CEOs and ABCs

Kevin Rice
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CEOs & ABCs is the podcast for high performers who lead at work and show up at home. Hosted by Kevin Rice, this show features candid conversations with executives, founders, and rising leaders about how they’ve advanced their careers while staying present for the moments that matter most... raising kids, building strong partnerships, and prioritizing their health. Each episode dives into executive career advice, leadership development, work-life balance, and the realities of parenting while managing demanding professional lives. Whether you’re navigating promotions, team growth, toddler tantrums, or time management, you’ll find insights and inspiration to lead with intention - both at work and at home. ️ New episodes weekly Topics: Career growth, executive mindset, parenting, burnout prevention, productivity, and more ‍‍‍ For working parents, driven professionals, and leaders building meaningful lives Subscribe now and join the journey from "boardrooms to bedtime stories."

  1. Jennifer Kattula (Microsoft, Meta, & America Express) A Conversation on: Spearheading AI at Work and at Home, Bringing Workplace Systems into the Home & Creating an Intentional Life #38

    4 days ago ·  Video

    Jennifer Kattula (Microsoft, Meta, & America Express) A Conversation on: Spearheading AI at Work and at Home, Bringing Workplace Systems into the Home & Creating an Intentional Life #38

    In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Jennifer Kattula, Global CMO of Microsoft Advertising, to explore what happens when a systems thinker applies the same rigour she uses to lead AI transformation at scale to the way she designs her family life at home. Jennifer's path to one of the most senior marketing roles in tech started in chemical engineering, wound through the early days of Meta, and landed at Microsoft, where she is now leading one of the most ambitious AI adoption programmes in enterprise marketing. But the more interesting story is what happened when she became a mother. She did not plateau. She accelerated. And she has a clear theory about why. Kevin and Jennifer dig into how she is building AI agents that save her team hundreds of hours a week, why she never starts her morning in email, and what it actually means to spend your time only on the things only you can do. Then the conversation turns to something equally ambitious: the family brand. Jennifer and her husband wrote a one-pager before they even got married, run a yearly family visioning session with wine and spreadsheets, and have built five house rules their kids can actually recite. She has since turned that entire framework into an application called House Rules, designed to help any family build their own manifesto with intention. This is a conversation about AI, ambition, design thinking, and what it looks like to treat your family with the same strategic seriousness you bring to work. In This Episode, You'll Learn: - Why the only thing that prepares you for AI disruption is getting your hands dirty with the tools now - How Jennifer is leading AI transformation at Microsoft Advertising and what enterprise adoption actually requires beyond usage numbers - What it means to spend your time only on what only you can uniquely do, at work and at home - Why becoming a mother made Jennifer more focused, not less, and how ambition and parenthood can compound - How she and her husband built a shared family vision before they got married and why they still revisit it every year - What a family brand actually is and how to build one using the same frameworks that make companies great - How the House Rules app works and why the people who have used it say they feel seen - Why structure and frameworks create more freedom, not less, especially at home - How Jennifer thinks about AI and kids: what she is protecting, what she is introducing, and what she does not have figured out yet - What robots cannot replace and why leaning into your weirdness is a genuine competitive advantage Key Takeaways: - Spend your time on what only you can uniquely do. Everything else is a delegation or outsourcing decision. - AI adoption does not equal AI effectiveness. Role-specific solutions and clean data underneath are what make it actually work. - Becoming a parent forced a focus that ambition alone never did. Constraints, used well, are a creative advantage. - Families need a brand: a mission, values, operating principles, and a shared sense of how you show up in the world. - Structure is not the enemy of presence. It is what makes presence possible. - You cannot lead a transformation you are not personally inside of. Model the behaviour, do not just mandate it. - The best question in any interview right now: what are you building? About Jennifer Kattula: Jennifer Kattula is Global CMO of Microsoft Advertising, where she leads brand, demand generation, and AI transformation across one of the world's largest advertising platforms. Before Microsoft, she spent nearly 12 years at Meta, building and scaling marketing functions from the ground up across a range of disciplines. A trained chemical engineer turned marketer, Jennifer brings systems thinking to everything she touches,... Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Jennifer's Career Journey(00:02:22) - From Chemical Engineering to Tech Marketing(00:06:25) - Learning and Building at Meta(00:09:41) - Leveraging AI for Career Growth(00:19:50) - Teaching my Kids AI(00:33:51) - Creating Family Vision and Intentionality(00:40:02) - Family as a Brand: Values and Identity(00:43:38) - Using AI at Home and in Parenting(00:43:39) - Building the House Rules App for Families(00:47:13) - Ambition, Motherhood, and Focus(00:53:30) - Closing Remarks and Future Aspirations

