PODCAST · business
Success Beneath the Surface
by Deborah S. Fell
This podcast is aimed at helping CEOs dig beneath the surface to find new pathways to increased profitability and value. Host Deborah Fell will seek to unlock unexpected insights in each episode that can become questions and approaches to challenge and inspire leadership teams and provide immediately actionable solutions to unlock growth.With so many voices offering “hot tips” and “how to’s” for growing your business and team, it’s hard to know what’s worth listening to. Deborah brings simple, immediately actionable strategies and growth hacks through inspirational stories and real-world experiences that can help design enduring profit into any business plan.
Episodes
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EP126: Why the Best CEOs Treat Every Employee Like a Volunteer
John D. Smith has led turnarounds across nine industries, from consumer retail to Caesars Entertainment, where he moved from retail executive to resort CEO in under five months. Raised in the Philadelphia projects and later a Harvard Business School graduate, Smith joins Deborah Fell to trace how...
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EP125: Ravi Venkatesan on Moonshots, Disruption, and the AI Threshold
Ravi Venkatesan took Cantaloupe from nearly $400 million in accumulated losses to profitability in three years, grew the stock from $2.75 to $11.20, and is now completing a take-private exit. Before all of that, he tried to make it as a cruise ship chef and spent four years playing guitar in jazz...
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EP124: Two Companies, One Marriage, and a Book About Almost Losing It Al
Nancy and Ron Bogart have been married since 1989, started their first business together in 1992, and somewhere along the way figured out something most business owners spend decades chasing: how to build something real and keep it going. Nancy is the founder and CEO of Jordan Essentials, a...
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EP123: Strategy Without Empathy Is a Wasted Idea
Brian Garish started at 16, stocking shelves and mopping floors at a Walgreens in Indianapolis. He was not thinking about a career. He just wanted financial independence from his parents. Decades later, he is the Global Chief Client Officer for Mars Veterinary Health, overseeing more than 3,000...
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EP122: Every Four or Five Years Something Will Try to Break You
Gene Holtzman didn't start out in staffing. He started in the South Bronx, working with drug addicts and unemployed people in the late 1970s, building nonprofits and figuring out how to help people find work. When Reagan-era budget cuts pulled the rug out in 1982, he had a decision to make. He…
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EP121: The Loneliest Job in the World and How to Thrive in It
What does it take to build a fintech company from five people to 2,000 — entirely from scratch, then through strategic acquisition — without ever making excuses for the macro environment? David Johnson, CEO and Founder of Vervent, sat down with Deborah Fell to answer exactly that. David’s path...
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EP120: Trade Schools Died and Manufacturing Is Paying the Price
Kevin Stevick, CEO of RH Shepard, shares hard-won wisdom from 40 years in manufacturing: your people aren't a cost center—they're your competitive advantage. In this conversation with Deborah Fell, Kevin breaks down why the most successful private equity leaders treat workforce investment exactly...
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EP119: The Jagged Edge of AI and Why 95% of Pilots Fail and How to Beat the Odds
Dan Hou didn't plan to become an AI consultant by accident. After getting "professionally bamboozled" by the iPhone launch while working at Motorola, he made himself a promise: catch the next technology wave, but this time, own the outcome. That decision led to Eskridge, an AI consultancy built...
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EP118: The Venture Studio Model That Launched 285 Companies
Michael Poisel left a successful venture capital career in the United States to become Executive Director of the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre. His mission is transforming Australia's economy through innovation and company creation. After launching 285 companies at the University of...
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EP117: How One CEO Cleaned Up His Cap Table in Six Months
Thomas Jensen didn't leave university research to make more money. He left because he wanted to make a real difference for cancer patients. After 20+ years in oncology and biotech, he's doing exactly that as CEO and co-founder of Allarity Therapeutics. The company he built centers on a radical...
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EP116:The $100 Million Decision - Choosing Patient Outcomes Over Private Equity
When surgeons stop your heart during surgery, who keeps you alive? That's where Chet Czaplicka comes in. This Detroit native went from ICU nurse to building the world's largest perfusion company—but not the way you'd think. After seeing post-op cardiac patients in the ICU, Chet asked one simple...
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EP115: Beyond Recruiting: How One Family-Run Staffing Firm Evolved into Global Workforce Solutions
What if the very challenges dividing our society could become the force that brings us together? In a thought-provoking episode of Success Beneath the Surface, Brett Howroyd, President of ActOne Group, shares a counterintuitive perspective on how economic pressures are creating unexpected unity...
