Real leadership begins the moment your team starts to doubt you.

Jeff Meredith, CEO of Chamberlain Group, has lived that moment. He took a 70-year-old garage door company and transformed it into a global tech powerhouse with 14M+ connected users.

But as Jeff shared with me, the toughest part wasn’t the technology or the strategy—it was earning back his team’s trust in the middle of massive change.

That resonated deeply with me. Because when the ground shifts under your feet, no business model or innovation will save you if your people stop believing.

Jeff opened up about the leadership mistake that nearly cost him his team—and the exact steps he used to win them back.

His story is a reminder that transformation isn’t just about vision; it’s about belief.

If you’re leading through uncertainty, Jeff’s example proves one thing: no leader succeeds alone.

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Follow Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-meredith-90a744112/

Learn more about Chamberlain: https://www.chamberlain.com/

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Erase silos. Unite the company. Rebuild trust—fast.

When I first heard Amy Martin, CMO at TruWest Holdings, talk about her “One Number” strategy the TURNAROUND stopped me in my tracks.

She didn’t know if leaders would embrace it… or fight to protect their own KPIs.

But once it landed, everything changed:

-True C-suite alignment

-Faster growth

-A culture of shared accountability

Instead of sales and marketing chasing different goals, they now share the exact same revenue target.

In our conversation, Amy shares how she:

-Won buy-in without causing whiplash

-Turned resistance into trust

-Built teams that row in the same direction

If your teams are working hard but not together, this is one you don’t want to miss.

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Follow Amy on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyallenmartin/

Learn more about TruWest: https://truwestholdings.com/

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Everyone tells their teams to “use AI.”

But as Lucas Mendes (CEO of Revelo) told me, that almost never works.

Employees don’t resist because they’re lazy.

They resist because new tools feel intimidating, misunderstood, or disconnected from what really matters in their day-to-day.

That’s where leadership comes in.

Lucas shared how he turned an almost-failing startup into the backbone of AI — a network of 400k+ engineers powering the world’s top tech companies.

But more importantly, he revealed how to get teams to actually change how they work — even when the future feels uncertain.

If you’ve ever given a directive and wondered why nothing changed, this episode is for you.

🎥 I Turned a Failing Startup Into the Backbone of AI (400k+ Engineers)

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Follow Lucas on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmzmendes/

Learn more about Revelo - https://www.revelo.com/

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Thomas Neergaard Hansen — President of Amplitude and former Microsoft and Dropbox executive — proved to me that even the most hard-earned leadership skills aren’t always enough.

He’s led billion-dollar teams, navigated career reinventions, and even learned leadership lessons on a windsurfing board.

In this episode, he opens up about the next leadership superpower every leader needs to survive — and thrive — in today’s AI-driven world.

You'll discover:

-Why the “career ladder” is gone for good

-The daily habit he uses to stay ahead with his own team

-How AI is shifting what makes a great leader

-Why the best CEOs embrace what they don’t know

-What windsurfing taught him about business risk and resilience

This isn’t theory — it’s real, hard-won insight from the front lines of leadership.

Only the leaders who adapt will last...

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Follow Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasneergaardhansen/

Learn more about Amplitude: https://amplitude.com/

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Running a theme park isn’t just rides and fun.

It’s about leading elite teams that deliver with precision, creativity, and resilience—day in and day out.

In this episode of Lead the Team, I sit down with Franceen Gonzales, Former President of Legoland Florida Resort—one of the hidden geniuses behind its success.

We cover:

- A strategy to inspire peak performance under relentless pressure.

- The blueprint for orchestrating thousands of moving parts—and people—flawlessly.

- The meeting structure that keeps teams performing at elite levels every day.

Whether you lead engineers, creatives, or front-line teams, you’ll walk away with leadership lessons you can put to work immediately.

So tell me—what’s one leadership habit that keeps your team winning?

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Follow Franceen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franceengonzales/

Plan your next trip to Legoland: https://www.legoland.com/florida/

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Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning

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Some Lessons You Only Learn After Failing

Rishi Rana—CEO of Cyara and former global product leader at Microsoft—shares the leadership lesson you just can’t learn in a classroom.

His career has been incredible having shared the stage with Bill Gates. Tripled revenue in a brutal turnaround. Led global teams under immense pressure.

But what stands most in our interview?

...how he talks openly about the missteps—failed launches, fractured teams, moments where it could’ve all fallen apart.

It's a message for any leader trying to stay steady in the storm.

He shares:

✅ How to rebuild trust when things go sideways.

✅ The key to making clear decisions in the middle of chaos.

✅ A strategy to get teams focused on outcomes—not noise.