    54 min
  2. Becca Chambers (LinkedIn Top Creator & Scale Venture Partners), A Conversation on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Creating Safe Team Environments & Supporting Children's Unique Values &

    15 June ·  Video

    Becca Chambers (LinkedIn Top Creator & Scale Venture Partners), A Conversation on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Creating Safe Team Environments & Supporting Children's Unique Values &

    In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Becca Chambers, Chief Marketing Officer of Scale Venture Partners and one of LinkedIn's most followed voices on authentic leadership, to explore what happens when you stop trying to fit a mold that was never made for you. Becca opens with a story most high-performers will recognise but rarely say out loud: she started her career with a failed startup, a falling out with her co-founder, and a chip on her shoulder that quietly became her fuel. From there she built some of the highest-retention teams in the industry, not through metrics and mandates, but through psychological safety, a no-a******s rule, and the willingness to absorb the hard stuff so her team never had to. What makes this conversation different is where that instinct came from. Becca went to a progressive Bay Area elementary school that invented the concept of EQ and taught emotional intelligence from kindergarten on. That foundation shaped everything: how she leads, how she parents a neurodivergent son who is now one of the most self-aware kids you will ever meet, and how she thinks about building environments where people can actually show up as themselves. Kevin and Becca also get honest about the season she is in right now: too much on her plate, not enough in the tank, and still finding the pockets of presence that will actually matter. No tidy resolution. Just real. This is a conversation about authenticity, emotional intelligence, and the quiet power of building a world where round pegs do not have to apologise for being round. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why imposter syndrome is a signal that you are in exactly the right place How psychological safety gets built in practice, not in theory What a no-a******s policy actually looks like when it gets tested Why emotional labour is a leadership skill that rarely gets named or credited How one progressive elementary school taught EQ from kindergarten and why it changed everything What to do when your child's struggles force you to rethink how you define success Why neurodivergent kids, and leaders, often outperform when the environment finally fits them How to give your team and your kids autonomy without losing the guardrails Why context switching is one of the most underrated skills you can teach a child How to stay present as a parent when you are in a grinding season professionally Top Takeaways: Imposter syndrome means you are learning while doing. That is the goal. When it goes away, it is time to go bigger. Functional teams do not show up for shareholder value. They show up for each other. The shareholder value follows. Psychological safety is not a feeling. It is a decision you make every day about what you allow and what you absorb. Emotional intelligence starts with knowing yourself. Everything else is downstream from that. Your kid is not who you want them to be. They are who they are. Your job is to help them become the best version of that. Presence is not about volume of time. It is about the quality of the pockets you protect. When I say no, they know it means something. That only works if you are not saying no all the time. About Becca Chambers: Becca Chambers is Chief Marketing Officer of Scale Venture Partners and a LinkedIn Top Voice known for candid, high-engagement content on authentic leadership, psychological safety, and showing up as your whole self at work. She has built and led some of the highest-retention marketing and communications teams in the industry across cybersecurity, enterprise tech, and venture. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two kids, and is a vocal advocate for neurodivergent employees and... Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Win at Work With Imposter Syndrome(00:00:19) - CEO & ABCs: How to Build Confidence After Failure(00:01:22) - CEO and ABCs: Becca's Life(00:02:06) - You're a Round Peg in a Square Hole(00:05:19) - In the Elevator With Tim Draper(00:10:44) - Rebuilding Your Career With a PowerPoint Class(00:13:27) - In the Elevator With Impressions(00:18:50) - How to Become a Leader of People(00:24:40) - One of the Leaders' Quotes(00:27:51) - The First Priority of a Leader's Life(00:32:02) - No Hassles for Teams(00:35:17) - High EQ in the Workplace(00:41:26) - How to Get Through That First Year Of Anxiety(00:44:15) - How to Develop Your EQ Skills(00:46:34) - How To Prioritize Everything For Your Kids(00:51:27) - What Do You Want Your Kids To Remember About You?(00:53:10) - A Parent's Talk About Connecting To Himself

