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CEOs Unscripted
CEOs Unscripted episodes
- What Private Equity Is Really Thinking When They Look At Your Business
Think PE buyers care most about your EBITDA? Think again. In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Paul Idziak: PE advisor, former CEO of GV Windpower North America, and field service industry veteran to pull back the curtain on exactly what private equity firms evaluate before writing a check.
Whether you're thinking about selling in 3–5 years or simply want to build a more valuable business, this episode is packed with the unfiltered truth most business brokers won't tell you.
In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ Why management team quality beats financials as the #1 due diligence factor✅ The real reason client concentration can tank your valuation overnight✅ What PE firms mean by "selling the future, not the past"✅ How free cash flow matters as much as EBITDA, and why founders miss this✅ The M&A muscle, greenfielding capability, and other factors buyers quietly score you on✅ Why you should conduct a Quality of Earnings (QoE) study on yourself before going to market✅ How to vet a PE firm the same way they're vetting youTIMESTAMPS:
00:00 — Cold open: What PE looks at first (it's not financials)
01:02 — Welcome to CEOs Unscripted02:38 — Paul's background: energy services, PE exits & advising05:22 — Demystifying private equity for CEOs06:39 — #1 due diligence factor: management team08:30 — Does it have to be the founder? No — here's why09:20 — Leadership succession & its impact on valuation10:44 — How PE evaluates cultural fit with management12:54 — "You're selling the future, not the past"14:32 — Evaluating growth potential: markets & talent16:02 — Recruiting, retention & training as valuation factors18:49 — Culture KPIs buyers actually look at20:22 — Client concentration: the deal-killer no one talks about23:10 — Contracts, blue-chip clients & recurring revenue25:33 — Why profitability per client matters more than revenue28:14 — The hidden cost of difficult customers29:10 — M&A muscle & greenfielding: what excites buyers30:41 — Technology stack & ERP maturity33:21 — Is AI on PE's radar yet?34:10 — Job costing: the discipline most companies lack36:23 — Free cash flow vs. EBITDA, what founders miss38:32 — Pricing strategy & protecting your margins41:49 — Accounts receivable: why founders avoid collecting43:45 — Full due diligence checklist recap45:35 — What to clean up before going to market46:54 — Why you should run a QoE on yourself first48:11 — What PE actually needs to see in your processes50:55 — Not all PE firms are equal, how to vet your buyer53:47 — Book rec: The Private Equity Playbook by Adam Coffee55:35 — Teaser: Paul returns to talk life as a PE-backed CEO operator 56:47 — Jane's closing thoughtsCEOs Unscripted is a bi-weekly podcast for mid-market CEOs — no fluff, no jargon, just real conversations with founders and executives who've been in the trenches.
📌 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode.
#PrivateEquity #CEOsUnscripted #BusinessValuation #MergersAndAcquisitions #ScalingUp #MidMarket #BusinessGrowth #ExitStrategy #EBITDA #Leadership
58 min - Why Most CEOs Get Stuck Between $10M and $50M | And What Actually Gets You Out
What does it take to buy and scale a company in a foreign country, with your spouse, right before a global pandemic?
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Corbin Butcher, Managing Director of Beire Exhibitions in the Czech Republic, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about entrepreneurship through acquisition, cross-cultural leadership, and what it really means to evolve from a 1.0 to a 3.0 company.Corbin shares how a military career, a "mediocre" stint in investment banking, and a Kellogg MBA led him and his wife Evona to buy a Czech exhibition company, armed with a shoebox full of business cards as their CRM, and turn it into a thriving, scaling business with 80 employees and 2.5x revenue growth.Whether you're leading a $10M or $100M business, this episode is packed with hard-won lessons on scaling systems, building partnerships, managing culture across borders, and knowing when to evolve as a leader before your company outgrows you.Episode Timestamps00:00 — Cold open: No backup plan, just make it work
01:07 — Welcome to CEOs Unscripted: Jane's intro & what the show is about
02:46 — Meet Corbin Butcher: From Chicago to the Czech Republic
04:18 — Corbin's background: Army officer, Iraq tours, Kellogg MBA
06:06 — Why investment banking wasn't the fit — and what was
07:07 — The search fund model: Buying a business with your spouse
08:18 — The challenge of being a European company trying to break into the US market
10:51 — How to vet a strategic partner (and why face-to-face is non-negotiable)
13:44 — The qualities that make or break a partnership under pressure
15:08 — American work ethic vs. European work culture: The real clash
17:08 — How Corbin built a high-performance culture within European labor laws
20:31 — The pros and cons of being an American CEO leading a European company
21:50 — Running a business with your spouse: The investor who called it "marital risk"
24:38 — How Corbin and Evona divide roles and break ties
25:36 — First-time CEO with no safety net: How do you learn on the fly?
