Igniting the CEO Within

In this episode of Igniting the CEO Within, host Mark McFatridge sits down with Mary MacCarthy, entrepreneur in residence at the Brown Venture Group, ILT Academy, to break down what truly drives startup success. Mary shares why coachability and grit are the defining traits investors look for in founders, along with practical guidance on fundraising, early capital allocation, and building strong founder–investor relationships. While Mary discusses active angel investing and current startup work, she does not name a specific company she owns in this episode, focusing instead on helping early-stage CEOs build scalable, values-driven businesses.

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 Chanty Clay, Ph.D., founder and managing partner of Symmetry Alliance Partners, to unpack what authentic leadership really looks like. Drawing from her military background and executive consulting experience, Chanty introduces her powerful "head, heart, and hands" framework, emphasizing discipline, emotional intelligence, and compassion as essential leadership pillars. The conversation offers candid insights on self-awareness, evolving leadership styles, and how leaders can drive results while genuinely engaging and respecting their people.

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 Cherylanne Skolnicki, Founder & CEO of The Brilliant Balance Company, about what it truly takes to lead with impact. Cherylanne shares her perspective on self leadership, grit, and resilience, introducing her "three Cs" framework of clarity, courage, and consistency as essential traits of exceptional leaders. The conversation also explores how leaders can be more intentional in busy seasons of life while leveraging modern tools without losing critical thinking or alignment.

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 talks with Holly Hartman, founder of CollabIntel Group and The CollabCode, about what truly separates effective leaders from the rest. Holly explores internal motivation, self awareness, and collaboration styles as key drivers of sustainable leadership and healthy teams. She also shares practical insights on preventing burnout and building stronger collaboration systems that help leaders and organizations thrive.

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 Kim Svoboda, founder and CEO of Aspiration Catalyst, to explore what truly separates great leaders from the rest. Kim shares powerful insights on self awareness, continuous learning, and why empowering teams drives stronger performance than control. The conversation offers practical lessons for leaders ready to take risks, build confident teams, and create a lasting ripple effect through bold leadership.

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 Paul Thompson, founder and CEO of Patriot Elite Group, to unpack what separates great leaders from average ones. Paul shares powerful lessons from the military and civilian worlds on clarity, empathy, and building trust through real connection. He also explains why leadership development matters early and how strong relationships shape 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, host Mark McFatridge sits down with Herman Armstrong, founder of Kathairo Solutions, to unpack what separates great leaders from average ones through the lens of self awareness, emotional intelligence, and cultural intelligence. Herman shares how leaders can build trust and cohesion by understanding their own culture, recognizing differences in communication styles, and approaching conflict with humility and curiosity. You'll also hear practical ways leaders can grow through discomfort and create healthier relationships at work.

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/

Mark McFatridge speaks with Mark Voytek, founding partner of Next Stage Trajectory, about what he looks for in founders before investing or committing to a long-term growth partnership. They unpack how startups escape the one to ten million ARR valley by sharpening a unique value proposition, selling outcomes instead of features, and building coachable leadership habits. Mark also shares practical lessons on fundraising readiness, pitch clarity, and why strong networks can change the trajectory of a career.

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 Juan Calahorrano, President and CEO of JLC and Associates, about how great leadership is built through trust, presence, and clarity. Juan shares how showing up consistently, understanding your role in the bigger mission, and putting people in positions to win drives long-term performance. He also reflects on the importance of valuing your own skills and staying open to learning as your career evolves.

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, host Mark McFatridge sits down with Galen Bingham, CEO of Kiln Global Coaching and Consulting, to break down the three priorities of great leadership: vision, barrier removal, and inspiration. Galen explains why emotional intelligence starts with self awareness and how leaders can grow by focusing on intent versus impact. He also shares his ABCs of success framework to build stronger support systems through advisors, accountability buddies, and a trusted crew.

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/