Disruptive CEO Nation

What separates a forgettable interview from a powerful one often comes down to a single overlooked skill: truly listening. In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Martin, a seasoned media strategist and tech correspondent, to unpack what it really takes to communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. We explore the art of interviewing, the power of storytelling through the customer’s voice, and why authenticity and vulnerability are essential for building trust. Lisa also shares how leaders can cut through the noise in today’s AI-driven world by focusing on outcomes, not buzzwords. Here are the highlights: Listening Is the Ultimate Differentiator: The best interviewers stand out not by asking more questions, but by deeply listening and responding in real time. Great Stories Aren’t About You: The most compelling brand narratives center on the customer’s journey and measurable business outcomes. Stop Selling AI, Start Selling Outcomes: In a noisy market, audiences care less about technology labels and more about tangible results. Trust Is Built Through Vulnerability: Leaders who are transparent, curious, and willing to say “I don’t know” create stronger connections. Authenticity Drives Connection: Whether on stage or on camera, being natural and present is what makes communication resonate. About the guest: After five years launching biological payloads into space with NASA, Lisa Martin brought her curiosity and analytical skills to the tech world. Over the past two decades, she has built a reputation for turning complex innovation into insights that are not just understandable, but actionable. A trusted media personality and marketing leader, her commentary regularly appears on The Schwab Network, Bloomberg, iHeartRadio, and Business Insider. As founder of Lisa Martin Media, Lisa is a dynamic emcee, host, and storyteller who blends energy, expertise, and authenticity on stage. She helps brands cut through the noise, elevate their voice, and translate disruptive technology shifts into stories that resonate with audiences and drive real impact. Connect with Lisa: Website: https://www.lisamartinmedia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamartinmedia/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/lisamartinmedia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisamartinmedia/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your startup isn’t failing because of the idea… but because no one is truly communicating clearly enough on the product development and build? Joel is the founder and CEO of Brewer Digital, and today we explore what really makes or breaks a startup in today’s fast-moving, tech-driven world. Joel shares why most startups don’t fail due to bad ideas, but because of breakdowns in communication across founders, developers, and customers. We talk about how entrepreneurs can avoid wasting time and money, the role of AI in product development, and why having the right partner early on can be the difference between momentum and missed opportunity. Joel also opens up about hard leadership lessons, navigating business cycles, and what it takes to build something scalable with clarity and confidence. Here are the highlights: ● Startups Fail from Miscommunication, Not Bad Ideas: Most startups struggle because teams and customers aren’t aligned on what should actually be built. ● Clarity Removes Barriers to Growth: Clear pricing, deliverables, and direction help founders move faster and make confident decisions. ● AI Is a Tool, Not a Strategy: Founders should focus on solving real problems first instead of forcing AI into their product. ● Time and Money Are Easily Wasted Without Guidance: Going it alone often leads to costly mistakes that the right partner can help avoid. ● Resilient Leadership Comes from Real Challenges: Navigating downturns reinforced the need for strong sales systems and adaptability. About the guest: Joel Brewer is the Founder and CEO of Brewer Digital, a US based software development agency that helps early stage startup founders launch products with confidence. A software developer himself, Joel works directly with founders who have an idea, some traction, or fresh funding but no internal engineering leadership. His team builds MVPs, rescues failed offshore projects, and helps founders make smart technical decisions before they burn runway. Joel believes most startups do not fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they build the wrong thing or build it the wrong way. Brewer Digital partners with founders who value communication, clarity, and long term thinking over cheap shortcuts. With deep experience in HealthTech and FinTech, Joel helps founders decide what to build next, why it matters, and how to launch without creating technical debt that slows them down later. Connect with Joel: Website: https://www.brewerdigital.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-brewer-69680037/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the biggest bottleneck in your business isn’t your strategy—but the tasks you refuse to let go? In today's episode, I sit down with Christopher McShanag, founder and CEO of Virtual Teammate, for a thoughtful conversation about what it really takes to grow a business without burning out your team or yourself. Chris shares how business owners can buy back their time by delegating administrative, operational, and customer-facing tasks to skilled virtual teammates, allowing leaders to focus on the work that truly moves the business forward. We also talk about the common fears that hold people back from outsourcing, from communication concerns to questions about accountability, and Chris explains how the right hiring standards, reporting systems, and support structure can make virtual staffing feel far more seamless and strategic than many leaders expect. Beyond that, we explore the role of AI in today’s workplace and why the smartest path forward is not choosing between technology and people, but using both together to create better outcomes, stronger productivity, and more sustainable growth. Here are the highlights: ● Stop Doing $10 Tasks as a $100 Leader: Many business owners stay stuck because they are spending too much time on low-value activities instead of focusing on the work that actually drives growth. ● Virtual Teams Can Create Real Efficiency Gains: Chris explains that, with the right systems and support, virtual teammates can help companies improve productivity while significantly lowering overhead costs. ● Most Outsourcing Fears Can Be Solved with the Right Structure: Concerns about communication, accountability, and performance become much easier to manage when there are strong hiring standards, clear reporting, and visibility into the work being done. ● AI Works Best as a