If you’re navigating complexity and want to lead with more clarity, grit, and impact—this for you.

Out now on Lead the Team: CEO-tested tools and strategies to lead your team better!

👉 Ever had a leadership moment that nearly broke you—but shaped you instead?

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Follow Rishi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-rana-2397a9/

Learn more about Cyara: https://cyara.com/

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Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning

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If you’re not leading AI… it’s already leading you.

Erik Huddleston, CEO of Aprimo and a 6-time exited founder, breaks down what every modern leader needs to understand about scaling with AI—before it’s too late.

If you're leading a team and feeling the pressure of speed, complexity, and rising expectations… his message is for you.

"AI can produce more in a day than your entire team can in a year."

That sounds like progress—until your message, culture, and brand start spinning out of control.

Find out what most leaders overlook when adopting AI, and how to build the systems, guardrails, and leadership mindset to move fast without breaking trust.

Whether you’re running a Fortune 500 division or building a company from scratch, this conversation will challenge how you lead—and give you real tools to scale your team, protect your brand, and lead with purpose.

You’ll learn:

→ How to lead when AI is moving faster than your org chart.

→ Why scaling content isn’t the hard part—governance is.

→ What it really means to “scale with control”.

→ How to become the leader your team needs in uncertain times.

Move from overwhelmed…to undeniably clear about what do next with AI within your organization.

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Follow Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehuddleston/

Learn more about Aprimo: https://www.aprimo.com/-----

Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning

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When Ingram Micro Got Tested

Sanjib Sahoo, President of Ingram Micro’s Global Platform Group, was already preparing to lead under pressure—long before the headlines.

Before the headlines.

Before the cyberattack.

Before the world was watching…

When we recorded this conversation, none of us knew what was coming. But what Sanjib shared then feels even more powerful now.

You'll hear the bold transformation he's driving inside a $48B tech giant that touches nearly 90% of the world’s population—and the personal transformation leaders must go through to meet the moment.

“Doubt isn’t the enemy,” he told me. “It’s often the proof you’re doing something meaningful.”

He doesn't interpret fear as a sign to back down—but a signal you’re on the right track...

And when the pressure hits, how do you stay grounded—especially when everyone’s watching to see if you’ll crack or lead?

This isn’t a crisis interview.

It’s a real, unfiltered look at what leadership actually takes—when everything’s on the line.

Recorded before the headlines.

Proven after.

🎧 Listen now on Lead the Top (a top 2% podcast)—and rethink boldness, fear, and what it means to lead under pressure.

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Follow Sanjib on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjibsahoodigital/

Learn more about Ingram Micro: https://www.ingrammicro.com/

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Complacency costs growth.

Sean Larkin, CEO of OnLogic, learned that lesson the hard way—just because your company is scaling doesn’t mean your people automatically will too.

This really stuck with me...

...the same strengths that drive today’s success often become tomorrow’s roadblocks.

He breaks out a 6-point professional development plan that’s as original as it is practical.

It’s a must-hear for any leader who wants their team to keep up with the pace of change.

You'll also discover:

👉 The subtle early signs your team’s falling behind.

👉 Why your best people may struggle to scale.

👉 How to help high performers keep evolving.

👉 What it really takes to lead when the speed (and growth) never slow down.

If you think your team is “probably” ready for what’s next… this one’s for you.

🎧 Episode’s live now.

Because scaling isn’t about working harder. It’s about thinking smarter.

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Follow Sean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-larkin-nacd-dc-0517439/

Learn more about OnLogic: https://www.onlogic.com/

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He had the talent to chase Broadway fame. But he saw something even bigger.

Instead of staying in the spotlight, Ryan Stana, CEO of RWS Global, decided to build an entire world behind the scenes—one that now creates over a MILLION unforgettable moments every single day:

🚢 Cruise ships

🎢 Theme parks

🎭 Broadway

🏟️ Stadiums

🌍 Seven offices around the world

He wasn’t in it for the credit. He was in it to change the game.

And the way he did it? By staying true to who he was.

“Follow your dream, and the respect will come.”

That line stuck with me.

This conversation is memorable for me, because it’s such a powerful reminder: you don’t have to prove yourself to everyone. You just have to build something that matters.

In the episode, Ryan shares:

• Why authenticity earns respect faster than ego.

• How to scale creativity without losing your vision.

• The power of listening to every voice at the table.

• The framework that keeps 8,000+ creatives aligned.

• And the bold decisions that shaped his entire journey.

If you’ve ever wondered how to lead without chasing approval of your team, stakeholders and even your customers...this is worth a listen.

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Follow Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanstana/

Learn more about RWS Global: https://www.rwsglobal.com/

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Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning

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