The Breakout CEO

Jeff Holman
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The Breakout CEO podcast brings you candid conversations with scaling CEOs at leadership & strategic inflection points. Each episode is a curated interview that explores the mindset, strategy, and pivotal decisions driving breakthrough success for high-growth companies ($5MM-$50MM+). Jeff Holman is the host of The Breakout CEO podcast and the founder of Intellectual Strategies, where he works closely with CEOs and leadership teams of scaling companies on strategy, governance, and risk during periods of rapid growth. Jeff has spent years inside the decision-making rooms of growth-stage companies, helping leaders navigate moments when complexity increases, tradeoffs become unavoidable, and the cost of misalignment rises. He brings a peer-level perspective shaped by that experience, focusing conversations on the inflection points that materially change a company’s trajectory. The Breakout CEO podcast reflects his approach with candid, operator-level discussions centered on real decisions rather than retrospective storytelling or promotion. Guest Participation - We feature a limited number of CEOs leading scaling companies with meaningful, first-hand breakout moments. If you believe your story would add value for an audience of scaling CEOs, please apply here: https://go.intellectualstrategies.com/ Media & Event Partnerships - For press access, on-site recording, or event collaboration inquiries, please contact us. We record a limited number of on-site conversations at select events with CEOs and founders whose stories align with the podcast’s focus on leadership, strategy, and execution.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    33 - The Decision That Separates CEOs Who Quit From Those Who Rebuild

    Scaling doesn’t usually fail because of a bad product. It fails because focus erodes slowly, one customer, one feature, one exception at a time. In this episode, Keith Norris shares the decisions that nearly broke his company and the hard reset that followed. From serving too many customers across too many industries to running multiple products that were effectively separate businesses, this is a candid look at how complexity quietly compounds until a CEO is forced to choose. He also walks through a rarely discussed phase of company building; pulling back from overextension, navigating painful investor conversations, and deliberately choosing simplicity over sprawl. Rather than offering growth hacks or frameworks, Keith explains how real CEO decisions get made under pressure when capital structure changes; incentives break, and survival matters more than optics. This episode is about judgment, not tactics. If you’re juggling multiple products, markets, or growth paths, this conversation will help you recognize when expansion stops being progress. Check Keith's work at https://www.kpifire.com/. Say hello to Keith! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KPIFire/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpi.fire/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpi-fire/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KPIFire Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply https://go.intellectualstrategies.com/

    55 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    32 - The Revenue Risk When CEOs Say “We Can’t Measure Event ROI"

    In this episode of The Breakout CEO Podcast, Jeff Holman sits down with Zach Barney, founder and CEO of Mobly, to talk about a problem many growth-stage companies quietly accept. They spend a lot on in-person events and have no real way to know what is working. Zach explains how his background as a VP of Sales exposed a gap most teams accept as normal. Digital marketing is measured closely. In-person marketing often is not. That gap led him to start Mobly and focus on bringing clearer tracking and follow-up to face-to-face marketing. The conversation also goes well beyond product and growth. He shares openly what it was like to run out of runway faster than expected, raise capital in a tougher market, and deal with serious anxiety while leading a growing company. He talks about getting help, being honest with his team, and why founders should not try to carry everything alone. This episode is a realistic look at what scaling actually feels like, and how better decisions come from clarity, not optimism. Check out Zach's work at https://www.getmobly.com/. Say hello to Zach! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmobly/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbarney/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getmobly/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply https://go.intellectualstrategies.com/

    41 min

  3. 3 FEB

    31 - When a $4 Part Forces a CEO Into a Total Operating Reset

    What does it actually take to scale a manufacturing business in the U.S. today? In this episode of The Breakout CEO, Jeff Holman sits down with Spencer Loveless, second-generation CEO of Dustless Technologies and founder of Merit3D ⁨@Merit-3D⁩ . Spencer grew up inside a family-run manufacturing business and stepped into leadership early. Over time, he’s had to navigate the realities most CEOs don’t see on paper: supply chain breakdowns, expensive partnerships, capital pressure, and the personal weight of keeping people employed in a rural community. When COVID disrupted overseas suppliers, Spencer didn’t wait for things to “normalize.” He built Merit3D to solve a real operational problem... speed. Using additive manufacturing, his team helps companies skip long lead times, avoid tooling delays, and keep production in the U.S. without sacrificing quality. Spencer is clear-eyed about the struggle. Growth creates pressure. Leadership compounds risk. And success rarely feels stable while you’re in it. But with the right operating mindset and a team that can execute, manufacturing in the U.S. can still win. If you’re a CEO, founder, or operator thinking about scale, supply chain risk, or bringing production closer to home, this episode offers grounded insight from someone actively doing the work. This conversation isn’t about trends or theory. It’s about decisions. 🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear the nuance behind the decisions and why Spencer still believes the future of manufacturing belongs here. Check out Spencer's work at https://merit3d.com/. Say hello to Spencer! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-loveless/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Merit3D/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merit3d/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/merit-3d/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Merit-3D/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply https://go.intellectualstrategies.com/