28:59 — The shock of COVID hitting an 85% leveraged company in year two
31:40 — Biere 1.0 vs. 2.0 vs. 3.0: The lifecycle framework every CEO needs to understand
33:13 — Sales in 1.0: A shoebox of business cards as a "CRM"
36:53 — Operations in 1.0: When everything depends on one person
38:18 — Why promoting your best operator to supervisor is often a mistake
41:30 — What changed in 2.0: Systems, structure, and elevating internal talent
43:05 — The power of vision: Can every employee in your company articulate where you're going?
46:01 — How Corbin had to change as a leader from 1.0 to 2.0
49:46 — How strategic planning evolves at each stage of company growth
52:54 — Honest reflection: Some parts of Bira are still in 1.0 — and that's okay
54:01 — Rapid fire: Who's the smartest person in your phone?
55:36 — Best book of the last 12 months: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
57:09 — What Corbin does when he feels stuck
58:27 — Closing thoughts and where to find more
Key Topics Covered- Entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) and the search fund model
- Scaling a mid-market company from 1.0 to 3.0
- Cross-cultural leadership and managing European vs. American work culture
- Building and vetting strategic partnerships in international markets
- Why founder-dependent businesses are fragile — and how to fix it
- Running a business with your spouse without losing your marriage
- Leading through COVID with zero revenue and high leverage
- The danger of promoting your best individual contributors into management
- Why communicating vision is the #1 job of a scaling CEO
About CEOs UnscriptedHosted by Jane Gentry, CEO advisor, Harvard Business School Entrepreneurial MBA mentor, and consultant to mid-market leaders for over 20 years, CEOs Unscripted is a bi-weekly podcast featuring unfiltered conversations with founders and executives who've been where you are. No fluff. No jargon. Just real talk that drives real growth.
CEOs Unscripted, Jane Gentry, Corbin Butcher, Bira Exhibitions, entrepreneurship through acquisition, search fund, mid-market CEO, scaling a business, business growth podcast, CEO podcast, leadership podcast, military to entrepreneur, Kellogg MBA, Czech Republic business, cross-cultural leadership, international business, how to scale a company, company lifecycle, business systems, founder-dependent business, how to buy a business, ETA entrepreneur, CEO advice, business strategy, scaling up, small business growth, mid-market growth, CEO leadership tips, business podcast 2026, entrepreneurship podcast1 hr - Military Discipline Meets Luxury Travel: How Craig Beal Built America's #1 Safari Company
What does submarine warfare have to do with luxury safari travel? More than you'd think.
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Craig Beal - Naval Academy graduate, nuclear engineer, and CEO of Travel Beyond, the oldest US-founded safari company, to unpack the unconventional leadership principles behind one of the most remarkable family business turnovers you'll ever hear.
