In this episode of the CEO Podcast, we dive deep into the transformative world of leadership with our special guest, Kyle McDowell, the author of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, "Begin With We: The 10 Principles for Building and Sustaining a Culture of Excellence." With nearly 30 years of experience in corporate America, leading tens of thousands of employees, Kyle shares invaluable insights on what it means to be a leader today.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction 
00:18 - Discussing Leadership and Historical Leaders
00:28 - Introduction to the Book "Begin With We"
00:43 - Guest's Background in Corporate America
01:10 - Paradigm Shift in Leadership Approach
01:32 - The Birth of the 10 Principles
02:04 - Feeling Disconnected in Corporate America
02:26 - Creating a Culture of Excellence
03:09 - Transformation and Results
03:31 - From Bosses to Leaders
04:04 - Leadership's Evolving Challenges
05:00 - CEOs' Roles Inside and Outside Companies
05:12 - Authenticity in Leadership
06:05 - The Shift in Leadership Dynamics
07:08 - The Impact of Remote Work and Gig Economy
08:12 - Establishing Leadership Principles
08:23 - The 10 Principles Overview
09:07 - Principle 1: We Do the Right Thing, Always
09:59 - Principle 2: Lead by Example
10:20 - Principle 3: We Say What We're Going to Do, and Then We Do It
11:03 - Principle 4: We Take Action
11:56 - Principle 5: We Own Our Mistakes
12:26 - Principle 6: We Pick Each Other Up
13:30 - Principle 7: We Measure Ourselves by Outcomes, Not Activity
14:47 - Principle 8: We Challenge Each Other
15:39 - Principle 9: We Embrace Challenge
16:31 - Principle 10: We Obsess Over Details
17:43 - The Importance of Simplicity in Principles
18:05 - Judging Ourselves on Outcomes
19:01 - The Problem with Busyness in Corporate Culture
20:29 - The Dependency on Meetings
21:10 - Writing the Book: Process and Challenges
24:01 - Reading Recommendations
26:13 - Daily Routine and Personal Discipline
28:27 - Coaching CEOs and Leaders
31:05 - Thoughts on AI and Future Challenges
34:37 - The Importance of Giving Chances
36:48 - Closing Remarks and Book Promotion

In this episode, Clint sits down with Dan Conant, the CEO and founder of Solar Hauler, the largest developer and installer of solar projects in central Appalachia. Dan shares his inspiring journey of building a solar industry from scratch in coal country, focusing on West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
00:21 - What is Solar Hauler?
01:20 - Impact of Solar on Communities
02:03 - West Virginia's Energy Legacy
02:44 - State Support for Solar Companies
03:57 - Utility Prices and Public Sentiment
04:34 - A Day in the Life of a CEO
06:00 - Virtual Power Plant and Crowdfunding Innovation
09:24 - Leadership Lessons
11:00 - Revitalizing West Virginia
13:48 - Decline of Coal Industry and Population
15:58 - Combating Brain Drain with Internships
18:42 - Reading Recommendations
19:31 - Economic Outlook for 2025
22:51 - AI and Power Needs
25:44 - The Importance of Giving Chances
27:39 - Closing Remarks

On this episode, Clint sits down with David Chung, the CEO of iLabs, a leading contract manufacturing company specializing in the beauty industry. From skincare to haircare, David shares his journey of building successful companies, including his previous venture, Inglewood Lab, which he took public in Korea.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:21 - About iLabs and its focus areas
01:24 - David's entrepreneurial journey
02:05 - Supply chain issues and tariffs
03:53 - The impact of tariffs on the beauty industry
05:19 - A typical day in David's life
06:06 - What keeps David motivated
07:17 - Leadership lessons and building company culture
09:46 - The role of AI in beauty manufacturing
11:47 - The R&D process and regulatory considerations
13:17 - Economic outlook for 2025
16:23 - Reading recommendations
17:43 - The importance of mentorship and giving back
19:08 - Conclusion

On this episode of the CEO Podcast, Clint sits down with Clark Benson, the CEO of Ranker, to discuss his journey as a lifelong entrepreneur and the evolution of media in the digital age. Clark shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities in the media landscape, the rise of the influencer economy, and how Ranker has become a definitive source for crowdsourced rankings in pop culture.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:21 - Clark Benson's entrepreneurial journey
00:54 - The genesis of Ranker
01:38 - Ranker's growth and data collection
02:22 - Ranker's products and services
03:29 - The state of media today
04:44 - The impact of social media and algorithms
05:54 - The influencer economy and its effects on media
07:47 - The challenges of running a media company
09:05 - The future of media and consumer reckoning
10:20 - The role of AI in media
12:31 - The creator economy and its implications
14:38 - The impact of AI on Ranker's workflow
16:33 - A day in the life of Clark Benson
18:39 - Hiring and company culture at Ranker
20:10 - Essential tools and apps for productivity
21:12 - Economic outlook and advertising trends
22:26 - The importance of giving and taking chances
24:29 - Clark's personal story of support and encouragement