Tool, Not a Replacement: One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that AI should be used to enhance human performance, not eliminate the people who bring judgment, care, and oversight to the work. ● Leaders Need to Protect Their Highest-Value Time: Chris makes a compelling case that sustainable growth happens when CEOs and business owners identify what only they can do and intentionally delegate the rest. About the guest: Christopher McShanag is the Founder and CEO of Virtual Teammate, a company dedicated to helping businesses scale more efficiently by leveraging high-performing global talent. With a background in building and leading multiple companies, Chris brings a CEO-level perspective to outsourcing, focusing on productivity, cost optimization, and sustainable growth. Under his leadership, Virtual Teammate has supported hundreds of clients and deployed thousands of virtual assistants across industries including healthcare, sales, marketing, and operations. Chris is passionate about helping business owners reclaim their time, maximize the value of their teams, and create opportunities that benefit both clients and remote professionals around the world. Connect with Christopher: Learn more: Virtual Teammate Create Value with Your Best Asset Alliance of CEOs, https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:va6c2:76947ab1-589f-4bcc-b542-9e1054fe463d Website: www.virtualteammate.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-mcshanag/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the strongest leadership lessons for building the future were waiting for us on the front porch of our past? In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shanita Akintonde to talk about her book The Front Porch Leader and the deeper leadership lessons it offers for business builders, marketers, and mentors. We explored the importance of knowing where we come from, practicing discernment about who we invite into our lives and businesses, and raising up the next generation of leaders with both courage and grace. Shanita also shared powerful insights on intentional marketing, understanding the true business you are in, and why some of the best leaders are often the quietest people in the room. This conversation is a heartfelt reminder that leadership is rooted in love, legacy, and the choices we make about who and what we let through the door. Here are the highlights: ● Leadership begins with roots. Shanita shared why understanding our history and honoring the foundation laid by those before us is essential to building a meaningful future. ● Discernment matters. We talked about the “front porch” mindset, recognizing that not everyone belongs inside your inner circle, your home, or your business. ● Great leaders are not always the loudest. Shanita explained why she often sees the most leadership potential in the quieter people who may be overlooked by others. ● Marketing should solve a real problem. Shanita emphasized that true content and brand strategy start with understanding your audience and knowing the real business you are in. ● The next generation needs grace and guidance. We discussed why emerging leaders need mentors who can support their boldness without dimming their courage. About the guest: Shanita Baraka Akintonde is an author, TEDx speaker, storyteller, and President of ShanitaSpeaks LLC. A marketing professor for more than two decades, Professor Akintonde has inspired thousands of students and professionals through her dynamic approach to communication, leadership, and personal brand strategy. She is an entrepreneur and contributor to Forbes, The Chicago Tribune, and The Chicago Defender. A triple-degree holder, she is also a Harvard-educated executive and the longtime host of the Marketing Insights podcast with McGraw Hill. Professor Akintonde is an active leader in several professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Public Relations Society of America, and Top Ladies of Distinction. She also serves as Chair of the Board of Governors for The Metropolitan. Her work centers on the idea that the most powerful leadership lessons often begin in the most humble spaces—including the front porch. Connect with Shanita: Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-insights/id1378417469 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanitaakintonde/ Instagram: @Shanita_BarakaMama Twitter: @_ShanitaSpeaks TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O6xmobZTUw Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What separates successful women leaders from the rest often comes down to curiosity, courage, and the willingness to use their voice. In this special episode honoring International Women’s Month, I had the pleasure of speaking with Maria Doughty, CEO of The Chicago Network, an organization made up of some of the most influential women leaders across Chicago’s business, nonprofit, healthcare, and government sectors. Maria shares the key traits she sees in extraordinary women leaders, including intellectual curiosity, humility, and a deep commitment to civic engagement. We explore the importance of advocacy, making the ask, and building authentic professional relationships that create opportunities over time. Maria also discusses why women should pursue board service earlier in their careers, how advisory boards can be powerful leadership training grounds, and why executive presence and personal brand play a critical role in professional success. Above all, Maria reminds us that women supporting women remains one of the most powerful forces for creating opportunity and lasting change. Here are the highlights: ● Traits of Exceptional Leaders: The most successful women leaders share intellectual curiosity, humility, and a strong commitment to civic engagement.● The Power of the Ask: Women must confidently articulate what they need and clearly make the ask in professional conversations. ● Why Civic Engagement Matters: Involvement in community and civic organizations often leads to powerful relationships and new opportunities. ● The Value of Board Experience: Serving on advisory or corporate boards helps women build leadership, governance, and strategic decision-making skills. ● Executive Presence & Personal Brand: How leaders show up, communicate, and present themselves shapes their influence and career trajectory. About the guest: Maria Doughty is the CEO of The Chicago Network, the premier organization of Chicagoland’s most influential women leaders. Since joining in 2020, she has guided the organization through the global pandemic while strengthening its strategic vision, modernizing operations, and deepening member engagement. Maria brings extensive experience in insurance, financial services, public policy, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management, with a career that includes senior leadership roles at Allstate Insurance Company. She currently serves on several boards and advisory bodies, including The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Roosevelt University, and the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Maria is passionate about servant leadership, civic engagement, and advancing opportunities for the next generation of women leaders. She lives in Chicago with her husband and has two grown sons. Connect with Maria: Website: thechicagonetwork.