What does it really take to lead with kindness while holding people accountable, especially as organizations grow more complex?
In this episode of Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, sits down with Michael Mutterer, CEO of Silver Cross Hospital, to talk candidly about the leadership shifts required to scale without losing culture, standards, or trust.
Michael shares lessons from leading in healthcare, including:
Why kindness and accountability are not opposites
The moment leaders must stop jumping in to fix everything
How stepping back, without lowering standards, creates stronger teams
What it takes to build leaders instead of dependence on the CEO
This conversation is a grounded look at the real journey CEOs face as they move from problem-solver to leader-builder—and why clarity, trust, and discipline matter more as you scale.
Julie Copeland, CEO of Arbill, knows firsthand the pressure that comes with stepping into a family business. At first, she led the company as her father had, out of deep respect for his legacy and the team he built. But when crisis hit, Julie realized that what got them here wouldn’t get them there.
In this episode, she shares how she let go of guilt, claimed her own vision, and transformed Arbill into the company it is today. A powerful conversation for anyone carrying the weight of legacy while trying to lead in their own way.
In this episode of The Journey To CEO Success, Patrick Thean sits down with Charlie Malouf, CEO of Broad River Retail, for a raw and insightful conversation about leading through crisis, shifting mindset, and building a company where people can thrive.
Charlie shares the pivotal moment when Broad River Retail was on the brink of collapse, and the bold decisions that sparked one of the most impressive turnarounds in the retail industry.
He breaks down the leadership disciplines that made the difference, simplifying the business, aligning leaders around a unified strategy, and rebuilding a culture rooted in ownership and accountability.
But the transformation didn’t stop there. Charlie opens up about how he rewired a zero-sum, scarcity-driven mindset into an abundance mindset that fuels innovation, trust, and long-term growth. And he explains why investing in clear career paths and stronger compensation for Broad River’s “Memory Makers” became one of the most important strategic decisions of his career.
If you’re a CEO navigating complexity, culture challenges, or growth limitations, this episode delivers a powerful roadmap for turning clarity, mindset, and people into your greatest competitive advantage.
In this episode, Patrick sits down with Sasha Dichter, Co-founder and CEO of 60 Decibels, for a conversation that’s part mindset shift and part look into the future.
Sasha shares his “Month of Yes” experiment, a forcing function to break his default patterns. What he learned wasn’t about convenience; it was about awareness, generosity, and what changes when you disrupt your automatic habits.
Patrick and Sasha dug into Sasha’s natural pull toward AI and why he sees it as an opportunity, not something to fear. His favorite 2025 use case? AI as your personal physical therapist.
A thought-provoking episode about challenging defaults, embracing new tools, and leading with curiosity.
Why do so many leaders struggle to let go? In this episode, Patrick Thean talks with Dan Crane, Founder of Crane Counsel, about the fear and mindset that keep CEOs holding on too tightly, and what happens when you finally trust your team to lead.
They also explore how bringing joy back into your work can transform not just your results, but your entire approach to leadership.
Culture doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built every day by what you tolerate and how you appreciate.
In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success Podcast, Sean Farrell, CEO of QDS, Inc., joins Patrick Thean, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, to share how intentional leadership shapes culture from the inside out. From holding the line on standards to celebrating people in meaningful ways, Sean explains why every decision a leader makes sends a message to their team, their customers, and themselves.
Sean opens up about:
Why people pay attention to what you tolerate (and how that defines your culture)
How personalized, thoughtful recognition can be more impactful than cash bonuses
The power of consistency and authenticity in leading a growing organization
If you’re building a culture where people feel seen, valued, and accountable - this conversation will challenge and inspire how you lead.
When Shannon Coomes, started as an engineer, she never imagined she’d one day be leading one of the top fire protection companies in the country. As President of The Hill Group, Shannon shares how she built confidence in rooms where she was often the only woman, the lessons that shaped her leadership journey, and her advice for young women entering male-dominated fields.
In this conversation with The Journey to CEO Success host Patrick Thean, Shannon reminds us that leadership isn’t about changing who you are, it’s about staying grounded in your values, listening, and leading with curiosity.
Every leader faces moments where the path forward isn’t clear - inflection points that force us to choose between staying comfortable or stepping into something bigger.
In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean sits down with Dominic Rapini, CEO of Queralt, Inc., to unpack how great leaders recognize these pivotal moments and act decisively even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
Dominic shares how he’s learned to leverage mistakes as accelerators, not setbacks, and why building a culture that learns fast and never repeats errors is one of the greatest competitive advantages a leader can create.
They discuss:
How to identify when it’s truly time to pivot, in your career or your business
Why waiting for perfect clarity is a trap
The mindset shift leaders must make around failure and experimentation
How purpose and long-term mission guide better decisions under pressure
Whether you’re navigating a personal crossroads or leading your team through one, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about timing, risk, and resilience.
If you could sit down with your younger self from 20 years ago, what would you say?
In this candid and insightful episode of The Journey to CEO Success, host Patrick Thean sits down with Bob Denison, President of Denison Yachting, to rewind the clock and unpack the mistakes, mindset shifts, and defining lessons that shaped his leadership journey.
Whether you're just starting your leadership journey or reflecting on your own 20-year rewind, Bob’s story is a powerful reminder that wisdom isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress.
