CEOs Unscripted

Why Most CEOs Get Stuck Between $10M and $50M | And What Actually Gets You Out

What does it take to buy and scale a company in a foreign country, with your spouse, right before a global pandemic? In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Corbin Butcher, Managing Director of Beire Exhibitions in the Czech Republic, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about entrepreneurship through acquisition, cross-cultural leadership, and what it really means to evolve from a 1.0 to a 3.0 company. Corbin shares how a military career, a "mediocre" stint in investment banking, and a Kellogg MBA led him and his wife Evona to buy a Czech exhibition company, armed with a shoebox full of business cards as their CRM, and turn it into a thriving, scaling business with 80 employees and 2.5x revenue growth. Whether you're leading a $10M or $100M business, this episode is packed with hard-won lessons on scaling systems, building partnerships, managing culture across borders, and knowing when to evolve as a leader before your company outgrows you.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 — Cold open: No backup plan, just make it work
01:07 — Welcome to CEOs Unscripted: Jane's intro & what the show is about
02:46 — Meet Corbin Butcher: From Chicago to the Czech Republic
04:18 — Corbin's background: Army officer, Iraq tours, Kellogg MBA
06:06 — Why investment banking wasn't the fit — and what was
07:07 — The search fund model: Buying a business with your spouse
08:18 — The challenge of being a European company trying to break into the US market
10:51 — How to vet a strategic partner (and why face-to-face is non-negotiable)
13:44 — The qualities that make or break a partnership under pressure
15:08 — American work ethic vs. European work culture: The real clash
17:08 — How Corbin built a high-performance culture within European labor laws
20:31 — The pros and cons of being an American CEO leading a European company
21:50 — Running a business with your spouse: The investor who called it "marital risk"
24:38 — How Corbin and Evona divide roles and break ties
25:36 — First-time CEO with no safety net: How do you learn on the fly?
28:59 — The shock of COVID hitting an 85% leveraged company in year two
31:40 — Biere 1.0 vs. 2.0 vs. 3.0: The lifecycle framework every CEO needs to understand
33:13 — Sales in 1.0: A shoebox of business cards as a "CRM"
36:53 — Operations in 1.0: When everything depends on one person
38:18 — Why promoting your best operator to supervisor is often a mistake
41:30 — What changed in 2.0: Systems, structure, and elevating internal talent
43:05 — The power of vision: Can every employee in your company articulate where you're going?
46:01 — How Corbin had to change as a leader from 1.0 to 2.0
49:46 — How strategic planning evolves at each stage of company growth
52:54 — Honest reflection: Some parts of Bira are still in 1.0 — and that's okay
54:01 — Rapid fire: Who's the smartest person in your phone?
55:36 — Best book of the last 12 months: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
57:09 — What Corbin does when he feels stuck
58:27 — Closing thoughts and where to find more
Key Topics Covered
Entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) and the search fund model
Scaling a mid-market company from 1.0 to 3.0
Cross-cultural leadership and managing European vs. American work culture
Building and vetting strategic partnerships in international markets
Why founder-dependent businesses are fragile — and how to fix it
Running a business with your spouse without losing your marriage
Leading through COVID with zero revenue and high leverage
The danger of promoting your best individual contributors into management
Why communicating vision is the #1 job of a scaling CEO
About CEOs Unscripted
Hosted by Jane Gentry, CEO advisor, Harvard Business School Entrepreneurial MBA mentor, and consultant to mid-market leaders for over 20 years, CEOs Unscripted is a bi-weekly podcast featuring unfiltered conversations with founders and executives who've been where you are. No fluff. No jargon. Just real talk that drives real growth.
CEOs Unscripted, Jane Gentry, Corbin Butcher, Bira Exhibitions, entrepreneurship through acquisition, search fund, mid-market CEO, scaling a business, business growth podcast, CEO podcast, leadership podcast, military to entrepreneur, Kellogg MBA, Czech Republic business, cross-cultural leadership, international business, how to scale a company, company lifecycle, business systems, founder-dependent business, how to buy a business, ETA entrepreneur, CEO advice, business strategy, scaling up, small business growth, mid-market growth, CEO leadership tips, business podcast 2026, entrepreneurship podcast

