Breakfast Leadership Show

What happens when a chemist accidentally becomes an entrepreneur — and then has to figure out who he is after he sells the company he built? Scott Bening, author of "Formulating Solutions" and the newly released "The Back Nine," joins the podcast to share a career story that is equal parts unexpected and instructive.

Scott grew up in Buffalo, New York, earned his degrees from St. Lawrence University and UIC Chicago, and spent just nine months in a laboratory before pivoting into technical sales. That pivot — combining deep scientific knowledge with a learned ability to sell — became the foundation for everything that followed, including leading MonoSol, a manufacturer of water-soluble films with an exclusive supply relationship with Procter & Gamble, and ultimately selling the company to a Japanese acquirer.

In this episode, Scott and Michael explore the underrated power of a technical background in sales, the role that journaling played in Scott's first book, and why integrity and relationship-building are not soft concepts but core business drivers. Scott also shares what he learned from a book tour in Japan, where his first book resonated far beyond the audience he originally anticipated.

The conversation then turns to "The Back Nine" — Scott's candid guide for baby boomers navigating retirement, finding new purpose, and staying mentally engaged after decades of professional identity. Scott speaks openly about his work mentoring university students and business professionals in transition, and why so few high-achieving people plan seriously for the chapter of life after work.

Whether you are building a company, preparing to exit one, or simply trying to lead a more intentional career, this episode delivers hard-won perspective from someone who has done it all and chosen to write it down.

Books:  Author of "Formulating Solutions" and "The Back Nine"

Website:  https://www.mbs2.org/

Topics covered: Technical sales, entrepreneurship, MonoSol, water-soluble films, Procter & Gamble, career transitions, mentorship, retirement planning, book writing, integrity in business, life after ownership

Note: The Breakfast Leadership Show includes occasional paid partner episodes, in which the guest has paid to appear.

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Current economic growth is being driven by a highly concentrated group of AI-focused companies, yet a significant governance gap threatens the sustainability of this expansion.

Organizations are deploying autonomous AI agents at a pace that far exceeds their internal oversight and decision-making frameworks, leading to a high projected failure rate for these initiatives. This friction is most visible in middle management, where leaders are currently overwhelmed by extreme workloads and excessive responsibilities.

To address these vulnerabilities, firms must stop treating technical and organizational issues as separate problems. Instead, they should pursue an integrated redesign that simultaneously clarifies AI ownership and reduces the operational burden on their human workforce.

Over the next few months, success will depend on aligning agentic capabilities with a robust, sustainable management structure.

Schedule your AI readiness assessment today!

https://www.breakfastleadership.com/executivediagnostic

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Episode Summary

In this episode, I sit down with Yasemin to pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to work in the restaurant industry. From the fast-paced chaos of a dinner rush to the emotional labor that comes with serving guests day in and day out, we talk honestly about the realities servers face—and why respect and kindness from customers truly matter. Yasemin shares her personal experiences on the floor, including the small things that make a big difference (yes, including the right shoes!).

We also explore how positive energy, community support, and simple human connection can completely transform the dining experience—for both guests and staff. This conversation is a powerful reminder that servers are more than order-takers—they’re people. If you’ve ever dined out, this episode might just change the way you see the person bringing your meal.

Links & Resources

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@bitterwaitresspodcast

Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/cz/podcast/bitter-waitress/id1837005569

If this episode made you think differently about your next dining experience, I’d love for you to rate, follow, share, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue having meaningful conversations like this—and building a more thoughtful, connected community.

Note: The Breakfast Leadership Show includes occasional paid partner episodes, in which the guest has paid to appear.

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Episode Summary

In this episode, I sit down with Celia to explore something we don’t often stop to think about: how much of our identity is actually shaped by choice. From design in our everyday lives to the deeper layers of heritage and archaeology, we unpack how identity isn’t fixed — it’s constructed through our environment, our experiences, and the decisions we make along the way. Celia shares her personal journey through major life transitions, including parenthood and relocation, and how archaeology and heritage can meaningfully support well-being during times of change.

We also dive headfirst into one of today’s biggest conversations: AI and its impact on jobs, society, and the future of work. Is AI replacing us — or redefining us? We talk about transferable skills, ethical regulation, social prescribing, and why AI might reflect existing systemic problems rather than create new ones. This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and future-focused — and it might just change how you see both your identity and your role in an AI-driven world.

