In this episode of the Modern Mogul Podcast, we delve into why disruptive CEOs thrive while others falter and how evolving your internal operating system can transform your business.

Discover the pitfalls many high-performing CEOs face, such as feeling saturated from outdated practices and internal misalignment, despite external success. Learn about the unique Operating System, a custom-built leadership architecture that aligns with your continued evolution.

Through a real-world example of a seven-figure entrepreneur, see how simplifying offers, empowering teams, and implementing strategic systems led to increased profit margins and reduced working hours. Join us for a conversation about building a business that supports both your professional and personal growth, achieves predictable profits, and fosters a sustainable, impactful model.


The Struggles of High-Performing CEOs The Need for a New Operating System Real-World Example: Delegation Challenges The Concept of HQOS Case Study:

Transforming Jordan's Business Invitation to Transform Your Business https://modernmogulhq.as.me/strategycall

Episode Summary:
Five years after COVID-19 shut down the world, we’re still experiencing its ripple effects.

Remote work changed employment forever, trust in institutions has eroded, digital security is more critical than ever, and the way we think about money, leadership, and business has transformed.

In this episode, I’ll break down what has changed, what it means for you, and how business leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs can pivot and thrive in this evolving landscape.

We cover:
- The evolution of remote work & why return-to-office mandates are failing
- The rise of fractional work, gig economy, and performance-based employment
- How technology and social media have reshaped trust & business strategy
- The growing impact of cybersecurity, fraud, and digital scams
- The financial shifts—how money, investing, and economic uncertainty affect leadership
- How to adapt to these shifts and position your business for growth

Why Bad Tech is Killing Great Businesses and How to Fix It

In this episode of the Modern Mogul podcast, host Marlyne Pierce discusses the impact of poorly implemented technology on business success. Marlyne shares personal experiences and emphasizes that while building tech can be challenging, the real challenge lies in ensuring user engagement and product usability. She highlights the importance of intuitive, user-friendly design and strategic execution in sustaining cash flow and customer satisfaction. The episode is a call to action for founders and leaders to focus more on the user experience and strategic deployment of technology rather than just the technical components themselves.

00:00 Welcome to the Modern Mogul Podcast 00:24 The Impact of Bad Tech on Businesses 00:50 Evaluating Your Tech: Good or Bad? 01:27 Building an AI-Powered Diagnostic Tool 02:41 The Easy Part: Building Tech 03:13 The Real Challenge: User Engagement 06:26 The Importance of Intuitive Products 07:22 Empowering Businesses with Better Tech 08:35 Personal Rant and Experience 10:24 Conclusion and Sponsor Message

Send me a message or book a Scaling Strategy Call to pinpoint the real problem and get your business on track. https://modernmogulhq.as.me/strategycall

The Open vs. Closed AI Battle & DeepSeek’s Disruption AI is at a crossroads. The debate over open-source vs. closed AI development is heating up, and recent market shifts have upended expectations—including the shocking rise of DeepSeek, China’s newest AI disruptor.

In this episode, I break down:

🔹 Open vs. Closed AI Development – Why Meta and XAI are championing open-source models like LLAMA 3, while Google and OpenAI push for proprietary, closed systems.

🔹 The Investment Divide – Open-source AI has attracted $14.9B in funding since 2020, while closed-source AI (led by OpenAI) has secured a staggering $37.5B. What does this tell us about the future of AI innovation?

🔹 China’s Big Move: DeepSeek R1 – How China’s AI lab DeepSeek developed a game-changing model at a fraction of U.S. costs—causing a market shakeup that wiped half a trillion dollars off NVIDIA’s valuation.

🔹 The U.S. AI Arms Race & Government Involvement – With policies, sanctions, and national security concerns shaping AI development, where does this leave the future of tech, business, and global power?

🔹 The Real Cost of AI & the Power of Data – Beyond the technology, AI is shaping our choices, economy, and even our sense of agency. How do we stay in control in a world increasingly driven by algorithms?

🔥 The Big Question: How will you navigate this new AI era? Will you prioritize profit or people? Innovation or security? And most importantly—how will you lead through uncertainty?

💡 Join the conversation. Share your take on Instagram @modernmogulhq or join the waitlist for The Executive Lounge at modernmogulhq.com/community.

Marlyne's hot take on the knee-jerk reactions of the U.S. market to uncertainty, the deeper burnout executives are feeling, and why the conversation rarely centers around purpose, impact, and humanity.

🔹 Market Trends & Overreactions – Are we really in an upheaval, or just witnessing a much-needed correction? Despite the media frenzy, stocks will likely level out, and the sky isn’t falling.