Military Discipline Meets Luxury Travel: How Craig Beal Built America's #1 Safari Company

What does submarine warfare have to do with luxury safari travel? More than you'd think.
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Craig Beal - Naval Academy graduate, nuclear engineer, and CEO of Travel Beyond, the oldest US-founded safari company, to unpack the unconventional leadership principles behind one of the most remarkable family business turnovers you'll ever hear.
Craig shares how military discipline, checklist-driven operations, and a radical employee-first philosophy helped him scale a four-person company into a 39-person specialist safari firm with jaw-dropping retention rates.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why niching down — fast — is the smartest growth decision a CEO can make
How a military-style checklist culture creates five-star client experiences at scale
The geographic hiring strategy that virtually eliminates employee turnover
Why Craig covers 100% of employee healthcare — and how it removes anxiety that kills productivity
How Safari Pros, a competitor collaboration network, actually grows the whole industry
Why the best CEOs act on decisions they know are right — before the window closes
Keywords: CEO podcast, business growth, leadership, employee retention, family business, niche business strategy, mid-market CEO, scaling a business, company culture, safari industry, military leadership, entrepreneurship TIMESTAMPS
0:00 — Introduction & Craig's backstory
5:30 — From the Navy to the family business
12:00 — The power of niching down
18:00 — Employee retention secrets (and the geographic advantage)
26:00 — In-office vs. remote: what actually works
33:00 — Checklist culture & the Checklist Manifesto
41:00 — AI and the future of travel operations
47:00 — Managing client fear & crisis transparency
52:00 — Rapid fire: lessons for every CEO
KEY TAKEAWAYS: ✅ Specialize faster than feels comfortable ✅ Processes aren't bureaucracy they're freedom ✅ Take care of employees first; they'll take care of your clients ✅ The best CEOs act on the decision they know is right before it's too late
DROP YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY IN THE COMMENTS
CEOs Unscripted is the bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs, for mid-market CEOs. No fluff. No jargon. Just the unfiltered truth about what it takes to lead, scale, and grow.
🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode 🎙️ Hosted by Jane Gentry — CEO Advisor & Executive Coach
#CEOPodcast #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #SafariCompany #CompanyCulture #EmployeeRetention #MilitaryLeadership #ScalingUp #MidMarketCEO
 

The CEO Who Doubles Every Company He Touches

What does it take to walk into a business that's hit a ceiling and double its revenue — not once, but three times? In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Buzz Bradley, a seasoned interim CEO and business growth strategist, to unpack the exact frameworks he uses to transform stalled mid-market companies into high-performance organizations.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why most founders unknowingly become the biggest bottleneck in their own business
The first thing Buzz does in any new company (it's not what you think)
How to manage organizational change without losing your culture or your best people
Why promoting your top performer could be the most expensive mistake you make
The "teach to fish vs. do the fishing" debate — and when each approach wins
How cross-generational teams can become a competitive advantage
The simple mindset shift that makes faster, better decisions possible
Buzz's golden rule: "If it's going to take six months, it takes six months whether you start today or six months from now — so why not start today?"
Whether you're a founder navigating growing pains, a CEO preparing to scale past $20M, or a leader trying to build a business that doesn't depend entirely on you — this episode is packed with real talk and actionable insights.
Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Buzz's background 04:30 – How Buzz gets into companies and doubles revenue 10:40 – The first thing to do when you take over a business 12:20 – Protecting culture during change 15:40 – Growing pains: when founders hit the ceiling 20:30 – Moving people into the right roles 26:00 – Managing change without creating chaos 33:00 – Developing talent on a budget 38:00 – Cross-generational teams 43:00 – Rapid fire: books, habits & decisiveness 47:00 – Why starting today beats waiting for perfectKeywords: interim CEO, scaling a business, mid-market growth, business leadership, CEO coaching, organizational design, growing pains, founder-led business, business strategy, executive leadership, how to scale a company, CEO podcast, entrepreneurship, talent retention, decision making for CEOs
Subscribe to CEOs Unscripted — the bi-weekly podcast for mid-market CEOs who want unfiltered, real-world leadership conversations. No fluff. No jargon. Just the playbooks that actually work.
#CEOPodcast #BusinessGrowth #ScalingUp #MidMarket #InterimCEO #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CEOsUnscripted

