, and why brand experience matters. Thoughts on shifting from founder mode into CEO mode and a new definition of being one-of-one in your category.

Suneera Madhani, three-time founder and fintech CEO who built Stacks from a subscription payments idea into a unicorn. She recounts the subscription aha moment, being dismissed then proving traction fast. Hear how she bet on omnichannel payments, rejected a $17.5M buyout, and navigated huge fundraising and a strategic rebrand.

Suneera Madhani, fintech founder who built Stax to a billion-dollar exit and now supports female founders. She talks about how relationships and community fueled her growth. Short stories cover collecting strategic relationships, starting a company with family, scaling to a unicorn exit, and the courage to be disliked as leadership evolves.

Suneera Madhani, founder who built and exited fintech Stacks/Fat Merchant and now mentors female founders, discusses valuing time over money and using her do, delegate, delete method. She outlines the Rule of Three for prioritizing needle-moving work. She candidly recounts building as an immigrant founder, facing bias in male-dominated rooms, and choosing to step back to rebuild with intention.

Rajinder Rai, a pharmacist and functional-medicine practitioner focused on women’s longevity, guides high-achieving women to align physiology with ambition. She explores how productivity identity and unprocessed stress accelerate aging. She explains the DOSE of PAUSE framework, why small daily habits beat extreme biohacks, and the difference between biological and chronological age.

Erika Sinner, CEO of Directorie and Chief Empathy Officer of TinySuperheroes, advocates empathy-driven leadership and generational impact. She discusses building businesses from financial insecurity, leading with empathy and accountability, transforming pet bereavement into workplace policy, and reframing childhood illness into resilience-building superhero care.

How do you build meaningful relationships without treating networking like a transaction? If you want to grow your business through deeper relationships instead of chasing quick wins, this episode will shift how you think about networking. In this episode, Suneera Madhani talks with Kristina Bartold about community building, podcasting, events, and the long game of influence. Kristina Bartold is the CEO of Social Snippets, a podcast and launch agency helping founders grow their influence. She is also the founder of High Vibe Women, a community that brings female entrepreneurs together through events and experiences. What you’ll learn in this episode: (02:21) How Kristina built her business by prioritizing relationships over immediate ROI. (03:31) Why podcasting is one of the most powerful networking tools for business owners. (06:16) How in-person events can dramatically accelerate community and brand growth. (07:44) How to choose the right rooms and leaders before investing time or money. (09:25) Why proximity and smaller, more intimate settings often lead to better connections. (15:28) How to create systems that make follow-up intentional instead of overwhelming. (17:30) What podcast and content trends matter most heading into 2026. (28:33) How to start building a community. Lock in your spot for the Unicorn CEO Summit today at https://theceoschool.com/ceo-school-summit Thank you to Kristina Bartold for being on our show! Learn more about Kristina: https://www.instagram.com/kristina.bartold/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinabartold/ Learn more about The Social Snippet: https://www.thesocialsnippet.com/ You’re invited to attend Kristina’s High Vibe Women event in Toronto on March 7: https://www.highvibewomen.ca/march-2026-event Use the code PODCAST50 for a discount. Subscriber to Kristina’s podcast: https://communitypodcast.buzzsprout.com/ Join the CEO School’s Millionaire Founders Club: https://theceoschool.com/join. We're building a table where every female founder has a seat. Subscribe to the CEO School podcast because only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue, and we’re changing that: * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast//id1525261018 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money: * Website: https://theceoschool.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for badass female CEOs like you to take center stage not just in your industries but in your whole life. * Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Lock in your spot for the Unicorn CEO Summit today at https://theceoschool.com/ceo-school-summit If you’re the CEO of a creative business, how do you stop being the bottleneck? What mindset shifts are required? Stepping into the world of luxury design requires more than just a good eye; it demands a strategic business mindset. In this episode, Suneera Madhani and Sabah Mansoor discuss the journey of building a high-end interior design firm from the ground up. Sabah Mansoor is the founder of Sabah Mansoor Design, where she helps brands translate vision into thoughtful, strategic design while building a business rooted in clarity and sustainability. What you’ll learn in this episode: (03:12) How Sabah transitioned from hands-on designer to business owner with a long-term vision. (07:45) Why creative founders often struggle to step into true CEO leadership. (12:30) How setting boundaries improves both client relationships and profitability. (18:05) The role perfectionism plays in keeping businesses stuck at a certain size. (23:40) How to price your work confidently without tying it to self-worth. (29:10) What systems and structures unlock sustainable growth for creatives. (34:55) How to recognize when it’s time to step out of execution and into strategy. (40:20) Why building a business that supports your life is the ultimate success metric. Thank you to Sabah Mansoor for being on our show! Learn more about Sabah: https://www.sabahmansoordesign.com/ Join the CEO School’s Millionaire Founders Club: https://theceoschool.com/join. We're building a table where every female founder has a seat. Subscribe to the CEO School podcast because only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue, and we’re changing that: * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast//id1525261018 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money: * Website: https://theceoschool.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for badass female CEOs like you to take center stage not just in your industries but in your whole life. * Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Lock in your spot for the Unicorn CEO Summit today at https://theceoschool.com/ceo-school-summit Who is in your inner circle, and are they helping you grow? This episode is a deeply personal reflection on growth, boundaries, and alignment through different seasons of leadership. Suneera Madhani shares eight powerful lessons learned from her 38th year, offering insights into saying “no” without guilt, protecting energy, and finding joy along the way. If you’re building, leading, and balancing ambition with life, this episode invites you to pause, reflect, and realign with what truly matters to you. What you’ll learn in this episode: (02:25) Why saying “no” without guilt protects your peace and focus. (06:48) How shrinking your circle can strengthen your growth and confidence. (10:53) Why boundaries are an act of love rather than a way to push people away. (12:42) How embracing the courage to be disliked creates true alignment. (15:41) Why prioritizing family builds a foundation for meaningful success. (17:38) How movement supports mental clarity, energy, and leadership stamina. (19:10) Why clear communication prevents resentment in business and life. (20:40) How finding joy in the journey makes long-term success sustainable. Join the CEO School’s Millionaire Founders Club: https://theceoschool.com/join. We're building a table where every female founder has a seat. Subscribe to the CEO School podcast because only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue, and we’re changing that: * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast//id1525261018 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money: * Website: https://theceoschool.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for badass female CEOs like you to take center stage not just in your industries but in your whole life. * Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/ This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/