Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts)

Ben Fanning
  • 4.8 (67)
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Real CEOs. Real Stories. Hosted by Ben Fanning—2025 Gold Stevie Award winner for Best Business Podcast and ranked in the Top 2% globally—Lead the Team draws on over 600 CEO interviews to take you inside the minds of leaders from brands like Honeywell, HP, IBM, Dunkin’, and L’Oréal. In each episode, you’ll hear raw, unfiltered stories of leading through rapid growth, high-stakes decisions, and make-or-break moments—plus the CEO-tested tools and strategies they use to build high-performing teams. From turning around billion-dollar brands to sparking innovation at scale, these leaders share lessons you can put into action right now to lead your own team better. Subscribe now. ------------- https://www.benfanning.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/

  1. 3d ago

    The Customer Conversation That Changed a Company | CEO Motus, Phong Nguyen

    When Phong Nguyen stepped into the CEO role at Modus—a technology platform processing over $2 Billion annually in driver reimbursements—he skipped the victory lap and did something his team was terrified to arrange: he got on a call with one of their biggest, angriest ex-customers. The client "ripped them a new one," exposing a hard reality: Modus had lost its innovation edge and treated them transactionally. But instead of getting defensive, Fong took a walk to cool down, gathered his leadership team, and used that uncomfortable call to recalibrate the company’s "true north". Within 12 months, they won that customer back. In this episode of Lead The Team, host Ben Fanning sits down with Phong Nguyen to discuss: The Ex-Customer Playbook: Why calling lost accounts yields the rawest, most valuable strategic data.Customer Centricity vs. Customer Success: Why true customer focus is a business strategy, not a metrics-driven department.Leading Through Perspective: How growing up as a Vietnamese refugee shaped his long-term view on work ethic, discipline, and opportunity."Liked vs. Respected": The screaming match early in his career that forced him to develop his own philosophy on modern management.Uncovering Hidden Signals: Moving past surface-level KPIs to align with actual customer business outcomes. Resources & Links Get Weekly Insights: Receive vital takeaways from every episode directly to your inbox at benfanning.com/insight.Rate & Review: Enjoying the show? Take 10 seconds to rate, follow, and drop a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help more leaders discover the show. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

    The Customer Conversation That Changed a Company | CEO Motus, Phong Nguyen

  2. 6d ago

    The Quarter From Hell That Created a $500M AI Company | Gong's Amit Bendov

    Every leader eventually faces a moment when the numbers stop making sense. For Amit Bendov, Co-Founder and CEO of Gong, that moment came during what he calls "the quarter from hell." Sales were collapsing, investors were asking tough questions, and every report looked normal. The CRM had data—but none of the answers. That painful experience sparked an idea that would become Gong, one of the world's leading AI-powered revenue platforms, now generating more than $500 million in annual recurring revenue. In this episode of Lead the Team, Amit shares the leadership lessons behind that defining moment and explains how AI is changing the way leaders understand customers, coach teams, and make better decisions. In this episode:Why "the quarter from hell" became the origin story of GongThe leadership blind spot that almost every executive facesWhy traditional CRM systems fail when leaders need answers mostHow AI helps leaders spot problems before it's too lateThe operating rhythm used by elite sales organizationsThe hiring traits Amit looks for in future leadersWhy ownership and curiosity separate great leaders from everyone else Whether you're a CEO, founder, executive, sales leader, or entrepreneur, this conversation offers practical lessons on leading through uncertainty, building better teams, and using AI to create a lasting competitive advantage. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

    The Quarter From Hell That Created a $500M AI Company | Gong's Amit Bendov

  3. Aug 11

    The AI Security Threat Leaders Aren't Ready For | Dennis Kozak, CEO of Ivanti

    AI isn't just transforming business—it's transforming cyberattacks. In this episode of Lead the Team, Ben Fanning sits down with Dennis Kozak, CEO of Ivanti, to discuss why artificial intelligence is changing cybersecurity faster than most organizations can adapt. After leading companies through cloud computing, mobile, remote work, cybersecurity, and now AI, Dennis explains the leadership principles that remain constant even as technology rapidly evolves. He shares the story of a company that unknowingly allowed attackers to remain inside its systems for more than a year—even though the security patch already existed. The lesson isn't just about technology. It's about leadership, prioritization, and preparing organizations for a future where AI accelerates both innovation and risk. You'll also learn: • Why AI is changing cybersecurity forever • How executives should think about AI adoption and risk • The leadership mistake that leaves organizations vulnerable • Why companies fail to deploy critical security patches • How to balance long-term strategy with constant operational fires • What separates future executives from everyone else • Why curiosity and adaptability matter more than expertise in the AI era If you're a CEO, executive, technology leader, or anyone responsible for navigating AI transformation, this conversation offers practical leadership lessons for one of the fastest-changing business environments in history. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