On this episode of The Journey to CEO Success Podcast, Patrick Thean sat down with Greg Horejs, President of CAGE Civil Engineering, Inc., to talk about two themes that every leader should be thinking about.
This conversation is a reminder that success isn’t just about pushing harder; it’s about leading with intention.
Catch the episode on Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.
In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean sits down with Eric Schenker, CEO of Coolcore, to discuss how passion can fuel career success and why writing down your goals is a game-changer.
Eric shares his personal journey of aligning passion with purpose, lessons learned in leading Coolcore, and the discipline behind turning vision into action.
Whether you’re leading a team or charting your own path, this conversation will inspire you to connect what you love with what you do and commit your goals to writing to unlock your next level of success.
In this episode, Patrick sits down with Drew Golin, COO of DealerFLEX, to explore two powerful themes that have shaped his leadership journey: the importance of expressing gratitude to the people who influence our lives, and the lessons on teamwork and ownership carried over from sports into business.
Drew shares personal stories of mentors and teammates who left lasting marks on his life, and how simple acts of gratitude can strengthen relationships and inspire teams. He also unpacks the parallels between athletics and leadership, where accountability, trust, and shared goals define success.
Whether you’re leading a company or coaching a team, this conversation is a reminder that great execution isn’t just about strategy; it’s about people, connection, and ownership.
What role does passion really play in building a successful career and a fulfilling life?
In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean sits down with Warren Johnson, CEO of Scribe-X, to explore how finding your true passion can shape your career path, fuel resilience, and drive long-term success. Warren shares his own journey of aligning purpose with work, why passion is more than just motivation, and how leaders can harness it to inspire their teams and elevate performance.
Whether you’re still searching for your “why” or looking to reignite your energy in your current role, this conversation will spark new ways of thinking about what truly drives success.
In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean talks with Mike Whitehead, CEO of Intentional Leadership, about two powerful shifts that shaped his leadership: moving beyond dualistic “either/or” thinking and starting each day with gratitude.
Mike shares how letting go of rigid categories opened him up to feedback, new perspectives, and a deeper connection with others. He also explains how his simple morning gratitude practice has helped him stay centered, resilient, and joyful, even in the face of challenges.
Together, they dive into:
Why real breakthroughs start with being open to feedback, perspective, and blind spots
How non-dualistic thinking can expand your leadership and personal growth
The daily gratitude practice that grounds Mike’s leadership and brings clarity at the start of every day
This is a conversation about mindset, growth, and leading with intention, one that will inspire you to rethink how you show up as a leader and as a person.
In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean sits down with Phil Buchy, CEO of Legion Brewing, to explore the values that have shaped his entrepreneurial path.
From embracing openness in leadership to prioritizing genuine human connection to staying rooted in passion through the highs and lows, Phil shares how these principles have fueled Legion Brewing’s growth and culture.
This candid conversation offers insights for leaders and entrepreneurs who want to build something lasting, lead with heart, and stay inspired in the face of challenges.
Listen now and learn how to infuse openness, connection, and passion into your own leadership journey.
Selling a business is one of the biggest decisions a founder will ever make, and it’s not just a financial one. In this episode, Kevon Saber, CEO of Legacy Outcomes, joins Patrick Thean to explore the emotional complexities that come with letting go of something you’ve built.
Together, they discuss how to avoid regret, stay rooted in your values, and navigate the deeply personal transition of selling a business. Whether you're thinking about an exit or simply preparing for the long game, this conversation offers clarity, perspective, and hard-earned wisdom.
In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Michael Grande, President & CEO of Vancord, joins Patrick Thean to explore what it really takes to lead through change, with patience, intentional progress, and a people-first mindset.
Michael shares hard-earned insights on:
If you're navigating change, building culture, or striving to grow as a leader, this episode will resonate.
Available now on Apple, iHeartRadio, and Spotify.
What does it take to lead a family business across five generations, and still keep growing?
In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, I sit down with Adria and Aaron Bagshaw of WH Bagshaw, the oldest pin manufacturer in America, to talk about legacy, reinvention, and leadership through change.
We explore how they've navigated modern challenges while honoring 150+ years of history, and how they balance tradition with innovation to lead into the next era.
This one’s packed with wisdom for any leader focused on sustaining success while embracing the future.
From one embroidery machine to 1 million patches a day, Randy Carr, President & CEO of World Emblem™.shares how he scaled a family business into the world’s largest patch producer.
Listen as Melissa Verzwyvelt Saunders and I sit down with Randy Carr, CEO & President, World Emblem, the ‘World’s Largest Patch Producer’.
Randy took over his dad’s business in 1993 and grew the company from one embroidery machine to having the most embroidery machines in the world— 4,250 to be exact.
For over thirty years, World Emblem has been the “go-to” for emblems and patches for sports headwear, footwear, garments, and other apparel, with an output of 1 million emblems a day—50% of which are made and shipped on the same day. Customers include Cintas, Levi’s, Perry Ellis, among many others.
Want to become the brand your customers can’t live without?
It’s not just about what you sell - it’s how you make people feel. Join special guest John R. DiJulius III, Chief Revolution Officer at The The DiJulius Group, on the next episode of The Journey to CEO Success hosted by Patrick Thean. John reveals how world-class brands win loyalty for life by creating unforgettable customer experiences that make competitors irrelevant.