The CEO Project Podcast

Are you building an AI workforce that actually increases your business worth—or just adding more complexity to your team? You're probably feeling the pressure to adopt AI, but the real challenge isn't the technology—it's figuring out how to use it effectively without exposing your data, slowing your team down, or making costly hiring mistakes. This episode flips the script by showing you how AI isn't just a tool—it's something you need to manage like a team. If you've ever wondered why AI initiatives stall or why your team struggles to get value from it, this conversation will hit close to home. By listening, you'll walk away with: A smarter way to think about managing an AI workforce using the same skills you use to lead people Practical insight into protecting your data while still moving fast with AI adoption Real-world lessons from scaling companies on hiring, leadership, and avoiding costly mistakes in high-growth environments Hit play now to learn how to turn AI from a confusing experiment into a managed asset that actually drives results. Check out: 00:04:30 — How AI moved from analytics to real business applications Bethany shares her early experience with AI, from voice analytics to pricing and supply chain use cases, and explains where AI creates measurable business impact. 00:14:30 — The hidden data risk behind AI adoption A strong section on over-permissioning, Copilot/Gemini/Claude readiness, and why messy access controls can quietly derail your AI workforce plans. 00:31:00 — Why managing an AI workforce requires management skills One of the best takeaways in the episode: Bethany explains why delegation, context, feedback, and expectation-setting matter just as much with AI as they do with people. About Bethany Ayers Bethany Ayers has helped raise over $200M and built the go-to-market engines that transform startups into market leaders. As the CEO at Metomic, an AI cybersecurity company (previously COO @ Peak.ai) and board member for cutting-edge AI companies, she's the executive who turns innovative ideas into revenue-generating machines. She's not just another executive—she's the leader who's been in the trenches, made the mistakes, and cracked the code on sustainable scaling. When your audience needs real talk about building businesses that last, Bethany delivers.

Dr. Tony Alessandra, marketing professor-turned-speaker and founder of Assessments 24x7, shares his journey from door-to-door sales to building practical personality assessments. He discusses using DISC and simple focus to improve communication, sales conversations, and team building. Short stories and real business examples show how people insights can cut through complexity and drive better decisions.

Mark Zides, seasoned CEO, investor, and leadership advisor with 35+ years and two bestselling books. He discusses preparing young professionals with practical career habits. He explains Rewired Leadership and why AI forces leaders to rethink communication and decision-making. He highlights balancing instant analytics with empathy, intuition, and human judgment in workforce transformation.

Rupesh Sanghavi, founder and CEO of Ergode, a global e-commerce growth leader. He talks about using AI engines to drive 10–15x traffic, optimizing sites with FAQs and structured answers, automating content at scale, and how AI plus Amazon changes visibility and competition. Practical strategies for positioning online stores to be recommended by AI.

Curtis Hite, founder and CEO of Improving who scaled a global software firm and champions trust-driven leadership. He tells how a CEO summit sparked a mission to change IT’s image. Short takes on making trust actionable, defining conscious capitalism as a big-tent philosophy, and balancing profit with purpose during crisis through shared sacrifice and accountability.

Richard Bliss, CEO of BlissPoint Consulting and author of Digital-First Leadership, helps executives build digital authority. He explains LinkedIn’s 2025 algorithm shift and why company pages underperform. He shows how to use employees to multiply credibility and why AI-driven discovery demands substantive, conversation-starting content over passive posts.

Onyi Odunukwe, self-made entrepreneur and deal architect who built Glo Tanning Centers, talks negotiation as daily leverage, not just price. He covers leverage drivers like timing and certainty. He explains the power of walking away, tactical moves like the flinch and silence, and why controlling the agreement draft shifts deal structure.

Geoffrey Toffetti, CEO of Frontline Performance Group, builds revenue by optimizing front-line teams for hospitality and customer-facing businesses. He discusses matching offers to real guest needs, practical personalization tactics, pilots that reveal surprising wins, and focused AI tools that coach staff without replacing them.

Paige Wiese, founder and CEO of Tree Ring Digital, a Denver-based marketing and digital asset expert. She explores which items count as critical digital assets. She outlines questions to ask agencies and contract tips to avoid vendor lock-in. She warns about email, transfers during exits, and why AI accounts need governance. Practical, urgent, and focused on protecting value you might not know you own.

Carl Gould, a growth advisor who built multiple multi-million-dollar companies and founded 7 Stage Advisors. He maps the seven stages of scaling and explains why founders stall at Stage 3. He contrasts systems versus flexibility and shows when a business becomes a true asset. Practical stories and stage-based framing make growth feel predictable and actionable.