He Lost Everything, Borrowed $200K From Friends, and Built a $50M Company: Here's How

What does it take to buy a business with zero money, learn it from the ground up, and scale it for 38 years into a successful exit?
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Robert Brown, former CEO of American Asphalt Company, a man who lost everything, borrowed $200K from 20 friends and family members, and turned a struggling asphalt company into a thriving mid-market business through grit, trust, and relentless relationship-building.
This episode is packed with raw, unfiltered lessons every mid-market CEO, entrepreneur, and business owner needs to hear.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:✅ How to buy a business with no money (and make it work)✅ Why your best salesperson should NEVER become your sales manager✅ The #1 reason M&A deals fall apart after the ink dries✅ How Robert hired a tile salesperson to run asphalt sales and it was his best hire ever✅ Why preparing for your exit should start on Day 1 of owning the business✅ The time management strategy that freed Bob from working IN the business✅ Why trust is your most powerful business tool and how to build it fast✅ The J-Curve of leadership growth every scaling CEO must understand
KEY QUOTE FROM THIS EPISODE:"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."— Robert Brown
📌 TIMESTAMPS:00:00 — Introduction & Episode Preview01:45 — Robert's Origin Story: Growing Up in a Family Business04:10 — Growing Too Fast, Losing It All & Starting Over07:00 — How Robert Bought an Asphalt Company With No Money10:30 — Learning the Business from the Ground Up (From Employees)13:15 — The Sales Strategy That Built the Company: Relationships Over Transactions16:20 — Building & Retaining a Team in a New Acquisition19:45 — The Trust Formula: What Actually Keeps Employees for 38 Years22:30 — How Robert Scaled: Buying Bigger Plants & Strategic M&A27:00 — The M&A Lessons Nobody Warns You About30:15 — Codifying Process: CEO Peer Groups, Vistage & C1233:40 — Why You Should Hire a Great Salesperson (Not an Industry Expert)36:50 — Sales Managers vs. Sales Coaches: The Mistake Most CEOs Make39:30 — Delegation, Time Studies & Getting Out of Your Own Way42:45 — Preparing Your Business for Exit from Day One44:30 — Rapid Fire Round: Leadership Wisdom from 38 Years in Business46:10 — Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Robert
🎙️ ABOUT CEOs UNSCRIPTED:CEOs Unscripted is the bi-weekly podcast for mid-market leaders hosted by Jane Gentry — CEO advisor, Harvard Business School entrepreneurial MBA mentor, and 20-year consulting veteran. No fluff, no jargon — just honest conversations about what it really takes to lead, grow, and scale.
🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every two weeks.
#CEO #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #ScalingUp #MidMarket #Podcast #CEOsUnscripted #JaneGentry #BusinessStrategy #MergersAndAcquisitions #SalesLeadership #ExitStrategy #SmallBusiness #DelegationCEO podcast, business growth podcast, mid-market CEO, scaling a business, entrepreneurship podcast, leadership podcast, mergers and acquisitions, sales strategy, how to buy a business with no money, exit strategy, delegation for CEOs, CEO advice, Jane Gentry, CEOs unscripted, business scaling tips, asphalt company, family business, hiring salespeople, sales manager vs salesperson, CEO peer groups, business valuation, employee retention, trust in business, small business growth

Why People Come Before Profits: Norman Radow’s Blueprint for Building Enduring Companies