    The AI Security Threat Leaders Aren't Ready For | Dennis Kozak, CEO of Ivanti

  4. Aug 9

    One Cell Tower Survived | Chris Hillabrant, CEO of Crown Castle

    Chris Hillabrant was only days into a new role in New York when the September 11 attacks changed everything. As communications infrastructure across Manhattan began to fail, his team discovered they had one cell site still standing. What happened over the next 72 hours became one of the defining leadership moments of his career. Technicians drove into the city, manually hauled thousand-pound equipment dozens of stories to triple the site's capacity, opened the network to competitors, redirected hundreds of surrounding antennas toward Manhattan, and helped provide 10,000 cell phones to first responders coordinating rescue efforts. Now the President and CEO of Crown Castle, Chris shares the leadership lessons that crisis forged—and how they continue to shape the way he builds teams today. In this episode, Chris discusses: What leading through the chaos of 9/11 taught him about communication and trustWhy preparation is only the starting point—and adaptability wins in a crisisThe leadership decision to help competitors when lives were on the lineHow to develop leaders who are ready before the crisis arrivesWhy the best career opportunities are often the hardest assignmentsThe importance of succession planning and building a deep leadership benchThe surprising childhood failure that taught him to obsess over customersWhy raising your hand for difficult challenges has shaped every stage of his career Whether you're leading a global organization or a small team, this conversation is a masterclass in leading with clarity, courage, and purpose when the stakes couldn't be higher. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

    One Cell Tower Survived | Chris Hillabrant, CEO of Crown Castle

  5. Aug 4

    The Impossible Decision That Shaped This CEO | Doug Braun

    What does it take to make the kind of decision that changes how you lead forever? In this episode of Lead The Team, Ben Fanning sits down with Doug Braun, CEO of eProductivity Software (EPS), to discuss the leadership experiences that shaped his philosophy long before he became CEO. Doug shares the unforgettable story of a company making the difficult decision to walk away from a customer representing nearly half of its revenue, and how witnessing that moment taught him one of the most important lessons of his career: great leaders choose long-term success over short-term comfort. The conversation also explores leading through acquisitions, building trust across organizations, embracing AI, and why Doug believes every leader should spend more time listening than talking. Whether you're a CEO, executive, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, you'll walk away with practical insights on courageous decision-making, leadership under pressure, organizational transformation, and building cultures where people can thrive. In this episode: The leadership decision that shaped Doug's careerWhy great leaders choose "fast pain" over "slow pain"Building trust during mergers and acquisitionsLeading people through uncertainty and changeHow AI is transforming leadership and manufacturingPractical leadership lessons every executive can apply If you enjoy conversations about leadership, business, AI, and executive performance, be sure to follow Lead The Team for new episodes featuring world-class leaders and actionable insights. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

    The Impossible Decision That Shaped This CEO | Doug Braun

  6. Aug 2

    How to Beat a Monopoly and Outsmart AI | CEO, Thryv Joe Walsh

    He Beat a Monopoly. Then Had to Reinvent Everything.What do you do when the business model that made you billions faces sudden, total obsolescence? Most executive leaders miscalculate technological shifts—they either panic and move too early, or ignore the noise and move too late. In this episode of Lead the Team, host Ben Fanning sits down with Joe Walsh, Chairman and CEO of Thryv, to break down the tactical frameworks required to lead a legacy brand through the absolute chaos of print, digital, SaaS, and now AI revolutions. Joe famously scaled Yellow Book from $38 million to a $2 billion national powerhouse by dismantling an entrenched phone company monopoly. But his greatest leadership test wasn't storming the castle—it was repeatedly reinventing the business when the entire technological landscape shifted underneath him. If you are currently navigating massive industry uncertainty, AI implementation, or market disruption, this conversation serves as your executive blueprint for the new rules of survival. CHAPTERS00:00 – The Real Definition of a CEO: Predicting the Future for Your People 04:08 – The Danger of the Bleeding Edge: Why the Second Mouse Gets the Cheese 07:16 – Shattering a Monopoly: The Hertz-Avis Strategy That Scaled Yellow Book to $2B 11:31 – The Core Principles of Value: Giving Proof and Credibility in Advance 14:43 – The NASDAQ Turnaround: Converting a Dying Print Giant into an MRR Machine 19:43 – Managing Wall Street & Fighting Legacy Inertia Simultaneously 25:36 – Corporate Blindspots: Why Enterprise Missed the Main Street Tech Boom 33:38 – The AI Landscape for Local Business: Democratization vs. Tech Debt 37:37 – Leading Through the Blur: The Golden Rule of Modern Disruption 41:17 – "Stay Calm and Carry On": Overcoming Executive Overwhelm EXECUTIVE RESOURCES & LINKSScale Your B2B Brand With a Podcast: Learn our 5-step framework and schedule a 20-minute operational briefing with Ben’s team: BenLeads.com/schedule.Get the Executive Briefing: Get vital insights and tactical frameworks from this episode delivered directly to your inbox: benfanning.com/insight.Connect with Thryv: Discover how Joe and his team help Main Street businesses win with modern software. 👥 JOIN THE MOVEMENTTake 10 seconds to Rate, Follow, and Review the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help keep this positive leadership movement alive! ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

