In this episode of The Bold Play, Ryan Prindiville sits down with René Lacerte, CEO & Founder of BILL, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, technology, and building companies that stand the test of time.

René shares his perspective on how AI is leveling the playing field for small and mid-sized businesses - what he calls the “Fortune 5 Million” - by putting enterprise-grade financial capabilities into the hands of entrepreneurs. Drawing from nearly two decades of building BILL, he reflects on the evolution from founder to CEO, why the role must be earned every day, and the importance of humility, patience, and trust in long-term leadership.

Throughout the conversation, René discusses why AI should be viewed as an enabler rather than a replacement, howleaders can unlock creativity within their teams, and why understanding the work deeply is essential before adopting new technology. He also shares lessons on navigating growth, maintaining culture at scale, and leading with convictionin an era of rapid change.

Whether you’re a founder, executive, or advisor helping businesses grow, this episode offers thoughtful insight onleadership, innovation, and building organizations designed to endure.

In this episode of The Bold Play, Ryan Prindiville sits down with Jean Freeman, Principal & CEO of Zambezi, to explore what it takes to build, scale, and sustain a business through constant change.

Jean shares lessons from nearly twodecades of leading one of the largest female-owned creative agencies in the country from surviving early-stage volatility and economic downturns to evolving leadership styles, expanding services, and navigating industry disruption driven by technology, media fragmentation, and AI.

Throughout the conversation, Jean discusses the importance of adaptability, knowing when to shift from founder tocoach, building resilient teams, and creating organizations that can scale without losing their culture. She also reflects on supporting the next generation of women leaders and what it truly means to build a business that lasts.

Whether you’re scaling a founder-led company, navigating change in a fast-moving industry, or rethinking how you lead as your organization grows, this episode offers grounded perspective on sustainable leadership in an era defined by constant evolution.

In this episode of The Bold Play, Ryan Prindiville sits down with Aaron Harris, Global CTO at Sage, to explore how AI is reshaping the foundations of modern business from the rise of agentic AI to the shifting relationship between humans, machines, and the software that powers today’s enterprises.

Aaron shares deep insight into why AI agents will soon become primary users of business software, how SaaS business models must evolve, and what leaders can do to stay ahead as technology cycles compress faster than ever before. He also discusses the growing importance of digital trust, assurance, and building organizations capable of navigatingconstant disruption.

Whether you’re leading a high-growth business, rethinking your digital strategy, or preparing your teams for thenext era of innovation, this conversation offers a compelling look at what it takes to thrive in a world undergoing historic transformation.

In this episode of The Bold Play Podcast, Ryan Prindiville sits down with Ivan Makarov, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, to explore how AI is transforming the pace of innovation,the structure of modern startups, and the role of today’s finance leaders. Ivan shares firsthand insights from working with the world’s most cutting-edge founders, from building lean, compute-first companies to why today’s CFO is becoming the “Chief Architect Officer.”

He breaks down what it takes to lead in an era where competition moves weekly, decisions must be made quickly, and the foundations of finance and operations are being rebuilt through AI. Whether you're scaling a startup, advising high-growth teams, or navigating accelerating change, this conversation is a masterclass in modern leadership.

In this episode of The Bold Play Podcast, Ryan Prindiville sits down with Mark Orttung, CEO of Projectworks, to discuss scaling a SaaS startup across five countries, embedding AI into every part of the business and leading with courage through uncertainty. Mark shares practical lessons on growth,innovation and why every bold move starts with a thousand little things.

In the debut episode of The Bold Play Podcast, host Ryan Prindiville, Partner at Armanino, sits down with John Eck, former President & CEO of Mattress Firm, to explore the bold leadership strategies that drove one of retail’s most significant turnarounds.

From navigating post-bankruptcy restructuring and accelerating growth to overseeing a major acquisition, John shares candid stories and hard-won lessons from his decades leading teams at GE, Univision and Mattress Firm. He discusses how AI and quantum computing are reshaping the business landscape, why leaders must embrace uncertainty and how leveraging technology faster than competitors can define the winners and losers of the next decade.

John also opens up about leadership philosophies from the power of decisive action and risk-taking to building resilient teams and staying focused amid constant change. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur or future leader, this episode is packed with insights on business transformation, strategic decision-making and leading through disruption.

Tune in for actionable leadership lessons, bold strategies and a glimpse into the future of business.

The Bold Play — Where fearless leadership meets real-world results.

The Bold Play dives into the minds of trailblazing executives who dared to bet big, break the mold and build lasting success. In just 30 fast-paced minutes, each episode delivers candid conversations about pivotal business moments, bold decisions and the challenges that shaped transformative outcomes.

Every episode spotlights how successful business leaders faced an inflection point head on and won through innovative solutions and leadership.

 Real conversations. Real challenges. Real impact.