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EP114: The Red Tape Crisis: A Cancer Care CEO's Fight for Patient Access
What happens when personal tragedy becomes professional purpose? In this powerful episode, Christine Verini, CEO of CancerCare, shares her extraordinary 30-year journey from mixing chemotherapy as a pharmacist to leading one of the nation's most impactful cancer support organizations. Sparked by...
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EP113: The 90% Rule - How Much of Yourself to Show as a Leader
This conversation will challenge everything you think you know about leadership identity. Deborah Fell sits down with powerhouse CEO Ticki Favaroth, a faith-driven leader who has mastered the art of showing up authentically while building multiple successful enterprises. Ticki doesn't mince…
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EP112: How Great Leaders Create More Footprints, Not Bigger Shoes
What if I told you the most successful CEOs I've interviewed this quarter share one counterintuitive trait? They don't try to be the smartest person in the room. From architecture to military leadership to digital transformation, the pattern is unmistakable. Looking back at this quarter's most...
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EP111: Why the Key to Rapid Growth is Subtraction
In this powerful commentary episode, Deborah Fell reflects on her recent conversation with Jeff Grass and the stark reality facing mid-market businesses today. Drawing from hundreds of CEO conversations, she reveals why some companies thrive during crisis while others struggle for years—or don't...
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EP110: From 95% Revenue Loss to $100M - A Comeback Blueprint
Deborah Fell sits down with Jeff Grass, CEO and co-founder of Hungry Marketplace, to explore how exceptional leadership and company culture can turn a 95% revenue loss into a thriving business. Jeff shares the remarkable story of how Hungry Marketplace—a food tech platform connecting local chefs...
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EP109: Activities vs. Outcomes: Why Most Teams Miss the Mark
There's a fundamental difference between being busy and being effective. You can have a team that hits every activity metric and checks off every box—but if revenue isn't growing, are they really succeeding? This week's commentary explores a powerful shift: moving from loyalty-based cultures to...
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EP108: The Process Approach to Leadership
Twenty years ago, when Carolyn Lagarmasini launched her association management company as fully virtual, industry veterans said it was impossible. Today, her company spans 13 states with 26 employees, and COVID proved she was decades ahead. "I once had a coach who said, the minute you start to...
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EP107: Not the Shoes, But the Footprints: Redefining CEO Leadership
Deborah Fell reflects on one of the most powerful leadership insights from her conversation with Jonathan Moody: the radical humility of a CEO who built his success by recognizing he didn't need to be the central force driving everything. When Jonathan became CEO of Moody Nolan in January 2020,...
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EP106: THE LONG HANDOFF Leadership Lessons from Moody Nolan's Decade of Transition
Jonathan Moody, CEO of Moody Nolan—recognized by Fast Company as one of the world's most innovative architecture firms—reveals the decade-long succession journey that positioned him to lead just before the pandemic struck. "More time is better," Jonathan reflects on the gradual handoff from his...
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EP105: Reflected Light: Leading Through Your People
In this week's commentary, Deborah Fell explores the wisdom from her conversation with Rear Admiral Brian "Lex" Luther on leading through change. "The balance of leadership is hard," Deborah notes, "with internal issues, external forces, and human complexity creating cloudy challenges." Yet Lex's...
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EP104: Navy Leadership Principles in a 145-Year-Old Startup
Deborah Fell sits down with Brian "Lex" Luther, whose distinguished naval career equipped him with the unique perspective that revolutionized Navy Mutual. "The principles that guide a naval officer—discipline, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to mission—translate remarkably well to...
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EP103: The Power of Humble Listening in Leadership
In last week's conversation with Ryan Frederick, Principal of Transform Labs, we explored the delicate balance between expertise and humility. Ryan shares how the companies that failed in his experience often stumbled due to assumption-driven leadership rather than curiosity-driven validation. "I...
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EP102: Client-Centered Technology Why Your Tech Advisor Shouldn't Be Selling Solutions
Deborah Fell connects with Ryan Frederick of Transform Labs about strategic technology implementation. Ryan positions his firm as independent advisors rather than product reps, ensuring "our advice to clients is in the best interest of the client." Ryan captures the uncertainty many CEOs face…
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EP101: Success Beneath the Surface: Leadership Insights from Q1 2025
Success Beneath the Surface: Leadership Insights from Q1 2025 Welcome to our curated collection of the most impactful conversations from the first quarter of 2025. This playlist features transformative discussions with leaders who have mastered the art of building thriving organizations through...
