The Heart of Business

When Success Stops Measuring What Matters with Guy Spier

In this episode, I sit down with Guy Spier for one of the most honest and meaningful conversations I've had on the podcast. We explore the experiences that shaped his life—from growing up across South Africa, Israel, Iran, and the UK to discovering value investing through Warren Buffett and building Aquamarine with his father as his anchor investor. Along the way, Guy shares his perspective on leadership, why he resists the entrepreneur label, and what he's learned through communities like Entrepreneurs' Organization and Young Presidents' Organization. What makes this conversation so powerful is Guy's willingness to talk openly about receiving an incurable glioblastoma diagnosis and how it completely changed the way he measures success. We discuss suffering, meaning, and why pursuing happiness alone can leave us empty. Guy shares what it was like to close his investment fund, adjust to life after brain surgery, and rebuild a life around what truly matters instead of the traditional scorecards of money, status, and achievement. I walked away from this conversation thinking differently about how we spend our time, how we show up for the people we love, and how we define a life well lived. Guy shares simple but profound practices that help him "score points" every day—through reading, nature, movement, presence, and writing heartfelt letters to his children with the help of AI. If you've ever wondered how to find purpose through adversity or lead with greater intention, I think you'll find this conversation as impactful as I did. Please visit www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com [http://www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com]to learn more about Mo Fathelbab and International Facilitators Organization (IFO), a leading provider of facilitators and related group facilitation services, providing training, certification, marketing services, education, and community for peer group facilitators at all stages of their career.

"Charting a Course for Leadership and Innovation" with Deborah Hersman

In our latest episode, we sit down with Deborah Hersman, an emblem of dedication to transportation safety and a vanguard for gender equality in leadership roles. Her journey is nothing short of inspiring, spanning from the corridors of Congress to chairing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to the innovative realm of self-driving cars at Waymo as Chief Safety Officer. Exploring the relationship between automation, technology, and human interaction, especially as it pertains to transportation, Hersman's expertise provides a fascinating look into how our society has gradually embraced automation—from the simplicity of elevators to the complexities of driverless vehicles. She delves into the intricacies of establishing trust in automated technologies and the potential for driverless cars to revolutionize safety on our roads. Our episode concludes with a thought-provoking discussion on leadership and resilience, prompted by Hersman's experiences with unforeseen tragedies such as the recent Baltimore bridge accident. Hersman offers a masterclass in leadership, safety, and innovation. Her reflections not only highlight the transformative power of technology but also emphasize the human elements of mentorship, curiosity, and the pursuit of equity that are integral to progress in any field. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/school/growth-institute/Find Deb on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-hersman-6b821295/] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please visit www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com [http://www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com]to learn more about Mo Fathelbab and International Facilitators Organization (IFO), a leading provider of facilitators and related group facilitation services, providing training, certification, marketing services, education, and community for peer group facilitators at all stages of their career.

Aaron Moore: From Contractor to Community Architect

In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Moore, President of PPD Painting and Co-Founder of the Commercial Painting Industry Association, to explore how industry-specific peer forums transform insight into action—and relationships into a powerful retention engine. Aaron shares his journey from Chicago startup to buying out a partner, scaling a commercial painting company, and building CPIA around a forum model inspired by EO and YPO. We unpack the structure behind high-performing groups: non-competing peers across geographies, monthly virtual meetings, in-person sessions, and a deceptively simple update framework that surfaces what’s working, what’s draining energy, the best idea, the most important action—and the one thing you don’t want to talk about. The game-changer? Experience-sharing over advice. Speaking from lived wins and losses lowers defenses, accelerates learning, and drives clearer action. We also explore how forum habits migrate inside companies—leaders replacing certainty with curiosity, teams balancing KPIs with the human layer that drives execution, and members navigating ownership transitions, succession planning, and tough decisions with greater clarity and confidence. If you lead a trade, run a chapter, or want a serious leadership edge, this episode is a practical playbook for building high-trust peer groups that actually move the needle. Please visit www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com [http://www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com]to learn more about Mo Fathelbab and International Facilitators Organization (IFO), a leading provider of facilitators and related group facilitation services, providing training, certification, marketing services, education, and community for peer group facilitators at all stages of their career.

"The Art and Science of Breakthrough" with Bob Rothman

"It's perfectly okay to spiral down. The sooner you can see it, the sooner you can make the choice to go back up. That's breakthrough." Robert Rothman is the President of Gap International, has been with the company for more than thirty years, and has been instrumental in building the company to its current size and scope.  As a consultant, Mr. Rothman is a strategic partner to CEOs and C-level executives in major, multinational organizations where he leads breakthrough growth and performance initiatives. In this candid discussion with Mo Fathelbab, Bob will share his insights into the concept of creating a breakthrough environment within organizations, emphasizing the importance of understanding and cultivating the many unseen factors that shape this environment. These factors and embracing new ways of seeing challenges and setbacks can propel us to achieve remarkable feats. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Resources: Gap International [https://www.gapinternational.com/home] Please visit www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com [http://www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com]to learn more about Mo Fathelbab and International Facilitators Organization (IFO), a leading provider of facilitators and related group facilitation services, providing training, certification, marketing services, education, and community for peer group facilitators at all stages of their career.

Introducing "The Heart of Business"

We are thrilled to announce the launch of "The Heart of Business", a podcast that will explore the personal side of business. Please visit www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com [http://www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com]to learn more about Mo Fathelbab and International Facilitators Organization (IFO), a leading provider of facilitators and related group facilitation services, providing training, certification, marketing services, education, and community for peer group facilitators at all stages of their career.