CEO Coaching International Podcast

Guest: Anthony Venus, a coach at CEO Coaching International. Anthony is an experienced entrepreneur and CEO who led his latest venture-backed SaaS firm YayPay from its inception to a successful exit. Quick Background: Why are some founders and CEOs able to repeat BIG success? Because they understand that winning a market, consistent growth, and nine-figure exits aren't a matter of luck. Once you've learned how to install specific, measurable, and actionable systems, you can repeat those processes at new companies, and even in new industries. And the best of the best, like the team at CEO Coaching International, can teach other CEOs how to do the same and Make BIG Happen. On today's show, Anthony Venus discusses how his leadership and strategic vision fueled YayPay's growth and ultimate success, the importance of developing a strong company culture, and what his recent travels have taught him about the need for CEOs to lead with passion and purpose.

Guest: Mary Naylor, a coach at CEO Coaching International. Mary is a repeat founder, CEO, and board member working in diverse sectors including customer loyalty, consumer services, concierge and lifestyle services, hospitality, travel, financial services, call center customer service, and technology platforms. She has 30 years of expertise in enterprise business development, go-to-market strategies, sales optimization, channel partnerships, team building, and fundraising. Quick Background: What's the BIGGEST mistake CEOs make about their go-to-market strategy? Acting like it's finished.  Consistently studying and refining your value proposition, customer profile, and messaging is the only way to keep your company competing, growing, and Making BIG Happen.  On today's show, Mary Naylor walks us through the five steps she uses to ensure that a CEO's go-to-market strategy stays relevant and dynamic in a constantly evolving marketplace.

Guest: Lisa Tanzer, a coach at CEO Coaching International. Lisa is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience, including 10 years in CEO and president's roles and 10 years leading marketing teams as the CMO. She's worked with Fortune 1000 companies like Gillette, Staples, and Hasbro, as well as privately held and venture-backed companies across a range of industries. Quick Background: Nothing can move the needle on your company's ceiling quicker than talent. That's why great companies hire the best people, period. But how do you know if your teams are coalescing around the company's BIG goals and cultural values? On today's show, Lisa Tanzer details the five traits of high-performing teams and her proven approach to building and managing the talent CEOs need to Make BIG Happen.

Guest: Chris Justice, a coach at CEO Coaching International. Chris is a former CEO with a proven track record of managing business units from $25 million to $700 million across diverse industries, including retail, lodging, automotive, e-commerce, and casino gaming. Quick Background: Running a business has always been hard. And considering that today's CEOs need to manage complex generational divides, global competition, rapid technological advances, and a constantly evolving economic landscape, leading isn't going to get any easier. But if your company has a clear vision, top talent, and dependable systems, there are very few BIG goals or problems that a CEO can't break down into smaller, more manageable parts.  On today's show, Chris Justice shares his practical, five-step framework for turning around companies and dealing with complicated business situations.

Guest: Sarah Dusek, the founder of Under Canvas, the leading upscale outdoor hospitality brand that she grew to a value of over $100 million. Today, Sarah is a venture capitalist, a cofounder of a new hospitality company, and the author of the new book, Thinking Bigger: A Pitch-Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World. Overview: In 2012, Sarah Dusek's "glamping" company was starting its first season at Yellowstone National Park. One fateful afternoon, a huge thunderstorm rolled in and flattened the campsite, and, seemingly, Sarah's dream.  But Sarah, her husband, her employees, and even her customers rallied. She rebuilt her business model with an eye towards repeatability and scale. And as the company began to get to BIG, Sarah began "thinking bigger" as well.  On today's show, Sarah Dusek describes her incredible journey from the brink of collapse to building a $100-million industry leader. She also shares lessons from her new career in VC about what makes a business investible.

Guest: Sally Hurley, CEO of VIPdesk, a global leader in remote customer service. Sally is also a client of CEO Coaching International. Overview: Much of the focus on the AI revolution has been on how businesses can streamline operations and execute certain key tasks around the clock. But any AI implementation that isn't improving the efficiency and quality of your customer experience is going to be a downgrade, no matter how fancy your tech stack is. On today's show, Sally Hurley explains how to zero in on the unique balance between AI automation and human connection that will Make BIG Happen for your company.

Guest: Jen L'Estrange, Founder & CEO of Red Clover, which offers large-scale, strategic and operational Human Resources support that's accessible to small businesses. Overview: When it comes to comp, money is rarely enough -- especially for top talent. The best workers need to feel like their efforts are not just rewarded but recognized as integral contributions towards Making BIG Happen. Your compensation package has to tie all of these motivations together in a way that's clear, equitable, and integral to the company's top goals. On today's show, Jen L'Estrange shares five key insights on upgrading your compensation package: 1. Increase focus on variable compensation.  2. Communicate clearly about how compensation is structured. 3. Incentivize both short-term performance and long-term strategic objectives. 4. Provide non-monetary motivation for team members.  5. Benchmark salaries against market data rather than relying solely on cost of living adjustments.

Dr. Madan Kandula, founder and CEO of ADVENT, shares his journey from surgeon to entrepreneur, leading a thriving healthcare company that addresses breathing and sleeping challenges. He discusses the balance between profit and purpose, emphasizing that financial success fuels a greater mission. Dr. Kandula reveals insights on partnering effectively with private equity while maintaining a commitment to patient care. His personal anecdotes highlight the importance of leadership, continuous education, and navigating the complexities of growing an organization without losing sight of its core values.

Guest: Randy Dewey, the President and COO of CEO Coaching International. Randy has over 30 years of experience delivering rapid growth and expansion across various industries and countries. Quick Background: In order to Make BIG Happen, private equity firms need the companies they invest in to get BIG too. And, in most cases, the sooner the better. On today's show, Randy discusses how the team at CEO Coaching International works with private equity firms and their portco (portfolio company) CEOs to accelerate growth, improve execution, and maximize returns. Randy shares some insights on the importance of early intervention in newly acquired companies, bridging the gap between private equity expectations and portfolio company execution, and how coaching can help CEOs navigate the increased pressure that often comes with private equity ownership.

Guest: Shelley Van Etten, the president and CEO of WLT Software, a family-owned company that develops software for adjudicating and processing health and medical claims. Overview: Generational CEOs are inheriting a BIG responsibility when they take over the family business. The new CEO is often filling "big shoes" and has to maintain the best of what got the firm to where it is while also moving forward in certain areas and keeping talent aligned with the business' core values. On today's show, Shelley Van Etten discusses how she navigated the challenges of leading a second-generation family business, preserving company culture while evolving with the times, and preparing the next generation to keep Making BIG Happen.