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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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/-----

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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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Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning

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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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☕ Bold taste. Bold leadership.

Leading a global coffee powerhouse is no small feat—especially when your brand ranks among the world’s most influential:

🌎 Over 4,100 stores across 37 countries

👥 More than 20,000 employees worldwide

🥤 Thousands of innovative self-serve Costa Express machines

🏆 #2 largest coffeehouse chain globally

🇬🇧 #1 coffee chain in the UK, with over 2,700 outlets and a 26% market share.

🎙️ In my recent conversation with Philippe Schaillee, CEO of Costa Coffee, we explored:

-How a single setback nearly ended his career—and why he now calls it his greatest gift

-The surprising reason not all coffee companies are winning hearts (and what Costa does differently)

-What happens when your boldest ideas come from the last place you expect

If you lead big teams or big brands, this episode is a masterclass in clarity, resilience, and influence.

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Follow Philippe - https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippe-schaillee-40196b1/

Learn more about Costa Coffee - https://www.us.costacoffee.com/

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Cirque du Soleil fell—then made a HUGE comeback that no one saw coming.

Enter Duncan Fisher, Chief Show Operations Officer.

One of the world’s most iconic entertainment brands.

Gone.

Zero revenue. 5,000+ employees let go.

Bankrupt.

But instead of folding, they reimagined everything.

🔥 8 touring shows relaunched in just 18 months

🔥 Empowered teams operating 24/7 across the globe

🔥 Purpose-driven execution: entertain the world

Duncan Fisher led the charge—and his story is wild.

This episode has it all:

🎙️ A last-minute phone call from the U.S. Secret Service

🎙️ A presidential speech that almost didn’t happen

🎙️ 600 trucks packed and shipped across continents

🎙️ And a leadership philosophy forged under circus tents, spotlights, and survival

Want a masterclass in operational grit and brand resurrection?

🎧 Listen in.

This one will change the way you lead.

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Follow Duncan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-fisher-0964863b/

Book your next Cirque Du Soleil show: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/

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Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning

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The Robot-Powered Future Is Here.

When David Pinn, Brain Corp, stepped in as CEO —the company behind the world’s largest autonomous mobile robot fleet—he didn’t just scale innovation...

...he scaled belief.

They've unleashed the power of 40,000 robots around the world...

250 billion square feet cleaned and scanned

$190 million raised.

One big lesson?

Change management and leadership is at the very foundation of effective technology.

From Sam's club warehouse floors to NASA’s launchpads, BrainOS-powered robots are transforming how the world works today and tomorrow.

You'll find out that their success has less to do with hardware and more to do with humans.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

- Why being too expert stifles innovation.

- The game that always boost human and robot activity.

- What will really drive ROI in the future.

- Why curiosity—not code—is your most important leadership trait.

This is a story that every innovator needs to hear.

Listen to this if you lead people, work with tech, or just want to understand where the future is going (fast).

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Follow David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpinn/

Learn more about Brain Corp: https://www.braincorp.com/

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Skullcandy… he reimagined it.

First week on the job at Skullcandy, Brian Garofalow scheduled a meeting called:

“Teach Brian how headphones work.”

Not a tech guy.

Not an audio engineer.

But a punk-rock marketer turned Silicon Valley founder turned private equity turnaround pro—

And the new CEO of Skullcandy.

What happened next?

He did the unthinkable...

🔥 Partnered with Bose—the supposed enemy.

🔥 Reintroduced Skullcandy to the world with a surprise drop in NYC.

🔥 Built a skate-ramp-in-the-office culture that people actually want to work in.

🔥 Launched the best-reviewed product in years… in just 4 weeks.

Oh—and he’s worn the same green sweater every day for 7 years to reduce decision fatigue.

(Steve Jobs would be proud.)

This episode is a masterclass in brand resurrection, strategic risk, and leadership that doesn't try to fit in.

💬 What brand do you think is overdue for a Skullcandy-style comeback?

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Follow Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-garofalow-02b7bb2/

Check out Skullcandy's latest new products: https://www.skullcandy.com/

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