In this episode of The Journey To CEO Success, Patrick Thean sits down with Charlie Malouf, CEO of Broad River Retail, for a raw and insightful conversation about leading through crisis, shifting mindset, and building a company where people can thrive.

Charlie shares the pivotal moment when Broad River Retail was on the brink of collapse, and the bold decisions that sparked one of the most impressive turnarounds in the retail industry.

He breaks down the leadership disciplines that made the difference, simplifying the business, aligning leaders around a unified strategy, and rebuilding a culture rooted in ownership and accountability.

But the transformation didn’t stop there. Charlie opens up about how he rewired a zero-sum, scarcity-driven mindset into an abundance mindset that fuels innovation, trust, and long-term growth. And he explains why investing in clear career paths and stronger compensation for Broad River’s “Memory Makers” became one of the most important strategic decisions of his career.

If you’re a CEO navigating complexity, culture challenges, or growth limitations, this episode delivers a powerful roadmap for turning clarity, mindset, and people into your greatest competitive advantage.

In this episode, Patrick sits down with Sasha Dichter, Co-founder and CEO of 60 Decibels, for a conversation that’s part mindset shift and part look into the future.

Sasha shares his “Month of Yes” experiment, a forcing function to break his default patterns. What he learned wasn’t about convenience; it was about awareness, generosity, and what changes when you disrupt your automatic habits.

Patrick and Sasha dug into Sasha’s natural pull toward AI and why he sees it as an opportunity, not something to fear. His favorite 2025 use case? AI as your personal physical therapist.

A thought-provoking episode about challenging defaults, embracing new tools, and leading with curiosity.

Why do so many leaders struggle to let go? In this episode, Patrick Thean talks with Dan Crane, Founder of Crane Counsel, about the fear and mindset that keep CEOs holding on too tightly, and what happens when you finally trust your team to lead.
They also explore how bringing joy back into your work can transform not just your results, but your entire approach to leadership.

Culture doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built every day by what you tolerate and how you appreciate.

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success Podcast, Sean Farrell, CEO of QDS, Inc., joins Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, to share how intentional leadership shapes culture from the inside out. From holding the line on standards to celebrating people in meaningful ways, Sean explains why every decision a leader makes sends a message to their team, their customers, and themselves.

Sean opens up about:

• Why people pay attention to what you tolerate (and how that defines your culture)

• How personalized, thoughtful recognition can be more impactful than cash bonuses

• The power of consistency and authenticity in leading a growing organization

If you’re building a culture where people feel seen, valued, and accountable - this conversation will challenge and inspire how you lead.

When Shannon Coomes, started as an engineer, she never imagined she’d one day be leading one of the top fire protection companies in the country. As President of Hill Fire Protection LLC, Shannon shares how she built confidence in rooms where she was often the only woman, the lessons that shaped her leadership journey, and her advice for young women entering male-dominated fields.

In this conversation with The Journey to CEO Success host Patrick Thean, Shannon reminds us that leadership isn’t about changing who you are, it’s about staying grounded in your values, listening, and leading with curiosity.

Every leader faces moments where the path forward isn’t clear - inflection points that force us to choose between staying comfortable or stepping into something bigger.

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean sits down with Dominic Rapini, CEO of Queralt, Inc., to unpack how great leaders recognize these pivotal moments and act decisively even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Dominic shares how he’s learned to leverage mistakes as accelerators, not setbacks, and why building a culture that learns fast and never repeats errors is one of the greatest competitive advantages a leader can create.

They discuss:

• How to identify when it’s truly time to pivot, in your career or your business

• Why waiting for perfect clarity is a trap

• The mindset shift leaders must make around failure and experimentation

• How purpose and long-term mission guide better decisions under pressure

Whether you’re navigating a personal crossroads or leading your team through one, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about timing, risk, and resilience.

If you could sit down with your younger self from 20 years ago, what would you say?

In this candid and insightful episode of The Journey to CEO Success, host Patrick Thean sits down with Bob Denison, President of Denison Yachting, to rewind the clock and unpack the mistakes, mindset shifts, and defining lessons that shaped his leadership journey.

Whether you're just starting your leadership journey or reflecting on your own 20-year rewind, Bob’s story is a powerful reminder that wisdom isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress.

On this episode of The Journey to CEO Success Podcast, Patrick Thean sat down with Greg Horejs, President of CAGE Civil Engineering, Inc., to talk about two themes that every leader should be thinking about.

1. First, the power of sabbaticals - why giving your team space to step away and recharge can spark creativity, deepen loyalty, and strengthen performance.
2. Second, the importance of mission and purpose - how staying anchored to your true north brings clarity to decisions, alignment to teams, and sustainability to growth.

This conversation is a reminder that success isn’t just about pushing harder; it’s about leading with intention.

Catch the episode on Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean sits down with Eric Schenker, CEO of Coolcore, to discuss how passion can fuel career success and why writing down your goals is a game-changer.

Eric shares his personal journey of aligning passion with purpose, lessons learned in leading Coolcore, and the discipline behind turning vision into action.

Whether you’re leading a team or charting your own path, this conversation will inspire you to connect what you love with what you do and commit your goals to writing to unlock your next level of success.

In this episode, Patrick sits down with Drew Golin, COO of DealerFLEX, to explore two powerful themes that have shaped his leadership journey: the importance of expressing gratitude to the people who influence our lives, and the lessons on teamwork and ownership carried over from sports into business.

Drew shares personal stories of mentors and teammates who left lasting marks on his life, and how simple acts of gratitude can strengthen relationships and inspire teams. He also unpacks the parallels between athletics and leadership, where accountability, trust, and shared goals define success.

Whether you’re leading a company or coaching a team, this conversation is a reminder that great execution isn’t just about strategy; it’s about people, connection, and ownership.