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-doughty/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if every interaction you have as a leader is silently answering one question for your team: Are you safe to follow? In this episode, I sit down with Alan McLaren, co-founder of Strata Originals, to explore the invisible signals leaders send in every conversation, meeting, and interaction. Alan shares the powerful concept of “leadership signal,” explaining how trust is built or lost in real time based on how leaders show up emotionally, communicate under pressure, and respond to challenges. We discuss the neuroscience behind leadership presence, the hidden questions every team member is asking, and how leaders can become more intentional in building trust both inside the organization and in the digital world. Here are the highlights: • Leadership Signal: Every action, reaction, and tone a leader brings into a room sends signals that either build trust or quietly erode it. • The Four Questions Followers Ask: Team members subconsciously evaluate leaders by asking, “Are you safe to follow? Do you mean what you say? Will your actions match your words? Should I align, resist, wait, or leave?” • Your Nervous System Runs the Room: Leaders often believe communication is about words, but emotional reactions and nervous system responses can shape trust and credibility more than the message itself. • The Hidden Cost of “Meetings After the Meeting”: When leaders unintentionally shut down ideas or create psychological tension, conversations move underground and teams lose alignment. • Leadership Visibility in the Digital Age: Building trust today also requires showing up authentically online, where visibility and genuine communication help leaders connect with future partners, investors, and collaborators. About the guest: Alan McLaren is a leadership thinker and co-founder of STRATA Originals, a Leadership Signal Architecture firm working with CEOs in high-stakes environments. His work centers on leadership signal, the way a leader’s voice, presence, values, perspective, and style are experienced when pressure is real. Alan often says every room is quietly answering four questions about a leader: Are they safe to follow? Do they mean what they say? Will reality match their words? And should I align, resist, wait, or leave? Drawing on patterns seen across hundreds of senior leaders, Alan helps audiences understand why capable leaders can still misfire in critical moments, and what changes when leadership holds steady and trust forms. Connect with Alan: Website: https://strataoriginals.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmclaren/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.mclaren1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanmclaren23/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Alanmclaren23 Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if being unmistakably human is your biggest competitive advantage in an AI-first world? In this episode, I sat down with Louis Carter, founder of Most Loved Workplace, to talk about why workplace culture is being tested and reshaped faster than ever. Louis shared how “most loved” isn’t a slogan, it’s a credibility signal grounded in real employee sentiment, and why being unmistakably human is becoming a serious competitive advantage in an AI-driven world. We also unpacked his idea of “inaction fatigue” (when leaders collect feedback but don’t act), plus practical ways leaders can embed trust, respect, and emotional connection into the employee and customer experience so the world actually sees what’s happening inside the company. Here are the highlights: -Culture as a competitive signal: “Most loved” works when it’s validated by real employee sentiment, not just marketing. -Human advantage in an AI-first world: Being unmistakably human is becoming a standout differentiator as automation accelerates. -From feedback to follow-through: “Inaction fatigue” happens when employees share input but never see meaningful change. -The SPARK framework: Collaboration, shared vision, aligned values, respect, and outcomes create emotional connectedness at work. -Embedding love end-to-end: Culture should show up in onboarding, career paths, performance plans, and the customer experience. About the guest: Louis Carter is a globally recognized organizational psychologist, author, speaker, and founder of Most Loved Workplace® and the Best Practice Institute (BPI). He created the Most Loved Workplace® certification and the Love of Workplace Index™, a data-driven methodology used by thousands of companies to build cultures where people feel deeply connected, respected, and engaged. Louis is the author of more than a dozen leadership and management books, including In Great Company: How to Spark Peak Performance by Creating an Emotionally Connected Workplace (McGraw-Hill), and his research has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and The Wall Street Journal. He has advised CEOs and executive teams from mid-sized firms to Fortune 500 organizations and is ranked among the top organizational culture thinkers in the world. Connect with Louis: Website Business: http://www.mostlovedworkplace.com Personal: http://www.louiscarter.com LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louiscarter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louiscarter.bpi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louislcarter/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/louiscarterchange X: x.com/louislcarter Books: https://louiscarter.com/leadership-books/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most leaders swear they have a revenue problem, but sometimes that belief is often the fastest way to stay stuck with “profititis.” In this episode of Disruptive CEO Nation, I sat down with Ben Hansen, the “Profitability Doctor,” to unpack why so many growing businesses still feel like they’re getting punched in the face every day. Ben explains his framework for diagnosing “profititis” (strong or growing revenue paired with weak, flat, or declining profit), why you usually can’t “grow your way out” of a profit problem, and how leaders can shift from revenue obsession to profit psychology. We talk through practical ways to identify