In this engaging conversation, Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, sits down with Eva Kosinovic, co-founder and CEO of Circle 29, about the journey to CEO success. They explore the challenges of digital transformation, the importance of resilience and joy in leadership, and the necessity of being present in the moment.

Eva shares her insights on navigating change, empowering teams, and the significance of building relationships that foster joy and success in both personal and professional life.

Key Takeaways:

• Transformation should not come at the cost of employee well-being.

• Understanding the human element is crucial in change management.
• Active listening is key to empowering individuals during transformation.
• Embracing curiosity can lead to personal and professional growth.

• Success should be defined by joy, not just achievements.

In this episode of the Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, sits down with Karen Norheim, CEO of American Crane and Equipment Corp. They explore Karen's journey in the family business, her passion for manufacturing, and the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in leadership. Karen shares her mantra, 'Always Lift, Never Quit,' and discusses the challenges of navigating a family business while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Key Takeaways

• Finding passion in work can lead to a fulfilling career.
• Emotional intelligence starts with self-awareness.
• STEM skills are essential in modern manufacturing.

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, sits down with Wes Matthews, Co-Founder and CEO of Stealth Consulting.

They explore the challenges entrepreneurs face, particularly in execution versus strategy, the importance of self-awareness and reflection, and the need to prioritize personal values alongside business goals. Wes shares his journey from building a successful marketing agency to creating a consulting firm focused on helping others execute their visions effectively.

Key Takeaways:

• Execution is often the hardest part for entrepreneurs.
• Self-awareness is crucial for personal and professional growth.

• Prioritizing personal values can lead to a more balanced life.
• Investing in oneself is not selfish but necessary for growth.

• Alignment within a team is key to successful execution.

AI is changing executive search. But technology alone isn’t the advantage; discernment is.

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, sits down with Greg Gerson, of Fusion Search Partners to explore how modern search firms are blending senior-partner judgment with advanced AI to make smarter C-suite decisions.

They also shift gears to something just as important: How to live a more joyful and successful life as a CEO.

Greg shares why flexibility, curiosity, and disciplined hard work often lead to outcomes better than the ones you originally designed. The most effective leaders don’t cling rigidly to the plan; they evolve it.

Key Takeaways:

• Common hiring mistakes include focusing too much on resumes.
• A strong company culture is vital for attracting talent.
• The right core customers enhance business value.

If you're building a leadership team or building a life, this conversation will challenge how you think about both.

Too many CEOs move from milestone to milestone without ever stopping to acknowledge the win.

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Brad Copeland, President of FileBank, shares why slowing down, celebrating progress, and having fun with your team isn’t a distraction from results; it’s a catalyst for them.

Brad talks about the pressure leaders feel to constantly chase the next goal, the next launch, or the next EBITDA target, and why that mindset can quietly drain both joy and momentum. He explains how creating a culture where people feel like they’ve built something together leads to stronger engagement, better performance, and more sustainable success.

If you’re a CEO looking to build results and enjoy the journey along the way, this conversation is a powerful reminder to pause, celebrate, and lead with intention.

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, sits down with Chris Stegner, CEO of Very Big Things, to explore what truly drives a joyful and successful leadership journey.

Together, they discuss how purpose often reveals itself through the things that come naturally to you, why joy comes from aligning expectations with reality, and the critical difference between fun and lasting happiness.

This conversation offers practical insights for leaders who want greater clarity, stronger teams, and more fulfillment, at work and at home.

In this episode, Patrick Thean sits down with Founder and CEO of The Center for Conscious Living and Fulfillment Chris Yonker to explore the two disciplines most leaders overlook:
• intentionally prioritizing family time

• seeking outside perspective to see what you can’t see alone.

Chris shares why the most fulfilled CEOs schedule personal time first, build life rhythms just like business plans, and even document everything from vacations to how many nights they sit at the dinner table together.

Then, he goes deeper on the invisible challenges leaders face — and why every high-performer needs a coach, advisor, or therapist to expose blind spots and accelerate growth.

A tactical and meaningful conversation for leaders who want success at work and at home.

Patrick Thean, Co-Founder of Rhythm Systems, sits down with Noah Manyika, Co-Founder and CEO of Kitchen Copilot, to explore two powerful truths that shaped his journey:

• Success begins with personal ownership
• Family is the fuel that sustains it

From studying by candlelight in colonial Rhodesia to leading with intention today, Noah shares how refusing to make excuses and investing deeply in the people who love you creates leaders who endure, grow, and elevate everyone around them.

What does it really take to lead with kindness while holding people accountable, especially as organizations grow more complex?

In this episode of Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, sits down with Michael Mutterer, CEO of Silver Cross Hospital, to talk candidly about the leadership shifts required to scale without losing culture, standards, or trust.

Michael shares lessons from leading in healthcare, including:

• Why kindness and accountability are not opposites

• The moment leaders must stop jumping in to fix everything

• How stepping back, without lowering standards, creates stronger teams

• What it takes to build leaders instead of dependence on the CEO

This conversation is a grounded look at the real journey CEOs face as they move from problem-solver to leader-builder—and why clarity, trust, and discipline matter more as you scale.

Julie Copeland, CEO of Arbill, knows firsthand the pressure that comes with stepping into a family business. At first, she led the company as her father had, out of deep respect for his legacy and the team he built. But when crisis hit, Julie realized that what got them here wouldn’t get them there.

In this episode, she shares how she let go of guilt, claimed her own vision, and transformed Arbill into the company it is today. A powerful conversation for anyone carrying the weight of legacy while trying to lead in their own way.