The Hardest Part of Leadership Is the Pressure | The Scaling CEO Podcast

The State of AI for CEOs (June 2026)

The signal this month is clear. The companies winning with AI have stopped running pilots and started scaling what pays. New data shows that 80% of enterprises running AI agents now report measurable return. Firms stuck on chatbots fall behind. The difference comes down to execution. This month McKinsey told CEOs to move past productivity demos and ask a harder question: how will AI change the economics of your business? IBM found that companies redesigning core functions around AI are four times more likely to hit their goals. The message to the corner office is blunt. AI is now a board-level value lever, and your P&L is where the proof lives. I host The Scaling CEO podcast. I just finished interviews with 19 leaders across industrial manufacturing, software, and private equity backed hospitality. They have settled the question of whether AI works. Now they decide faster, scale what pays, and kill what stalls. Here are the five things they do to drive ROI and protect their lead.

Your Business Breaks Where You're Weak | The Scaling CEO Podcast

In this episode, I talk with Ross Meglathery, CEO of Integra Tech and former Marine Corps officer, about leadership under pressure and what CEOs get wrong when scaling companies. Ross explains why leaders fail when they refuse to acknowledge their weak spots, how military leadership shaped his approach to business, and why building trust matters more than authority. We also discuss operational discipline, company culture, AI in business operations, and how CEOs can build resilient teams during periods of rapid growth.

Your Strength Can Become Your Biggest Blind Spot | The Scaling CEO Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Epstein, CEO of Structured and former executive at SuccessFactors, ServiceMax, and Freshworks, to talk about the realities of scaling as a CEO. Stacey shares the leadership lessons she learned moving from CMO to CEO, why founders often neglect the areas they think they already understand, and how culture changes as companies grow fast. We also discuss AI, partner ecosystems, leadership pressure, scaling teams, and why AI should act as a thought partner, not a replacement for people.

The Hardest Part of Leadership Is the Pressure | The Scaling CEO Podcast

In this episode, I talk with Steve Harmon about the hidden pressure that comes with leadership. Steve shares lessons from scaling a family business into a multi-company operation managing millions of square feet of industrial space. We discuss stress management for CEOs, leading with culture, balancing growth with people leadership, building service businesses, and how AI is increasing productivity across operations and logistics.

Stop Using Data to Prove Yourself Right | The Scaling CEO Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Tharp to explore how great leaders actually use data. Matt explains why many teams misuse metrics to defend their opinions instead of uncovering problems. We also discuss behavioral design, product-led growth, scaling remote teams, adapting leadership styles, onboarding experiences powered by AI, and what founders can learn from building companies in rapidly changing industries.