Craig shares how military discipline, checklist-driven operations, and a radical employee-first philosophy helped him scale a four-person company into a 39-person specialist safari firm with jaw-dropping retention rates.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why niching down — fast — is the smartest growth decision a CEO can make
- How a military-style checklist culture creates five-star client experiences at scale
- The geographic hiring strategy that virtually eliminates employee turnover
- Why Craig covers 100% of employee healthcare — and how it removes anxiety that kills productivity
- How Safari Pros, a competitor collaboration network, actually grows the whole industry
- Why the best CEOs act on decisions they know are right — before the window closes
Keywords: CEO podcast, business growth, leadership, employee retention, family business, niche business strategy, mid-market CEO, scaling a business, company culture, safari industry, military leadership, entrepreneurship
TIMESTAMPS- 0:00 — Introduction & Craig's backstory
- 5:30 — From the Navy to the family business
- 12:00 — The power of niching down
- 18:00 — Employee retention secrets (and the geographic advantage)
- 26:00 — In-office vs. remote: what actually works
- 33:00 — Checklist culture & the Checklist Manifesto
- 41:00 — AI and the future of travel operations
- 47:00 — Managing client fear & crisis transparency
- 52:00 — Rapid fire: lessons for every CEO
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
✅ Specialize faster than feels comfortable✅ Processes aren't bureaucracy they're freedom✅ Take care of employees first; they'll take care of your clients✅ The best CEOs act on the decision they know is right before it's too lateDROP YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY IN THE COMMENTS
CEOs Unscripted is the bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs, for mid-market CEOs. No fluff. No jargon. Just the unfiltered truth about what it takes to lead, scale, and grow.
🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode
🎙️ Hosted by Jane Gentry — CEO Advisor & Executive Coach#CEOPodcast #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #SafariCompany #CompanyCulture #EmployeeRetention #MilitaryLeadership #ScalingUp #MidMarketCEO
54 min - The CEO Who Doubles Every Company He Touches
What does it take to walk into a business that's hit a ceiling and double its revenue — not once, but three times?
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Buzz Bradley, a seasoned interim CEO and business growth strategist, to unpack the exact frameworks he uses to transform stalled mid-market companies into high-performance organizations.In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why most founders unknowingly become the biggest bottleneck in their own business
- The first thing Buzz does in any new company (it's not what you think)
- How to manage organizational change without losing your culture or your best people
- Why promoting your top performer could be the most expensive mistake you make
- The "teach to fish vs. do the fishing" debate — and when each approach wins
- How cross-generational teams can become a competitive advantage
- The simple mindset shift that makes faster, better decisions possible
Buzz's golden rule: "If it's going to take six months, it takes six months whether you start today or six months from now — so why not start today?"
Whether you're a founder navigating growing pains, a CEO preparing to scale past $20M, or a leader trying to build a business that doesn't depend entirely on you — this episode is packed with real talk and actionable insights.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Buzz's background04:30 – How Buzz gets into companies and doubles revenue10:40 – The first thing to do when you take over a business12:20 – Protecting culture during change15:40 – Growing pains: when founders hit the ceiling20:30 – Moving people into the right roles26:00 – Managing change without creating chaos33:00 – Developing talent on a budget38:00 – Cross-generational teams43:00 – Rapid fire: books, habits & decisiveness47:00 – Why starting today beats waiting for perfectKeywords: interim CEO, scaling a business, mid-market growth, business leadership, CEO coaching, organizational design, growing pains, founder-led business, business strategy, executive leadership, how to scale a company, CEO podcast, entrepreneurship, talent retention, decision making for CEOsSubscribe to CEOs Unscripted — the bi-weekly podcast for mid-market CEOs who want unfiltered, real-world leadership conversations. No fluff. No jargon. Just the playbooks that actually work.
#CEOPodcast #BusinessGrowth #ScalingUp #MidMarket #InterimCEO #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CEOsUnscripted
49 min - He Lost Everything, Borrowed $200K From Friends, and Built a $50M Company: Here's How
What does it take to buy a business with zero money, learn it from the ground up, and scale it for 38 years into a successful exit?
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Robert Brown, former CEO of American Asphalt Company, a man who lost everything, borrowed $200K from 20 friends and family members, and turned a struggling asphalt company into a thriving mid-market business through grit, trust, and relentless relationship-building.
