The CEO Project Podcast

Jim Schleckser
  • 4.5 (13)
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Want to build a great business? The CEO Project Podcast and host Jim Schleckser brings proven tools and techniques to scale your business. Each episode dives deep into a critical business topic for CEOs of mid to large-sized firms.

  1. How to Leverage Ai Engines to Grow your Online Store Fast

    5D AGO

    How to Leverage Ai Engines to Grow your Online Store Fast

    What if AI engines could drive 10–15x more traffic to your online store—and most businesses don't even realize it's happening yet? If you run an online store or sell products through e-commerce channels, AI engines are quickly becoming the new gateway to customer discovery. Instead of relying solely on traditional search or marketplaces, companies are now seeing massive traffic surges simply by optimizing their sites for how AI answers questions and recommends products. In this episode, you'll hear how one e-commerce CEO is leveraging AI engines to dramatically increase visibility—and how you can apply the same ideas to grow your own online store. By listening, you'll discover how to: Position your website so AI engines recommend your products when customers ask buying questions. Use simple AI-driven content strategies—like FAQs and structured answers—to dramatically increase organic traffic. Navigate the rapidly changing e-commerce landscape where AI, Amazon advertising, and global competition are reshaping growth. Play the episode now to learn how CEOs can tap into AI engines to unlock the next wave of online store growth. Check out: 03:45 – From One Used Book to a Global E-Commerce Business Rupesh shares how a single online sale sparked the idea that eventually grew into a company partnering with over 1,500 brands across 40+ countries. 10:40 – How AI Engines Are Driving Massive Website Traffic A deep dive into how optimizing websites for AI-driven questions—through FAQs and structured content—can generate dramatic traffic increases. 22:15 – The Two Big Changes Reshaping Amazon Sellers Rupesh explains how advertising and Amazon's AI tools are changing the rules of visibility—and why brands must adapt quickly to stay competitive. About Rupesh Sanghavi Rupesh Sanghavi is the founder and CEO of Ergode, an e-commerce-first, omni-channel brand growth company that has partnered with over 1,500 brands, expanded reach to 40+ countries, and acquired over 15 consumer brands. His entrepreneurial journey began with reselling a single used book and has since grown into leading a global portfolio of businesses across categories. Under his leadership, Ergode has scaled into a trusted name with 18+ years of experience, 96% lifetime positive feedback, and a 250+ member workforce worldwide. Twice a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Rupesh is known for blending resilience and vision with a hands-on, relatable style. Outside of business, he writes a blog called Cloverbites, where he shares reflections on leadership and life. An avid traveller who has visited 100+ countries, he draws inspiration from diverse cultures and experiences that shape both his business outlook and personal growth.

    27 min
  2. How to Build Conscious Capitalism in Your Business

    MAR 2

    How to Build Conscious Capitalism in Your Business

    Are you building a profitable company — or a business that actually proves capitalism can be a force for good through conscious capital? As a CEO, you feel the tension every day: grow the business, deliver profit, develop your people — and do it in a way that's socially responsible and sustainable. Meanwhile, capitalism itself faces a perception problem. Your employees want meaning. Your customers expect integrity. And the market punishes anything that smells short-term or exploitative. In this episode of The CEO Project, you'll explore how conscious capital isn't about soft ideals — it's about building a company that earns trust, scales profitably, and strengthens its moral authority to exist. By listening, you'll learn how to: Build a high-growth company rooted in trust behaviors that actually change stakeholder perception Balance profit and purpose without falling into coercive "check-the-box" stakeholder models Lead through crisis with accountability and culture intact — even when tough financial decisions must be made Press play now to discover how conscious capital can help you grow your business and elevate its impact — without sacrificing performance. Check out: 06:45 – The Perception Problem in Business Curtis shares the eye-opening CEO summit moment that exposed the trust gap in the IT industry — and why changing perception became his company's mission. 18:30 – Conscious Capitalism vs. Stakeholder Capitalism A powerful breakdown of classic capitalism, stakeholder models, and the "big tent" philosophy of conscious capital — including why inspiration beats coercion. 32:15 – Leading Through Crisis Without Losing Culture A real-world example of navigating COVID, protecting profitability, and strengthening trust when 90 executives voluntarily gave up compensation to keep the company strong. About Curtis Hite Curtis Hite is the CEO of Improving – an international software consulting and training company which he founded in 2007. With a focus on Conscious Capitalism, the company has grown to 2000+ employees across 19 offices and greater than $280 million in revenue. Improving has been named 15 times to the Inc. 500/5000, consistently being recognized as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the U.S. The company has also received more than 100 local and national best place to work recognitions.