🔹 Tech Lobbying & AI Ethics – As companies like NVIDIA, Meta, and OpenAI navigate Capitol Hill, the real battle isn’t just about U.S. vs. China—it’s about open-source vs. proprietary AI models.

🔹 Who Gets Left Behind? – History shows market shifts disproportionately impact women and BIPOC leaders in tech, raising questions about inclusion and equity in the next wave of innovation.

🔹 The Bifurcation of Business Models – Are we heading towards an Amazon vs. Burberry world, where the U.S. controls the high end and China dominates the lower-cost market? What does this mean for supply chains and global competition?

🔹 The Open-Source Revolution – With major AI advancements being fueled by open-source research, will proprietary models survive, or is open-source the real future of AI?

At the heart of this discussion: humanity, ethics, and the responsibility of tech leaders to ensure AI benefits everyone—not just the biggest players.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

💡 Is the future of AI really open-source, or will proprietary models find a way to dominate? Drop your take in the comments on IG or in the Executive Lounge (coming soon!).

Show Notes:

Episode Summary:
Welcome back to the Modern Mogul Podcast! In this reflective episode, host Marlyne Pierce looks back at 2024—a year filled with pivots, setbacks, breakthroughs, and clarity. She shares personal and professional lessons, highlights transformative experiences, and discusses trends that shaped the business and tech landscape. From lessons in alignment and leadership to bold predictions for 2025, this episode offers a frame for your own roadmap to scaling smarter while prioritizing health, well-being, and purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Links and Resources:

In this episode of Modern Mogul, Marlyne chats with Penny, a former FBI forensic accountant turned entrepreneur, about her journey to financial independence. They dive into Penny’s early interest in financial independence, her life as a full-time RVer, and her philosophy of the "Triangle of Freedom." Penny shares insights into living with financial, time, and location freedom and reveals practical strategies on tax planning, retirement, and personal finance for entrepreneurs—especially mompreneurs.

Blog post also available on the website: 

Connect with Penny: Penny on LinkedIn [LinkedIn Profile Link]

Resource Mentioned:

Summary:
This episode features a conversation with Ramona Baker, a leadership expert specializing in board and CEO relationships. Ramona discusses the importance of responsibility and trust in leadership, navigating generational differences, and the challenges of organizational change. She shares her philosophy and valuable insights for leaders at all levels, emphasizing the need for clear communication, collaboration, and relevance to build trust.

Elevating your leadership skills and want to make sure you are focused on the RIGHT thing?  Take the Priority Audit - www.modernmogulhq.com/quiz

Contact Ramona: [email protected]
[email protected]


Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction
01:50 - Ramona Baker's Background
04:00 - Leadership as Responsibility
07:30 - Building Trust with Boards and Teams
12:15 - Lessons from Public Policy Initiatives
16:30 - The Importance of Relevance in Communication -
22:00 - Trust in Decision-Making
30:00 - Navigating Generational Leadership Styles
35:00 - Balancing Work and Self-Care
38:00 - Handling Organizational Change
42:00 - Key Takeaways for Leaders
45:00 - Conclusion and Contact Information

Episode 89: Plateaus as the Effect of CEO & Executive Learning Curve

In this episode of the Modern Mogul podcast, host Marlyne dives deep into the hidden psychology behind business growth plateaus and the learning curve that all CEOs and executives face. Why does the learning curve become a barrier for so many, and how can business leaders break through these plateaus to achieve lasting growth?

From managing cognitive overload to overcoming the fear of success, this episode explores practical strategies to help leaders in tech-driven fields regain momentum. Marlon discusses the power of prioritization, the importance of incremental wins, and how embracing a growth mindset can unlock the next level of leadership. Tune in to learn how to keep evolving and thriving in your business, even when the path gets challenging.

Don’t miss this insightful episode, and be sure to check the show notes for the link to a powerful quiz designed to help you identify areas where you can scale more effectively.

Resource: 
https://www.modernmogulhq.com/quiz

How to Avoid Burnout and Prioritize Your Personal Life as a High Achiever

Summary: In this episode, we dive into the common challenges faced by high achievers—overwhelm, anxiety, and burnout.

You may be hitting your goals, but at what cost? We discuss how to avoid burnout without stepping back from your business or losing income, by developing a personalized success strategy. Tune in to learn my 6-step approach to prioritizing your time, energy, and well-being, so you can grow your revenue and live a balanced life.

👉 Join the upcoming webinar for a deeper dive into building your personal success system!

Key Takeaways: The truth about burnout and why it happens to high performers. How to audit your time and energy for better alignment. Why telling yourself the right stories is critical for success. The importance of systems and how they can help you avoid burnout.

How to develop a scorecard to measure your progress.

Resources Mentioned:Leadership Mastery Workshop