In this episode of the CEO.com Podcast, we sit down with Barry Mainz, the CEO of Forescout, to discuss the critical importance of cybersecurity in today's world. Barry shares insights into Forescout's innovative approach to network access control and the management of both traditional and unmanageable devices like IoT and OT devices. 

Barry also delves into his journey to becoming CEO, his extensive background in security, and the evolving threats in the cybersecurity landscape, including the impact of AI and the rise of attacks on critical infrastructure.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:14 - Barry's background and journey to becoming CEO
00:40 - The origins and growth of Forescout
01:12 - Securing traditional and unmanageable devices
02:05 - Barry's career before Forescout
03:45 - Current cybersecurity threats
06:48 - The scale of cybersecurity threats
09:04 - The impact of AI on cybersecurity
12:08 - A day in the life of a CEO
13:49 - Hybrid work model at Forescout
15:31 - Recommended reading for CEOs
17:10 - Managing a company in 2025
20:52 - Essential apps and tools
22:22 - Addressing mental health in the workplace
26:14 - The importance of giving chances

In this episode of the CEO Podcast, Clint sits down with Kamran, a venture partner at Headline Ventures, to discuss the dynamic world of FinTech and venture capital. With over 20 years of experience in the tech and venture business, Kamran shares his journey from Tenaya and Greycroft to his current role at Headline Ventures.

We dive deep into the state of FinTech in 2020, the impact of AI on the sector, and the intriguing dynamics between major players like Stripe and Shopify. Kamran also provides insights into the future of cryptocurrency, the evolving landscape of venture capital, and the exciting opportunities in B2B payments.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Cameron's Background
00:44 - Kamran's Career Journey
02:33 - State of FinTech and Bank Innovation
04:50 - Stripe's Market Position and Challenges
07:35 - Stripe and Shopify Relationship
08:48 - Cryptocurrency and Regulatory Environment
11:02 - M&A Environment and Predictions for 2025
15:00 - Early Stage Investment Focus
18:01 - A Day in the Life of a Venture Partner
20:04 - Silicon Valley's Resilience and Other Tech Hubs
21:47 - Reading Recommendations for Entrepreneurs
23:12 - The Future of AI in Venture Capital
27:31 - Current State of Venture Capital
31:02 - The Importance of Mentorship in Venture Capital
32:31 - Closing Remarks and Future Prospects

In this episode, Clint sits  down with Adolfo Gómez Sánchez, a renowned tennis coach, author, and CEO mentor, who joins us all the way from Spain. Adolfo shares his fascinating journey from being a competitive athlete to coaching professional athletes and mentoring top CEOs. He dives deep into the science of performance, discussing the intersection of sports and business, and how principles from one can be applied to the other.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Guest Background
00:37 - Intersection of Sports and Business
01:09 - Science of Performance
01:51 - Simplifying Performance Science
02:36 - Writing the Book: Optimal Performance Formula
03:29 - CEO Performance Plans
04:01 - Mastery and Long-Term Success
05:15 - Importance of Foundational Skills
06:07 - Mastery Map and Long-Term Planning
07:09 - Depth of Expertise
07:31 - Lifelong Learning and Martial Arts
07:43 - Neuroscience: Dopamine vs. Serotonin
08:28 - Achievement vs. Becoming
09:09 - Mindset of Elite Performers
10:03 - Ulysses and Long-Term Goals
10:24 - Rafa Nadal's Lesson on Hard Work
11:05 - Performance as Self-Expression
12:15 - Common CEO Performance Issues
12:33 - Industrial Model and Schooling
13:04 - Feedback and Competence in Business
14:07 - Training and Practice in Business
15:09 - Embedding Training in Day-to-Day Work
16:02 - Paradigms and Performance
16:14 - Culture and Innovation in Companies
17:05 - Training Movements, Not Muscles
17:48 - Resistance to Change
18:43 - Motivating CEOs and Focus
19:01 - Importance of Focus
19:43 - Role of a CEO
20:25 - Control vs. Creating Conditions
21:07 - Hiring and Promoting in Companies
22:00 - Innovation and New Entrants
23:03 - Questioning Assumptions
24:06 - Success and Luck
25:10 - Learning from Mistakes
26:03 - Building Capability and Cognitive Diversity
27:07 - Feedback and High-Performing Teams
28:01 - Measuring Culture and Innovation
28:50 - Authenticity in Leadership
30:06 - Passion and Authenticity
30:47 - Discipline and Tennis Greats
31:21 - Self-Discipline and Hard Work
32:03 - Djokovic's Transformation
33:09 - Unrequired Work and Long-Term Motivation
34:22 - Finding and Sticking to Your Identity
35:24 - Role Players and Team Discipline
36:37 - Founder's Trap and Scaling
37:09 - Knowing Your Strengths
38:03 - Final Question: Who Gave You a Chance?
39:19 - Generosity and Learning from Others
39:53 - Conclusion and Farewell

