The Operator's Playbook: Leadership Lessons from 16 Businesses

Leading Through Growth, Culture, and Coaching with Rich Balot

In this episode, Samii and Mitch sit down with Rich Balot, CEO of Victra, the largest Verizon Authorized Retailer in the United States. Rich shares his leadership journey, the lessons he has learned building and leading high-performing teams, and what it takes to create a culture that continues to win as organizations grow. The conversation also dives into the importance of CEO Coaching, why great leaders continue investing in themselves, and how having the right coach and trusted advisors can elevate both leadership and business performance.

From Self-Talk to Success: Leadership Insights with Case Kenny

In this episode, Samii and Mitch sit down with Case Kenny, a must-listen special guest and one of the most influential voices in mindfulness and modern leadership today. Case is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and host of the widely popular New Mindset, Who Dis? podcast, whose work has been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Forbes, and major national media outlets. This conversation is a true treat, as Case shares powerful insights on optimism as a leadership skill, the impact of language and self-talk on decision-making, and how leaders can pursue ambition without burning out. Drawing from research, real-world experience, and compelling stories, this episode delivers valuable takeaways for leaders, executives, and business owners looking to sharpen their mindset, lead with greater clarity, and navigate today’s fast-changing world with confidence and purpose.

From Founder to Scaler: Building a Business That Runs Without You

In this episode, Samii and Mitch sit down with serial entrepreneur Juan Grobler, Founder and CEO of Global Footprints, to break down what it really takes to scale a business and exit successfully. Juan shares the key lesson that changed everything: you can’t be the “magic” in your business – you have to duplicate yourself through people, systems, and culture. He also dives into his experience with multiple exits, explaining why structure, alignment, and control matter far more than valuation. Juan also touches on leadership, scaling culture, and how AI is shaping better decision-making for today’s leaders. A sharp, practical conversation for any entrepreneur building with the end in mind.

Built on Tenacity: How Grace Barnard and Daen Wombwell Turned Vision Into a Lasting Business

In this episode, Samii and Mitch sit down with Grace Barnard and Daen Wombwell, Co-Founders of NIW Companies based in Plano, TX, to share how they built a business from scratch, pushed through years of adversity, and ultimately achieved a successful exit. They dive into leadership, hiring the right people, letting go as founders, and the discipline required to scale with integrity. The conversation also highlights Daen's passion for philanthropy through Save the Redwoods League and how they have partnered with the UBS Optimus Foundation to expand awareness and impact. Listeners can also learn how to get involved, support the mission, and contribute to preserving one of the world's most important resources by contacting Saman Samii at saman.samii@ubs.com or calling 214-981-0514.

The Operator's Playbook: Leadership Lessons from 16 Businesses

In this episode, Samii and Mitch are joined by Ben Strake, Co-Founder and President of Premier M&A Advisors based in St Louis, MO. Ben shares how he successfully manages multiple companies at scale, the leadership principles that keep his teams aligned, and what separates great operators from average ones. We dive into decision-making, delegation, and the habits required to grow businesses that don’t rely on the founder for everything.