Unmasked: The CEO Files

What Now? How to Ask For (and Receive) What You Need with Guest Dr. Ken Druck

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com

The Leadership Feedback That Changed Everything With Guest Kerry Siggins

If you’re a CEO, founder, executive, or investor navigating growth and high-stakes decisions, this episode offers powerful insight into the invisible variables shaping leadership outcomes! 🔗 Connect with Kerry Siggins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/ Check out Kerry's books by visiting these two Amazon links: 📚Talk with Trust: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GX7N175H 📚Ownership Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/Ownership-Mindset-Handbook-Transforming-Leadership/dp/1637554346/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1K46E50JIF2BT&keywords=9781637554340&qid=1686927353&sprefix=9781637554340%2Caps%2C59&sr=8-1 ____ UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with Strata Originals Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: Strata Originals Instagram: @strataoriginals

Stop Competing. Define the Category. With Guest Kevin Maney, Author, Journalist, Consultant

In this episode of Unmasked the CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Kevin Maney (journalist, author, and advisor) to unpack the art of category creation for CEOs. Kevin shares insights from his latest book, The Category Creation Formula, and explains how leaders can escape comparison, help markets see problems in new ways, and create lasting impact. Fun fact: Two years ago, one Maney hit the podcast… now the other brother is stepping in. World, are you ready for this? Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or innovator, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies to position your company uniquely and lead with clarity. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Why Category Creation Matters: Learn how CEOs can redefine markets by identifying problems no one else sees. ➡️ Breaking Free from Comparison: Stop measuring yourself against competitors and focus on the unique opportunities only you can pursue. ➡️ Educating the Market: Discover how the smartest leaders shape awareness and demand by teaching the market why their solution matters. ➡️ Courageous Leadership: Leading a new category takes guts, risk, and the confidence to stick to your vision when others hesitate. ➡️ Family, Competition & Business: Kevin shares playful stories about his brother Dave and how sibling rivalry shaped his approach to business. Tune in for insights, laughs, and practical advice on carving out your niche in any industry. 🔗 To learn more about Kevin Maney's book visit: https://www.thecategorycreationformula.com/ 🔗 Connect with Kevin Maney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmaney/ ____ UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Leadership Signal Scorecard is a 5-minute diagnostic designed for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with Strata Originals Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: Strata Originals Instagram: @strataoriginals

From Fear to Flight: Overcoming Deep Seeded Fears to Achieve Amazing Success with Patrick Sweeney

What if the fear holding you back was actually the fuel for your biggest breakthroughs? In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Patrick Sweeney - Wall Street Journal bestselling author, investor, entrepreneur, world-record athlete and globally recognized fear expert known as “The Fear Guru”. Patrick shares his incredible journey from battling rare leukemia and crippling fear, to building and exiting multiple companies, investing in dozens more and helping hundreds of leaders transform fear into peak performance. He also breaks down the foundational ideas behind his upcoming book, The Founder’s Creed, including the belief-based BOODA Doctrine™ which is a framework designed to help founders, CEOs and executive teams scale with clarity, conviction, and shared leadership signal. Whether you’re leading a startup, navigating hyper-growth or asking how to turn fear into action, this episode delivers insight and tools you can use today. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Why fear isn’t your enemy and how courageous leaders use it as fuel ➡️ Patrick’s life-altering experience with leukemia and how it reshaped his approach to leadership and risk ➡️ The BOODA Doctrine™ as the core driver of company culture and operational success ➡️ How shared belief maps and leadership alignment can turn chaos into cadence ➡️ Advice for CEOs facing fear, uncertainty and imposter syndrome in personal or professional life 🔗 Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefearguru/ 🔗 To learn more about Patrick's book visit: https://www.thefounderscreed.com/ ____

From Success to Significance with Pioneer Jeff Cullen | Unmasked: The CEO Files

In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, host Alan McLaren sits down with entrepreneur and YPO leader Jeff Cullen for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, neurodiversity, trust and building a values-based business that lasts. Jeff shares his journey from founding a Canadian logistics company at 27 to scaling it into a multinational organization across 17 countries and navigating both a painful fire-sale exit and a later, highly successful acquisition. Along the way, he opens up about living with ADHD, managing impostor syndrome, surviving financial crisis, and why leadership is less about control and more about accountability, alignment, and trust. This episode goes beyond growth metrics and exits to explore what it really means to move from success to significance, including how transparency, advisory boards, cultural accountability and a “prosperity for all” mindset can transform both people and performance. If you’re a CEO, founder, or senior leader navigating scale, pressure, or personal doubt, this conversation offers hard-earned lessons in leadership signal, resilience, and building trust at scale. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ How ADHD can become a leadership superpower - not a limitation ➡️ The shift from responsibility to accountability that transformed company culture ➡️ Lessons from a financial crisis, failed exit, and rebuilding stronger than before ➡️ Why advisory boards, trust, and listening are critical at the CEO level ➡️ How “prosperity for all” creates alignment, loyalty, and long-term performance Connect with Jeff Cullen: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-cullen-b2566a3/