profit leaks beyond basic expense-cutting, including recognizing low-performing work that silently drains payroll-heavy service businesses. Ben also shares how to separate “run rate” operations from growth investments, evaluate growth channels like a portfolio manager, and why pruning the wrong work can create the capacity and cash to scale the right way. Here are the highlights: -“Profititis” defined: When revenue looks healthy but profit is weak, flat, or declining, the real issue isn’t sales, it’s profitability. -The growth trap: If profits dropped from $6M to $8M in revenue, there’s no reason to assume $10M will magically fix it without changing the model. -Profit psychology first: Profitability requires its own focus and strategy, not just “sell more” plus “work harder.” -Dump ballast, don’t just burn hotter: Like a hot air balloon, removing dead weight (low-value work, misfit clients, inefficient delivery) can lift profitability faster than pushing for more volume. -The “double-double” path: Ben’s preferred sequence is to double profitability first, then scale revenue, because growth becomes easier and more rewarding when the engine is tuned. About the guest: Ben Hansen is a profitability specialist, award-winning entrepreneur, and speaker who helps business owners stop the financial bleeding and restore healthy profits and cash flow. Known as The Profit Doctor, he specializes in curing Profititis – when the revenue is there, but the profit isn’t. A 5x Inc. 5000 founder and former Fortune 100 executive (Dell, Microsoft), Ben built an eight-figure staffing firm from the ground up. Today, he advises $2M–$50M owner-led companies looking to reclaim the dream that got them started. Based in Austin, Ben lives with his wife Ginger and their dog Cash. He’s also a fan of live music, college football, and any business that’s done being overworked and underpaid. Connect with Ben: Website: https://profitdoctor.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhansen/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the fastest way to win your market isn’t competing harder, but changing the category entirely? This week, I sit down with Kevin Maney, co-author of Play Bigger and founding partner of Category Design Advisors, for a deep dive into what it really takes to create and win a market category. Kevin shares the thinking behind his latest book, The Category Creation Formula, and explains why most businesses unknowingly trap themselves competing inside categories they can never truly lead. We explore how shifts in technology, buyer behavior, and market context create hidden opportunities, why dominant design ultimately determines who wins, and how CEOs can use category thinking not only to grow their companies but to sharpen their own leadership positioning in a crowded, noisy marketplace. Here are the highlights: -Why category leaders win big: In most markets, one company captures the majority of the value, and competing inside someone else’s category often limits growth. -The Category Creation Formula: Learn Kevin’s simple framework: Context + What’s Missing + Innovation = New Category, and how leaders can use it as a practical playbook for growth. -From innovation to dominant design: Markets eventually choose a “dominant design,” and winning that position is what secures long-term leadership. -Real-world examples that worked: How category design helped both large organizations and emerging companies reposition themselves and accelerate growth. -What this means for CEOs and personal leadership brands: How leaders can differentiate themselves, stand out in crowded spaces, and build credibility by shaping the narrative around what they represent. About the guest: Kevin Maney is a veteran business journalist, bestselling author, and founding partner of Category Design Advisors, where he helps leadership teams discover, design, and win new market categories. He is the co-author of Play Bigger, which introduced the concept of category design and has become a foundational framework for technology founders, executives, and investors. Kevin is also the author of The Category Creation Formula, a practical playbook for building and leading new market categories. Kevin has written for leading publications including Newsweek, Fortune, The Atlantic, Fast Company, CNN, ABC News, and USA Today. Through his work as a writer, advisor, and speaker, he brings clarity to complex market dynamics and helps CEOs position their companies to become category leaders rather than competitors in crowded markets. His newest book, The Category Creation Formula will be released on February 26, 2026. Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmaney/ Website: https://www.categorydesignadvisors.com/ Get the book: https://www.thecategorycreationformula.com/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are AI employees the future of hiring and operations? In today’s episode, I sat down with Alok Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Cozmo AI, to explore the cutting-edge AI tools that are changing the game for enterprises. Alok takes us inside Cozmo AI’s platform, which enables businesses to build AI agents capable of seeing, speaking, thinking, and acting all while maintaining a human-like touch. From reducing costs to streamlining complex workflows, Cozmo AI is helping enterprises across industries like banking, insurance, and sales scale at lightning speed. We also tackle some of the toughest challenges in AI adoption, like data integration and overcoming the fear of automation taking jobs. Whether you’re a business leader or a tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights that will help you harness AI to its full potential. Here are the highlights: -Transforming Enterprises with Multimodal AI: Alok explains how Cozmo AI’s agents can not only handle text and calls but also analyze images, videos, and documents—enabling businesses to automate tasks that were once too complex for machines. -Eliminating AI Adoption Barriers: We dig into the real obstacles businesses face when adopting AI and how Cozmo AI’s platform removes these hurdles by creating seamless integration across systems, so you don’t need 19 different tools. -AI That Feels Human: Alok shares how Cozmo AI is pushing the boundaries of what we expect from automation—creating agents so lifelike that customers often don’t realize they’re speaking to AI, enhancing both speed and customer satisfaction. -From Startup to Scale-Up: Alok opens up about Cozmo AI’s rapid growth, from a FinTech startup to a multimodal AI platform used by Fortune 100 companies, and how they cracked the code on founder-led sales and building a network of early adopters. -The Future of AI in Business: Alok offers a bold vision for the future, where AI becomes an integrated, intuitive backbone for enterprises, making operations smarter, faster, and more efficient across the board. About the guest: Alok Kumar is the co-founder and CEO of Cozmo AI, a cutting-edge platform that’s revolutionizing enterprise operations with multimodal AI. With a background in engineering and management consulting, Alok has built Cozmo AI into a solution trusted by Fortune 100 companies in industries like banking, insurance, and sales. His passion for leveraging AI to solve complex business challenges drives his vision of creating human-like, intelligent agents that can see, speak, think, and act. Before founding Cozmo AI, Alok co-founded a successful FinTech company, and his work continues to push the boundaries of AI innovation. Connect with Alok: Website: https://hellocozmo.