Igniting the CEO Within

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, Mark McFatridge speaks with Tony Thomas, former Executive Director of Welcome House, about leading with compassion and empathy in complex organizations. Tony shares powerful real world stories from his career that show how human centered leadership builds trust, resilience, and stronger teams. The conversation also explores balancing mission driven work with sound business fundamentals and the lessons Tony wishes he had learned earlier in his leadership journey.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, host Mark McFatridge speaks with Mary Williams, a fractional HR and people operations executive and owner of her own HR consultancy. Mary shares how self awareness and the concept of Ikigai help CEOs focus on their highest value, build complementary teams, and lead with purpose at scale. The conversation also explores the power of community, intentional networks, and knowing when to step back so both leaders and organizations can grow sustainably.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, host Mark McFatridge sits down with Michaun Elise Winborn, founder and owner of Born2Win Coaching, to explore what truly differentiates great leaders from average ones. Michaun shares powerful insights on leading with curiosity, slowing down to listen, and how self-awareness, cultural intelligence, and interrupting bias can dramatically improve leadership effectiveness. The conversation challenges leaders to reconcile values with conditioning, embrace growth through exposure to diverse perspectives, and lead with authenticity and empathy.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, host Mark McFatridge speaks with Chad Ackerman, founder and CEO of CARE (Chad Ackerman Real Estate), about the leadership lessons that shaped his career pivot from corporate HR to real estate entrepreneurship. Chad shares how surrounding yourself with the right mentors, advisors, and advocates accelerates growth, sharpens decision making, and builds engaged teams. The conversation also explores intentional networking, taking calculated risks earlier in life, and why community driven leadership consistently outperforms going it alone.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, host Mark McFatridge speaks with Debra Clary, leadership strategist and owner of The Clary Group. Debra shares why curiosity is a strategic advantage for leaders and how creating a culture that encourages questions drives stronger engagement and performance. The conversation explores how curiosity can be measured, developed, and used to empower teams for long term success.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, Mark McFatridge speaks with Dr. Carole Garth, veteran education leader and owner of her education consulting practice. Dr. Garth shares hard earned lessons on self awareness, balancing soft and hard leadership skills, and leading with purpose rather than pride. The conversation explores how reflection, experience, and listening deeply shape ethical, effective leaders at every stage of their journey.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, Mark McFatridge sits down with Jacob Yang, founder and CEO of Amp Your Story, to explore consultative leadership and the power of curiosity. Jacob shares how removing barriers, empowering teams, and leading with mission alignment drive stronger engagement and performance. The conversation also dives into building community, balancing speed with intentional decision making, and leading movements that create impact at scale.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, Mark McFatridge sits down with Kelly Coughlin, CEO of EveryDayCPA, to explore the leadership lessons learned through decades of experience and hard earned mistakes. Kelly shares why great leaders identify and address mistakes quickly, foster cultures where teams feel safe to challenge ideas, and prioritize collaboration over ego. The conversation also highlights the value of incubating ideas thoughtfully, encouraging open communication, and building businesses with patience and perspective.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, host Mark McFatridge sits down with Christopher Thompson, CEO of Core Inclusive Consulting, to explore what truly differentiates great leaders. Christopher shares why presence, self awareness, and seeing the human behind every decision are foundational to effective leadership. The conversation offers practical insights on listening with context, leading authentically, and honoring hard moments as part of growth.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, host Mark McFatridge welcomes Robert Fletcher, a seasoned physician assistant and healthcare leader, to discuss what truly differentiates exceptional leaders. Drawing from his experience at organizations like the VA Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente, Robert shares how trust, self-awareness, and understanding both the big picture and day-to-day realities empower teams to thrive. The conversation highlights how effective leadership is rooted in removing obstacles, communicating honestly, and helping others see challenges from new perspectives.

Quade is a community of CEOs and entrepreneurs. We offer an exciting opportunity for executives to become licensed circle directors who can earn up to six-figure revenues. After you complete the Quade License Circle Director Program, you'll lead your own peer advisory circles, helping other CEOs and solopreneurs excel in their professional and personal lives while providing a community of support, accountability, and challenge. We help you do this while putting in only 60 hours per year per circle. If you'd like to learn more, go to https://quadecircle.com/