Why People Come Before Profits: Norman Radow’s Blueprint for Building Enduring CompaniesFrom growing up with limited resources to leading one of the most influential real estate firms in the country — Norman Radow’s journey is rooted in purpose, trust, and long-term thinking.
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, Norman, CEO of The Radco Companies, opens up about the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, why people should never be treated as line items, and what it truly means to build businesses that outlast their founders.
This is a candid conversation about values-driven leadership, calculated risk, and creating impact beyond the balance sheet.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ Why people are assets, not expenses✅ How early-life adversity shapes leadership decisions✅ Building trust with partners at the highest level✅ Knowing when not to take capital✅ Balancing risk-taking with long-term vision✅ Leading with empathy without compromising results✅ Creating culture that scales across growing teams✅ Why values matter more than valuation✅ Making decisions that align with legacy, not ego✅ What responsibility really means as a CEO
Key Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction to Norman Radow3:05 – Early life lessons that shaped his worldview8:30 – The foundation of Radco’s leadership philosophy13:10 – Trust, partnerships, and alignment18:40 – Risk, fear, and decisive leadership24:20 – Capital decisions and investor fit30:00 – Building people-first organizations36:15 – Culture as a competitive advantage41:50 – Long-term thinking in a short-term world47:30 – Final reflections and leadership wisdom
Top Takeaways:
Why employees belong on the balance sheet, not the P&LHow values guide decisions when numbers alone can’tThe hidden cost of playing it too safeWhy leadership is about responsibility, not controlHow trust compounds faster than capitalWhat real impact looks like when culture comes first
About This Episode:
Norman Radow is the CEO of The Radco Companies, a vertically integrated real estate firm specializing in multifamily and mixed-use developments. His leadership approach is shaped by lived experience, a deep sense of responsibility toward people, and a belief that business success should create lasting social and economic value.
About CEOs Unscripted: CEOs Unscripted is the podcast where real talk drives real growth. Host Jane Gentry, a seasoned CEO advisor and former mid-market executive, brings you unfiltered conversations with CEOs, founders, and business leaders who share the wins, losses, and lessons from the trenches. No fluff, no jargon—just honest insights about what it really takes to lead and scale in today's business landscape.
Subscribe for More: New episodes drop bi-weekly featuring candid conversations with mid-market CEOs, founders, and executives who are redefining leadership.
#CEOInterview #WomenInBusiness #LeadershipPodcast #FemaleLeadership  #BusinessGrowth #ScalingBusiness #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerGrowth #MidMarketCEO #BusinessStrategy #CEOsUnscripted #JaneGentry #LeadershipLessons 
Female CEO success storyLogistics industry leadershipOvercoming imposter syndromeWomen in male-dominated industriesCEO interview podcastBusiness leadership strategiesScaling through industry disruptionChange management for CEOsMid-market business growthTransportation company successExecutive leadership developmentCareer advancement strategiesBusiness diversification tacticsAuthentic leadership styleCEO mental health and wellness
 

From Admin to President: How She Built a $50M Logistics Empire in 19 Years

From administrative assistant to President in 19 years: Colleen Japuntich's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. IIn this episode of CEOs Unscripted, discover how she became the leader of NEMA, a thriving logistics and transportation company, while navigating a male-dominated industry, overcoming imposter syndrome, and leading through unprecedented challenges like COVID-19 and tariff wars.
What You'll Learn: ✅ How to climb from entry-level to CEO in any industry ✅ Overcoming imposter syndrome as a leader ✅ Strategies for diversifying your business during industry disruption ✅ Leading authentically in male-dominated spaces ✅ Building systems and processes that scale ✅ Communicating vision effectively across your organization ✅ The difference between being liked and being respected as a leader ✅ How to navigate change management and bring teams along ✅ Why patience is the secret weapon young professionals need ✅ Protecting your health while building a business empire
Key Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction: Meet Colleen Japantich 3:15 - From Admin to President: The 19-Year Journey 8:42 - Overcoming Resistance & Building Credibility 12:30 - Imposter Syndrome: Even Successful CEOs Feel It 16:45 - Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry 22:10 - What Keeps This CEO Up at Night 26:35 - Diversifying in a Shrinking Industry 31:20 - The Art of Communicating Vision 37:50 - Change Management: Bringing Your Team Along 43:15 - Leadership Advice for Young Professionals 48:30 - Rapid Fire Questions & Final Wisdom
Top Takeaways:
"I want to compete with myself and be better than I was the previous day" - Colleen's philosophy on success
Why showing emotions as a female leader can be perceived as weakness (and how to navigate it)
The importance of doing the "dirtiest jobs" early in your career
How to build respect without being the loudest voice in the room
Why diversification saved NEMA during tariff chaos and supply chain disruptions
The critical difference between being nice and being kind in leadership
About This Episode: Colleen Japuntich is the President of NEMA, a logistics and transportation company specializing in warehousing, drayage, and supply chain solutions. Starting as an administrative assistant, she worked her way through every department—operations, IT, safety, finance—becoming the company's go-to problem solver. In 2019, she was named President, leading the company through COVID-19, industry disruption, and economic uncertainty while maintaining profitability and employee retention.
Resources Mentioned:
"Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown
EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)
Adam Grant's article on being nice vs. being kind
Perfect For: - Aspiring CEOs and executives - Women in male-dominated industries - Mid-market business leaders - Logistics and transportation professionals - Anyone dealing with imposter syndrome - Leaders navigating organizational change - Entrepreneurs scaling their businesses
About CEOs Unscripted: CEOs Unscripted is the podcast where real talk drives real growth. Host Jane Gentry, a seasoned CEO advisor and former mid-market executive, brings you unfiltered conversations with CEOs, founders, and business leaders who share the wins, losses, and lessons from the trenches. No fluff, no jargon—just honest insights about what it really takes to lead and scale in today's business landscape.
Subscribe for More: New episodes drop bi-weekly featuring candid conversations with mid-market CEOs, founders, and executives who are redefining leadership.
#CEOInterview #WomenInBusiness #LeadershipPodcast #FemaleLeadership  #BusinessGrowth #ScalingBusiness #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerGrowth #MidMarketCEO #BusinessStrategy #CEOsUnscripted #JaneGentry #LeadershipLessons 
Female CEO success story
Logistics industry leadership
Overcoming imposter syndrome
Women in male-dominated industries
CEO interview podcast
Business leadership strategies
Scaling through industry disruption
Change management for CEOs
Mid-market business growth
Transportation company success
Executive leadership development
Career advancement strategies
Business diversification tactics
Authentic leadership style
CEO mental health and wellness

How to Navigate Private Equity Deals: IAA CEO's $7.5 Billion Journey

Former IAA CEO John Kett shares his remarkable 22-year journey building a damaged vehicle marketplace from $200 million to $7.5 billion through multiple PE transactions, public offerings, and a major merger. This unfiltered conversation covers private equity strategies, M&A lessons, and what it really takes to scale mid-market companies.
In this episode, John reveals: ✅ The truth about working with private equity firms ✅ How to prepare your company for a PE sale ✅ Why technology should enable process, not the other way around ✅ Navigating the complexity of public vs. private company leadership ✅ Board meeting preparation strategies that actually work ✅ The cost of short-term thinking in PE-backed companies
KEY TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction 02:45 - John's Blue Collar Background & Path to CEO 05:30 - What is a Damaged Vehicle Marketplace? 09:15 - The IAA Business Model Explained 12:40 - First Exposure to Private Equity 16:20 - Preparing Your Company for PE Sale 19:45 - Working with Multiple PE Firms (The Four-Headed Monster) 24:10 - PE Time Horizons & Their Impact on Decisions 28:35 - Board Meeting Preparation Best Practices 32:15 - The Importance of Cross-Collaboration Among Leaders 35:40 - From Private to Public: The Spinoff Story 38:50 - The $7.5B Merger with Ritchie Brothers 42:20 - Rapid Fire: Career Lessons & Leadership Wisdom 45:10 - Why In-Person Leadership Development Matters
ABOUT JOHN KETT: Former CEO of IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions), John Kett led the company through multiple transformations including PE acquisitions, public listings, and ultimately a $7.5 billion merger with Ritchie Brothers. With over 22 years of experience scaling mid-market companies, John now advises CEOs and serves on boards.
ABOUT CEOS UNSCRIPTED: Real talk for mid-market leaders. Host Jane Gentry brings you unfiltered conversations with CEOs, founders, and executives navigating the challenges of scaling $10M-$500M businesses. No fluff, no jargon—just honest insights from leaders who've been where you are.
SUBSCRIBE for bi-weekly episodes featuring: → Private equity strategies → M&A insights → Scaling best practices → Leadership development → Board governance → Exit planning
TAGS: #PrivateEquity #CEO #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #ScalingBusiness #PEInvesting #BoardMeetings #ExitStrategy #MidMarketCEO #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #CorporateDevelopment #BusinessStrategy
What's your biggest question about working with private equity? Drop it in the comments below!
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500 Remote Employees, Zero Office Space: The Anti-Traditional Playbook

