CEO: Behind the Scenes

Leadership under pressure often comes down to how well the whole team can think and act together. In this episode of CEO: Behind the Scenes, John O’Donnell, President and CEO of Pinnacol Assurance, reflects on how his military experience continues to shape the way he leads and makes decisions in business. Drawing on his time flying attack helicopters in the United States Marine Corps, O’Donnell explains why effective leadership depends less on hierarchy and more on clarity, trust and shared intent. He shares how that mindset translates into business leadership today – creating the conditions for other people to make sound decisions.It’s a practical conversation about teamwork, autonomy and leading without needing to be the smartest person in the room. Access our free digital content: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com Follow us:   LinkedIn: @the-ceo-magazine-global   Facebook: @theceomagazineglobal   X: @ceomagazinegl  Instagram: @theceomagazineglobal   Follow John O'Donnell and Pinnacol Assurance: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodonnell03/ Website: https://www.pinnacol.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Bushkie, founder and CEO of Cornerstone Business Services with 25+ years in M&A advising owners on selling on their terms. He discusses why unsolicited offers can mislead, how competition and multiple bidders drive value, the key buyer signals that create value, common value leaks in sales processes, and why years of preparation and a specialist deal team matter.

Janice Price, President and CEO of ROM Governors and seasoned leader in arts and culture, reflects on risk as a misunderstood leadership tool. She talks about leading through crises, reframing fear into calculated opportunity, balancing mission with finances, and building authentic donor and community relationships. Short, candid stories about pivots, team-building, and museums’ role in belonging.

Jason Fox, Chief Academic Officer at SCAD, leads creative, industry-aligned education and applied AI initiatives. He discusses why creativity, empathy and curiosity outpace automation. Conversations cover studio-style classrooms, hands-on tech like LED stages and EV projects, industry partnerships and mentoring, and teaching AI as a tool that amplifies creative work.

Karla Congson, CEO and CTO of Agentiiv, is an entrepreneur who builds AI agents and digital twins to amplify expert workflows. She discusses removing cognitively numbing tasks so people focus on meaningful work. She explains creating digital twins of top experts, overcoming adoption fears, human-centered agent design, governance needs, and what leaders should ask as AI reshapes work.

Naveen Jain, founder and CEO of Viome Life Sciences, builds AI-driven molecular tests to personalize and prevent disease. He discusses why RNA and microbiome activity matter, how at-home molecular measurements can shift care from hospitals to homes, and how AI plus scale enables early disease detection and evolving, individualized recommendations.

Mark Moses, founding partner of CEO Coaching International and bestselling author, shares bold leadership stories and a near-bankruptcy comeback. He discusses setting billion-dollar ambitions with symbolic acts, the four traits of top CEOs, when to upgrade teams, and why AI readiness is really leadership readiness. Short, punchy lessons on scaling, accountability, and pairing AI with coaching.

Ron Bakir, Founder and CEO of Homecorp, a property developer focused on legacy, people and continuous improvement. He talks about building with long-term vision and doing the right thing. He explains creating people-first culture, trusting intuition while using feedback, and delivering communities rather than just buildings. He previews international growth, smart communities and tech partnerships.

Toru Takahashi, Global Chief Strategy Officer at GLOBIS and leadership researcher, explores human capital, kokorozashi (aligning personal mission with social good), and why treating people as expenses harms long-term performance. He discusses sabbaticals, cross-cultural lessons from Iran and Europe, human-centered leadership for tech disruption, and how leaders must embody purpose to build sustainable cultures.

Imamu ‘Mu’ Tomlinson, a practicing emergency physician and CEO who leads clinician-driven innovation, talks about leadership forged by frontline adversity. He explores staying close to patients, clinician-led innovation, equity as an organizational capability, measuring fulfillment over burnout, and scaling culture without diluting purpose.