In this episode, Aram DiGennaro sits down with executive coach Colin Davis to explore why most meetings fail — and why fixing meetings ultimately requires leaders to change how they think, decide, and show up.

Rather than focusing on surface-level meeting tactics, this conversation digs into the deeper systems at work: leadership identity, productive conflict, habit formation, and how real organizational change actually happens.

You’ll learn how to:

• Design weekly management meetings that drive clarity and execution
• Separate metrics review from real problem-solving
• Run a “solution session” that produces clear owners, actions, and priorities
• Distinguish between obstacle problems and opportunity problems
• Build trust and productive conflict without command-and-control leadership
• Help managers think like owners, not just employees
• Understand why leadership bottlenecks are usually personal, not technical

Aram and Colin also explore why leaders often get stuck, how fear of conflict undermines teams, and why meaningful growth usually requires a shift in habits — and sometimes identity — not just better tools or frameworks.

This episode is especially valuable for founders, CEOs, and leadership teams who feel like their meetings should be working — but aren’t — and who sense that the real constraint may be leadership itself.

Resources:

Protentional 

https://protentional.com

Protentional guides leaders to integrate compelling priorities into coherent strategy. 

First Principles Coaching

https://firstprinciplescoaching.com

Tailored coaching to help you live a full life, find what drives you and become the best version of yourself

Colin's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-davis-1stprinciples

Aram’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-digennaro/

Topics in this episode:

• What makes a meeting effective
• Weekly management meeting design
• Metrics vs. problem-solving agendas
• The five-step “solution session” framework
• Productive conflict and trust
• Leadership bottlenecks and team dynamics
• Habit formation and identity change
• Why coaching accelerates real change

Mini Summary:

Aram DiGennaro and Colin Davis explore why most leadership teams struggle with ineffective meetings — and why the root problem is rarely the agenda. This episode breaks down how great meetings combine metrics, problem-solving, and trust, while showing how lasting organizational improvement often requires leaders to confront habits, conflict avoidance, and identity-level change. If your meetings feel stuck, this conversation explains why — and what actually moves things forward.

In this episode, Aram DiGennaro, fractional CFO and strategic advisor, explains how to systematically increase your EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) using the same framework he applies with companies every day.

Instead of vague advice like “sell more” or “cut costs,” you’ll learn how to:

• Identify whether your real problem is sales, margin, or expenses
• Find the single financial bottleneck holding your company back
• Use simple numbers to tell the truth about your business
• Measure performance at the right level of granularity
• Turn financial data into clear action
• Mobilize your team around what actually moves profit

Aram walks through a CFO-grade framework for turning your P&L into a strategic weapon, not just a report you ignore.

Resources: 

Protentional
https://protentional.com/

Aram's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-digennaro/

Topics in this episode: 

• EBITDA explained in plain English 
• Sales vs. Margin vs. Expense problems 
• Professional CFO-level financial diagnostics 
• Bottlenecks and value chains 

Mini summary: 

Aram DiGennaro explains how to increase EBITDA by identifying whether your real problem is sales, margins, or expenses, then measuring the single bottleneck holding your company back. You’ll learn how to turn your financials into a practical operating system that guides weekly decisions, aligns your team, and steadily raises profitability — without burning out or guessing. 

In this episode of The Coherent Business Podcast, Aram DiGennaro explores the surprising resurgence of religion and religion-adjacent sensibilities. After decades of decline in religious identification, there is now a notable increase in spiritual engagement among 18 to 35-year-olds. This trend is not just about traditional religions but the broader desire for meaning, community, and personal growth. 

Business leaders need to understand this mega-trend, its driver, and its implications, so that we can meet the needs and harness the opportunities for leverage in marketplace and societal impact.  

Resources:

Protentional
https://protentional.com/

Aram's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-digennaro/

Topics in this episode: 

• The recent rise of religion in younger age groups 
• Businesses capitalization on the trend of sense-making and community engagement.
• Rituals and narratives to enhance workplace culture and employee connection.
• Formation of new communities

Mini summary: 

After decades of decline, religion, spirituality, and the search for meaning are making a surprising comeback, especially among younger generations. In this episode, Aram DiGennaro explains why this isn’t a fluke but the natural response to a hyper-reductionist, post-COVID world that stripped away community, identity, and purpose. Drawing on philosophy, cultural trends, and real-world examples, he shows how humans are “re-linking” what modern life broke—and why this shift is reshaping culture, work, and leadership in the 2020s. 

