The CEO Project Podcast

Are you still running your company like you're in a product business, when your customers are actually buying like it's fashion?

If you're leading a brand today, you've probably felt the pressure: customers constantly asking "what's new," markets shifting faster than your product cycles, and differentiation getting harder by the quarter. In this episode, you'll hear how one CEO realized that success in the beverage industry had les...

What if getting things done wasn't about more strategy—but about the same high-stakes instincts used by prison bosses to survive and lead?

You're busy, pulled in a hundred directions, and still expected to deliver results that matter. This episode flips the script on productivity by showing you how real execution happens under pressure—where decisions aren't theoretical, and hesitation has consequences. If you've ever felt stuck, o...

Are you managing your money in a way that actually increases your business worth and helps you start building wealth—or just riding the market rollercoaster and hoping for the best?

You already know money impacts everything—from your stress levels to your long-term freedom—but most advice out there still pushes outdated strategies that leave you exposed when markets shift. In this episode, you'll...

Are you fully tapping your company's growth potential, or are hidden gaps in talent, culture, and client strategy quietly holding you back?

If you're leading a services-based business, or any company where people are the product, you know how hard it is to scale without burning out your team or losing your edge. This episode hits...

Are you building an AI workforce that actually increases your business worth—or just adding more complexity to your team?

You're probably feeling the pressure to adopt AI, but the real challenge isn't the technology—it's figuring out how to use it effectively without exposing your data, slowing your team down, or making costly ...

Are you overcomplicating your path to growing your business worth—when the real advantage might come from a simple focus on people, not processes?

If you've ever struggled to align your team, improve sales conversations, or make better leadership decisions, this episode hits close to home. You're c...

What if the biggest risk in workforce transformation isn't AI replacing people—but leaders failing to adapt fast enough?

If you're leading a company today, you're navigating one of the fastest workplace shifts in decades. AI is putting data, insights, and answers at everyone's fingertips, which means the traditional leadership playbook is quickly becoming outdated. In this episode of The CEO Project, you'll hear why workforce trans...

What if AI engines could drive 10–15x more traffic to your online store—and most businesses don't even realize it's happening yet?

If you run an online store or sell products through e-commerce channels, AI engines are quickly becoming the new gateway to customer discovery. Instead of relying solely on traditional search or marketplaces, companies are now seeing mass...

Are you building a profitable company — or a business that actually proves capitalism can be a force for good through conscious capital?

As a CEO, you feel the tension every day: grow the business, deliver profit, develop your people — and do it in a way that's socially responsible and sustainable. Meanwhile, capitalism itself faces a perception problem. Your employe...

Are you leaving deals on the table because your LinkedIn presence isn't backed by proven strategies that actually build credibility and authority?

If you're leading a company, driving growth, or building your personal brand, LinkedIn isn't optional anymore—it's where buyers, partners, recruits, and even AI engines go to decide if you're legit. And here's the problem: what used to work on LinkedIn ...

If mastering negotiation could instantly increase your business worth, how differently would you handle your next deal?

You negotiate every day—whether you call it that or not. From acquisition offers and partnership terms to real estate, compensation, and vendor contracts, you're constantly shaping outcomes that affect your company's growth and long-term business worth. The problem? Most leaders treat negotiation like a tug-of-war...

What if improving front line performance—not more marketing or new leads—was the fastest way to grow your business worth?

If you're feeling pressure to grow revenue while controlling costs, this episode speaks straight to that tension. You'll hear how leaders in hospitality use front line performance, personalization, and smart systems to capture revenue that's already there—while creating better customer experiences and stronger l...

Is your business worth more than your physical inventory… because of the digital assets you don't even realize you own?

If you're like most CEOs, you've delegated websites, domains, ad accounts, logins, and even AI tools to other people—and assumed everything was automatically "yours." But this episode is a wake-up call: your digital assets are some of the m...

Are your current growth strategies actually increasing your business worth—or are hidden constraints quietly keeping you stuck as your company scales?

If you're feeling stretched thin, hitting growth ceilings, or wondering why scaling feels harder than it should—this episode is for you. Carl Gould breaks down the real stages of business growth and the predictable pinch points that trip up fou...

Is your business worth more when AI writes faster—or when you show up as an authentic leader your team actually trusts?

You're under constant pressure to communicate clearly, move quickly, and keep up with AI without losing your voice in the process. In this episode, Jim Schleckser talks with Allison Shapira about the real tension leaders face today: using AI to gain efficiency while still sounding human, credible, and genuinely co...

Have you thought about what your founder futures look like if you're suddenly not here—and whether your business worth is actually protected?

You spend your time thinking about growth, valuation, exits, and risk—but many founders avoid the uncomfortable questions about legacy, control, and continuity. This episode connects estate planning to founder futures, show...

Is your company's "AI disruption" happening with you—or quietly without you… and putting your business worth at risk?

If you're leading a mid-to-large company right now, you're probably feeling two pressures at the same time: move faster with AI and

Ever catch yourself wondering, "What is my business worth—like, the real number, not the cocktail-party guess?"

If your business represents the majority of your net worth (and for most CEOs, it does), not knowing your true valuation is risky. You could be planning an exit, thinking about successi...

Have you ever bailed on a "seat at the table" moment because imposter syndrome convinced you you didn't belong?

This episode is basically a reality check for that spiral. If you've ever walked into a room of bigger titles, bigger experience, bigger confidence—and immediately started listing all the reasons you're "not enough,...