This episode is packed with raw, unfiltered lessons every mid-market CEO,
entrepreneur, and business owner needs to hear.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
✅ How to buy a business with no money (and make it work)✅ Why your best salesperson should NEVER become your sales manager✅ The #1 reason M&A deals fall apart after the ink dries✅ How Robert hired a tile salesperson to run asphalt sales and it was his best hire ever✅ Why preparing for your exit should start on Day 1 of owning the business✅ The time management strategy that freed Bob from working IN the business✅ Why trust is your most powerful business tool and how to build it fast✅ The J-Curve of leadership growth every scaling CEO must understandKEY QUOTE FROM THIS EPISODE:
"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."— Robert Brown📌 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 — Introduction & Episode Preview01:45 — Robert's Origin Story: Growing Up in a Family Business04:10 — Growing Too Fast, Losing It All & Starting Over07:00 — How Robert Bought an Asphalt Company With No Money10:30 — Learning the Business from the Ground Up (From Employees)13:15 — The Sales Strategy That Built the Company: Relationships Over Transactions16:20 — Building & Retaining a Team in a New Acquisition19:45 — The Trust Formula: What Actually Keeps Employees for 38 Years22:30 — How Robert Scaled: Buying Bigger Plants & Strategic M&A27:00 — The M&A Lessons Nobody Warns You About30:15 — Codifying Process: CEO Peer Groups, Vistage & C1233:40 — Why You Should Hire a Great Salesperson (Not an Industry Expert)36:50 — Sales Managers vs. Sales Coaches: The Mistake Most CEOs Make39:30 — Delegation, Time Studies & Getting Out of Your Own Way42:45 — Preparing Your Business for Exit from Day One44:30 — Rapid Fire Round: Leadership Wisdom from 38 Years in Business46:10 — Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Robert🎙️ ABOUT CEOs UNSCRIPTED:
CEOs Unscripted is the bi-weekly podcast for mid-market leaders hosted by Jane Gentry — CEO advisor, Harvard Business School entrepreneurial MBA mentor, and 20-year consulting veteran. No fluff, no jargon — just honest conversations about what it really takes to lead, grow, and scale.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every two weeks.
#CEO #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #ScalingUp #MidMarket #Podcast #CEOsUnscripted #JaneGentry #BusinessStrategy #MergersAndAcquisitions #SalesLeadership #ExitStrategy #SmallBusiness #Delegation
CEO podcast, business growth podcast, mid-market CEO, scaling a business, entrepreneurship podcast, leadership podcast, mergers and acquisitions, sales strategy, how to buy a business with no money, exit strategy, delegation for CEOs, CEO advice, Jane Gentry, CEOs unscripted, business scaling tips, asphalt company, family business, hiring salespeople, sales manager vs salesperson, CEO peer groups, business valuation, employee retention, trust in business, small business growth48 min - Why People Come Before Profits: Norman Radow’s Blueprint for Building Enduring Companies
Why People Come Before Profits: Norman Radow’s Blueprint for Building Enduring Companies
From growing up with limited resources to leading one of the most influential real estate firms in the country — Norman Radow’s journey is rooted in purpose, trust, and long-term thinking.In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, Norman, CEO of The Radco Companies, opens up about the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, why people should never be treated as line items, and what it truly means to build businesses that outlast their founders.
This is a candid conversation about values-driven leadership, calculated risk, and creating impact beyond the balance sheet.
What You’ll Learn:✅ Why people are assets, not expenses
✅ How early-life adversity shapes leadership decisions✅ Building trust with partners at the highest level✅ Knowing when not to take capital✅ Balancing risk-taking with long-term vision✅ Leading with empathy without compromising results✅ Creating culture that scales across growing teams✅ Why values matter more than valuation✅ Making decisions that align with legacy, not ego✅ What responsibility really means as a CEOKey Timestamps:0:00 – Introduction to Norman Radow
3:05 – Early life lessons that shaped his worldview8:30 – The foundation of Radco’s leadership philosophy13:10 – Trust, partnerships, and alignment18:40 – Risk, fear, and decisive leadership24:20 – Capital decisions and investor fit30:00 – Building people-first organizations36:15 – Culture as a competitive advantage41:50 – Long-term thinking in a short-term world47:30 – Final reflections and leadership wisdomTop Takeaways:Why employees belong on the balance sheet, not the P&L
How values guide decisions when numbers alone can’tThe hidden cost of playing it too safeWhy leadership is about responsibility, not controlHow trust compounds faster than capitalWhat real impact looks like when culture comes firstAbout This Episode:Norman Radow is the CEO of The Radco Companies, a vertically integrated real estate firm specializing in multifamily and mixed-use developments. His leadership approach is shaped by lived experience, a deep sense of responsibility toward people, and a belief that business success should create lasting social and economic value.
