CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co
CEO Podcasts consists of CEO Chat (CC), I AM CEO (IAM) & CBNation.TV (TV) podcast episodes. Value-packed episode including interviews & resources for CEOs, entrepreneurs, startups founders & business owners. The CEO Chat episodes are our long-form episodes w/ interviews and digital marketing resources. The I AM CEO episodes are laser focused (about 16 min.) w/ interviews & a discussion about what it means to be a CEO. Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co. Hosted by Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Episodes
Steffany Boldrini is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host with a passion for building wealth through commercial real estate.
Originally from Brazil, Steffany discusses how her exposure to startups and angel investing led her to discover the superior risk-adjusted returns of commercial real estate, especially with guidance from a seasoned mentor.
She founded Monte Carlo Real Estate Investing and launched the Comm...
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July 8, 2025 • 12 mins
Rasheedah Thomas is the principal and co-founder of RC Communications, a Washington, D.C. based strategic communications firm specializing in media coaching, branding, crisis communication, and public affairs.
Rasheedah brings over a decade of experience helping organizations, from local governments and nonprofits to international leaders, refine their messaging and navigate complex public narratives.
She is especially passiona...
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July 7, 2025 • 16 mins
In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on the unexpected difficulty of gaining traction and closing his first sale. Despite consistent effort and staying committed, he admits that the process has been tougher and slower than anticipated.
He shares his experience with a promising candidate who has likely ghosted him, an example of the hesitation he’s noticing more frequently in today’s uncertain economic climate.
Gre...
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July 6, 2025 • 6 mins
Gresham Harkless reflects on reaching day 193 of his franchise broker journey, expressing a mix of disbelief at how far he's come and a sense that he's still at the beginning.
He shares the challenges of juggling multiple responsibilities, especially the operational struggles with his main venture, Blue Star, where getting the team to perform without his constant involvement has been difficult.
He emphasizes the importance of s...
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July 5, 2025 • 6 mins
In this special episode, Gresham Harkless shares an update on his progress, challenges, and realizations. After connecting with classmates, he realizes that while they’re each on unique paths, they share similar uncertainties.
Gresham expresses a growing sense that he needs to shift directions, choosing what feels true to him rather than following the traditional or expected route.
Gresham also emphasizes the importance of bein...
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July 4, 2025 • 6 mins
Gresham Harkless reflects on his 190-day journey as a franchise broker, expresses his frustration for initially straying from the path he instinctively knew was right, and leans into content creation and digital storytelling.
After investing in Google Ads with underwhelming results, he’s considering pausing them to reallocate resources toward more authentic and impactful efforts, like publishing educational content on franchising...
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July 3, 2025 • 16 mins
Dennis Schooley is the Founder and co-CEO of Schooley Mitchell, North America’s largest independent cost reduction consulting firm.
With a background as a Chartered Accountant, Dennis has over 25 years of experience helping businesses reduce expenses and improve profitability.
Schooley Mitchell has grown into a powerful franchise network of over 320 offices, serving more than 32,000 clients and saving businesses over $1 billio...
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July 2, 2025 • 16 mins
Chandler Walker is a visionary business leader with high emotional intelligence and a rare mix of strategic and technology, marketing, sales, and expertise, combined with a true talent for devising and applying new ideas and innovation to propel companies to build competitive advantages.
Chandler shares his entrepreneurial journey and the mission behind his two impactful ventures: Stone Age Fuel and Culture of Care.
Chandler re...
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Mike Newman is the CEO of Returnity Innovations, the pioneer in the elimination of single-use shipping packaging.
With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of sustainability and supply chain, Mike brings a deep understanding of how to drive real-world impact through practical, scalable innovation.
After directing the Sierras Club's political operations in 20 states, he received his MBA from the Ross School of Busines...
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June 30, 2025 • 7 mins
Gresham Harkless discusses the value of doing things differently, such as moving in the opposite direction of the crowd, to uncover unique opportunities.