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alokhk Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From kitchen-table beginnings to revolutionizing waste management, Lainika’s journey proves that with vision and innovation, you can build a multi-million dollar business that tackles global challenges. In this heartfelt episode, Lainika Johnson, founder of Eco in the City, shares her inspiring journey from starting TrashLogic out of necessity to launching a tech-driven company that is transforming the way cities and property management companies handle waste. With her innovative VIN Site 360 platform, Lainika is not just helping businesses stay compliant with complex waste regulations but is also leading the charge toward smarter, more sustainable waste management. Here are the highlights: -Lainika’s Journey to CEO: From being a complete outsider in the trash industry to building a self-funded, multi-million dollar business. -Innovating Waste Management: How Eco in the City’s tech platform is transforming waste compliance and sustainability for cities and property managers. -Solving Waste Compliance Challenges: How Eco in the City helps businesses avoid costly fines while improving efficiency and promoting sustainability. -Lessons from Adversity: Overcoming labor shortages, pandemic disruptions, and the shift toward data-driven solutions in waste management. -Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Lainika’s advice on trusting yourself, knowing your numbers, and building a thriving business from anywhere. About the guest: Lainika E. Johnson is the founder of Eco in the City and CEO of TrashLogic, recognized as America's leading expert in waste reduction and workforce development. With nearly two decades of experience, she helps cities, property managers, and businesses transform waste challenges into sustainable, data-driven solutions. Starting her career at Republic Services and rising to senior executive at a California-based waste company, Lainika successfully onboarded nearly 200 multifamily communities in under a year. Her work combines technology, community, and policy, supported by credentials from Harvard Business School and UCLA. Lainika's expertise has been featured in major outlets like Black Enterprise, Black News, and local media such as Arizona’s ABC-15, Sacramento’s NBC KCRA-TV, and Waste & Recycling Magazine. Connect with Lainika: Website: trashlogic.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lainikaj/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lainikajohnson/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What started as a small side hustle in a basement has become a renowned success story, transforming the tech industry and the way we handle e-waste. In this episode, Christopher Hale, founder and CEO of SmartphonesPLUS, takes us behind the scenes of his company’s rapid growth. What started as a small operation buying and selling electronics has grown into a multimillion-dollar business that’s helping tackle the global e-waste crisis. Christopher shares insights on scaling a business, managing partnerships, and the power of the circular economy in today’s tech-driven world. Here are the highlights: -From Side Hustle to Business Success: Christopher's journey from working a full-time job to turning a passion for electronics into a thriving business. -The Importance of Sustainability: How SmartphonesPLUS keeps electronics out of landfills by refurbishing and reselling old tech. -Building Strong Partnerships: Christopher discusses the role of affiliates and partnerships in driving business growth and sustainability. -Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned: The hard lessons of hiring, creating effective SOPs, and managing staff while scaling. -The Circular Economy in Action: How the reuse of old tech not only benefits consumers but also plays a key role in reducing global e-waste. About the guest: Christopher Hale is the founder and CEO of SmartphonesPLUS, a rapidly growing company that specializes in electronics recycling and refurbishment. What started as a side hustle in 2017 has transformed into a multi-million-dollar business, fueled by Christopher’s passion for sustainability and innovative tech solutions. Under his leadership, SmartphonesPLUS has become a leader in the industry, offering businesses and consumers an eco-friendly way to sell or recycle old electronics while giving tech products a second life. With a sharp entrepreneurial mindset, Christopher's success story showcases the power of perseverance, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to building a more sustainable future. Connect with Christopher: Website: smartphonesplus.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smartphonesplusllc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartphonesplus/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartphonesplus TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartphonesplus YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartphonesplus7660 Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your home might be polluting more than your car, and the fix is closer than you think. In this episode of Disruptive CEO Nation, I’m joined by Stephen Lake, co-founder and CEO of Jetson Home, a company making home electrification simpler and significantly more affordable. We talk about why heating and cooling is one of the biggest decarbonization opportunities, what’s been holding heat pumps back in North America, and how Jetson Home is scaling fast across the U.S. and Canada. Stephen also shares the founder's lessons behind rapid growth, the importance of building scalable systems early, and why he’s committed to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Here are the highlights: -The hidden emissions story: Why residential heating and cooling is a massive climate lever, and why most homeowners underestimate their home’s footprint. -Why heat pumps haven’t taken off here (yet): The “green premium,” confusing rebates, and an opaque contractor process that makes