In this powerful episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Brad Stevens, founder and CEO of Outsource Access, to explore his remarkable journey from serial entrepreneur to building a 500-person remote workforce in the Philippines—all while navigating a global pandemic.
📍 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction: Brad Stevens & Outsource Access 02:15 - The Entrepreneurial Origin Story: Third Grade Micro Machines Business 05:30 - Wharton to Unemployment: The $20K Signing Bonus Plot Twist 08:45 - First Company: Patient Assistance Programs for Seniors 11:20 - The Nutritional Supplements Journey 13:40 - Teeth Whitening Product Fiasco: 10,000 Units, 18 Countries 16:25 - Discovering Outsourcing & Launching Outsource Access in 2019 19:10 - Growing to 500 Employees in 4.5 Years Across 85 Industries 22:30 - Launching Right Before COVID: Building Remote Culture from Day One 25:45 - EOS Framework: The System That Prevented Implosion 28:20 - Jim Collins' Level 5 Leadership in Practice 30:50 - Writing Personal Welcome Messages to Every New Hire 33:15 - Virtual Leadership: Intentional Communication & Cadence 36:40 - The Five Chronological Steps Framework 39:20 - Building Culture Remotely: Virtual Success Magazine & UN Goals 42:10 - Employee Engagement: Recognition, Purpose, and Autonomy 44:50 - "What Got You Here Won't Get You There": Scaling Challenges 47:30 - Ferrari Intensity vs. Cargo Ship Reality: Managing Growth Speed 50:15 - The 2-Question Exercise That Reveals Business Constraints 52:40 - The 90-Day Onboarding Process & Playbook Creation 55:20 - Rapid Fire: Reading List, Early Lessons & Advice for Young Leaders 57:30 - Closing Thoughts
What You'll Learn:
The Remote Leadership Framework - How to build culture, maintain communication, and drive performance with 500 employees in another country
Scaling Without Implosion - The systems, frameworks, and leadership principles that enabled 4.5 years of hypergrowth
The Onboarding Advantage - Why most companies fail at onboarding and Brad's 90-day playbook that actually works
Level 5 Leadership in Action - Practical applications of Jim Collins' principles for mid-market CEOs
Key Takeaways for Mid-Market CEOs:
✅ The EOS framework combined with Four Disciplines of Execution creates accountability and clarity
✅ Recognition matters more than you think—Brad spends 10-15 hours monthly writing personal welcome messages
✅ The 2-question exercise that reveals your biggest business constraints in one survey
✅ Why onboarding takes 90 days (not 2 weeks) and how to structure it for success
✅ Ferrari intensity doesn't work with cargo ship reality—managing expectations during hypergrowth
Featured Topics:
Remote workforce management
Philippines outsourcing strategy
EOS implementation
Virtual leadership during COVID
Onboarding frameworks
Assessment tools (Predictive Index, CliftonStrengths)
Level 5 Leadership
Decision velocity
Business process documentation
AI integration for remote teams
Entrepreneurial Operating System
Culture building remotely
Strategic focus vs. diversification
Leadership development
Scaling challenges
Whether you're managing remote teams, scaling rapidly, or struggling with onboarding, this episode delivers battle-tested frameworks from a CEO who grew 500 employees across the world during a pandemic.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Books & Frameworks:
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Built to Last by Jim Collins
The Four Disciplines of Execution by Stephen Covey
21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
Predictable Success by Les McKeown
Alex Hormozi content and programs
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Brad Stevens is the founder and CEO of Outsource Access, a company that helps small to medium-sized businesses integrate talented offshore staff from the Philippines to drive scale and profitability. Since launching in 2019, Brad has grown the company to 500 employees across 85 different industries, building a distributed workforce model before the pandemic made it necessary.
A Wharton graduate and serial entrepreneur for 25 years, Brad has built and sold companies in pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, teeth whitening products, and now outsourcing. He's a 14-year member of EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) and served as President of EO Atlanta. Brad is passionate about level 5 leadership, systematic onboarding, and proving that remote teams can build exceptional culture and deliver outstanding results.
ABOUT CEOS UNSCRIPTED:
CEOs Unscripted is a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs, for mid-market CEOs. Host Jane Gentry brings 20+ years of enterprise consulting experience and firsthand CEO leadership to deliver unfiltered conversations about what it really takes to scale, lead, and win in today's business landscape.
No fluff. No jargon. Just real talk that drives real growth.
Subscribe for new episodes every other week!
💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: What's your biggest challenge with remote team management or onboarding? Drop a comment below!
 

