Business leaders—Drew Morris Rowe, CEO of CTN Solutions; Shelly Hughes, CEO of Nolia Roots; Robert Schena, CEO of Rajant; and Brian Effron, CEO of Healthcare Administrative Partners—explore the childhood experiences that shaped their leadership today. Robert shared how baseball and waiting tables taught him to perform under pressure, work with people, and prepare for challenges, while Brian reflected on selling Christmas cards and managing an office as early lessons in leadership and creating an environment where others can succeed. Shelly participated in the conversation exploring the childhood experiences, influences, and formative lessons that helped shape her leadership journey and approach to business. Drew shared his perspective as a business leader while reflecting on the early experiences and lessons from ages 8–14 that contributed to his development as a CEO and leader.The conversations highlighted themes of resilience, preparation, agility, responsibility, and learning from mistakes. Through personal storytelling, Executive Leaders Radio continues its mission of connecting business leaders with audiences while creating positive role models for the next generation.

On this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, four accomplished executives share the personal experiences that shaped their leadership journeys. Kerry Anne Bichsel, President of Velospan, discusses how building lasting relationships with customers, partners, and employees has fueled more than two decades of growth and an extraordinary culture of loyalty. Tom Fricke, CEO of Visual Communications, reflects on purchasing the family business with his brothers, the childhood influences that nurtured his creativity, and why collaboration—not control—is the foundation of his leadership style. David Green, President and Owner of Primex Garden Center, shares how his family's 84-year legacy, inspiring mentors, and a deep sense of compassion have helped create a customer experience centered on expert advice and genuine care. Kate Duffy, Senior Wealth Advisor at Bryn Mawr Trust, explains how financial psychology, intuition, and understanding people's relationship with money enable her to guide clients toward better financial decisions. Together, these conversations reveal that great leadership is built not only on business expertise, but also on the relationships, life lessons, and personal values that shape who we become.
 

This episode of Executive Leaders Radio features Stephen Gillin, CEO of Relay Network, Roland Mosimann, Founding Director & President of AlignAlytics, Vincent Grispino, Owner of Altamonte's Italian Market, and Melvin Pitts, Finance Officer of Cheltenham Township. Each guest shares how childhood experiences—from growing up in entrepreneurial families and working in a family business to solving puzzles and taking on early responsibilities—shaped their leadership style. They discuss the lessons that continue to influence how they lead organizations, build strong teams, and serve their communities. Their stories demonstrate how resilience, curiosity, hard work, and strong values can become the foundation for long-term success in business and public service.

This episode of Executive Leaders Radio explores how early life experiences helped shape the leadership philosophies of four accomplished executives. Dr. Connie Andrejko, Chief Medical Officer of Onsite Neonatal Partners, shares how teaching on a Navajo reservation, working in telemarketing as a teenager, and a passion for serving others led her to a career in neonatology and healthcare innovation. Ken Kelk, CEO of Choice Party Linens, reflects on how sports, coaching, and growing up in New Jersey influenced his people-first leadership style and belief in giving others second chances. Joe Thompson, President & Founder of Pacer Financial, discusses how his Kentucky upbringing, 4-H involvement, and dairy farming instilled the discipline and work ethic that continue to drive his business today. Jeremy Ben-Zev of Truist also joins the conversation, sharing insights into his professional journey and leadership perspective. Together, these leaders reveal how resilience, mentorship, and formative childhood experiences continue to influence the way they lead, serve their teams, and build successful organizations.

Discover how childhood experiences helped shape the leadership journeys of Han W. M. Kieftenbeld, CEO of Agrofresh; Gui Costin, CEO of Dakota Funds Group; Joe Trave, CEO of Village Handcrafted Cabinetry; and Carmen Reino, President of Anchor Pest Control. Each executive shares the early influences, family values, and life lessons that shaped their approach to leadership, teamwork, and business growth. From building thriving organizations to creating people-first cultures, their stories reveal how character developed in childhood continues to drive success in business today.

On this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, Herb Cohen speaks with four accomplished executives about the experiences that shaped their leadership journeys. Tim Irons, Founder and President of T.C. Irons Insurance, shares how growing up in rural Pennsylvania and witnessing his father's business challenges inspired him to launch his own company at just 19 years old. Matt Liebman, CEO of Amplius Wealth Advisors, discusses the importance of listening, relationship-building, and creating a people-first culture that has fueled the firm's growth and exceptional employee retention. Tim Daly, CEO of Vincodo, reflects on the influence of family, athletics, and perseverance in building a high-performing digital marketing agency while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Ryan Conte, Chief Revenue Officer of Propell Credit Union, explains how his work with at-risk youth inspired him to establish the Propel Kids Foundation and continues to shape his approach to leadership and community impact. Together, these leaders reveal how character, relationships, and purpose-driven leadership create lasting success in both business and life.

On this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, Jake Berk, President of Berk International, Chris Springfield, CEO of Cardinal Point Homeland Security, Dr. Carol McKinley, President & CEO of Simpson, and Steve Bellwoar, President of Colonial Electric Supply, share the childhood experiences and early influences that shaped their leadership journeys. From entrepreneurial beginnings and military discipline to lessons in empathy and family business leadership, each guest reflects on the formative years that helped define their careers. The conversation explores how character, work ethic, and a commitment to serving others have fueled their success while leading organizations that impact thousands of employees, customers, and community members.

What does it take to build a successful career, lead high-performing teams, and create opportunities for others? On this episode of Real World Leaders, students sit down with Andy Balsan, President of Johnstone Supply; Crystal MacNeill, President & CEO of Acentus Practice Management; Amol Waishampayan, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Fullthrottle.ai; John Gulnac, CEO of SolomonEdwards Group; and Alex Garashchenko, Managing Member of Doodle, LLC. These accomplished leaders share the experiences, challenges, and personal lessons that shaped their careers, from their earliest jobs to leading organizations and driving innovation. Students learn how resilience, curiosity, relationship-building, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities can open unexpected doors.

On this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, guests shared how childhood experiences, family influence, and early responsibilities shaped the leaders they are today. Joe Marciagelo discussed how growing up in Blackwood, New Jersey and working in technical theater sparked his passion for audiovisual production and taught him how to thrive under pressure while leading teams at Starlite. Michael Simpson shared how football, preparation, and team culture helped shape his leadership approach at Brinker Simpson. Andrew Berg reflected on lessons learned from his parents, emphasizing authenticity, hard work, and relationship-building in his role at Berg Advisors. The conversation also featured Ryan Eddington, who joined the lineup to discuss leadership and business growth at Allfield. Together, the guests explored how personal experiences outside the classroom often become the foundation for effective leadership, problem-solving, and long-term business success.

In this episode, John Moerman, Managing Director of CUT Consulting Group, shares how his early years working as a busboy and growing up as the oldest of five siblings shaped his servant-leadership approach and client-focused mindset. Joining him are Michael Schreiber, Founder and CEO of Playfly Sports, Ryan Edington, CEO of All-Fill Inc., and Leonid Glazychev, CEO of Logrus IT. Together, they reflect on the childhood experiences, challenges, and pivotal moments that influenced their leadership journeys. From overcoming dyslexia and growing up in a family business to navigating entrepreneurship after the fall of the Soviet Union, each guest shares valuable lessons on resilience, innovation, and relationship-building. The conversation also explores hiring, leadership development, and the qualities that drive long-term business success. This episode offers an inspiring look at how early life experiences can shape extraordinary careers and leadership styles.