In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Matthew Newman discuss the benefits of a servant leadership philosophy on a company’s success and how it can translate into greater fiscal return. Matthew stresses the importance of empowering your people, of building a culture based on who people are and not just what work they do, and how coaching and mentorship encourage greater success than simply delegating or handing out solutions.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Styron Powers talk about a fundamental path to financial freedom; that of not spending more than you earn. Styron shares how he was raised to value money and instructed to always save a portion of it. He and Martin discuss delayed gratification, really thinking through purchases, and the vital necessity of planning for your future.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and José Azpiri discuss what Martin terms the “flow” of how José built his company from the ground up. José explains how he treats his customers, how each one matters individually, and how he works to make a memorable experience for each customer through special details. He and Martin explore what it means to have a dream and how to put in the patient and steady work to achieve it. José understands how to capitalize on opportunity and lean into personal strengths as well as the value of generous interactions with insightful people.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Danielle Putnam explore all the ways in which saying yes to too many things, such a necessary attribute in the starting years of business, must evolve into saying no to more things once the business is stable. They discuss how they keep devoted family time in balance while leading busy work lives and Danielle shares her recent gains in the art of saying ‘no’ for the right reasons.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter talks with Shamil Hargovan about their shared passion for investing in the business of nonprofits with time, energy, and support as well as money. They discuss how there is a perception that people don’t believe they have the skills to offer to a charity but that non-profit businesses are exactly that - businesses who still need finance experts, IT and marketing professionals, and leadership just as any other business does. 

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, Martin Hunter and Jodi-Tatiana Charles talk about what a legacy truly means, how to expand your legacy by sharing what you know based on what your passions are, and how to design your own path on your own terms. Jodi-Tatiana encourages the pursuit of personal legacy and Martin relates how every inspiring thing she says can be applied directly to your business as a CEO.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Didi Dayton break down what venture capital actually is and what it does, why every successful executive or leader needs a “whisperer”, and the innate value in learning how to tell a good story. They discuss the prevalent concern of burnout within the industry and draw comparisons between the intricacies of teenage sports teamwork to early stage business dynamics.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, Martin Hunter talks with Rob Follows and Shamil Hargovan about the many things entrepreneurs should consider while on the journey towards selling their business. Rob explains how they are really “sell-side advisors” more than M&A, Shamil details how collaborative the process is between STS and both buyer and seller, and both have a desire for business owners to be able to trust the process with STS.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, Martin Hunter welcomes back Isabelle Mercier-Turcotte this time with her partner in business and in life Margarita Romano (Maggie). The three discuss the importance of the journey from your head to your heart in life, business, and with customers. Isabelle and Margarita founded LeapZone Strategies, dedicated to helping people build extraordinary businesses and brands.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Dominic Rubino, Martin’s first-ever podcast guest, address business and personal challenges, work/life balance, share stories from their friendship, and delve into what matters. They share concern for the environment and highlight companies doing good work in ecological solutions. And they explore their individual podcast successes: the hard word that pays off and the interesting people they get to meet.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and chef Damien Eftekhar discuss how much he enjoyed learning in difficult kitchen environments and relate many of his stressful chef experiences and fifteen hour days to the same highs and lows of entrepreneurship. They dive into why Damien believes restaurants will bounce back after COVID, how there’s beauty even in fast food, and Damien’s hope that hospitality industry workers will get both more respect and better pay going forward.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter talks with Tim and Su-Mari about their close partnerships both in life and business and how they actively disregard failure in favor of viewing things as being prepared to learn on a daily basis. They share how they pass this lesson on to their children as well. Su-Mari explains the importance of knowing your why in business and Tim talks about innovation and creativity, all factors that led them to iLOLA and their current success.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Neil Krauter Sr. discuss Neil’s lengthy career and how he leveraged his experience in launching his own brokerage. Neil shares his thoughts on HR, on creating a forum for conversation within an organization, and how success requires both planning and full commitment. Neil gives examples of how he achieved innovative breakthroughs in business by doing the opposite of what might be expected.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Jason Mercer discuss racial inequality and being a proactive agent of change. Jason explains how leaders must set intentional goals, driving for change in set plans, and make their intentions public to leadership and the organization. They talk about Jason’s experiences as a Black man in his career and what must be done to get a talent pool that’s diverse. As Jason says, “small decisions played out thousands of times creates change.”

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Kathleen Steffey discuss how the pandemic has altered current recruiting styles and why fundamentals are now so vital to successful talent acquisition. Kathleen shares insights on tactics all employers should have in their playbooks as well as time-and-money wasting ideas to avoid. She and Martin explore gender disparity in pay and how to combat it as well as how to successfully navigate salary demands.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Tim Hill dive deep into innovation, how it’s cultivated, and why it’s so necessary. They explore not only Tim’s passion for tea but how he draws inspiration and motivation from business structures as varied as the military and architecture to considering how climate change will impact tea in the future. Tim and Martin discuss pricing for innovation and how to view redoing ideas for better potential in an episode full of insight.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and William Madden explore the “cotton candy king’s” storied resume and what valuable and practical insights William gained at every step of the way. He remained true to himself - personable and honest - and always willing to roll up his sleeves, walk the floor, and learn fast. They discuss how to treat the people in operations, the most common mistakes William encounters in industry, and the importance of always doing a line trial.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Janice Otremba discuss anxiety, stress, and imposter syndrome, how to differentiate and communicate action versus intention, and how to combat unmet expectations from both leadership and employee viewpoints. Janice explores how “a lack of confidence impedes growth and success”, how to find that confidence, and shares insights on the importance of cultivating intuition.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Matthew Smedley explore the truths about why people experience challenges in life; the traumas, abuses, addictions, and transactional employment mentalities that drive them to homelessness and poverty. They break down exactly what Mission Possible is about and how they operate positive change in the downtown eastside. Matthew explains the difference between Executive Director and CEO, how non-profit enterprises have a different view of success than a for profit company, and how he loves his job but wishes people could be instilled with a sense of value and worth after setbacks and struggle without its intervention.

In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Isabelle Mercier-Turcotte discuss their shared dyslexia and how what was difficult about being dyslexic growing up has turned into a part of their genius in business. They dive into how Isabelle founded LeapZone Strategies, what her definition of being disruptive is, and the Big Four foundational ideas that she leads businesses into embracing on their paths to disruptive success.