    54 min
  3. Shachar Orren (Co-Founder EX.CO & Playbuzz) The Personal and Professional Sacrifices of Building a Start-Up & Choosing To Delay Family

    9 June ·  Video

    Shachar Orren (Co-Founder EX.CO & Playbuzz) The Personal and Professional Sacrifices of Building a Start-Up & Choosing To Delay Family

    In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Shachar Orren, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of EX.CO, to explore what it really costs to build something from nothing and what becomes available when family arrives after you have already built yourself. Shachar spent over a decade growing EX.CO from six people to a 115-person global company, helping publishers and media companies survive and grow in an industry being reshaped by AI. That journey required years of pivots, a full rebrand, and the kind of relentless focus that leaves little room for much else. She describes EX.CO as her first child and means it. But the story behind the story is harder to tell. A marriage, a divorce, a move back to Tel Aviv, a new relationship, becoming a bonus mother to a seven-year-old, and then having her son Max at 40 while navigating a company at full tilt and a war breaking out in Israel the day after she flew home from receiving a Working Mother of the Year award. Kevin and Shachar trace the real cost of ambition, why the hustle years actually gave her something, what maternity leave forced her to confront about her leadership, and what it means to build a life on your own timeline when the world has a different plan in mind. This is a conversation about reinvention, timing, and the unexpected gift of doing things out of order. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why building a startup and building a family require the same emotional infrastructure What years of searching for product-market fit actually does to a leadership team How to know when to pivot, when to adjust, and when to stay the course What maternity leave reveals that no leadership audit ever will Why becoming a mother later gave Shachar something earlier motherhood could not have How to lead with vulnerability without losing your team's confidence What bonus motherhood teaches you about earning trust that biology does not automatically grant Why the best version of yourself as a leader and as a parent is often the same version How to carry something difficult at work without making it everyone else's problem What it looks like to build a family that does not follow the expected sequence and still works Top Takeaways: Product-market fit announces itself. When 80 to 90 percent of your calls end in yes, you have found it. Until then, keep moving. Hustle years get a bad reputation. For some people, they build the career and the confidence that makes everything else possible. A great manager makes themselves unnecessary. If everything falls apart when you leave, that is not leadership. That is dependence. Maternity leave is the most honest executive audit you will ever have. You find out what only you can do, what others can handle, and what never needed to exist. Vulnerability in leadership is not about falling apart. It is about giving people context so they can trust what they are seeing. Doing things out of order is not failure. For some people, it is the only order that was ever going to work. Confidence is what makes presence possible. Shachar could enjoy motherhood more because there was less fear underneath it. About Shachar Orren: Shachar Orren is co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of EX.CO, a video and revenue platform helping publishers and connected TV companies grow in an AI-driven media landscape. She joined the company as employee number six and helped lead the pivot and rebrand that defined its current identity. Before a decade in tech, she was a senior journalist at two of Israel's largest newspapers. She was recently recognized as Working Mother of the Year by She Runs It and splits her time between New York and Tel Aviv. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction(00:02:24) - Winning Working Mother of the Year(00:05:34) - Behind The Scenes Building EX.CO(00:11:59) - The Personal Story Behind Building a Start-up(00:16:18) - Transitioning from Journalism to Tech(00:26:30) - Personal Sacrifices and Building a Family(00:29:39) - Navigating Showing Up Fully in Difficult Times(00:34:24) - Taking Maternity Leave as a Co-Founder(00:39:30) - How Motherhood Shapes You(00:42:29) - Building a Modern Family(00:47:27) - Advice for Aspiring Executives

    50 min
  4. Matt Eisenacher (First Watch, The Piada Group, Abbott Nutrition): Modelling Priorities for Your Team, Embracing Adversity & Individualized Leadership and Parenting #35

    1 June ·  Video

    Matt Eisenacher (First Watch, The Piada Group, Abbott Nutrition): Modelling Priorities for Your Team, Embracing Adversity & Individualized Leadership and Parenting #35