About CEOs Unscripted: CEOs Unscripted is the podcast where real talk drives real growth. Host Jane Gentry, a seasoned CEO advisor and former mid-market executive, brings you unfiltered conversations with CEOs, founders, and business leaders who share the wins, losses, and lessons from the trenches. No fluff, no jargon—just honest insights about what it really takes to lead and scale in today's business landscape.
Subscribe for More: New episodes drop bi-weekly featuring candid conversations with mid-market CEOs, founders, and executives who are redefining leadership.
#CEOInterview #WomenInBusiness #LeadershipPodcast #FemaleLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ScalingBusiness #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerGrowth #MidMarketCEO #BusinessStrategy #CEOsUnscripted #JaneGentry #LeadershipLessons
Female CEO success story
Logistics industry leadershipOvercoming imposter syndromeWomen in male-dominated industriesCEO interview podcastBusiness leadership strategiesScaling through industry disruptionChange management for CEOsMid-market business growthTransportation company successExecutive leadership developmentCareer advancement strategiesBusiness diversification tacticsAuthentic leadership styleCEO mental health and wellness1 hr 3 min - From Admin to President: How She Built a $50M Logistics Empire in 19 Years
From administrative assistant to President in 19 years: Colleen Japuntich's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. I
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, discover how she became the leader of NEMA, a thriving logistics and transportation company, while navigating a male-dominated industry, overcoming imposter syndrome, and leading through unprecedented challenges like COVID-19 and tariff wars.What You'll Learn:
✅ How to climb from entry-level to CEO in any industry✅ Overcoming imposter syndrome as a leader✅ Strategies for diversifying your business during industry disruption✅ Leading authentically in male-dominated spaces✅ Building systems and processes that scale✅ Communicating vision effectively across your organization✅ The difference between being liked and being respected as a leader✅ How to navigate change management and bring teams along✅ Why patience is the secret weapon young professionals need✅ Protecting your health while building a business empireKey Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction: Meet Colleen Japantich3:15 - From Admin to President: The 19-Year Journey8:42 - Overcoming Resistance & Building Credibility12:30 - Imposter Syndrome: Even Successful CEOs Feel It16:45 - Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry22:10 - What Keeps This CEO Up at Night26:35 - Diversifying in a Shrinking Industry31:20 - The Art of Communicating Vision37:50 - Change Management: Bringing Your Team Along43:15 - Leadership Advice for Young Professionals48:30 - Rapid Fire Questions & Final WisdomTop Takeaways:
- "I want to compete with myself and be better than I was the previous day" - Colleen's philosophy on success
- Why showing emotions as a female leader can be perceived as weakness (and how to navigate it)
- The importance of doing the "dirtiest jobs" early in your career
- How to build respect without being the loudest voice in the room
- Why diversification saved NEMA during tariff chaos and supply chain disruptions
- The critical difference between being nice and being kind in leadership
About This Episode: Colleen Japuntich is the President of NEMA, a logistics and transportation company specializing in warehousing, drayage, and supply chain solutions. Starting as an administrative assistant, she worked her way through every department—operations, IT, safety, finance—becoming the company's go-to problem solver. In 2019, she was named President, leading the company through COVID-19, industry disruption, and economic uncertainty while maintaining profitability and employee retention.
Resources Mentioned:
- "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown
- EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)
- Adam Grant's article on being nice vs. being kind
Perfect For:
- Aspiring CEOs and executives- Women in male-dominated industries- Mid-market business leaders- Logistics and transportation professionals- Anyone dealing with imposter syndrome- Leaders navigating organizational change- Entrepreneurs scaling their businessesAbout CEOs Unscripted: CEOs Unscripted is the podcast where real talk drives real growth. Host Jane Gentry, a seasoned CEO advisor and former mid-market executive, brings you unfiltered conversations with CEOs, founders, and business leaders who share the wins, losses, and lessons from the trenches. No fluff, no jargon—just honest insights about what it really takes to lead and scale in today's business landscape.
Subscribe for More: New episodes drop bi-weekly featuring candid conversations with mid-market CEOs, founders, and executives who are redefining leadership.
