CEO.com | Dispatches from the frontiers of leadership

In this episode, we sit down with Max Ma, the founder and CEO of 7thOnline, a company revolutionizing the retail industry with cutting-edge AI solutions. Max shares his incredible journey from identifying inefficiencies in the retail supply chain to building a global enterprise that partners with top brands like Birkenstock, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Patagonia.Timestamps:00:06 - Introduction and Background00:21 - Founding 7thOnline01:26 - Business Evolution and Leadership03:25 - Daily Routine and AI Integration04:54 - AI in Retail and Supply Chain06:30 - AI Growth and Industry Impact08:21 - Moving Beyond Excel09:55 - Work-Life Balance11:15 - Reading Recommendations13:32 - Economic Outlook and Tariffs15:00 - Mentorship and Support16:39 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, we sit down with the CEO of Solutions by Text, Dave Baxter,  to hear his incredible journey — from turning down a board seat to leading one of the most innovative companies in fintech.Dave shares how he scaled a small, founder-led family business into a fintech powerhouse by combining mobile messaging, AI, and compliance-driven solutions for the financial industry. We dive into his leadership lessons, the lonely reality of being a first-time CEO, how he leverages AI to drive better outcomes for clients, and how he balances family, work, and personal growth along the way.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:06 - Dave's Background and Career Path02:08 - The Aha Moment and Vision for Solutions by Text06:45 - Leadership Lessons Learned10:38 - AI Integration in Solutions by Text13:39 - A Day in the Life of a CEO16:15 - Reading Recommendations18:34 - The Importance of Mentorship22:00 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, Clint sits down with Somia Farid Silber. They dive into the incredible journey of how a young girl dipping strawberries in her family's store grew up to become the CEO of one of the most recognizable gifting brands in the world — Edible Arrangements.She shares how she’s leading the next chapter of the company, from expanding into new wellness markets with Edibles.com to innovating the in-store experience with Edible Next Gen. We also discuss leadership lessons, balancing family and business, using AI to personalize customer experiences, and how to future-proof a brand in both retail and e-commerce.Timestamps:00:07 - Introduction and Early Business Experience01:32 - Running a Family Business02:48 - Launch of Edibles.com04:37 - Sourcing and Product Selection05:08 - Integrating AI in Business07:20 - A Day in the Life of a CEO08:28 - Mental Health and Well-being Strategies09:48 - Impact of Tariffs11:18 - Leadership Lessons12:29 - Brick and Mortar vs. E-commerce14:36 - Customer Response to Cannabis Industry Entry15:44 - The Importance of Giving Chances16:52 - Closing Remarks and Gratitude

In this episode, Clint sits down with Joe Davis, the former head of BCG North America and author of "The Generous Leader: Seven Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain." Joe shares his journey, leadership philosophy, and the inspiration behind his book. We dive into what it means to be a generous leader, the importance of connecting with your team, and how to thrive in uncertain times.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction00:17 - Why Joe wrote "The Generous Leader"01:43 - What is a generous leader?02:32 - Joe's leadership philosophy04:02 - Joe's career journey at BCG06:25 - The impact of AI on consulting10:02 - Leadership and personal impact13:27 - Balancing work and family life17:14 - Reading recommendations19:08 - Challenging leadership moments22:07 - The importance of giving chances

Welcome to another episode of our podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Steve Blue, the President and CEO of Miller Ingenuity, a global supplier of diverse technology products and systems. With 26 years at the helm, Steve has grown the company's EBITDA by seven times without using outside capital.Join us as Steve shares his journey from being a divisional general manager to leading Miller Ingenuity, the importance of building a strong company culture, and the challenges of transforming an established organization. He also discusses the significance of cash management, the role of philanthropy in business, and how to effectively manage a board of directors.Steve also touches on the impact of AI in manufacturing, the importance of strategic planning, and his experiences co-authoring books with Jack Canfield. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or an aspiring leader, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.Timestamps:00:06 - Introduction and Background00:18 - Overview of Miller Ingenuity01:02 - Becoming CEO02:05 - Achievements and Growth02:34 - Leadership and Culture Change03:12 - Funding and Financial Strategy04:36 - Importance of Company Culture06:02 - Building and Sustaining Culture09:12 - Employee Empowerment10:31 - Hiring Process and Employee Engagement11:26 - Profit-Driven Incentives13:13 - Community Engagement and Philanthropy16:44 - Typical Day as CEO18:10 - Managing the Board22:09 - Impact of Tariffs24:46 - Strategic Planning and Cash Management27:27 - Book Co-Authorship with Jack Canfield29:33 - Unlocking Success Book Overview32:21 - Integration of AI34:44 - Reading Recommendations37:13 - Final Question: Who Gave You a Chance?