On this episode, Clint sits down with David Heacock, the CEO and founder of FilterBuy, to explore his fascinating journey from working at Goldman Sachs to transforming a family business into a leading air filter manufacturing company.

Timestamps:
00:11 - Introduction and Background
00:25 - Early Career and Family Business
00:48 - Transition to FilterBuy
01:25 - Challenges and Innovations
02:50 - Unique Selling Proposition
04:40 - Impact of AI on Business
06:04 - A Day in the Life of a CEO
07:12 - Managing Supply Chain Issues
08:43 - Reading Recommendations
10:05 - Developing Leadership Style
12:41 - Insights from Dr. Julie Gerner
14:24 - Staying Grounded
16:04 - YouTube Channel and Public Mission
18:06 - Navigating Uncertainty
20:05 - Reflecting on Opportunities
21:29 - Closing Remarks and YouTube Channel Promotion

Clint recently sat down with Linda Tong, CEO of Webflow, to explore the transformative journey of Webflow and its impact on web development in the age of AI. Linda shares her inspiring story of becoming CEO, the innovative vision behind Webflow, and how AI is revolutionizing the way we build and interact with websites.

Timestamps:
00:13 - Introduction and Correction
00:42 - Linda's Journey to CEO
01:03 - What is Webflow?
01:35 - Linda's Background and Passion for Webflow
02:41 - The Magic of Webflow
02:57 - Founders' Vision and Design Philosophy
04:44 - Notable Websites Built on Webflow
05:31 - Webflow's Integrated Backend
06:23 - AI's Role in Webflow
09:52 - Advice for Aspiring Software Developers
12:05 - A Day in the Life of a CEO
13:11 - Recent Product Launches: Webflow Optimize and Analyze
15:48 - Linda's Reading Recommendations
16:59 - Company Growth and Future Prospects
18:24 - Evolving Leadership Perspectives
21:15 - Favorite Tools and Apps
23:11 - Navigating Uncertainty in 2024 and 2025
25:30 - The Importance of Giving and Taking Chances
26:42 - Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes
27:01 - Outro Song: Loving You Makes the Stars Shine Brighter

In this episode of the CEO Podcast, Clint sits down with Charlie Garcia, the visionary founder of R360, an exclusive peer-to-peer group for individuals with significant wealth who are committed to making a positive impact on the world. Charlie shares his incredible journey from aspiring military pilot to successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Timestamps:
00:12 - Introduction and Career Background
00:32 - Military Aspirations and Career Shift
01:04 - Transition to Financial Services
01:25 - Joining Peer-to-Peer Organizations
01:46 - Leadership Fellowship at Harvard and MIT
02:09 - Founding R360
03:02 - R360's Mission and Values
03:14 - Wealth Beyond Money
03:45 - Accountability in R360
04:07 - Global Impact Goals
04:50 - Philanthropic Initiatives
05:50 - Collaborative Projects
06:44 - AI and Dalai Lama Project
07:48 - Member Projects and Backgrounds
08:40 - Membership Criteria
09:03 - Current Membership and Recruitment
09:25 - AI Learning and Implementation
10:50 - AI in Healthcare
13:29 - AI in Personal Life
16:09 - AI's Future Impact
17:06 - Key Leadership Traits
20:53 - Applicability of Leadership Traits
21:31 - Economic and Political Outlook for 2024-2025
22:04 - Investment Opportunities
23:46 - Education and Societal Issues
25:51 - Optimism for the Future
28:30 - Importance of Open Conversations
30:30 - Elon Musk and Government Efficiency
31:08 - Government Bureaucracy Challenges
32:22 - Government Workforce Issues
36:07 - Payroll and Government Spending
36:32 - Final Question: Who Gave You a Chance?
39:10 - Importance of Mentorship
40:42 - Conclusion and Future Plans