switching feel like a major project. -Jetson Home’s “make it dead easy” model: Online, upfront pricing in minutes, a remote quoting process, and a streamlined install designed to get homes converted fast. -Scaling without breaking: How Stephen thinks about the tension between growth and chaos, and why the team prioritized systems, tools, and repeatable processes from day one. -Founder mindset + giving back: Lessons from building his first company North Inc. (and selling to Google), launching Jetson Home in a completely different industry, and the role mentorship programs played in shaping his leadership. About the guest: Stephen Lake is the co-founder and CEO of Jetson Home, a home electrification company making the shift to all-electric systems more affordable and accessible. A mechatronics engineering graduate from the University of Waterloo, he previously co-founded North Inc. (formerly Thalmic Labs) and led the development of augmented-reality and wearable-tech products before the company was acquired by Google in 2020. In 2024, he turned his focus to climate tech and launched Jetson Home, which rapidly scaled with hubs in Vancouver, Colorado, and Massachusetts and has installed nearly 1,000 proprietary heat pump systems in homes. For his work advancing clean energy solutions, Lake was named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate list. Connect with Stephen: Website: https://jetsonhome.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slake/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if buying a home could be more affordable and less stressful? That’s exactly what Ben Bear and TurboHome are making possible. In this episode, I’m talking to Ben Bear, co-founder and CEO of TurboHome, a game-changing platform that is reimagining the home-buying process. TurboHome cuts out unnecessary costs by offering a flat-fee model instead of traditional commissions, making it easier for people to save money and get into homes faster. We also dive into the bigger picture of homeownership and its importance in building wealth and strengthening communities. Ben shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he’s disrupting an industry that's been the same for decades. Here are the highlights: -Revolutionizing Home Buying: TurboHome’s platform empowers buyers to take control of their process while saving thousands in the transaction. -The End of the Traditional Commission Model: Why the 3% commission doesn’t work in today’s digital world, and how TurboHome is changing the game. -Building Wealth through Homeownership: Ben explains how owning a home still remains one of the best ways to build long-term wealth, and how TurboHome helps make that possible. -Seizing Opportunities from Regulatory Change: How Ben turned regulatory challenges into an advantage for innovation in the housing market. -The Power of Trust and Early Success: Building trust with early adopters and turning great customer experiences into momentum for growth. About the guest: Ben is the Co-Founder and CEO of TurboHome, an Oakland-based startup focused on making homeownership more affordable. The platform combines AI tools with a network of local real estate agents to offer a full service home buying experience for 70% less than a traditional Realtor. In its first year of operations, homebuyers have purchased $300M of properties while saving $6M in commissions. Ben is an experienced entrepreneur who was previously CEO at Spin Scooters (acquired by Ford) and VP Sales @ Vungle (acquired by Blackstone). He has built his career focusing on opportunities to solve big societal problems like housing and transportation unlocked by regulatory change. Connect with Ben: Website: https://www.turbohome.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwbear/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could turn customer anxiety into confidence and boost conversions with just a few simple design changes? Today we talk about understanding user behavior through data science, and how it can dramatically improve your digital marketing strategy. Join me for a captivating conversation with Mia Umanos, founder of Clickvoyant, where she uncovers the magic behind data science and human behavior. Mia’s expertise lies in understanding the nuances of user experience—how design choices and website interactions can trigger emotions that either lead to a sale or a lost customer. In this episode, Mia shares her entrepreneurial journey, discusses how AI is revolutionizing data science, and offers powerful insights into how businesses can create better digital experiences by connecting with customers on a deeper level. Here are the highlights: -Humanizing Digital Experiences: The discussion on how understanding the psychological impact of website design can either reduce anxiety or create friction for users. -The Harvard vs. Yale Example: A compelling comparison of how Harvard's emotional approach to financial aid pages contrasts with Yale's utilitarian design, highlighting the power of connecting with users. -The Role of Subtle Design Tweaks in E-Commerce: Mia shares how simple adjustments—like addressing shipping concerns—can help boost conversion rates in online stores. -The Pitfalls of Over-Automation: An example of how a client’s decision to enable multiple upsells at checkout led to a significant decrease in conversions, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful automation. -AI and Mid-Market Businesses: Mia explains how AI can help mid-market businesses gain access to powerful data science tools, previously reserved for larger corporations, to improve customer insights and decision-making. About the guest: Mia Umanos is a Filipino-American entrepreneur, AI strategist, and data scientist, known for her innovative work in AI-driven marketing analytics and conversion rate optimization. As the CEO and founder of Clickvoyant, an AI-powered analytics platform, Mia transforms raw data into actionable insights, enabling businesses to make informed decisions faster. With over 16 years of experience, Mia has worked with major brands like Apple, Salesforce, and Netflix, and raised $1.4 million in six months while pregnant. She advises companies on integrating AI to enhance human creativity and business growth. Named a Tory Burch Fellow in 2024, Mia is also a passionate advocate for women in AI, particularly from her Filipino heritage, and ensures her company provides flexible, remote jobs to women in the Philippines. Through her work, she aims to create opportunities, equity, and lasting impact. Connect with Mia: Website: https://clickvoyant.