    34 min
  3. Proven Strategies to Transform Your Success On LInkedIn

    FEB 23

    Proven Strategies to Transform Your Success On LInkedIn

    Are you leaving deals on the table because your LinkedIn presence isn't backed by proven strategies that actually build credibility and authority? If you're leading a company, driving growth, or building your personal brand, LinkedIn isn't optional anymore—it's where buyers, partners, recruits, and even AI engines go to decide if you're legit. And here's the problem: what used to work on LinkedIn (post and hope, chase likes, blast press releases) doesn't work now. The platform has shifted. Reach is down. Algorithms are smarter. And if you're not showing up as a true topic authority, you're invisible—sometimes before you even get the meeting. This episode breaks down what's actually happening behind the scenes and how you can adapt using proven strategies that align with the new AI-driven reality. By listening, you'll discover how to: Position yourself (and your company) as a credible topic authority that LinkedIn's algorithm wants to reward Create content that sparks real conversations instead of getting ignored or "thumbed" into oblivion Leverage your team to multiply reach and influence without relying on expensive ads or outdated tactics Hit play now and learn the proven strategies that will help you turn LinkedIn from a passive profile into a powerful growth engine for your business. Check out: 08:45 – The moment Richard explains why LinkedIn completely changed its algorithm in 2025—and how it now evaluates your credibility before showing your content to anyone. 18:30 – A powerful breakdown of why company pages struggle with reach and how to use your people (not just your brand page) to multiply authority and visibility. 33:15 – The eye-opening shift from selling to humans to selling to AI engines—and what that means for your LinkedIn content and overall digital strategy. About Richard Bliss Richard Bliss is the CEO of BlissPoint Consulting and author of Digital-First Leadership, He helps C-suite executives and sales teams transform digital hesitancy into market authority. He is a global speaker across 22 countries, and former Army Artillery Officer. Richard builds scalable influence systems that turn leaders into recognized voices in their markets. Your LinkedIn presence should work harder than you do — building authority, attracting opportunities, and making you top of mind in your market. Richard works with executives who understand that in the 21st century, influence isn't just earned in the boardroom — it's built in the feed.

    33 min
  4. Winning the Deal: Mastering Negotiation Styles to Grow Your Advantage

    FEB 16

    Winning the Deal: Mastering Negotiation Styles to Grow Your Advantage

    If mastering negotiation could instantly increase your business worth, how differently would you handle your next deal? You negotiate every day—whether you call it that or not. From acquisition offers and partnership terms to real estate, compensation, and vendor contracts, you're constantly shaping outcomes that affect your company's growth and long-term business worth. The problem? Most leaders treat negotiation like a tug-of-war over price. In this episode, you'll learn why mastering negotiation is really about leverage, psychology, timing, and knowing when to walk away. By listening, you'll gain: A smarter framework for mastering negotiation that goes beyond price and focuses on leverage, certainty, and deal structure Proven tactics like "never go first," strategic silence, and the flinch to strengthen your position without creating conflict A clearer understanding of motivation and timing so you can spot desperation, avoid overpaying, and protect your business worth Press play now to sharpen your negotiation edge—and make your next deal one that compounds your business worth instead of quietly eroding it. Check out: 07:45 – Leverage Changes Everything A practical breakdown of how leverage actually works in real deals—foreclosures, timing pressure, experience, and certainty of close—and why price is rarely the most important factor. 18:30 – The Power of Walking Away A sharp discussion on why the best negotiators are willing to walk, how desperation shifts leverage, and why "who comes back first" often determines who really has the power. 29:10 – The Flinch, Silence & Controlling the Pen Tactical gold: how to use silence to make the other party negotiate against themselves—and why drafting the agreement gives you structural control over the deal. About Onyi Odunukwe Onyi Odunukwe is CEO of Glo Tanning Centers, Inc. His specialties are: Marshaling limited resources to the most productive uses with the aim of creating maximum value for the company's stakeholders. Developing and cascading the organization's strategy/mission statement to the lower-ranking staff, and implementing appropriate rewards/recognition and coaching/corrective practices to align personnel with company goals. Planning by prioritizing customer, employee, and organizational requirements. Maintaining and monitoring staffing, levels, Knowledge-Skills-Attributes (KSA), expectations and motivation to fulfill organizational requirements. Driving performance measures for the operation (including a consideration of efficiency versus effectiveness), often in the form of dashboards convenient for review of high level key indicators