#CEOInterview #WomenInBusiness #LeadershipPodcast #FemaleLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ScalingBusiness #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerGrowth #MidMarketCEO #BusinessStrategy #CEOsUnscripted #JaneGentry #LeadershipLessons
- Female CEO success story
- Logistics industry leadership
- Overcoming imposter syndrome
- Women in male-dominated industries
- CEO interview podcast
- Business leadership strategies
- Scaling through industry disruption
- Change management for CEOs
- Mid-market business growth
- Transportation company success
- Executive leadership development
- Career advancement strategies
- Business diversification tactics
- Authentic leadership style
- CEO mental health and wellness
56 min - How to Navigate Private Equity Deals: IAA CEO's $7.5 Billion Journey
Former IAA CEO John Kett shares his remarkable 22-year journey building a damaged vehicle marketplace from $200 million to $7.5 billion through multiple PE transactions, public offerings, and a major merger. This unfiltered conversation covers private equity strategies, M&A lessons, and what it really takes to scale mid-market companies.
In this episode, John reveals:
✅ The truth about working with private equity firms✅ How to prepare your company for a PE sale✅ Why technology should enable process, not the other way around✅ Navigating the complexity of public vs. private company leadership✅ Board meeting preparation strategies that actually work✅ The cost of short-term thinking in PE-backed companiesKEY TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction02:45 - John's Blue Collar Background & Path to CEO05:30 - What is a Damaged Vehicle Marketplace?09:15 - The IAA Business Model Explained12:40 - First Exposure to Private Equity16:20 - Preparing Your Company for PE Sale19:45 - Working with Multiple PE Firms (The Four-Headed Monster)24:10 - PE Time Horizons & Their Impact on Decisions28:35 - Board Meeting Preparation Best Practices32:15 - The Importance of Cross-Collaboration Among Leaders35:40 - From Private to Public: The Spinoff Story38:50 - The $7.5B Merger with Ritchie Brothers42:20 - Rapid Fire: Career Lessons & Leadership Wisdom45:10 - Why In-Person Leadership Development MattersABOUT JOHN KETT: Former CEO of IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions), John Kett led the company through multiple transformations including PE acquisitions, public listings, and ultimately a $7.5 billion merger with Ritchie Brothers. With over 22 years of experience scaling mid-market companies, John now advises CEOs and serves on boards.
ABOUT CEOS UNSCRIPTED: Real talk for mid-market leaders. Host Jane Gentry brings you unfiltered conversations with CEOs, founders, and executives navigating the challenges of scaling $10M-$500M businesses. No fluff, no jargon—just honest insights from leaders who've been where you are.
SUBSCRIBE for bi-weekly episodes featuring:
→ Private equity strategies→ M&A insights→ Scaling best practices→ Leadership development→ Board governance→ Exit planningTAGS: #PrivateEquity #CEO #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #ScalingBusiness #PEInvesting #BoardMeetings #ExitStrategy #MidMarketCEO #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #CorporateDevelopment #BusinessStrategy
What's your biggest question about working with private equity? Drop it in the comments below!
👍 Like this video if you found it valuable
🔔 Subscribe for more CEO insights📤 Share with other business leaders48 min - 500 Remote Employees, Zero Office Space: The Anti-Traditional Playbook
In this powerful episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Brad Stevens, founder and CEO of Outsource Access, to explore his remarkable journey from serial entrepreneur to building a 500-person remote workforce in the Philippines—all while navigating a global pandemic.