Gresham shares his realization that relying solely on methods like Google Ads may not be the most effective strategy, and he aims to explore alternative approaches that align more closely with his strengths.
Additionally, Gresham highlights the significance of self-awareness...
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June 29, 2025 • 6 mins
Gresham Harkless expresses his emotional and mental fatigue as he navigates the long ramp-up period, now around day 185, without yet closing his first candidate.
He discusses the importance of timing and financing in matching candidates with business opportunities, noting that even when there's interest, external factors can delay progress.
Gresham emphasizes his belief in "moving before you're ready," acknowledging that this m...
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June 28, 2025 • 6 mins
In this special episode, Gresham Harkless explores into the challenges of franchise brokerage, particularly the extended sales cycles and the emotional aspects of entrepreneurship.
He emphasizes that while immediate feedback is scarce, signs like presentations, brand communications, and candidate interactions indicate movement.
Gresham also highlights the importance of recognizing small victories and staying persistent, even ...
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June 27, 2025 • 6 mins
Gresham Harkless shares the challenges he faces in maintaining focus as increasing daily distractions and obligations make it more difficult to keep moving toward his goals.
He highlights the exhaustion that comes from constantly juggling priorities — family, business, leadership, and how that often leads people to choose more stable paths like traditional jobs.
Gresham reflects on the difficulty of committing to new opportunit...
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Chuck Salvo is the Chief Happiness Architect and culture strategist behind the R.A.V.E. movement — "Respect and Value Everyone."
With over 30 years of leadership experience, including 15 years at Disney Institute, Chuck has dedicated his career to helping organizations design intentional cultures that drive employee engagement, customer loyalty, and sustainable growth.
He advocates for moving beyond generic slogans, urging l...
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June 25, 2025 • 15 mins
John Piester is the President of Red Peg Marketing, a leading experiential marketing agency known for creating dynamic, consumer-driven brand experiences.
With over 20 years of experience in operations and management across industries like sports, entertainment, and brand marketing, John has worked with some of the world’s most iconic companies, including Nike, ESPN, Coca-Cola, and Harley-Davidson.
Before joining Red Peg, he ...
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June 24, 2025 • 16 mins
Rob Braiman is the founder and CEO of Cogent Analytics, a business management consulting firm dedicated to helping small and mid-sized businesses achieve sustainable growth and profitability.
With over 20 years of experience, Rob has personally engaged with more than 1,700 businesses across the United States, providing tailored strategies to enhance operations, leadership, and financial performance.
Under Rob's leadership, Coge...
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June 23, 2025 • 7 mins
In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on attending a Discovery Day with Neighborly, a franchisor with a wide range of brands, including standout options like 4 Candidate, an appealing fit for one of his prospects.
Gresham discusses refining his process by potentially merging the initial and second calls with prospects to build stronger rapport and qualify leads more efficiently.
He admits he hasn’t yet taken anyon...
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June 22, 2025 • 7 mins
In this special episode, Gresham Harkless discusses the five phases of change: uninformed optimism, informed pessimism, the valley of despair, informed optimism, and success and fulfillment.
He identifies with the "informed pessimism" phase, acknowledging the frustrations that arise when initial excitement gives way to challenges.
Gresham explains the significance of understanding these phases to maintain perspective and moti...
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June 21, 2025 • 5 mins
Gresham Harkless shares a deeply personal and reflective update, capturing the balancing act between professional commitments and family life. He expresses the emotional difficulty of traveling for a Discovery Day, especially during a period of transition marked by his wife’s illness, recent travel, and their baby’s sleep regression.
Gresham highlights scheduling challenges, including accidentally double-booking a podcast due to ...
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June 20, 2025 • 6 mins
In this special episode, Gresham Harkless opens up about the mental and emotional weight that comes with building a business from the ground up.
Gresham discusses the internal battles — self-doubt, exhaustion, and the fading excitement that often follow the initial momentum of launching a business.
Despite investing time, money, and energy, he feels behind where he thought he’d be, especially while juggling personal responsibil...
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