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miaumanos/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the secret to creating tech that people not only use but love? In this episode, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Erin Rollenhagen, founder of People Friendly Tech, to discuss her journey of creating innovative tech solutions that drive real behavioral change. Erin shares the importance of emotional engagement in tech products, offering a fresh perspective on why technology should move people, not just serve them. We dive into the challenges of scaling a tech company, her approach to leadership, and how her new book, Love at First Launch, provides a roadmap for visionary leaders looking to bring extraordinary tech to life. Here are some highlights: -Emotional Engagement in Tech: Erin explains why successful products aren’t just functional—they must connect with users on an emotional level to create lasting impact. -The Importance of Leadership in Tech Projects: Explore the leadership principles that drive successful tech launches, including clear communication and team alignment. -Creating Tech Products People Love: Find out how to identify the emotional core of your product and use it to engage users and drive loyalty. -Leveraging AI and Data Insights for Smarter Decision-Making: Understand how to integrate AI and data insights into your tech solutions to help businesses make more informed, strategic decisions. About the guest: Erin Rollenhagen is the founder and CEO of Entrepreneurial Technologies and People Friendly Tech, a company specializing in custom technology solutions, including apps, software, and AI integrations. With nearly 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Erin has led over 200 successful product launches, helping businesses create innovative products that drive meaningful change. She is passionate about building tech that not only solves problems but also connects with users on an emotional level. Erin is also the author of Love at First Launch, a guide for visionary leaders looking to bring extraordinary tech to life. Connect with Erin: Website: https://peoplefriendlytech.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-rollenhagen-b4b7317/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re making tech decisions faster than your team can absorb them or you’re worried AI might erase the “human” from your business; this conversation will feel like a deep breath and a reset button. Today, I sit down with Kate O’Neill. She’s known as the “tech humanist,” founder and CEO of KO Insights, and newly named member of the Thinkers50 list of top management thinkers in the world. We unpack her new book, What Matters Next? A Leader’s Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That Is Moving Too Fast, and explore how leaders can stay grounded in purpose while navigating AI, automation, and constant change. Kate shares the “now–next continuum” and her Insights & Foresights model as practical ways to reduce overwhelm, make better decisions, and design a future that works for both your business and your people. If you’re leading through chaos and want your organization to be both high-performing and deeply human, this one is for you. Here are some highlights: -Redefining purpose as a question: How Kate uses one core question “How can we help humanity prepare for an increasingly tech-driven future?” and why reframing your mission as a question can sharpen strategy and culture. -The Now–Next continuum: A practical way for leaders to connect past, present, and future so the “future of work” feels less murky and more manageable, with clearer signals about what to do today. -Insights, Foresights, and “bankable foresights”: Inside Kate’s decision-making model that helps executives ask better questions, synthesize what they’re learning, and build a growing bank of future-ready insights instead of reacting in panic. -What “human-friendly” tech decisions really look like: From AI-driven layoffs to chatbots and educational tools, we talk about the hidden human costs of short-sighted tech choices for employees, customers, and students, and how to design more holistic, human-centered solutions. -AI, higher education, and the next generation of talent: Why banning tools like ChatGPT is a missed opportunity, how good prompting mirrors good delegation, and what universities and employers can do to better prepare young professionals for a prompt-based, AI-enabled workplace. About the guest: Kate O’Neill, known globally as the “Tech Humanist," is the founder and CEO of KO Insights, a strategic advisory firm dedicated to improving human experience at scale. Her innovative approach bridges the gap between technological advancement and human-centric values, influencing how organizations navigate digital transformation. She is also author of the book What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That's Moving Too Fast, which was named a Thinkers50 2025 Best Management Book. With a career spanning over 25 years, Kate’s expertise is rooted in hands-on experience with category-defining companies. She was one of the first 100 employees at Netflix, where she pioneered the first content management role. She developed Toshiba America’s first intranet and founded [meta]marketer, one of the earliest digital strategy and analytics agencies. Connect with Kate: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateoneill/ Website: https://www.koinsights.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/What-Matters-Next-Human-Friendly-Decisions/dp/1394296428 Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can love be a business strategy? In this episode, we talk about how leading with love can transform your team and your bottom line. Frank Danna, a seasoned leader and marketing expert, brings his wisdom on building authentic connections in the workplace. We explore how AI can enhance, rather than replace, human creativity and the importance of creating a culture that values trust, inclusion, and vulnerability. Frank shares his personal journey from a toxic work environment to one where love and empathy drive success, offering actionable advice for leaders looking to transform their organizations. Here are some highlights: -The Power of Love in Leadership: Frank explains how love, empathy, and trust are essential to creating a successful and human-centered workplace culture. -AI and Creativity: Frank discusses how AI can free up time for leaders to be more creative and focus on what truly matters: human connections. -Building a Culture of Love: Learn the six key behaviors—Inclusion, Empathy, Vulnerability, Trust, Empowerment, and Forgiveness—that make up a culture of love in the workplace. -The Challenge of Toxicity in Leadership: Frank shares his experience of working through a toxic work culture and how a shift in leadership behavior can turn things around. -Vulnerability as a Leadership Strength: Frank highlights the importance of vulnerability in leadership and how sharing personal stories can foster real connections with your team. About the guest: Frank E. Danna is the Marketing Director at Softway and Co-Founder of Culture+, where he transforms leadership through love, empathy, and behavior-driven change. Co-author of Love as a Business Strategy and Love as a Change Strategy, Frank challenges fear-based leadership practices and champions a human-first approach. He co-created Culture Rise, a transformative leadership experience that’s impacted over 6,000 leaders worldwide. Frank’s expertise spans storytelling, communication strategy, and creative content, having reached 100 million viral views on Vine and co-founding GhostCodes, acquired by Softway. He’s worked with brands like HBO, Twitter, and Coca-Cola, and is a sought-after speaker on culture, AI, and change. Connect with Frank: Website: ​​www.softway.