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Grit, Not Glory: 100 Episodes of Uncovering True Leadership
Welcome to the 100th episode of Success Beneath the Surface. This is a podcast where we dig into what lies beneath the surface of a CEO's success, your success, and insights deeply rooted at times in family, beliefs, or a drive that's just always been there. Our top downloaded episodes include...
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EP99: Workplace Wisdom - Culture Creep and Generational Bridges
This commentary features Carl Satterwhite, President and Owner of RCF Group. This segment focuses on the evolving workplace landscape. Carl shares his unique observations on post-pandemic challenges, multigenerational workforces, and the often-overlooked phenomenon of "culture creep." His...
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EP98: Guided Vision - Where Faith Meets Business Leadership
Deborah welcomes Carl Satterwhite, President and Owner of RCF Group, a unique commercial furniture, architectural interiors, and facility services company operating in all 50 states and over 20 countries. Carl shares his remarkable journey from managing "all the other stuff" at Procter & Gamble…
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EP97: The ROI of Human Connection - Beyond Networking to Lasting Partnerships
In a world obsessed with ROI and KPIs, the most valuable asset might be sitting across from you at lunch. This bonus conversation between Deborah Fell and Harold Green reveals something we often overlook in our digital-first world. What stands out in this conversation is the genuine human...
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EP96: Making Carbon Reduction Measurable and Meaningful
In our conversation with Harold Green, one theme resonated particularly strongly: business evolution requires building on past experience while constantly looking forward. After nearly five decades in the paving and recycling industries, Harold has turned his attention to helping companies…
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EP95: How CEOs Can Begin Their Ecopreneur Evolution
In today's business landscape, environmental consciousness isn't just about doing good—it's becoming a business imperative. Deborah Fell interviews Harold Green, CEO of Global Emissionairy, a business leader who has blended entrepreneurship with environmental stewardship throughout his career....
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EP94: The Growth Imperative - Aligning Sales and Marketing for Mid-Market Success
In today's volatile business landscape, the alignment between Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Chief Sales Officers (CSOs) isn't just a nice-to-have—it's critical for sustainable growth. Deborah Fell dives deep into why this partnership is more crucial than ever for mid-market companies.…
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EP93 Q4 Roundup: The Top 10 Leadership Insights from Success Beneath the Surface
Leadership is a craft—refined through experience, challenge, and continuous growth. This past quarter, Success Beneath the Surface brought together some of the most dynamic CEOs and business minds to explore what it takes to lead with impact. From James Hyman’s masterclass on corporate…
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EP92: Culture Carries On - When a Team Rises to Support New Leadership
Deborah Fell recounts a chance meeting with J. Nicole Martin-Lawton, CEO of Phoenix Language Services, during an Amtrak service disruption. What started as strangers standing together in a crowded café car turned into an enlightening conversation about leadership and resilience. Nicole had…
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EP91: Rising from the Ashes: A Daughter's Journey from Heir to Leader
When J. Nicole Martin Lawton suddenly became CEO of Phoenix Language Services in May 2020, it was under extraordinary circumstances. Not only was the world grappling with a global pandemic, but she had just returned from maternity leave with her second child when her father, company founder Bill...
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EP90: When Leadership Feels Like Going Slower to Go Faster
What happens when a hard-charging CEO realizes their leadership style is holding back their organization's potential? In this commentary on last week's conversation with Scott Jackson of Global Impact, we explore the counterintuitive truth about scaling impact. Sometimes, the fastest path forward...
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EP89: Take Me With You: How a CEO's Early Lessons in Trust Shape Modern Leadership
When Scott Jackson says his role as CEO of Global Impact is to be a 'follower of leaders,' he challenges conventional thinking about executive leadership. In our conversation, he explains how this counterintuitive approach—empowering others while providing crucial behind-the-scenes support—has...
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EP88: Take No Prisoners Path of Entrepreneurship
In this commentary, Deborah Fell examines the psychology of entrepreneurship, drawing from her conversation with Net at Work Co-Founder and Co-CEO Eddie Solomon. Through stories of infrastructure pioneers, transformational leaders, and second-generation successors, she reveals how true...
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EP87: Why This Successful Family Business Said No to Nepotism
In this episode, we sit down with Eddie Solomon, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Net at Work, a technology services company he started with his brother in 1996. From their humble beginnings as Russian-Ukrainian immigrants in Brooklyn to building a thriving enterprise serving over 5,000 businesses, Eddie...
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EP86: Humble Leadership Between the Ceiling and the Net
A lot of CEOs talk about humility, but it's rare to meet one who truly embodies it. Last week, I spoke with Ray Hatch, CEO of Quest Resources Holding Corporation, and what struck me most wasn't his impressive track record - it was his genuine humility in action. His philosophy that "I have...
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EP85: Breaking the Consensus Trap in Leadership
Trust versus faith — it's a distinction that Ray Hatch, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Quest Resource Holding Corporation, explores with a refreshing candor in this conversation with Deborah Fell. Drawing from his unique journey from food distribution to waste management and...
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EP84: Bridging Loss and Life through Healthcare's Silent Innovations
In healthcare, some of the most impactful organizations work quietly behind the scenes, touching countless lives without widespread recognition. MTF Biologics, led by CEO Joe Yaccarino, is one such organization. Their work in tissue donation and medical biologics represents a profound cycle of…
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EP83: Heroes at Every Level of Healthcare Innovation
In healthcare innovation, success isn't just about breakthrough technology or market leadership - sometimes, it requires heroes at every level. Today's conversation with Joe Yaccarino, CEO of MTF Biologics, reveals how one of the world's largest tissue banks has built an organization where heroic...
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EP82: The Unexpected Impact of a Company Picnic
Deborah Fell reflects on her powerful conversation with Jeff Ostenso, CEO of Ironmark, and her chance encounter with another second-generation CEO during an extended train delay. These interactions highlight a crucial reality: family-owned businesses form the backbone of the American economy,...
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EP81: How Teaching the Game of Business Built an Empire
From delivery truck driver at 18 to CEO of an $80M company - Jeff Ostenso shares how he transformed his father's printing business into a modern marketing powerhouse. After 38 years and 16 acquisitions, he reveals the unconventional leadership approach that helped him retain employees and acquire...
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EP80: The Patient Professional: Clay Spitz on Sustainable Business Development
Last week marked the conclusion of our three-part series featuring Clay Spitz, recently retired Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at Chief Outsiders. Over my nine years with the firm, I've had the privilege of watching Clay in action – he's always been a class act, the kind of leader…
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EP79: The Art of the Long Game: Clay Spitz's Parting Wisdom
At this conclusion of our three-part conversation, we join Clay Spitz and Deborah Fell as they reflect on Clay's remarkable journey with Chief Outsiders and his transition into the next chapter of his career. What begins as a discussion about business lessons learned evolves into a heartfelt...
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Ep78: The Power of Being Intentional - Top 10 Episodes 24Q3
This is a quarterly recap of our top episodes. You'll hear some of the highlights from several guests. From Bob Rhoda, CEO of Hemisonics, a medical device technology company, to Colleen Vassalette, CEO of landscape design firm Intrigue Design, Ryan P. Clark, co-founder and CEO of staffing and...
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EP77: The Hidden Rewards of Professional Missteps
This episode delves into the critical career decisions that shaped these business leaders' paths. Clay candidly shares his experience of leaving Telecheck after 9/11 and buying a business - a decision he calls his "biggest failure" and "most costly mistake." He opens up about the financial...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This podcast is aimed at helping CEOs dig beneath the surface to find new pathways to increased profitability and value. Host Deborah Fell will seek to unlock unexpected insights in each episode that can become questions and approaches to challenge and inspire leadership teams and provide immediately actionable solutions to unlock growth.With so many voices offering “hot tips” and “how to’s” for growing your business and team, it’s hard to know what’s worth listening to. Deborah brings simple, immediately actionable strategies and growth hacks through inspirational stories and real-world experiences that can help design enduring profit into any business plan.
HOSTED BY
Deborah S. Fell
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Success Beneath the Surface have?
Success Beneath the Surface currently has 126 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Success Beneath the Surface about?
This podcast is aimed at helping CEOs dig beneath the surface to find new pathways to increased profitability and value. Host Deborah Fell will seek to unlock unexpected insights in each episode that can become questions and approaches to challenge and inspire leadership teams and provide...
How often does Success Beneath the Surface release new episodes?
Success Beneath the Surface publishes regularly with 126 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Success Beneath the Surface?
You can listen to Success Beneath the Surface on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Success Beneath the Surface?
Success Beneath the Surface is created and hosted by Deborah S. Fell.
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