Unmasked: The CEO Files

Leanne Bucaro, Alan McLaren
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up.

  1. Sep 25

    When Raising Capital Becomes a Test of the Entrepreneur with Guest Peter Cimoroni

    What does it really take to raise capital, build investor trust, and scale a CPG brand? In this episode of UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Peter Cimoroni, CEO and Founder of AVOGO Foods, to talk about the realities of raising money and building a consumer brand in today’s market. With more than 40 years of professional experience, Peter brings a unique perspective on entrepreneurship, customer marketing, financial analysis, and food innovation. At AVOGO Foods, he is focused on creating healthy, avocado-based products with minimal ingredients and maximum flavour while building a brand designed to grow. Peter shares his experience raising capital, approaching investors, navigating the challenges of scaling a CPG business, and hearing the question investors want answered: where is the scale? He also discusses why transparency, curiosity, credibility, and knowing exactly where your capital is going can make a difference when you step into the investor room. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Why raising capital for CPG and food brands can be challenging in today’s market ➡️ What investors are really looking for when evaluating a founder and their growth plan ➡️ Peter’s experience raising a $1 million round after speaking with 300 people ➡️ Why transparency around how capital will be used matters to investors ➡️ How founder credibility, curiosity, and mindset can shape investor conversations For CEOs and founders preparing to raise capital, this conversation offers a candid look at what happens before the cheque is written, and what it takes to turn an idea and a product into a scalable business.

  2. Sep 22

    The Operator’s Reality of Raising Capital with Guest Eric Vest

    What does it really take to raise capital when you’re not coming from the traditional finance world? In this episode of UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Eric Vest, Founder & CEO of Yellowwood and Founder & Managing Partner of Y Capital, to unpack what more than 30 years of building, growing and selling technology companies has taught him about people, technology and capital. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Building credibility when entering the capital markets as an operator ➡️ The role of relationships, trust and reputation in raising capital ➡️ Finding the right investors and building a strong cap table ➡️ What Eric learned from nearly 350 investor conversations ➡️ Why going from zero to one can be the hardest part of a capital raise Eric shares the realities of raising $15 million, what surprised him along the way, and how his experience as an operator, investor and entrepreneur has shaped the way he approaches capital, technology and growth. _______ UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files: Real stories from CEOs who have raised capital, so other leaders can move through the process with more clarity, confidence and fewer wasted rooms. In this special series of Unmasked: The CEO Files, we sit down with CEOs and founders who have actually lived through a capital raise to uncover what happened behind the deck, the numbers and the polished story. Why was the money needed? How did they approach the market? How many investor rooms did it take? What questions created pressure? Where did trust form, and where did resistance show up? Most importantly, what would they do differently if they had to raise again? Because raising capital is never just about the business opportunity, the financial model or the pitch deck. Investors are evaluating the leader in the room, too. How clearly can a CEO communicate under pressure? Can they build trust? Can they respond when challenged? And how does the way they show up influence the outcome? The Capital Raise Files goes beyond fundraising advice to explore the lived experience of raising capital, giving CEOs and founders practical insight they can take into their own investor rooms. If you’re preparing to raise capital, considering M&A or moving toward an IPO, these are the real stories worth hearing. We’re researching why some capital raises move quickly in fewer investor meetings while others drag through extra meetings and follow-up. If you’ve raised capital, we’d value your input. It takes under a minute and all responses are aggregated and never attributed.

  3. Sep 10

    What You Learn After Thousands of Investor Rooms With Brandon Davis, Trek One Capital.

    UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files: Real stories from CEOs who have raised capital, so other leaders can move through the process with more clarity, confidence and fewer wasted rooms. In this special series of Unmasked: The CEO Files, we sit down with CEOs and founders who have actually lived through a capital raise to uncover what happened behind the deck, the numbers and the polished story. Why was the money needed? How did they approach the market? How many investor rooms did it take? What questions created pressure? Where did trust form, and where did resistance show up? Most importantly, what would they do differently if they had to raise again? Because raising capital is never just about the business opportunity, the financial model or the pitch deck. Investors are evaluating the leader in the room, too. How clearly can a CEO communicate under pressure? Can they build trust? Can they respond when challenged? And how does the way they show up influence the outcome? The Capital Raise Files goes beyond fundraising advice to explore the lived experience of raising capital, giving CEOs and founders practical insight they can take into their own investor rooms. If you’re preparing to raise capital, considering M&A or moving toward an IPO, these are the real stories worth hearing. We’re researching why some capital raises move quickly in fewer investor meetings while others drag through extra meetings and follow-up. If you’ve raised capital, we’d value your input. It takes under a minute and all responses are aggregated and never attributed. Click here: https://tally.so/r/68yyZB If you are interested in the findings let us know at alan@strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80453987

  4. Aug 7

    The Leadership Signal Experience with Co-CEOs Leanne Bucaro and Alan McLaren

    What if the biggest factor influencing your leadership isn't what you say, but how people experience you under pressure? In this episode of UNMASKED: The CEO Files Podcast, Alan McLaren and Leanne Bucaro explore the concept of Leadership Signal and why even the most experienced CEOs can unintentionally create friction in high-stakes conversations. Whether you're leading an executive team, presenting to a board, raising capital, speaking with investors, or navigating difficult conversations, every room has consequences. The way you show up under pressure shapes trust, alignment, and ultimately business outcomes. Alan and Leanne explain why leadership isn't just about communication skills or strategy. It's about understanding how your nervous system responds when your identity, credibility, or authority feels threatened, and how those automatic reactions influence every room you enter. Drawing on real CEO experiences, practical leadership examples, and the science behind pressure and human behaviour, this conversation challenges leaders to look beyond intention and understand the impact they create! In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Why your leadership signal matters more than your intentions in high-pressure situations. ➡️ How autopilot responses and nervous system reactions create hidden friction in leadership. ➡️ The difference between what leaders believe they're communicating and what others actually experience. ➡️ The hidden business costs of distorted leadership signals, including decision drag, lost trust, and slower execution. ➡️ How greater awareness helps leaders build trust, create alignment, and lead with greater clarity under pressure. If you've ever walked out of a meeting believing it went well, only to discover decisions stalled, trust eroded, or momentum disappeared, this episode will change how you think about leadership forever. ______________ UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. If investor trust isn’t building fast enough, your raise may require more conversations than it should. Try the Capital Room Scan: https://stratacapitalroomscan.s.gy/or... 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/strataoriginals?originalSubdomain=ca

  5. Jul 16

    Creating Impact with AI Innovation with Guest Sid Srivastava

    UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stra...

  6. Jul 9

    Smoke’s Leadership Signal with Guest Smoke Wallin, Host of the Hot Podcast “The Smoke Trail”

    We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strataoriginals/posts/?feedView=all

  7. Jun 25

    Drew Allen & Factory of the Future: How AI, Automation & Advanced Manufacturing Are Changing Work

    UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with Strata Originals Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: Strata Originals

  8. Jun 11

    Ashutosh Garg Host of the World’s Largest Podcast on the Power of Saying No

    UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with Strata Originals Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: Strata Originals

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About

The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up.

Information

  • Creator
    Leanne Bucaro, Alan McLaren
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Unmasked: The CEO Files

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