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankdanna/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your product strategy stops at the download, you’re leaving impact—and revenue—on the table. In this conversation, I sit down with Ghazenfer Mansoor, CEO & founder of Technology Rivers, to talk about building software that actually gets used, loved, and shared. Ghazenfer has been in mobile since the pre-iPhone days and has led the build of nearly 60 apps, primarily in healthcare. We explore ideas from his forthcoming book, Beyond the Download, including why retention beats acquisition, when a mobile app truly makes sense (and when a web experience is smarter), and how AI-driven, proprietary workflows can become a company’s real moat. We also step into leadership, including what it takes to fix “broken” projects, the values that guide his global remote team (transparency, fairness, and getting things done), and why peer networks and coaching matter for founders. It’s a practical, fast-moving chat for leaders who want their technology to create efficiency, differentiation, and long-term value. Here are some highlights: -Retention over acquisition: Ghazenfer shares practical ways to design for daily use and bring people back because downloads without engagement aren’t success. -“Do you really need an app?”: We unpack decision criteria for native vs. web, and why solving a real, repeat problem is the first gate before writing any code. -Workflow is the moat: How codifying proprietary processes, especially in healthcare and HIPAA-sensitive environments, creates efficiency, margin, and higher valuations. -Fixing broken projects: Common failure patterns (from feature chasing to UX missteps) and how to course-correct so you “build it right the first time.” -Leading a global team: The operating system behind Technology Rivers; clear KPIs, remote-first communication, fairness, and a growing commitment to women in tech. Plus the role of EO/Vistage-style peer groups and coaching for tough decisions. About the guest: Ghazenfer Mansoor is the founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, a Washington, D.C.–area software firm specializing in HIPAA-compliant healthcare SaaS and mobile apps. A mobile veteran since the pre-iPhone era, he has led the build of 59+ apps and numerous AI-powered workflow platforms that help service businesses scale, boost margins, and increase valuation. Known for “building it right the first time,” Ghazenfer is frequently tapped to rescue broken software projects. He’s the author of the forthcoming book Beyond the Download: How to Build Mobile Apps That People Love, Use, and Share Every Day and host of the podcast Lessons from the Leap. Active in EO and other CEO peer groups, he leads a global, values-driven team grounded in transparency, fairness, and getting things done. Connect with Ghazenfer: Website: https://technologyrivers.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmansoor/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From dentist to consciousness architect, Dr. Kevin Kremer shares how purpose, processes, and mindset can transform a practice into a portfolio and a leader into a builder of thriving cultures. In this conversation, I sat down with Kevin, a dentist-turned-entrepreneur who has grown and scaled ten ventures and founded the Kremer Leadership Institute. We unpack the journey from a single practice to acquisitions, a patient finance company, and an implant surgery center delivering same-day reconstructions. Kevin explains his “three Cs” framework—customer, culture, company—and why culture is the hardest to keep healthy in 2025. We also dig into his book, Quantum Accountability, and his Quantum Awareness Model, exploring how accountability for your mindset leads to action and, ultimately, abundance. Along the way, Kevin shares a remarkable 93% year-over-year turnaround from a recent acquisition, practical ways he trains teams with playbooks and interactive learning, and how AI is reshaping both clinical and operational excellence. Here are some highlights: • The three Cs in practice: how balancing customer experience, culture, and company health creates the “sweet spot” for sustainable growth and why culture is the toughest to maintain. • From chairside to CEO: the steps that took Kevin from solo practitioner to acquiring practices, launching patient finance and membership programs, and opening an implant surgery center. • Playbooks that actually work: mapping the entire customer journey, training with short videos, and reinforcing skills through interactive quizzes to keep standards high across teams. • Mindset drives outcomes: inside Quantum Accountability and the Quantum Awareness Model and how accountability for your thinking leads to better actions and an abundance mindset. • Technology with a human core: real examples of AI in diagnostics, workflow, and same-day full-mouth restorations, plus why communication and trust will always be the differentiators. About the guest: Dr. Kevin Kremer is a dentist-turned-entrepreneur with 25 years of leadership in healthcare and business. He has built and scaled ten ventures, including a multi-location dental group, a patient finance and membership company, and a same-day implant surgery center. As founder of the Kremer Leadership Institute and author of Quantum Accountability, Kevin teaches his Quantum Awareness Model—moving from accountability to action to abundance—and the “three Cs” framework of customer, culture, and company. Known for practical playbooks and team training that elevate service standards, he’s led notable turnarounds, including a 93% year-over-year lift at a recent acquisition. Kevin combines cutting-edge technology with human-centered care and mentors clinicians to grow as confident, purpose-driven business leaders. Connect with Kevin: Website: https://www.kremerleadership.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kremer-leadership-institute/ Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices