In this episode, Glen and John sit down with Lauren Carson, President of ARC Abrasives, to unpack her raw and insightful leadership journey. From inheriting operations without a playbook to becoming the type of leader who attracts top talent and drives bottom-line results—Lauren shares what it really takes to lead a legacy manufacturing company into the future.

This conversation is packed with real-world lessons, laughter, and leadership truths.

In this episode, Lauren shares:

How she unexpectedly became president of a 60-year-old manufacturing company

What it feels like to fall into the CEO Doom Loop—and how coaching helps her climb out

The hardest people decisions she’s had to make—and why her team trusts her more because of them

Her strategies for empowering managers, tracking performance, and growing profitability

Why “every day is the Super Bowl” when you’re building a culture that wins

How boundaries, gym routines, and family time keep her grounded and energized

What legacy means to her—and why ARC’s name should stand for something more than sandpaper

Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome + Lauren’s intro
03:45 – From sales exec to president
08:55 – A bold vision for manufacturing
12:20 – Recognizing the CEO Doom Loop
15:45 – Coaching and holding up the mirror
18:15 – Building a culture that attracts A-players
23:05 – Making the hard people decisions
28:30 – Metrics, profit, and empowering the floor
33:00 – Shifting from in the business to on the business
38:45 – Leadership team evolution
44:00 – Boundaries, routines, and energy
48:30 – The legacy Lauren wants to leave
53:10 – Executive hires and team performance

Watch or listen to the full episode here:
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About the Show:
Escape the CEO Doom Loop is for CEOs and leadership teams ready to grow—with clarity, momentum, and purpose. Co-hosted by Glen Dall and John Ninkovich, each episode delivers real-world stories and practical tools to help you lead better and scale smarter.

#EscapeTheCEODoomLoop #ManufacturingLeadership #CEOPlaybook #ExecutiveCoaching #GrowthMindset #WomenInLeadership

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Becoming the Coach I Needed: Glen’s Story | Escape the CEO Doom Loop Podcast

“I wish I could go back and coach myself when I was CEO.”

That’s the core of Glen’s purpose—and in this episode, you’ll hear why. From the weight of lonely decisions to years spent without clarity on strategy or people, Glen unpacks what it really felt like to lead without a coach—and how that fuels the work he does today.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Why Glen coaches
02:20 – Leading without a guide
05:30 – The loneliness of the CEO seat
08:45 – What he would do differently today
12:00 – Helping others get clear on purpose and team
16:40 – Final reflections on coaching, growth, and mission

Watch or listen to the full episode here:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

About the Show:
Escape the CEO Doom Loop is for CEOs and leadership teams ready to grow—with clarity, momentum, and purpose. Co-hosted by Glen Dall and John Ninkovich, each episode delivers real-world stories and practical tools to help you lead better and scale smarter.

#EscapeTheCEODoomLoop #GetUnstuck #ExecutiveCoaching #CEOLeadership #ClarityInChaos

Send us a text

In this powerful second episode of Escape the CEO Doom Loop, co-host John Ninkovich opens up about his personal leadership journey—from working behind the counter of a family business at age nine to running a company, losing it all, and rebuilding with purpose.

John sits down with Glen Dall to share the real story behind why he became a CEO coach—and why the most valuable lessons don’t come from the wins, but from the moments you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom.

Inside this episode:

• What it really feels like to go from CEO to employee—and why ego isn’t your enemy, but your teacher.
• The hard truth behind family business dynamics, loyalty, and painful people decisions.
• Why coaching your own team is like trying to play quarterback and be the head coach—and why that rarely works.
• The 3AM sweat: waking up with payroll panic and learning what real responsibility feels like.
• How the darkest moments often become the foundation for your purpose as a leader.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of leading a team, the fear of failure, or the isolation that comes with the title “CEO,” this episode is for you. John’s story is a reminder that real leadership is forged in adversity—and that you’re not alone in the journey.

Up next: In Episode 3, Glen shares his CEO story—the rise, the fall, the public-company pressure, and the path to purpose.

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Welcome to the inaugural episode of Escape the CEO Doom Loop — hosted by Glen Dall and John Ninkovich, two seasoned CEO and leadership team coaches who've been in the seat and lived to tell about it.

In this launch episode, Glen and John get personal. They share what led them to coaching, why they’re launching this podcast now, and why so many successful leaders eventually find themselves in what they call the CEO Doom Loop — a cycle of doubt, fatigue, frustration, and inertia that hits even the most driven business owners.

You’ll hear:

• Why "what got you here won’t get you there" is more than a cliché — and how it can keep you stuck.
• The hidden danger of record-breaking years (and why they sometimes lead to bankruptcy).
• Why great businesses falter not because of strategy—but because of people decisions.
• The real reason it takes three years to meaningfully transform a business.
• Why vulnerability and imposter syndrome are more common among CEOs than you think.

You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at what Glen and John are planning for future episodes — including interviews with CEOs, operators, and coaches who’ve broken out of the doom loop and learned how to win on purpose.

Whether you're feeling stuck, scaling fast, or just need a fresh perspective — this is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.

Your next step? Listen in. Reflect. And ask yourself: Am I in the loop? And am I ready to escape?

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