In this episode of the Coherent Business Podcast, Aram and Noah sit down to discuss how to create meaning in the workplace and better serve your employees in their hierarchy of needs by asking questions, listening, and maintaining a clear and purposeful workplace and workflow.

Resources:

Protentional

https://protentional.com/

Protentional guides leaders to integrate compelling priorities into coherent strategy.

NoviEdge

https://noviedge.com/

Transforming the Profitability and Personality of Small Businesses Through Coaching, Consulting, and Community.

Noah's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkaye/

Aram's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-digennaro/


Topics in this episode: 
Meaning becoming a central focus as leaders mature.
Clarity in organizational goals leads to happier employees.
Question asking is a powerful tool for leaders.
Confidence and humility should grow together in leadership.
Insecurity is a common challenge for leaders.
Money can be a barrier to pursuing meaningful work.
People often have limited views of career possibilities.
Building trust is essential for effective leadership.

Mini summary :
In this conversation, Aram & Noah explore the themes of leadership transformation, personal growth, and the importance of meaning in professional life. They discuss how leaders often face midlife crises that coincide with professional challenges, emphasizing the need for clarity and the power of question asking in leadership. The dialogue also touches on the balance between confidence and humility, the role of insecurity, and the impact of money on pursuing meaningful work. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the significance of human connection and the potential for personal and professional growth through self-discovery and clarity.

In this episode of the Coherent Business Podcast, Aram and Shawn discuss a range of topics from AI and new technology changing human experiences, the significance of human-centered design, personal and professional dissonance, and the vital role of human connection in business.

Resources: 

Protentional 

https://protentional.com/

Protentional guides leaders to integrate compelling priorities into coherent strategy. 

Shawn's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-mulligan/

Aram's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-digennaro/

Topics in this episode: 

AI / Technology in business 

Guiding Change in Organizations

Essential change for progress in policy and education

Human-centered design 

In this episode of the Coherent Business Podcast, Aram discusses the coming storm over AI adoption and how AI will impact the story of humanity, how we can adapt, and what widespread AI adoption will mean for humanity. This episode has key tips on productivity growth for businesses, AI's impact on sense-making, and many important insights about the future of AI 

Resources: 

Protentional 

https://protentional.com/

Protentional guides leaders to integrate compelling priorities into coherent strategy. 

Aram's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-digennaro/

Topics in this episode: 

AI adoption as a civilizational shift

Why AI pressures business leaders right now

The limits of traditional change management

Technology and the erosion of human sense-making

Chapters: 

00:00 — A Storm Over AI Adoption
Why this moment is fundamentally different

01:00 — The Trillion-Dollar Pressure
Investment, market caps, and forced adoption

02:30 — Why Change Management Falls Short
Small tools for a massive disruption

04:00 — “AI Will Destroy Humanity” (Reframed)
What that claim really points to

05:30 — Technology Always Changes Us
Power gained, humanity reshaped

07:00 — AI as an Information Shock
Writing, printing, and sense-making atrophy

08:45 — The Real Risk: Meaning Collapse
Why sense-making matters more than productivity

10:15 — The Role of Leaders Now
From managers to meaning-makers

11:30 — What Comes Next
Future work and invitation to engage

In this episode of the Coherent Business Podcast, Aram sits down with Colin Davis to discuss the importance of "First Principles", and the inherent tension between dual realities, emphasizing the importance of balancing pragmatism with understanding. It discusses how combining these elements can lead to a more comprehensive approach to reality, and how you can adapt this to your business. 

Topics covered in this episode: 

Business improvement & coaching 

Managing & CEO solutions 

Pragmatism vs. Understanding 

Business problems and solutions 

Being a healthy CEO 

Resources: 

Protentional 

https://protentional.com

Protentional guides leaders to integrate compelling priorities into coherent strategy. 

First Principles Coaching

https://firstprinciplescoaching.com

Tailored coaching to help you live a full life, find what drives you and become the best version of yourself

Colin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-davis-1stprinciples

Aram's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-digennaro

Chapters: 

 01:13 — Introduction
 01:40 — Defining First Principles
 02:54 — Slicing Reality
 03:41 — The Two Ditches
 04:11 — The Transcendentals
 04:58 — Business and Principles
 06:24 — The Polarity Principle
 08:28 — Why Simple Frameworks Fail
 10:43 — Two Kinds of Simplicity
 13:26 — Development Cycles
 14:06 — Philosophers for Business
 16:08 — Socrates and Knowing
 17:12 — How Knowing Works
 18:08 — The Five Drives
 19:57 — How Scripts Form
 21:09 — Why “I Shouldn’t Do This” Fails
 22:45 — Two Routes to Change
 23:48 — Accessing the Subconscious
 25:11 — Metaphor & Pattern
 26:16 — Experiences Change Emotion
 26:39 — Can Coaching Rewire You?
 27:42 — Breakthroughs & Trust 

In this episode of the Coherent Business Podcast, Aram sits down with Scot McRoberts to discuss the importance of peer groups for CEOs in the facilitation of a healthy business. They discuss Scot's peer group, Virginia CEOs, and how it has impacted many of the CEOs in the group positively. 


Topics covered in this episode: 

Peer groups and how they can help CEOs 
Approaching business as a healthy leader 
Becoming a better CEO 
Self improvement in business

Resources: 

Scot's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotmcroberts

Aram's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aram-digennaro

Chapters:

00:00 — Welcome & Introduction
Aram opens the conversation and invites Scot to introduce Virginia CEOs.

02:01 — The Origin Story of Virginia CEOs
Scot explains how the organization began in 2000 with the creation of CEO roundtables and the mission to connect leaders for growth.

03:14 — Culture, Values, and Who Thrives in the Group
Discussion on why the organization naturally attracts sincere, values-driven CEOs.

04:21 — The Roundtable Model Explained
Scot describes how their peer group structure differs from other CEO groups.

06:41 — Why Four Hours a Month Is Worth It
Scot shares why the time investment pays dividends.

10:48 — No Advice: The Radical Rule
The group’s unique “no advice” policy, which encourages experience-sharing instead of prescriptive solutions, and keeps conversations open and non-coercive.

19:52 — Emerging Trends in Leadership & Business

Scot observes a shift toward more humanistic leadership, as well as growing conversations about AI adoption and employee resistance.

21:30 — Leading Through Uncertainty
How CEOs are adapting to unpredictable markets, politics, and social conditions.

22:05 — How Scot Has Grown as a Leader
Reflections on how his strengths have shifted over 25 years toward relational and people-focused leadership.

22:46 — Vision for the Future of Virginia CEOs
Scot outlines a goal of doubling markets and membership over the next seven years.

23:14 — Member-Led Growth Strategy
How empowering members to expand the network creates momentum.

24:30 — Challenges of Opening New Markets
Finding eight CEOs to start a new group is the hardest part.

28:14 — Scot’s Pitch to CEOs Considering Joining
Peer groups create the structure and accountability most CEOs lack.

28:52 — How to Get in Touch
Scot shares the organization’s website and Aram reinforces the value of the community.

29:26 — Closing Reflections & Gratitude
The conversation wraps up with appreciation for a shared vision.

Guest: Sam Pressler
Host: Aram DiGennaro

In this episode of the Coherent Business Podcast, Aram sits down with Sam Pressler to discuss the complex journey to building a holistic society through the facilitation of healthy civic life, small business, and the need for economic democracy to empower communities. The dialogue reflects a vision for the future that is much more person-centered and connected through intentional relationships and living, 

Topics covered in this episode: 

• The decline of community institutions, how the economy has transformed community life 
• Spirituality and it's crucial role in securing a healthy future and healthy relationships 
• The future of community engagement: building off of past practices, intermixing them with new ideas. 
• Business contribution to civic renewal by prioritizing community over profit.

Connect with Sam Pressler & Aram DiGennaro (Resources) 

Sam's LinkedIn: Sam Pressler
Aram's LinkedIn: Aram DiGennaro

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Background

Aram welcomes Sam Pressler, founder of Connective Tissue, a project exploring how communities rebuild trust and belonging. Sam shares how it began as a Substack newsletter—an experiment in “learning out loud”—and evolved into a network connecting civic thinkers, policymakers, and practitioners working toward renewal.

02:42 – Understanding Connective Tissue

Sam explains how Connective Tissue grew from a writing project into a space for collective experimentation—helping communities test real-world ideas for connection, from town “activity fairs” to partnerships with organizations like the YMCA. He aims to make discussions of social capital not just academic or moralistic, but joyful and actionable.

06:14 – Vision for Civic Renewal

Instead of focusing on short-term goals, Sam thinks in centuries: a world where people feel agency in shaping shared life, belonging to overlapping communities that give meaning and purpose. Civic change, he says, grows “bottom up”—through small, locally rooted experiments that connect across places and evolve over time.

09:48 – Theories of Civic Engagement

Sam explains how civic life shifted from local membership groups to top-down institutions, leaving citizens as clients instead of co-creators. Rebuilding civic health means realigning membership, decision-making, and funding to restore local agency and trust.

20:11 – Economic Democracy and Community

Sam and Aram explore the link between economic and civic vitality. Drawing from Wendell Berry, Sam argues communities can’t be self-governing if their economies aren’t. Local ownership, cooperative models, and antitrust reform, he says, are all civic issues—because where ownership resides, so does power.

29:39 – Spirituality and Community Engagement

The discussion turns to the spiritual side of civic life. Sam notes that as organized religion declines, people still crave spaces outside the market where relationships aren’t transactional. Sabbath becomes a metaphor for reclaiming sacred time and community meaning—a reminder that not all value can be measured in dollars.

39:34 – The Role of Business in Civic Renewal

Business, Sam says, is neutral—it depends how it’s practiced. Locally rooted enterprises can become civic anchors when they treat work as stewardship, not extraction. Aram and Sam imagine a culture where entrepreneurship and community building reinforce each other, integrating purpose with prosperity.

Guest: Sven Brueckner
Host: Aram DiGennaro

In this episode of the Coherent Business Podcast, Aram sits down with Sven Brueckner to converse about the nature of Reality, Quantum Entanglement, Reward Systems, and the Attention Economy. This conversation is an interesting insight into how modern systems control decision-making, how we behave within these systems, and how to find a real place in the human ecosystem. 

This dialogue pivots to top down and bottom up business approaches and information processing in business and organizations, and the curation of relevant information in business leadership to build strong companies and filters for businesses and business communications. 

Topics covered in this episode: 

• Controlling your information filter and synthesizing information for a truer reality.
• Building good information for your company/business to promote better engagement and better morality.
• The Attention Economy 
• "Information hygiene"
• Information is FUNDAMENTAL to existence. 
• Complex systems in society and how to operate through them for self-fulfillment 

Connect with Sven Brueckner & Aram DiGennaro (Resources) 

Sven's LinkedIn: Sven Brueckner

Aram's LinkedIn: Aram DiGennaro

Chapters

00:00 – Navigating Communication Challenges
Aram and Sven open with reflections on how observation shapes reality and how communication creates shared meaning.

01:55 – Quantum Entanglement and Reality
They explore quantum experiments showing how observation defines outcomes and how information precedes matter.

05:33 – The Nature of Time and Causality
Is time a human construct for mapping causality and entropy?

09:31 – Emergence in Complex Systems
They examine emergence, fractality, and how patterns repeat across scales—from physics to society.

13:13 – Constraints and Individual Behavior
How internal and external constraints shape behavior.

17:13 – Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Dynamics
Aram and Sven contrast mechanistic organizations with adaptive systems balancing structure and autonomy.

21:21 – Agents and Information Processing
Aram defines agents as autonomous entities with perception and action, comparing humans and computational systems.

25:10 – Exploration vs. Exploitation in Systems
Using ant colonies as analogy, they show how variation and deviance fuel collective intelligence and innovation.

29:16 – Organizational Structures and Decision Making
They link biological self-organization to company design.

33:04 – Information Hygiene and Attention Management
The dialogue expands to attention economics and how environments shape perception. 

37:05 – Behavioral Influence in Social Systems
They unpack how subtle information placement shifts group behavior without direct control.

41:00 – Challenges in Higher Education
A systems-theory lens on academia’s rigidity, incentives, and risk aversion that block adaptation.

45:12 – The Role of Information in Society
The hosts consider attention as the new currency and how dopamine loops hijack cognition.

49:05 – Navigating Information Overload
How humans self-organize under informational stress—forming echo chambers and trusted groups to cope.

53:02 – Creating Membranes for Decision Making
The need for boundaries and filters to preserve mental clarity.

56:57 – Conclusion: The Importance of Information Hygiene
They close by tying it together: from quantum entanglement to attention, reality is shaped by information.