Links & Resources

archaeology-for-wellbeing.com

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-celia-orsini-archaeology-for-wellbeing/

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate, follow, share, and leave a review. It really helps the show reach more people — and I appreciate your support more than you know!

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Episode Summary

In this episode, I sit down with Wain Yu to unpack a powerful and deeply personal conversation around leadership and neurodiversity. We explore how understanding neurodivergent traits—both in ourselves and others—can completely transform the way we lead, manage, and connect. Wain shares his journey as a technology leader, researcher, and father, and how those experiences shaped his perspective on unlocking human potential.

We also dive into practical leadership insights: how to move beyond “fixing weaknesses,” why environments matter more than we think, and how traits like hyperfocus and curiosity can become superpowers in the right context. If you’ve ever wondered how to better support diverse thinkers on your team—or even better understand yourself—this episode will challenge the way you think about performance, inclusion, and leadership.

Final Thoughts

If this episode got you thinking differently about leadership and human potential, make sure to follow, rate, and share the Breakfast Leadership Show. And if you haven’t already, leave a review—it helps more people discover conversations like this.

https://www.wainwrightyu.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wainwrightyu/

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In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael D. Levitt speaks with Jonathan Sherrill about the connection between mindset, leadership effectiveness, stress management, and burnout prevention.

Jonathan shares insights on how fear, unresolved stress, and limiting beliefs quietly influence decision-making, workplace culture, and personal performance. The discussion explores practical ways leaders can improve resilience, self-awareness, and emotional regulation while navigating uncertainty and pressure.

Key topics include:

• How mindset affects leadership performance
• The hidden impact of stress and burnout on decision-making
• Why fear drives many workplace behaviors
• Strategies for improving emotional resilience
• The role of self-awareness in leadership growth
• How leaders can create healthier workplace cultures
• Practical techniques for managing overwhelm and uncertainty

Learn more at http://waypointfounders.com/

This episode is valuable for executives, entrepreneurs, HR leaders, managers, and professionals seeking sustainable performance and stronger leadership capacity.

Schedule your Leadership Operating System review at:
Breakfast Leadership LeadershipOS

Note: The Breakfast Leadership Show includes occasional paid partner episodes, in which the guest has paid to appear.

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Episode Overview

Michael Levitt sits down with executive advisor Chris March to discuss one of the most common yet underaddressed challenges facing founder-led businesses: the founder themselves becoming the primary obstacle to growth. Chris works with organizations generating between $5 million and $20 million in revenue, helping founders identify structural dysfunction, reclaim their time, and build organizations that can operate independently.

Key Topics Covered

Founder Gravity Chris introduces the concept of "founder gravity," the organizational pull that keeps all decisions, approvals, and responsibilities flowing back to the founder regardless of company size. He explains that structural problems cannot be coached away, and that solving them requires an intentional redesign of how the organization is built.

The Delegation Trap A critical distinction emerges between transferring tasks and transferring decision-making authority. Many founders delegate responsibilities without ever relinquishing the sign-off, which trains their teams to wait for approval rather than exercise independent judgment. True delegation requires trusting people with the authority to make decisions, not just the work itself.

AI as an Accelerant, Not a Silver Bullet Both Michael and Chris address the widespread rush to adopt AI without first establishing the operational fundamentals it requires. Without documented SOPs and clearly defined workflows, AI cannot fill the gaps. Chris references a Gartner projection that up to 40 to 90 percent of AI projects may be canceled by 2027 due to this misalignment, noting that organizations are often simply accelerating broken systems rather than fixing them.

The Business Continuity Test Chris offers a practical diagnostic: if a founder cannot step away from the business for two to three weeks without it breaking down, they do not have a business. They have an expensive job. He uses this exercise with clients as a structural audit to identify exactly where the organization is fragile.

Time as a Strategic Asset Chris closes with his single most impactful recommendation: audit how you spend your time. Founders who operate with unstructured, reactive calendars are commonly leaking 10 to 20 hours per week. Time is the one asset that cannot be recovered, and managing it with intention is foundational to everything else.