    In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Matt Eisenacher, Chief Brand Officer at First Watch, to explore what it actually takes to become a leader of leaders and why the hardest part isn't learning new skills, it's letting go of old ones. Matt opens with a story most high-performers will recognise: the moment you realise your presence in the room is the problem. From removing himself from creative meetings to learning when not to give the answer, Matt shares how the leap from operator to executive demands a fundamentally different relationship with control, credit, and trust. He explains why the strongest vision is the one that makes your team feel empowered enough to fail and why stepping back is sometimes the most powerful leadership move you can make. But this conversation goes deeper than the boardroom. Matt and Kevin trace the same instinct across parenting three kids at wildly different stages, a cross-country move that upended a near-perfect life in Ohio, and a spouse who, more than once, saw what he couldn't. Whether it's reading a 17-year-old's need for space or a direct report's need for acknowledgement, Matt's core insight is the same: the people around you need different things, and your job is to figure out what that is before you try to lead them. This is a conversation about presence, permission, and the quiet discipline of knowing when to speak and when to listen. In This Episode, You'll Learn: - Why removing yourself from creative decisions is one of the most powerful leadership moves you can make - How to build psychological safety without losing accountability - The difference between setting a vision and steering the outcome - What the Florida move taught one family about adversity, resilience, and what comfort really costs - How youth sports becomes one of the best leadership classrooms available - Why the same DISC framework that shapes your team management applies directly to parenting - What modelling behaviour actually looks like and why your team is watching more closely than you think - How to read what your kids need versus what they're asking for - Why the 9 o'clock conversation is the one that matters most - What it means to let someone fail, at work and at home, and when to step in anyway Top Takeaways: - When you become a leader of leaders, your job is enabling, not doing. Most people know that. Few make the change. - If you constantly step in, the problem is usually your vision, not your team's capability. - Hide your own failures and your team has no permission to have theirs. - Your team won't follow your words. They will follow your choices. - Observe before you act. The parent and manager who does this will always outperform the one who leads with solutions. - Adversity is a gift you can give your kids. Comfort has a cost that doesn't always show up until later. - At home, efficiency is a liability. The conversation your child needs to have will not happen on your schedule. - Hard limits and guardrails are not the same thing. Knowing which one a moment calls for is most of the job. About Matt Eisenacher: Matt Eisenacher is Chief Brand Officer at First Watch, the daytime dining brand he has helped grow from 200 to over 500 locations, including through a successful IPO. Before First Watch, Matt held senior marketing and brand roles across the restaurant and food industry, building high-performing creative teams grounded in trust, clarity, and culture. Known for his directness, his instinct for talent, and his commitment to family, Matt brings the same values to his team in Bradenton that he brings home to his wife Brooke and their three children. Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Get the Team to Think Creatively(00:00:17) - How to be a Leader of Leaders(00:01:39) - First Watch's Chief Brand Officer on the Company's Growth(00:04:47) - Are You a Different Leader Today?(00:07:08) - Grow as a Leader:(00:12:18) - How Sports Affects My Daughter's Life(00:17:58) - Married Couple on The Florida Move(00:22:43) - How to Manage People's Lives(00:25:56) - Top Executives on Parenting(00:30:28) - Employees Share Their Values at First Watch(00:35:06) - Dad on How to Parent Different Kids(00:41:14) - Senior Leaders: Model the Behavior(00:46:36) - The Importance of Family Time(00:47:32) - How Do You Want Your Kids To Feel About You?(00:51:18) - CEO and ABCs: Balancing Work and Family

    52 min
  5. Eliot Hamlisch (Amtrak, AMC Theatres & Wyndham Hotels) How To Be Promoted Every Two Years, The Cost of Comfort Zones & Staying Connected with Family During Travel Seasons

    26 May ·  Video

    Eliot Hamlisch (Amtrak, AMC Theatres & Wyndham Hotels) How To Be Promoted Every Two Years, The Cost of Comfort Zones & Staying Connected with Family During Travel Seasons

