The Scaling CEO

In this episode, I speak with Skyler Badenoch, CEO of Hope for Haiti, about what it really takes to scale an organization. We break down why hiring the right people and building an aligned team is critical for growth. He shares how partnerships and funding play a key role in scaling sustainably. We also talk about leadership, culture, and creating an environment where people can do their best work. We close with how he uses AI to improve efficiency and decision making.

In this episode, I sit down with Carla Larin, CEO of maxRTE, to talk about why CEOs often become the bottleneck in their own growth. We discuss the shift from strategy to execution and what it really means to let go as a leader. Carla shares how hiring the right people and aligning incentives can unlock growth. We also get into building a sales function from zero and making better decisions over time. We close with how she is thinking about AI and staying focused on real customer problems.

In this episode, I sit down with Ganesh Padmanabhan, CEO of Autonomize AI, to talk about how AI is changing the way companies scale and compete. We discuss why having access to the same tools is no longer an advantage, and why human agency and creativity are becoming the real differentiators. Ganesh also shares lessons from scaling inside large enterprises and startups, how to think about evolving product-market fit in the age of AI, and how leaders can use AI to improve both operations and decision-making.

In this episode, I sit down with Roger Jansen, CEO of Exponential Health, to explore what really determines whether a company can execute and scale. We talk about why strategy alone is not enough, how talent is the true driver of execution, and why hiring the right people is more important than having the perfect plan. Roger also shares insights on leadership, building high-performing teams, avoiding hiring mistakes, and how CEOs can create a culture that drives performance and growth.

In this episode, I sit down with Danny Sigurdson, founder and CEO of Courier Health, to talk about what really drives successful scaling. We break down why product-market fit is the foundation of everything, how sales can sometimes hide deeper problems, and why founders need to be brutally honest about what they’re building and who it’s for. Danny also shares lessons from moving from sales leader to CEO, how to think about process at different stages, and why clarity, alignment, and communication are critical as your company grows.

In this episode, I sit down with David Simnick, CEO of Soapbox, to break down what it really takes to build and scale a company over time. We talk about why grit matters more than talent, how founders fail when they can’t take pressure, and how to build a strong team instead of trying to do everything yourself. David also shares how he evaluates entrepreneurs as an investor, the importance of humility in leadership, and how to stay focused while growing a mission-driven business in a highly competitive market.

In this episode, I speak with Mike Newman, CEO of Returnity Innovations, about the realities of turning a big idea into a scalable business. Mike explains why many CEOs fall in love with their vision but underestimate the operational discipline required to build real growth. We discuss infrastructure, partnerships with large enterprises, simplifying your business model to scale faster, and how leaders must balance innovation with operational execution.

In this episode, I speak with John Podlewski, founder and CEO of WealthyPlanet, about a hidden productivity problem inside many companies: employee financial stress. John explains how financial anxiety impacts productivity, retention, and decision-making inside organizations. We also discuss leadership lessons from his time as a military medic, building an AI-driven financial planning platform, and why CEOs must address financial wellness if they want their teams to perform at their best.

In this episode, I sit down with Neissan Monadjem, founder and CEO of LINKSPORTS, to talk about what it really takes to scale a company globally. Neissan shares lessons from building technology platforms across multiple countries and cultures. We discuss why your mission must stay rigid while your execution adapts locally, how diversity and empathy shape innovation, and why investors ultimately invest based on emotional conviction, not just spreadsheets.

In this episode, I speak with Sam Jacobs, founder and CEO of Pavilion, about the real challenges of scaling a membership business. Sam shares how raising $25M changed the way he thought about growth, status, and success, and how those shifts led to strategic mistakes inside Pavilion. We talk about hiring the right leadership team, rebuilding focus, why exclusivity matters in premium communities, and how CEOs can recognize when their organization is drifting away from its core principles.