📍 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction: Brad Stevens & Outsource Access
02:15 - The Entrepreneurial Origin Story: Third Grade Micro Machines Business05:30 - Wharton to Unemployment: The $20K Signing Bonus Plot Twist 08:45 - First Company: Patient Assistance Programs for Seniors11:20 - The Nutritional Supplements Journey13:40 - Teeth Whitening Product Fiasco: 10,000 Units, 18 Countries16:25 - Discovering Outsourcing & Launching Outsource Access in 2019 19:10 - Growing to 500 Employees in 4.5 Years Across 85 Industries22:30 - Launching Right Before COVID: Building Remote Culture from Day One25:45 - EOS Framework: The System That Prevented Implosion28:20 - Jim Collins' Level 5 Leadership in Practice30:50 - Writing Personal Welcome Messages to Every New Hire33:15 - Virtual Leadership: Intentional Communication & Cadence36:40 - The Five Chronological Steps Framework39:20 - Building Culture Remotely: Virtual Success Magazine & UN Goals 42:10 - Employee Engagement: Recognition, Purpose, and Autonomy44:50 - "What Got You Here Won't Get You There": Scaling Challenges 47:30 - Ferrari Intensity vs. Cargo Ship Reality: Managing Growth Speed 50:15 - The 2-Question Exercise That Reveals Business Constraints52:40 - The 90-Day Onboarding Process & Playbook Creation55:20 - Rapid Fire: Reading List, Early Lessons & Advice for Young Leaders 57:30 - Closing ThoughtsWhat You'll Learn:
The Remote Leadership Framework - How to build culture, maintain communication, and drive performance with 500 employees in another country
Scaling Without Implosion - The systems, frameworks, and leadership principles that enabled 4.5 years of hypergrowth
The Onboarding Advantage - Why most companies fail at onboarding and Brad's 90-day playbook that actually works
Level 5 Leadership in Action - Practical applications of Jim Collins' principles for mid-market CEOs
Key Takeaways for Mid-Market CEOs:
✅ The EOS framework combined with Four Disciplines of Execution creates accountability and clarity
✅ Recognition matters more than you think—Brad spends 10-15 hours monthly writing personal welcome messages
✅ The 2-question exercise that reveals your biggest business constraints in one survey
✅ Why onboarding takes 90 days (not 2 weeks) and how to structure it for success
✅ Ferrari intensity doesn't work with cargo ship reality—managing expectations during hypergrowth
Featured Topics:
- Remote workforce management
- Philippines outsourcing strategy
- EOS implementation
- Virtual leadership during COVID
- Onboarding frameworks
- Assessment tools (Predictive Index, CliftonStrengths)
- Level 5 Leadership
- Decision velocity
- Business process documentation
- AI integration for remote teams
- Entrepreneurial Operating System
- Culture building remotely
- Strategic focus vs. diversification
- Leadership development
- Scaling challenges
Whether you're managing remote teams, scaling rapidly, or struggling with onboarding, this episode delivers battle-tested frameworks from a CEO who grew 500 employees across the world during a pandemic.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Books & Frameworks:
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
- Built to Last by Jim Collins
- The Four Disciplines of Execution by Stephen Covey
- 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
- Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
- The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
- Predictable Success by Les McKeown
- Alex Hormozi content and programs
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Brad Stevens is the founder and CEO of Outsource Access, a company that helps small to medium-sized businesses integrate talented offshore staff from the Philippines to drive scale and profitability. Since launching in 2019, Brad has grown the company to 500 employees across 85 different industries, building a distributed workforce model before the pandemic made it necessary.
A Wharton graduate and serial entrepreneur for 25 years, Brad has built and sold companies in pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, teeth whitening products, and now outsourcing. He's a 14-year member of EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) and served as President of EO Atlanta. Brad is passionate about level 5 leadership, systematic onboarding, and proving that remote teams can build exceptional culture and deliver outstanding results.
ABOUT CEOS UNSCRIPTED:
CEOs Unscripted is a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs, for mid-market CEOs. Host Jane Gentry brings 20+ years of enterprise consulting experience and firsthand CEO leadership to deliver unfiltered conversations about what it really takes to scale, lead, and win in today's business landscape.
No fluff. No jargon. Just real talk that drives real growth.
Subscribe for new episodes every other week!
💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: What's your biggest challenge with remote team management or onboarding? Drop a comment below!
59 min - AI Is Killing the Agency Model (And How We're Using It to Win)
In this compelling episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Raj Choudhury, founder of Alloy Marketing and Purpose Group PE, to explore how purpose-driven leadership and strategic AI adoption are reshaping mid-market companies.