    42 min

  4. 29 JAN

    30 - When CEOs Must Decide What AI Does and What It Never Should

    AI can organize information faster than any team you’ve ever built. It can surface patterns, speed up workflows, and remove friction from execution. But it still can’t make judgment calls when the data is incomplete, the market is shifting, and real money is on the line. In this episode of The Breakout CEO, Jeff Holman talks with entrepreneur and financial advisor Luigi “Lou” Rosabianca about where AI actually fits in a scaling business and where CEOs still have to step in and decide. Lou has built and advised small and mid-sized businesses through multiple disruptions, from 9/11 to financial crises to the pandemic. His perspective is shaped by operating when capital tightens, banks pull back, and clean answers don’t exist. That experience informs how he thinks about AI, cash flow, and resilience today. The conversation centers on a simple reality that many CEOs are living right now. Tools are more powerful than ever, but businesses still fail when leaders confuse automation with judgment. AI can help organize the ingredients, but CEOs still decide what gets cooked, what gets scrapped, and when it’s time to pivot. This episode is for CEOs and founders who are navigating uncertainty, experimenting with AI, and trying to scale without losing control of the fundamentals. It’s a grounded conversation about decision-making, resilience, and why leadership judgment still compounds when everything else levels out. Listen to the full episode of The Breakout CEO for a candid, operator-level discussion on scaling through chaos without outsourcing your judgment. Check out Lou's work at https://www.shieldadvisorygroup.com/ and https://creditbanc.io/. Say hello to Luigi! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luigi-rosabianca/ Enclosed is also a copy of his book (free audio version), Buying The American Dream - A Strategic Playbook for Acquiring Small Businesses. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCSh0yb8PrwKFo0AZnpjV4Z84YZj2Elx/view If you want a paper copy, it’s also available on Amazon. http://bit.ly/3ZwSHnz.

    42 min

  5. 27 JAN

    29 - What Happens When CEOs Tolerate Misalignment Too Long

    Most leadership advice breaks down the moment real pressure shows up. In this episode of The Breakout CEO, Cydni Tetro, 3-time CEO, board member, and former CIO of Swire Coca-Cola, draws from her experience as a 3-time CEO, enterprise executive, and board member to talk through those moments honestly. Not as lessons learned in hindsight, but as decisions made while the outcome was still unclear. Cydni explains why people-centered leadership becomes harder as companies scale, not easier, and why many CEOs underestimate the operational cost of misalignment until it’s already doing damage. She also breaks down how “blue sky thinking” actually works inside real companies: not as vision work, but as a way to surface options teams stop seeing once constraints harden. The discussion also addresses a reality many CEOs quietly face; isolation at the top, decision-making without certainty, and the internal weight of responsibility when outcomes rest on a few calls made under imperfect conditions. If you’re building, scaling, or resetting a company and carrying the weight that comes with it, this one’s for you. Check out Cydni's work at https://www.swirecocacola.com/. Say hello to Cydni! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cydnitetro/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cydtetro/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cydtetro/