    How to Beat a Monopoly and Outsmart AI | CEO, Thryv Joe Walsh

  7. Jul 27

    How an Underdog Beat the Market Leader | Alessio Artuffo, CEO of Docebo

    How do you beat the industry leader when everyone says you don't belong? In this episode of Lead The Team, Ben Fanning sits down with Alessio Artuffo, CEO of Docebo, who helped transform a small Italian startup into a global SaaS leader, scaling the business from roughly $1 million to more than $200 million in ARR. Alessio shares the pivotal moments that shaped both the company and his leadership—from being underestimated because of his accent, to winning an enterprise customer that was ten times larger than Docebo's annual revenue by competing against the industry's biggest player. He also explains why authenticity beats polish, how clarity becomes a competitive advantage as organizations grow, and why the best leaders inspire rather than control. In this episode, you'll learn: How underdogs can outperform industry leadersWhy proving people wrong became Alessio's greatest source of motivationThe leadership principles behind scaling from startup to global SaaS companyHow to build teams that thrive through trust, clarity, and accountabilityWhy AI is transforming workplace learning—and what leaders need to do differently Whether you're building a startup, leading a growing organization, or competing against companies much larger than your own, this conversation offers practical lessons on leadership, resilience, and scaling with purpose. Chapters:00:00 – How an underdog startup challenged the market leader 02:18 – Why Alessio joined a 15-person company 06:39 – The challenges of expanding into North America 09:22 – The customer who criticized his accent 13:35 – Winning an enterprise deal against the industry's biggest competitor 20:19 – Scaling a culture built on clarity and trust 24:28 – How AI is reshaping workplace learning 33:10 – Why great leaders choose grace over force ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

    How an Underdog Beat the Market Leader | Alessio Artuffo, CEO of Docebo

  8. Jul 22

    Advance Auto Parts CEO is Rebuilding from the Front Line | Shane O'Kelly

    What separates great CEOs from everyone else? According to Shane O'Kelly, President and CEO of Advance Auto Parts, it starts by getting out of the boardroom and onto the front line. After taking over an $11 billion company with nearly 5,000 locations and more than 60,000 team members, Shane's first move wasn't another strategy meeting—it was visiting stores, listening to employees, and uncovering the leadership blind spots holding the business back. In this episode of Lead the Team, Shane shares the leadership philosophy that has guided him from West Point and Army Ranger School to leading some of America's largest organizations. You'll learn: Why leaders should never become "tourists"The power of leading from the front lineHow one store visit exposed major operational challengesWhy Advance invested $100 million in its people before it could comfortably afford toThe importance of the "Say-Do Ratio" in building trustHow to identify high-potential leaders earlyBreaking down organizational silosWhy servant leadership creates lasting business resultsThe habits Shane uses to sustain high performance under pressure Whether you lead a global enterprise or a growing team, this conversation offers practical lessons on building trust, staying connected to your people, and leading meaningful transformation. Chapters00:00 Introduction 01:43 The Ranger School failure that shaped Shane's leadership 08:21 His first days leading an $11 billion company 09:07 Why every CEO should start on the front line 12:00 "Don't be a tourist" leadership 14:25 The $100 million investment in frontline employees 15:24 The store visit that changed everything 19:05 Why frontline employees tell you the truth 21:09 The "Say-Do Ratio" and building credibility 25:24 Fixing the employee experience first 30:23 How Shane identifies future leaders 35:31 Breaking down silos inside large organizations 39:21 Staying healthy while leading under pressure 42:16 What's next for Advance Auto Parts Connect with Ben FanningFollow Lead the Team for weekly conversations with CEOs and executive leaders on leadership, organizational transformation, AI, high-performance teams, and the future of work. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

    Advance Auto Parts CEO is Rebuilding from the Front Line | Shane O'Kelly
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About

Real CEOs. Real Stories. Hosted by Ben Fanning—2025 Gold Stevie Award winner for Best Business Podcast and ranked in the Top 2% globally—Lead the Team draws on over 600 CEO interviews to take you inside the minds of leaders from brands like Honeywell, HP, IBM, Dunkin’, and L’Oréal. In each episode, you’ll hear raw, unfiltered stories of leading through rapid growth, high-stakes decisions, and make-or-break moments—plus the CEO-tested tools and strategies they use to build high-performing teams. From turning around billion-dollar brands to sparking innovation at scale, these leaders share lessons you can put into action right now to lead your own team better. Subscribe now. ------------- https://www.benfanning.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Fanning
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    472
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Ben Fanning

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