    In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Eliot Hamlisch, Chief Commercial Officer at Amtrak, to explore what it really means to lead with humanity, at work and at home. From transforming customer experience at some of the world’s biggest brands to raising two children while balancing a demanding executive career, Eliot shares the mindset shifts, rituals, and values that have shaped both his leadership and fatherhood. Together they unpack why success without happiness isn’t success at all, how to compartmentalize work to become more present with family, and why some of the best leaders are simply great listeners. Eliot also reflects on career-defining moments that pushed him far beyond his comfort zone, including being unexpectedly asked to lead teams and functions he’d never managed before. This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, optimism, parenting, resilience, and building a life you actually enjoy living. In this episode: Why customer experience starts with understanding human psychology The surprising rituals Eliot uses to stay connected to his children while travelling How to compartmentalize work and be fully present at home The importance of helping children build resilience through adversity Why making your boss’s life easier accelerates career growth Lessons from leading transformation at legacy brands like Amtrak The power of optimism and choosing happiness as a measure of success How ambitious professionals can pursue balance without sacrificing family Key Takeaways: The work will always be there. Presence with family won’t. Happiness may be the most important definition of success. Growth often comes from saying yes before you feel fully ready. Children learn values less from what we say and more from what we consistently model. Leadership at home and leadership at work require many of the same skills: listening, patience, empathy, and resilience. About Eliot Hamlisch: Eliot Hamlisch is the Chief Commercial Officer at Amtrak, where he is leading a customer experience transformation rooted in hospitality and human connection. Throughout his career, including leadership roles at American Express, Wyndham, AMC Theatres, and Deloitte, he has built a reputation for understanding consumer psychology, driving growth, and leading through change. Chapters (00:00:00) - Guest Background and Introduction(00:02:29) - Customer-Centric Leadership at Amtrak(00:08:22) - Navigating Career Growth and Promotions(00:11:13) - Balancing Work and Family Life(00:13:32) - Compartmentalizing Work and Family(00:23:24) - Preparing Children for Success(00:28:26) - Career Growth and Mobility(00:33:52) - The Source of Drive and Ambition(00:39:57) - Instilling Values in Children(00:42:54) - Self-Care and Maintaining Optimism(00:46:41) - Finding Balance in Life

    50 min
  6. Rachel Wallis Andreasson (PepsiCo. & Wallis Companies) A Conversation on: Generational Business, A New Age of Leadership & The Sixth Level #33

    19 May ·  Video

    Rachel Wallis Andreasson (PepsiCo. & Wallis Companies) A Conversation on: Generational Business, A New Age of Leadership & The Sixth Level #33

    What if the future of leadership isn’t about control, authority, or climbing higher… but about creating environments where people genuinely feel seen, trusted, and valued? In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Rachel Wallis Andreasson, former CEO of a multi-billion-dollar family business, leadership expert, and author of The Sixth Level. Rachel shares her extraordinary journey from working outside her family company at PepsiCo, to eventually leading Wallis Companies, a business founded by her father that grew from one gas station on Route 66 into a billion-dollar enterprise. Rachel opens up about the realities of succession in family business, navigating grief after losing key leaders, stepping into the CEO role, and ultimately making the difficult decision to step away for the greater good of the company’s future. Together, Kevin and Rachel explore why traditional command-and-control leadership is failing, how trust and transparency create resilient organizations, and why the same principles that build thriving workplaces also create stronger families and deeper parent-child relationships. This conversation is filled with wisdom on leadership, parenting, legacy, emotional capacity, and the simple human skills we often forget matter most. If you lead a business, a team, or a family, this episode will challenge how you think about success. In This Episode: Why Rachel chose to work outside her family business before joining leadership The surprising lessons she learned cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors at Taco Bell Growing a family business from one gas station to over $1.5 billion in revenue The emotional reality of stepping into, and stepping away from, the CEO role How family business succession impacts leadership and legacy The four conditions behind Rachel’s Sixth Level leadership framework Why psychological safety, transparency, and trust create stronger organizations How leadership principles apply directly to parenting and family life The importance of emotional capacity and filling your own bucket first Building cultures, at work and home, where people want to stay Key Takeaways: Great leadership starts with connection, not control. People thrive when they feel trusted, cared for, and heard. Transparency creates resilience during uncertainty and change. The same principles that build exceptional teams also strengthen families. Leadership is stewardship, whether at work or at home. Sometimes protecting a legacy means having the courage to step away. About Rachel Wallis Andreasson: Rachel Wallis Andreasson spent over two decades in leadership roles at Wallis Companies, a family-owned fuel and convenience business founded by her father. After rising through multiple roles across the organization, she became CEO in 2017. Today, Rachel is an author, speaker, and advocate for a new leadership paradigm focused on trust, care, mutuality, and human potential through her framework, The Sixth Level. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Context(00:01:07) - The Sixth Level Framework(00:02:12) - Leadership Lessons from Family Business(00:17:47) - Core Principles of the Sixth Level(00:20:47) - Transitioning Leadership Styles(00:22:54) - The Importance of Justness and Transparency(00:25:07) - Building a Thriving Culture(00:27:51) - Resilience in Leadership(00:28:45) - Incentivizing Connection and Care(00:30:01) - Real-World Applications of the Framework(00:31:36) - Conclusion and Future Outlook(00:33:14) - The Flywheel of Leadership and Connection(00:35:41) - Parenting Through Leadership Principles(00:38:57) - Rituals and Family Bonds(00:42:37) - Involving Children in Career Conversations(00:45:24) - Stewardship in Leadership(00:45:45) - Starting Conversations for Connection