    56 min

  6. 22 JAN

    28 - The Hidden Complexity Behind “Simple” Consumer Products

    What does it take to build a company when the mission matters more than momentum? In this episode of The Breakout CEO, Jeff Holman sits down with Thomas Bishop, founder of Paleblue, for a grounded conversation on conviction, persistence, and building products that genuinely change behavior. Tom shares how a near-death experience reshaped his career decisions and why meaningful missions became the filter for every company he chose to build. The discussion traces Tom’s path through product development, global manufacturing, and consumer electronics, leading to the creation of Paleblue batteries and its focus on eliminating single-use battery waste. Along the way, Tom breaks down the real challenges of hardware entrepreneurship, from supply chain complexity to fundraising during market shocks, and why progress often comes from simply staying in the fight longer than others. This episode offers practical insight for CEOs and founders navigating long build cycles, uncertain markets, and decisions that test personal conviction. If you are building something you believe in and need a reminder of why staying in the course matters, this conversation delivers clarity without gloss. Check out Tom's work at https://paleblueearth.com/. Say hello to Tom! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-bishop-bb67267/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pale_blue_earth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/pale-blue-earth/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply https://go.intellectualstrategies.com/

    48 min

  7. 20 JAN

    27 - Replacing Hustle with EBITDA as the Real Scorecard

    Every CEO reaches a threshold where hustle and revenue aren’t enough. In this episode of The Breakout CEO, host Jeff Holman cuts into the hard operating truths that separate early growth from a sustainable scale. We explore what happens when pricing, financial clarity, team leadership, and systems become the deciding factors—not just harder work or bigger marketing. This conversation goes deep on the decisions that turn growth into lasting value: tightening margin discipline, aligning incentives, understanding true profitability, and building leadership capacity that can carry the business forward. If you’re leading a scaling company and feel the tension between growth targets and operational reality, this episode speaks directly to the strategic shifts' CEOs have to make to break through to the next level. Check out Dan's work at https://winktoolbox.com/ & https://bdexperts.com/. Say hello to Dan! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackdiamondexperts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdexperts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-james-b2716022/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackdiamondexperts/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wink-reports/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply https://go.intellectualstrategies.com/

    44 min

  8. 15 JAN

    26 - The Real Truth About Selling a SaaS Business and Why Most Founders Get It Wrong

    What does it really take to sell a SaaS business successfully? In this episode of The Breakout CEO, Jeff Holman sits down with Andrew Gazdecki, founder of Acquire.com (formerly MicroAcquire) to unpack what founders need to know about buying, scaling, and exiting online businesses. Andrew has helped thousands of founders sell SaaS companies, ecommerce brands, mobile apps, and digital businesses. In this conversation, he shares real stories from the trenches including a $2M SaaS exit by an 83-year-old founder and a $12M cross-border acquisition involving a Japanese buyer and big-bank financing. This is not a theory. It’s what actually happens when founders decide to exit. If you’re a SaaS founder, tech CEO, or entrepreneur thinking about growth, acquisition, or exit, this episode will challenge how you think about ownership and opportunity. Listen through to the end for Andrew’s advice on persistence, patience, and why the hard parts of entrepreneurship are not a surprise. They’re the price of admission. 🎧 Subscribe to The Breakout CEO for weekly conversations with founders who’ve been through the hard parts and came out stronger. Check out Andrew's work at https://acquire.com/. Say hello to Andrew! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acquiredotcom Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acquiredotcom/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agazdecki/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquiredotcom/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply https://go.intellectualstrategies.com/

    28 min
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About

The Breakout CEO podcast brings you candid conversations with scaling CEOs at leadership & strategic inflection points. Each episode is a curated interview that explores the mindset, strategy, and pivotal decisions driving breakthrough success for high-growth companies ($5MM-$50MM+). Jeff Holman is the host of The Breakout CEO podcast and the founder of Intellectual Strategies, where he works closely with CEOs and leadership teams of scaling companies on strategy, governance, and risk during periods of rapid growth. Jeff has spent years inside the decision-making rooms of growth-stage companies, helping leaders navigate moments when complexity increases, tradeoffs become unavoidable, and the cost of misalignment rises. He brings a peer-level perspective shaped by that experience, focusing conversations on the inflection points that materially change a company’s trajectory. The Breakout CEO podcast reflects his approach with candid, operator-level discussions centered on real decisions rather than retrospective storytelling or promotion. Guest Participation - We feature a limited number of CEOs leading scaling companies with meaningful, first-hand breakout moments. If you believe your story would add value for an audience of scaling CEOs, please apply here: https://go.intellectualstrategies.com/ Media & Event Partnerships - For press access, on-site recording, or event collaboration inquiries, please contact us. We record a limited number of on-site conversations at select events with CEOs and founders whose stories align with the podcast’s focus on leadership, strategy, and execution.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Holman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Intellectual Strategies
  • Show Website
    The Breakout CEO