Actionable Takeaways

About Chris March

Chris March is an executive advisor specializing in founder-led organizations. He helps business owners scale past the point where they themselves are the constraint, focusing on organizational structure, operational design, and leadership development.

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherrmarch/

Connect with Michael Levitt

"If you can't step away from your business for two to three weeks, you don't have a business. You have a very expensive job." -- Chris March

Note: The Breakfast Leadership Show includes occasional paid partner episodes, in which the guest has paid to appear.

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Michael sits down with Brian Fielkow to discuss his new book, Making Safety Happen, and why safety leadership belongs in the boardroom rather than the basement. Brian brings a compelling perspective shaped by his transition from corporate law to executive leadership, and he makes a powerful case for why safety is not a compliance checkbox but a core business principle with measurable impact on profitability, culture, and competitive positioning.

Key Takeaways

Safety is a C-Suite Imperative. Brian argues that safety must be led from the top of the organization. When it is delegated solely to a safety department, it loses the executive authority needed to drive real cultural and operational change.

Safety Drives Business Value. Organizations that embed safety into their culture attract value-aligned customers, improve employee retention, and build a meaningful competitive advantage. Brian draws on Paul O'Neill's transformation of Alcoa as a landmark example of how safety leadership can simultaneously improve human outcomes and business performance.

Compliance and Safety Are Not the Same Thing. Using the Tracy Morgan crash as a case study, Brian illustrates how an organization can be fully legally compliant and still be fundamentally unsafe. True safety is about systems and processes, not simply the absence of incidents.

Frontline Expertise Is an Untapped Asset. Both Michael and Brian emphasize the value of involving frontline employees in risk assessment and process design. Brian shared how his former logistics company had truck drivers author their own process manual in plain language, dramatically improving comprehension and adherence.

Safety and Growth Can Coexist. Organizations do not have to choose between scaling and maintaining a strong safety culture. With the right systems and leadership commitment, safety becomes an accelerant rather than a constraint.

About Brian Fielkow

Brian Fielkow is a seasoned executive, attorney, and author with deep experience leading organizations where safety is operationally and culturally central. His book, Making Safety Happen, is written for leaders at all levels and covers leadership roles, employee engagement, process implementation, accountability, and organizational resilience. The book is structured to be used as a practical reference, complete with actionable ideas and checklists, rather than a cover-to-cover read.

Resources Mentioned

https://BrianFielkow.com

Note: The Breakfast Leadership Show includes occasional paid partner episodes, in which the guest has paid to appear.

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This source argues that excessive organizational layers have transitioned from a sign of growth into a significant competitive disadvantage in the age of artificial intelligence. While many firms view AI solely as a tool for automation, its true value lies in its ability to streamline coordination and eliminate the need for dense managerial oversight.

Organizations that fail to simplify their internal structures before deploying new technology often face increased burnout and operational confusion rather than improved efficiency. Consequently, the modern market favors agile, flatter architectures that prioritize rapid decision-making over complex administrative processes.

Success is no longer determined by the size of a company, but by its ability to minimize friction and maintain clear accountability. Ultimately, the text suggests that reducing unnecessary complexity is the most vital strategy for thriving in a tech-driven economy.

https://www.breakfastleadership.com/leadershipos

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Eric Coonrod

In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, I sit down with investment banker Eric Coonrod, who brings more than 22 years of experience helping businesses grow, scale, and successfully exit. From his early days in St. Louis to his work in New York and Los Angeles—including time at Deutsche Bank and launching multiple firms—Eric shares what he’s learned about building companies that are actually ready to sell. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a business truly valuable (and why so many owners overestimate that value), this conversation is going to challenge your thinking in the best way.

We dig into what it really takes to prepare for a business exit, why planning should start at least two years in advance, and how to eliminate key-person risk by making yourself replaceable. We also explore the evolving role of AI in investment banking—from financial modeling to drafting confidential information memorandums—and why human judgment still matters more than ever. If you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or leader thinking about growth, transition, or long-term legacy, you won’t want to miss this one.

What We Cover in This Episode

Links & Resources

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the Breakfast Leadership Show, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who’s building, scaling, or planning their next big move. Your support helps us reach more leaders who are ready to grow with intention.

Note: The Breakfast Leadership Show includes occasional paid partner episodes, in which the guest has paid to appear.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.