AI Is Killing the Agency Model (And How We're Using It to Win)

In this compelling episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Raj Choudhury, founder of Alloy Marketing and Purpose Group PE, to explore how purpose-driven leadership and strategic AI adoption are reshaping mid-market companies. 📍 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction: From Uganda to Atlanta - Raj's Journey 03:45 - The Two Tracks: S1 (Blue-Collar Businesses) vs S2 (Agency Platform) 08:20 - What is The Purpose Playbook Framework? 12:15 - Open-Book Management: Why Transparency Wins 17:30 - The Four-Bucket Goal Framework (People, Quality, Brand, Financials) 23:45 - How AI is Disrupting the Agency Business Model 28:10 - Agentic Roles: The Future of Service Industries 33:25 - The Grieving Process: Managing AI-Driven Change 38:40 - Why Engineers Shouldn't Do Sales (And Other CEO Blind Spots) 42:15 - Creating Safe Environments for AI Experimentation 46:30 - Legal and Security Considerations for AI Implementation 51:20 - The Great Game of Business Integration 55:10 - Building Context in a Social Media World 58:45 - Naivety as a Superpower in Business 1:01:30 - The Language of Business is Numbers 1:03:15 - The 8-Minute Rule: When to Stop and Reset 1:05:45 - Final Thoughts and Where to Connect What You'll Learn: 🎯 The Purpose Playbook Framework - How open-book management and transparent goal-setting create employee engagement and drive sustainable growth in blue-collar businesses 💡 AI Implementation Strategy - Moving beyond tools to transform business models: Why agentic roles are disrupting the traditional services industry and how to prepare your team 📊 Breaking the Linear Growth Model - How AI is enabling agencies and service businesses to scale revenue without proportionally increasing headcount 🔄 Change Management in the AI Era - The "grieving process" employees need when core skills become automated, and how to guide teams through transformation Key Takeaways for Mid-Market CEOs:
✅ The four-bucket framework (People & Product, Quality, Brand Awareness, Financials) that aligns every role from C-suite to shop floor
✅ Why gamification and context matter more than compensation in driving performance
✅ How to implement AI tools within established methodologies rather than letting technology dictate your processes
✅ The critical difference between building for income versus building for wealth when positioning for exit Featured Topics:
- Private equity strategies for blue-collar businesses
- Open-book management and financial transparency
- Conscious capitalism in practice
- Agency business model disruption
- Agentic AI and synthetic roles
- Employee engagement through shared purpose
- Strategic change management
- M&A insights for service businesses Whether you're scaling a mid-market company, implementing AI initiatives, or exploring PE opportunities, this episode delivers actionable frameworks and unfiltered insights from a CEO who's been in the trenches. 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Purpose Playbook: The Definitive Guide to Building Your Team's Purpose, Vision, Tenets, & Values (PVTV) By Jeff Hilimire, Teresa Caro, and Megan Barney Companion guide to the Turnaround Leadership Series Tools & Frameworks Mentioned:
Writer.ai (AI-powered editing tool)
Google Gemini / Notebook LM
The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack RACI Matrix for decision-making 13-Week Cash Flow Forecasting
🔗 Purpose Group Newsletter: purposegroup.substack.com 👤 ABOUT THE GUEST: Raj Choudhury is the founder of Alloy, a marketing agency serving mid-market technology brands, and Purpose Group, a PE firm focused on acquiring and transforming blue-collar businesses. With his partner Jeff Hilimire and co-founder David Cummings, Raj implements the Purpose Playbook framework across their portfolio companies, including Gerald Printing & Liberty Imaging. With 25 years of experience in M&A within the agency space, Raj brings unique insights into building sustainable, people-first organizations that scale profitably. ABOUT CEOs UNSCRIPTED: CEOs Unscripted is a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs, for mid-market CEOs. Host Jane Gentry brings 20+ years of enterprise consulting experience and firsthand CEO leadership to deliver unfiltered conversations about what it really takes to scale, lead, and win in today's business landscape. No fluff. No jargon. Just real talk that drives real growth. Subscribe for new episodes every other week!