    51 min
  7. Camille Hymes (Smoothie King, Starbucks, Jack In The Box, ExxonMobile) The Power of a Career Pause, How to be a Better Leader & Creating Presence at Home #032

    11 May ·  Video

    Camille Hymes (Smoothie King, Starbucks, Jack In The Box, ExxonMobile) The Power of a Career Pause, How to be a Better Leader & Creating Presence at Home #032

    In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Camille Hymes, former Chief Operating Officer of Smoothie King and former executive leader at Starbucks, Jack in the Box, and ExxonMobil, to explore what it means to lead with intention, both at work and at home. Camille shares how a deeply personal mission statement became the compass for her career: “to live in peace and bliss and to help others succeed beyond what they ever imagined.” From navigating executive leadership roles at some of the world’s most recognizable brands to raising a family through constant relocations, career transitions, and personal tragedy, Camille reflects on the moments that reshaped her definition of success. Now in what she calls a “power pause” between roles for the first time in her career, Camille opens up about learning to slow down, reconnect with her family, and become more intentional about the opportunities she says yes, and no, to. Kevin and Camille also discuss executive coaching, building a personal board of advisors, the importance of presence, and how leadership rooted in humanity creates stronger teams, cultures, and families. This is a conversation about ambition, grief, service, leadership, and the courage to align your life with what matters most. In this episode • Camille’s journey from ExxonMobil to the C-suite at Smoothie King • How her personal mission statement guides her decisions • Why she chose to take a “power pause” between leadership roles • Learning to say no to opportunities that don’t align with purpose • The role executive coaching played in her growth as a leader • Building a personal “board of directors” for support and guidance • Navigating motherhood while leading at major global brands • How the loss of her daughter transformed her understanding of presence Key takeaways • A clear personal mission statement creates clarity in both life and career • Leadership is less about authority and more about service to others • Presence is a practice and small rituals can create meaningful connection • Executive coaching can accelerate both personal and professional growth • Great cultures are built through humanity, not just performance metrics • You don’t have to do everything alone, it truly takes a village • Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause and reflect • Saying no becomes easier when you know your purpose About the guest Camille Hymes is a transformational executive leader and former Chief Operating Officer of Smoothie King. Over her career, she has held senior leadership roles at Starbucks, Jack in the Box, and ExxonMobil, leading large-scale operations, culture transformation, and organizational growth. Known for her people-first leadership style, Camille is passionate about helping others succeed beyond what they imagined possible. She also serves on the boards of Reading Is Fundamental and Blessings in a Backpack, supporting children’s literacy and nutrition initiatives. Charitable Organisations that Camille Supports: https://secure.rif.org/page/97851/donate/1 https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/category/donating/  Chapters (00:00:00) - CEO and ABCs: How to Lead(00:00:39) - CEO and ABCs(00:01:55) - Steve Kroffat on His Sabbatical(00:04:26) - Power Prison: Saying No to Opportunities(00:10:22) - The Mission of Service(00:12:32) - The Professional Journey of ExxonMobil's Women(00:15:16) - In the Elevator With ExxonMobil's(00:18:54) - Being More Present With Your Child(00:23:27) - Jack in the Box CEO on Why He Left ExxonMobil(00:25:40) - When Did Leadership Become More About Service than Appointment?(00:27:52) - How to Stay Connected With Your Family(00:29:46) - In the Elevator With Co-workers(00:32:08) - The Personal Element of Company Culture(00:35:57) - Why I Left Starbucks for Domino's(00:37:14) - In the Elevator With Starbucks'(00:39:44) - In the Elevator With Smoothie King's Executive Team(00:41:59) - Tom Cruise on His Strengths and Weaknesses(00:45:21) - Bringing People Along(00:47:55) - Kevin McKinnon on His Next Chapter(00:49:15) - Nonprofits that support literacy and nutrition

