CEO.com | Dispatches from the frontiers of leadership

Eric Stine worked in Washington during the Clinton impeachment, got cynical about politics, and ended up in enterprise software because someone saw potential in a guy who knew government and was willing to listen. Twenty-some years later, he runs Sitecore, the digital experience platform behind how major brands reach, engage, and serve their audiences.In this conversation, Eric breaks down what the shift from search engines to answer engines means for every company trying to be found online, why most brands fail at storytelling due to a lack of specificity, and why he believes AI is exactly the reset enterprise software needs.He also talks about what he learned from a woman who said "thank you for everything you're doing" to every employee, a line he once thought was generic, and why he stole it. And about co-producing a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, which says something about how he thinks about brand storytelling, too.

Hannah Testani is the CEO of Intelligent Audit, a company that helps businesses ship smarter across the globe. She has built her company on a simple but counterintuitive idea: disruption is good for business if you know how to use it.In this conversation, Hannah breaks down the difference between AI as productivity and AI as innovation, and why most companies are only thinking about one of them. She explains why tariffs and supply chain chaos are actually creating more opportunity for the companies paying attention. And she makes the case that the real threat is not AI taking your job. It is fear keeping you from doing it.She also talks about how she runs her executive team, how she keeps employees from feeling like they are just complaining into a void, and what she learned from the founders she studies obsessively.If you are leading a company or a team through uncertainty right now, this one is worth your time.

Andrew Powell is the co-founder and CEO of Ethos, an AI-powered readiness platform serving the U.S. Department of Defense, the Seattle Seahawks, and other high-stakes organizations.In this conversation, Powell talks about what it actually means to prepare people for the highest-stakes moments of their lives, why the military spends 95 percent of its time training, how AI is changing the nature of combat readiness in real time, and where he stands on the ethics of building technology for the Pentagon.He also shares his take on when CEOs should speak out, what the defense tech opportunity looks like right now, and who gave him the chance that made everything possible.

In this episode, the CEO of Octopus Energy US, Nick Chaset, shares his bold vision for the future of energy—one built on manufacturing, not extraction. From navigating the rapid growth of electricity demand driven by AI, to leveraging smart tech and AI for better customer service, he breaks down how Octopus is revolutionizing renewable energy in the U.S. With insights from his time advising the California Public Utilities Commission and leading community energy initiatives, he explains the challenges of affordability, infrastructure, and innovation in today’s energy market—and what it will take to build a cleaner, more reliable grid for everyone.Timestamps:00:07 - Introduction and Background00:17 - Nick's Career Journey01:18 - Future of Energy03:29 - Consumer Engagement in Energy04:49 - A Day in the Life of a CEO05:58 - Octopus Energy's Presence in the US06:41 - AI Integration in Operations09:26 - Current Energy Market Overview12:11 - Experience at California Public Utilities Commission14:00 - Impact of Tariffs on Energy Prices16:00 - Leadership Lessons17:34 - Acknowledging Mentorship18:35 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, Clint sits down with Gwen Lighter, the CEO and founder of GoAERO, a groundbreaking global emergency response competition supported by industry giants like RTX, NASA, Boeing, and Honeywell. Gwen shares her inspiring journey from a personal emergency to leading a multi-million-dollar initiative aimed at revolutionizing emergency response through innovative aviation technology.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:17 - Gwen's background and the inception of GoAERO00:38 - The mission of GoAERO01:10 - Personal story that inspired GoAERO03:04 - The golden age of aviation and breakthrough technologies03:54 - Partnering with industry giants06:22 - Stages of the GoAERO Prize competition10:02 - Insights from the Go Fly competition11:51 - A day in the life of Gwen as CEO13:48 - Building a community and ecosystem16:08 - Technical challenges and innovations20:40 - Gwen's legacy and vision22:17 - The importance of giving and taking chances