    30 min
  5. Proven Steps That Will Improve Your Front Line Performance

    FEB 9

    Proven Steps That Will Improve Your Front Line Performance

    What if improving front line performance—not more marketing or new leads—was the fastest way to grow your business worth? If you're feeling pressure to grow revenue while controlling costs, this episode speaks straight to that tension. You'll hear how leaders in hospitality use front line performance, personalization, and smart systems to capture revenue that's already there—while creating better customer experiences and stronger loyalty. The same thinking applies to any business with customer-facing teams and real growth goals. What you'll gain from listening: How front line performance directly impacts revenue and loyalty, without turning your team into pushy salespeople What it really takes to evolve from a services model to SaaS, while keeping your culture and your people intact Where AI disruption actually adds value today, helping managers coach better and make faster, data-driven decisions Play the episode to spot practical front line performance ideas you can use right now to increase revenue and strengthen your business worth. Check out: ~10:30 – Unlocking revenue through front line performance Where the conversation digs into how connecting frontline teams to real guest needs drives incremental revenue without hurting the experience—and why this applies far beyond hospitality. ~28:00 – AI disruption that actually works at the front line A practical discussion on how AI is being used to analyze performance data, deliver coaching insights, and improve results—without replacing people or overcomplicating the system. ~44:00 – The real challenge of moving from services to SaaS A candid breakdown of the cultural and identity shifts required to transition from a services model to SaaS, including what leaders often underestimate and how to bring the team along. About Geoffrey Toffetti Geoffrey Toffetti is the CEO of Frontline Performance Group (FPG), based in Florida. The firm partners with over 2,500 hotels across 120+ countries, helping them drive millions in incremental revenue. His personal journey in hospitality started humbly, as a car valet at a Florida hotel. Today, Geoffrey leads FPG, where they work with top brands like Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt, among others. He has guided the company through strategic growth, including the acquisitions of the company's primary competitors—Drake Beil in the U.S. and TSA Solutions in Asia, the latter during the height of the COVID-19 crisis.  Geoffrey can share insights on conversion from a services business to SaaS, global expansion, leading a remote workforce, how leaders can build resilience by making bold yet calculated decisions, staying agile in unpredictable markets, and building a corporate tribe rather than a team. FPG is always pushing forward and he excited to say their next bold move is just around the corner.

    34 min
  6. Your Digital Assets and How to Protect Them

    FEB 2

    Your Digital Assets and How to Protect Them

    Is your business worth more than your physical inventory… because of the digital assets you don't even realize you own? If you're like most CEOs, you've delegated websites, domains, ad accounts, logins, and even AI tools to other people—and assumed everything was automatically "yours." But this episode is a wake-up call: your digital assets are some of the most valuable (and vulnerable) parts of your business, and losing control of them can create chaos during growth, vendor changes, or a future sale. Paige Wiese breaks down how to protect what you've built before it becomes a costly blind spot. By listening, you'll walk away with: A clearer understanding of what counts as critical digital assets—from domains and hosting to analytics, SaaS tools, and intellectual property Practical questions to ask vendors and agencies so you don't get locked out of accounts you paid for A smarter way to prepare your company for scaling, exiting, or AI disruption by organizing and safeguarding your digital footprint Hit play now to learn how protecting your digital assets today can increase your business worth tomorrow—and save you from painful surprises later. Check out: 5:40 – The most important questions to ask before hiring an agency Paige explains how CEOs can avoid losing ownership of domains, ad accounts, and logins right from the start. 12:15 – The hidden danger of email and asset transfer during an exit or sale A practical discussion on why business emails, history, and contacts become a major issue when transitioning ownership. 21:30 – How AI tools are becoming the newest digital asset risk Paige shares why companies need policies around AI accounts now—before employees unknowingly train tools on proprietary data. About Paige Wiese Paige Wiese (W-ee-s) is the founder and CEO of Tree Ring Digital, a top-ranked Denver-based marketing agency that develops high performance websites and digital marketing strategies for businesses nationwide. Under her leadership, Tree Ring Digital has helped thousands of businesses across industries streamline their online presence, protect their digital assets, and achieve healthy growth through data-driven marketing strategies. During her sixteen years in the industry, Paige realized that digital asset management often exists in a knowledge silo, leaving companies unprepared for growth or transition. This led her to develop a proprietary digital asset management service that tracks and protects a company's crucial data points, protecting brands and maintaining legacies.