    52 min
  8. Karen Robinovitz (SlooMoo Institute, & Digital Brand Architects) Overcoming grief, loss and disappear and creating businesses built for joy #031

    5 May ·  Video

    Karen Robinovitz (SlooMoo Institute, & Digital Brand Architects) Overcoming grief, loss and disappear and creating businesses built for joy #031

    In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Karen Robinovitz, co-founder of Sloomoo Institute, to explore a journey that moves from pioneering the creator economy to rebuilding a life through something as simple and powerful as play. Karen was early to everything, journalism, digital media, and influencer marketing, helping shape how brands and creators work together today. But behind that success was a period of profound personal loss that left her unable to function for over a year. She shares how an unexpected moment—sitting on the floor playing with slime, became a turning point. What started as a small escape turned into a path back to joy, presence, and ultimately, purpose. That moment became the foundation for Sloomoo Institute, an immersive experience designed to reconnect people to play, creativity, and emotional wellbeing. Kevin and Karen explore the deeper meaning behind play, why so many adults lose access to it, and what it actually costs us personally and professionally. They also connect it to leadership, parenting, and performance, showing how joy, creativity, and presence aren’t distractions, they’re advantages. This is a conversation about grief, reinvention, and the courage to build something meaningful from the most unexpected place. In this episode • How Karen went from journalist to building one of the first influencer agencies • Spotting the future of digital, creators, and commerce before it existed • The hidden personal struggles behind outward success • Navigating profound loss, grief, and a complete life reset • How a moment of play sparked healing and a new business idea • The origin and rapid growth of Sloomoo Institute • Why play isn’t just for kids and what adults lose without it • The science behind sensory experiences, joy, and nervous system regulation • Building a brand rooted in purpose, inclusion, and emotional wellbeing • Expanding Sloomoo into a full-scale universe (products, storytelling, and more) Key takeaways • Success doesn’t follow a straight line, but patterns make sense in hindsight • Innovation often looks like “crazy” before it becomes obvious • You can be thriving professionally while struggling deeply personally • Joy and play are not indulgences, they’re essential for wellbeing and performance • Sensory experiences can be powerful tools for healing and emotional regulation • The best businesses don’t just sell products, they create transformation • Reconnecting with your inner child can unlock creativity, presence, and clarity • Sometimes the smallest, simplest moments (like play) can change everything About the guest Karen Robinovitz is the co-founder of Sloomoo Institute, an immersive, sensory experience designed to deliver joy through hands-on play. Before Sloomoo, Karen was a journalist and co-founded Digital Brand Architects (DBA), one of the first influencer marketing agencies, helping shape the creator economy as we know it today. Her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, brand building, and cultural insight, but her most meaningful work came from turning personal healing into a mission-driven business focused on joy, inclusion, and mental wellbeing. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction(00:00:48) - CEO and ABCs: Karen Robinowitz(00:01:55) - Sloomoo Institute: In the Slime Museum(00:03:45) - Inventing the Influencer Agency(00:10:46) - What Influencer Marketing Is Really About(00:16:24) - How to Build a Successful Career While Being Present at Home(00:23:50) - How Slime Helped My Friend's Daughter(00:36:34) - "Your Inner Voice"(00:37:20) - The Hardest Part of Starting a Business(00:40:19) - Sloomoo: From Book to Graphic Novel(00:44:35) - Reactivating Your Inner Child With Slime

    49 min
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About

CEOs & ABCs is the podcast for high performers who lead at work and show up at home. Hosted by Kevin Rice, this show features candid conversations with executives, founders, and rising leaders about how they’ve advanced their careers while staying present for the moments that matter most... raising kids, building strong partnerships, and prioritizing their health. Each episode dives into executive career advice, leadership development, work-life balance, and the realities of parenting while managing demanding professional lives. Whether you’re navigating promotions, team growth, toddler tantrums, or time management, you’ll find insights and inspiration to lead with intention - both at work and at home. ️ New episodes weekly Topics: Career growth, executive mindset, parenting, burnout prevention, productivity, and more ‍‍‍ For working parents, driven professionals, and leaders building meaningful lives Subscribe now and join the journey from "boardrooms to bedtime stories."

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Rice
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    CEOs and ABCs

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