In this episode of the CEO Podcast, we sit down with Bill Smith, the founder and CEO of Landing, the leading network for flexible lease apartments. Bill shares his incredible journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to dropping out of high school at 16, starting multiple businesses, and eventually founding Landing.Bill discusses the challenges and triumphs he faced while building his companies, including the pivotal moments at Shipt and Landing. He also delves into the importance of unit economics, the impact of AI on business operations, and the significance of maintaining a consistent customer experience.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:16 - Bill's entrepreneurial journey01:16 - Founding Landing and the inspiration behind it02:04 - The tech and business community in Birmingham03:30 - Lessons from Shipt applied to Landing04:46 - The impact of COVID-19 on Landing's business model06:12 - Target market and consumer needs07:13 - A day in the life of a CEO08:46 - The role of AI in business operations10:44 - Reading recommendations11:22 - Recruiting and maintaining company culture14:34 - Competitors and market positioning17:22 - Funding the business and building relationships20:10 - Market outlook and economic cycles22:19 - Thoughts on the AI bubble24:29 - Ensuring consistency in customer experience26:19 - The importance of giving and receiving chances

In this episode, Clint sits down with the President and CEO of TIGER 21, a premier peer membership organization for high-net-worth individuals. Discover the fascinating story behind TIGER 21, its mission, and the unique community it fosters. Our guest shares his personal journey, from his early career in leveraged buyouts to leading global education companies, and ultimately, to his current role at TIGER 21.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Overview00:20 - History and Founding of TIGER 2101:57 - Joining TIGER 21 and Initial Impressions03:42 - Career Background Before TIGER 2105:55 - Profile of a TIGER 21 Member08:22 - Origin of the Name TIGER 2109:52 - Membership Requirements and the Five Cs12:07 - Pivotal Moments in Personal and Professional Life15:49 - Core Values and Decision-Making19:01 - Desired Legacy21:08 - Typical Day as CEO23:41 - The Power of Network Effect26:38 - Impact of AI on Human Connections29:16 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

In this episode, Clint sits down with Todd Marks, the founder, president, and CEO of Mindgrub Technologies. Todd shares his journey from a high school math teacher to leading a digital innovation agency that has worked with major brands like Wendy's, Geico, and Yamaha.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:14 - What is Mindgrub Technologies?00:54 - Industry Outlook02:08 - AI Agents and Automation04:09 - Working with Startups06:01 - Startup Advice for VCs10:21 - AI Agents in Various Industries12:29 - Todd's Greatest Life Hack13:43 - What is the EOS System?16:06 - A Day in the Life of Todd Marks17:10 - Reading Recommendations19:02 - The Baltimore Tech Scene24:13 - Maintaining Culture in a Remote World28:37 - Macroeconomic Environment33:40 - Final Thoughts and Mentorship

In this episode, Clint sits down with Scott Voigt, the co-founder and CEO of Fullstory, a leading behavioral intelligence platform. Scott shares the fascinating journey of how Fullstory was founded, the innovative approach they took to capture and structure data, and how they help over 3000 customers worldwide improve their digital experiences.Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:17 - What is FullStory?1:15 - Founding FullStory4:09 - Product Evolution5:49 - AI Integration9:52 - Company Culture14:17 - Atlanta Tech Scene16:37 - Scott's Daily Routine18:16 - Reading Recommendations20:14 - Understanding Customers22:40 - Macroeconomic Environment23:58 - Who Gave Scott a Chance?

In this episode of our podcast, we sit down with Bryan Murphy, the CEO of Smartling, to discuss the transformative power of AI in the translation and localization industry. With a rich background that includes a successful tenure at eBay, Bryan shares his journey to leading Smartling, an AI-driven translation platform that's revolutionizing the $50 billion translation market.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:16 - Bryan’s journey to becoming CEO of Smartling00:30 - Overview of Smartling and its impact on the translation market01:18 - The state of the translation market and Smartling’s advantages01:55 - The role of AI in translation and Smartling’s innovations03:54 - The future of AI and its impact on productivity05:27 - AI as a productivity tool and its implications for the workforce07:10 - Bryan’s daily routine and operating plan07:52 - Book recommendations08:14 - Company culture and remote work09:35 - Expanding into international markets11:30 - Company mission and values13:50 - Lessons from eBay15:20 - Economic outlook and global trade16:37 - The importance of giving and receiving chances