In this episode, Clint sits down with Ahmed Khattak, the founder and CEO of U.S. Mobile, to discuss his incredible journey from Pakistan to leading one of the most innovative wireless connectivity platforms in the U.S.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:17 - Ahmed's background and inspiration for U.S. Mobile02:11 - Challenges of getting a cell phone as an immigrant03:16 - The role of immigrants in the wireless connectivity space04:07 - How U.S. Mobile operates on top of major U.S. networks06:38 - Funding and growth journey of U.S. Mobile09:18 - Customer base and global reach12:22 - Marketing strategies and the power of Reddit16:20 - Integrating AI into U.S. Mobile19:06 - A day in the life of Ahmed Khattak21:10 - Building a business in the U.S. and New York23:02 - Reading recommendations and the importance of history25:34 - Leadership lessons as a CEO28:29 - The importance of giving and receiving chances

In this episode, Clint sits down with Kerim Kfuri, the CEO of Atlas Network, a global supply chain solutions company with over 20 years of experience. Kerim shares his journey from consulting and regulatory roles to leading a company that helps businesses of all sizes navigate the complexities of the global supply chain.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Atlas Network00:57 - Kerim's journey to becoming CEO03:08 - Leadership lessons in supply chain management05:08 - Navigating tariffs and trade challenges06:35 - The role of AI in supply chains08:31 - Energy implications of AI10:51 - Future of tariffs and trade agreements12:50 - Kerim's daily routine13:52 - Reading recommendations14:45 - Kerim's legacy and moral compass15:35 - The chance that changed Kerim's life

In this episode of The CEO.com Show, Clint Betts sits down with Ken Rusk, a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. Ken defied the odds by achieving Wall Street Journal bestseller status with his book, "Blue Collar Cash." He also hosts the podcast "Comfort, Peace, and Freedom" and offers a course titled "The Path to a Successful Life."Ken shares his fascinating journey from being a proud ditch digger to leading a successful company with 200 employees. He discusses the importance of blue-collar work, the value of a clear vision, and the power of goal setting. Ken also touches on the impact of AI on blue-collar jobs and the significance of lifelong learning.Timestamps:00:06 - Introduction to Ken Rusk00:43 - Ken Rusk's Blue Collar Beginnings01:33 - The Importance of Blue-Collar Work03:13 - The College Controversy05:43 - Vision and Goal Setting for Leaders07:28 - Creating Personal Visions09:43 - Response to Blue Collar Cash11:27 - Lifelong Learning and Hard Work13:48 - Focusing on What Truly Matters15:11 - The Impact of AI on Blue-Collar Jobs16:49 - Ken Rusk's Course and Its Purpose18:25 - Motivation for Donating Course Proceeds20:04 - Ken Rusk's Legacy21:03 - The Importance of Giving Chances21:56 - Closing Remarks and Website Promotion

In this episode, we sit down with Jon, the founder and managing partner of Torch Capital, to explore his fascinating journey from the music industry to venture capital.Jon shares his unique path, starting as a drummer and concert organizer in college, to working with legendary bands like Dave Matthews Band, and eventually transitioning into the world of venture capital. He discusses the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including his time at McKinsey, his mentorship under Jack Welch, and his early investments in companies like ZocDoc and Compass.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:07 - Jon's journey from music to venture capital02:01 - Influence of diverse background on leadership and investments03:05 - Mentorship under Jack Welch06:14 - Early stage investing and recognizing talent08:54 - Qualities to look for in startups12:05 - Lessons from McKinsey14:22 - Council of Foreign Relations insights16:26 - Advice for mission-driven entrepreneurs20:15 - Balancing life and work22:15 - A typical day in venture capital23:32 - Reading recommendations24:48 - Surprising elements of the journey26:42 - Mental health and resilience28:09 - AI in early-stage startups30:54 - The role of empathy in leadership32:34 - Mentors who gave Jon a chance

In this episode, Clint sits down with Jason Beem, the former CEO of Panopto, to discuss his fascinating journey in the software industry and his role at Panopto. Founded in 2007, Panopto has become a leader in higher education video capture tools, helping students and faculty enhance learning outcomes through innovative video solutions.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:17 - Jason's career journey and Panopto's mission01:50 - The culture and team at Panopto02:47 - Panopto's customer base and market expansion04:26 - The future of SaaS and AI06:07 - How Panopto uses AI08:38 - The magic of text-to-video technology09:43 - A day in the life of a CEO12:14 - Meeting structures and productivity tips14:08 - Recommended reading and personal interests15:50 - Work from home vs. office dynamics18:13 - Communication strategies in a remote work environment19:39 - Economic outlook and market trends23:01 - The future of education and AI's role26:00 - The tech scene in Austin, Texas28:19 - The importance of mentorship