How This CEO Built a $160M Firm While Staying 100% Independent | Thomas Grealish

In this powerful episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Thomas Grealish, leader of Henderson Brothers, one of Pittsburgh's most respected independent insurance and financial services firms with over 160 employees.
What You'll Learn:
🔹 Culture as Competitive Advantage - How Henderson Brothers protects their independence and uses culture to naturally "weed out" bad fits while attracting top talent
🔹 The Stay Interview Strategy - Why Thomas asks employees two critical questions about leaving (before they ever consider it) and how this prevents turnover
🔹 Hiring Without Mistakes - The "messy but effective" referral-based hiring process that prioritizes cultural fit over impressive resumes
🔹 The Two-Minute Drill - Thomas's crisis preparation exercise that helped his team navigate the 2008 financial crisis, tech bubble, and COVID without panic
🔹 Financial Transparency That Works - How sharing P&L statements weekly creates ownership mentality across the entire organization
🔹 Strategic Growth Done Right - Expanding to Columbus, Ohio organically while maintaining culture remotely
🔹 Community Giving as Leadership Development - Why Thomas encourages 30-year-olds to join nonprofit boards and how Henderson Brothers supports employee philanthropy
🔹 Family Business Survival - Navigating 40+ years in a family business with his brother while maintaining alignment on vision and values
Key Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction & Pittsburgh Culture 04:32 - Culture as Everything: Independence & Heroic Service 09:15 - The Stay Interview: Two Questions Every CEO Should Ask 14:20 - Hiring Process: Slow, Careful & Referral-Based 18:45 - The Two-Minute Crisis Drill That Prepares Teams 23:10 - Financial Transparency & Weekly P&L Sharing 28:30 - Operationalizing Culture as You Scale 33:15 - Community Philanthropy & Developing Young Leaders 38:40 - The Mario Lemieux Foundation Story 42:20 - Strategic Expansion to Columbus, Ohio 46:15 - Family Business: Alignment & Good Intent 51:30 - Rapid Fire: Books, Career Advice & Getting Unstuck
About Thomas Grealish: Thomas has led Henderson Brothers for decades, growing it into a major regional insurance and financial services firm while maintaining private ownership and a culture-first approach. He serves on multiple nonprofit boards including the Mario Lemieux Foundation and is a Duquesne University graduate deeply committed to the Pittsburgh community.
About CEOs Unscripted: CEOs Unscripted is a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs for mid-market CEOs. Host Jane Gentry, a veteran consultant and former mid-market CEO herself, delivers unfiltered conversations with founders and executives navigating the unique challenges of leading $10M-$500M companies. No fluff, no jargon—just real talk that drives real growth.
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Tags: CEO leadership, company culture, mid-market business, family business, hiring strategy, organizational development, business growth, Pittsburgh business, insurance industry, leadership podcast, executive coaching, crisis management, corporate culture, talent retention, strategic planning, employee engagement, business scaling, CEO interview, entrepreneurship, business strategy, workplace culture, leadership development, talent management, business expansion, independent business, private company, heroic service, stay interviews, financial transparency, nonprofit leadership, community impact, succession planning, organizational culture, CEO advice, business podcast, executive leadership, team building, business management, regional growth, family business leadership
Related Topics: #CEOLeadership #CompanyCulture #MidMarketBusiness #FamilyBusiness #HiringStrategy #OrganizationalDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #PittsburghBusiness #InsuranceIndustry #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #CrisisManagement #CorporateCulture #TalentRetention #StrategicPlanning #EmployeeEngagement #BusinessScaling #Entrepreneurship #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment
Listen now and discover how one CEO built a $160M+ firm without sacrificing culture, independence, or community impact.