    30 min
  7. What Growth Strategies Can Actually Increase Your Company's Real Value?

    JAN 26

    What Growth Strategies Can Actually Increase Your Company's Real Value?

    Are your current growth strategies actually increasing your business worth—or are hidden constraints quietly keeping you stuck as your company scales? If you're feeling stretched thin, hitting growth ceilings, or wondering why scaling feels harder than it should—this episode is for you. Carl Gould breaks down the real stages of business growth and the predictable pinch points that trip up founders, especially as AI disruption accelerates change and raises the bar for how companies scale, systemize, and create long-term value. By listening, you'll walk away with: A clear framework for identifying exactly where your business is stuck—and what that says about your next growth move Practical insight into how to shift from founder-driven hustle to scalable systems without killing momentum A sharper understanding of how to build a company that's not just growing, but increasing in enterprise value and exit readiness Hit play now and steal proven growth strategies that help you scale smarter, protect your time, and build a business that's actually worth more at every stage. Check out: [~12:30] – Carl explains why most founders get stuck in Stage 3 and how ego and control quietly cap business growth [~28:45] – A clear breakdown of systems vs. flexibility—and why consistency (not creativity) is what actually scales companies [~47:10] – The moment your business becomes a true asset, including the leadership shifts that dramatically increase business worth About Carl Gould Carl Gould is a globally recognized authority on business growth and entrepreneurship who built three multi-million-dollar companies by age 40. He is the Chief Growth Advisor at 7 Stage Advisors and has mentored the launch and scaling of over 5,000 businesses, with his methodologies now used in 35 countries and by more than 7,000 certified coaches worldwide. A multi-award-winning author and speaker, Carl co-authored Blueprint for Success with Stephen R. Covey and Ken Blanchard and wrote the bestselling The 7 Stages of Small Business Success. Known for his high-energy, real-world approach, he has delivered over 1,200 keynote speeches and lectures at institutions including MIT and Rutgers.

    29 min
  8. AI Can Make You a More Authentic Leader Your Team Will Love

    JAN 20

    AI Can Make You a More Authentic Leader Your Team Will Love

    Is your business worth more when AI writes faster—or when you show up as an authentic leader your team actually trusts? You're under constant pressure to communicate clearly, move quickly, and keep up with AI without losing your voice in the process. In this episode, Jim Schleckser talks with Allison Shapira about the real tension leaders face today: using AI to gain efficiency while still sounding human, credible, and genuinely connected to the people who matter most. By listening, you'll gain: Clear guidance on how to use AI to strengthen your voice instead of diluting it as an authentic leader Insight into why AI-generated communication can quietly erode trust—and how to prevent it Practical ideas for balancing speed, clarity, and culture in leadership communication Hit play to discover how leading with authenticity—while using AI wisely—can increase trust, impact, and the long-term value of your business. Check out: 08:45 – Allison explains why AI-written emails can quietly destroy trust—and how leaders can spot when efficiency starts replacing authenticity. 22:10 – A practical breakdown of how to "train" AI to reflect your voice, values, and lived experience as an authentic leader. 41:30 – A cautionary story about leaders trusting AI over their team—and what it signals about culture, credibility, and leadership judgment. About Allison Shapira Allison Shapira is an executive advisor, Harvard lecturer, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and trained opera singer who helps senior leaders speak with confidence, clarity, and authenticity—especially in high-stakes, high-visibility moments. Since 2003, she has advised leaders from prime ministers to Fortune 50 executives and has designed leadership communication programs that drive trust, alignment, and measurable results. An entrepreneur and global expert in leadership and communication, Allison brings over two decades of experience to every engagement. Her practical frameworks integrate cutting-edge AI tools to help executives sharpen their message, amplify their voice, and Speak With Impact℠. An adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School since 2015, her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The New York Times, and Harvard Business Review. She is the author of three books: the Washington Post best-seller Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others (HarperCollins Leadership), the companion e-guide Speak with Impact VIRTUALLY, and her newest book, AI for the Authentic Leader: How to Communicate More Effectively Without Losing Your Humanity (Spa Creek Press).

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Want to build a great business? The CEO Project Podcast and host Jim Schleckser brings proven tools and techniques to scale your business. Each episode dives deep into a critical business topic for CEOs of mid to large-sized firms.

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Schleckser
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    168
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Lazy CEO Podcast (c) 2022
  • Show Website
    The CEO Project Podcast

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