📍 TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction: From Uganda to Atlanta - Raj's Journey03:45 - The Two Tracks: S1 (Blue-Collar Businesses) vs S2 (Agency Platform)08:20 - What is The Purpose Playbook Framework?12:15 - Open-Book Management: Why Transparency Wins17:30 - The Four-Bucket Goal Framework (People, Quality, Brand, Financials)23:45 - How AI is Disrupting the Agency Business Model28:10 - Agentic Roles: The Future of Service Industries33:25 - The Grieving Process: Managing AI-Driven Change38:40 - Why Engineers Shouldn't Do Sales (And Other CEO Blind Spots) 42:15 - Creating Safe Environments for AI Experimentation46:30 - Legal and Security Considerations for AI Implementation51:20 - The Great Game of Business Integration55:10 - Building Context in a Social Media World58:45 - Naivety as a Superpower in Business1:01:30 - The Language of Business is Numbers1:03:15 - The 8-Minute Rule: When to Stop and Reset1:05:45 - Final Thoughts and Where to ConnectWhat You'll Learn:🎯 The Purpose Playbook Framework - How open-book management and transparent goal-setting create employee engagement and drive sustainable growth in blue-collar businesses💡 AI Implementation Strategy - Moving beyond tools to transform business models: Why agentic roles are disrupting the traditional services industry and how to prepare your team📊 Breaking the Linear Growth Model - How AI is enabling agencies and service businesses to scale revenue without proportionally increasing headcount🔄 Change Management in the AI Era - The "grieving process" employees need when core skills become automated, and how to guide teams through transformationKey Takeaways for Mid-Market CEOs:✅ The four-bucket framework (People & Product, Quality, Brand Awareness, Financials) that aligns every role from C-suite to shop floor
✅ Why gamification and context matter more than compensation in driving performance
✅ How to implement AI tools within established methodologies rather than letting technology dictate your processes
✅ The critical difference between building for income versus building for wealth when positioning for exit
Featured Topics:- Private equity strategies for blue-collar businesses
- Open-book management and financial transparency
- Conscious capitalism in practice
- Agency business model disruption
- Agentic AI and synthetic roles
- Employee engagement through shared purpose
- Strategic change management
- M&A insights for service businesses
Whether you're scaling a mid-market company, implementing AI initiatives, or exploring PE opportunities, this episode delivers actionable frameworks and unfiltered insights from a CEO who's been in the trenches.📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Purpose Playbook: The Definitive Guide to Building Your Team's Purpose, Vision, Tenets, & Values (PVTV) By Jeff Hilimire, Teresa Caro, and Megan Barney Companion guide to the Turnaround Leadership SeriesTools & Frameworks Mentioned:Writer.ai (AI-powered editing tool)
Google Gemini / Notebook LM
The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack RACI Matrix for decision-making 13-Week Cash Flow Forecasting
🔗 Purpose Group Newsletter: purposegroup.substack.com
👤 ABOUT THE GUEST: Raj Choudhury is the founder of Alloy, a marketing agency serving mid-market technology brands, and Purpose Group, a PE firm focused on acquiring and transforming blue-collar businesses. With his partner Jeff Hilimire and co-founder David Cummings, Raj implements the Purpose Playbook framework across their portfolio companies, including Gerald Printing & Liberty Imaging. With 25 years of experience in M&A within the agency space, Raj brings unique insights into building sustainable, people-first organizations that scale profitably.ABOUT CEOs UNSCRIPTED: CEOs Unscripted is a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs, for mid-market CEOs. Host Jane Gentry brings 20+ years of enterprise consulting experience and firsthand CEO leadership to deliver unfiltered conversations about what it really takes to scale, lead, and win in today's business landscape. No fluff. No jargon. Just real talk that drives real growth. Subscribe for new episodes every other week!1 hr 1 min
About CEOs Unscripted
From the publisher's feed
Real Talk. Real Growth. Real Results in the Mid-Market
Jane Gentry consulted in enterprise for 20 years. And, after being a CEO in a mid-sized company, she realized why they say it is loneliest at the top. Mid-market CEOs learn their craft through trial and error or by reaching outside their organization for help.
She launched CEOs Unscripted as a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs for mid-market CEOs. Our purpose is to provide insight into the unscripted, unfiltered journeys of CEOs and Founders as they talk about their wins, losses, lessons and playbooks for growing and scaling their organizations. There is no better forum than learning from your peers.