Shift & Thrive: CEO Insights on Driving Change

Natalie Nathanson
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  • Entrepreneurship
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In today’s business world change is the only constant, and mastering transformation is the ultimate key to success. Welcome to Shift & Thrive! Each week, Host Natalie Nathanson will bring you conversations with CEOs, who delve into how they successfully drove critical change in their organization. This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.

  1. 6d ago

    What No One Tells You About Becoming CEO - Monique McDonough - Shift & Thrive - # 119 (Re-Air)

    What changes when a COO becomes CEO? In this special re-air episode of Shift & Thrive, Natalie Nathanson sits down with Monique McDonough, CEO of WorkTango, to explore the unexpected lessons of stepping into the top seat, the emotional realities of leadership, and what it really takes to guide organizations through change. With more than two decades of experience across consulting, technology, and employee engagement, Monique shares candid reflections on how the weight of leadership evolves, why curiosity is a CEO’s most underrated skill, and how leaders can stay grounded while navigating AI disruption, M&A transitions, and shifting workforce expectations.  Takeaways: Leadership carries weight beyond meetings and tasks. CEOs shoulder responsibility even when they’re not actively working, making balance and pressure management essential.Curiosity is a leadership superpower. Asking better questions builds confidence in unfamiliar areas and leads to stronger decision-making.The CEO role changes how words land. Even familiar leaders must become more deliberate as people assign greater meaning to every message.Effective change management is emotional, not just logical. People need empathy, context, and a clear vision of what success looks like.Feedback only works when it’s closed-loop. Listening, acting, and communicating progress builds trust and sustained engagement.Staying close to customers fuels smarter strategy. Direct conversations uncover insights that no filtered report can replace.AI works best as a thought partner. Used intentionally, it accelerates preparation, insight, and higher-order thinking without replacing human judgment. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemmcdonough/ Website: https://www.worktango.com/  Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q  This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency. Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

    What No One Tells You About Becoming CEO - Monique McDonough - Shift & Thrive - # 119 (Re-Air)

  2. Oct 14

    Transforming the Automotive Industry From the Inside - Floris Chaumat - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 118

    How do leaders drive real transformation when "the way it has always been done" feels impossible to change, and why does behavior so often lag behind technology? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with Floris Chaumat, Founder and CEO of Tradora, an AI-powered platform built to improve the vehicle ownership experience for consumers and dealerships. After becoming general manager of a $100 million dealership at 27, Floris shares why leaders must understand how a system behaves before trying to fix it, how a dealer-first distribution model lowers customer acquisition costs, and why alignment matters more than anything else when hiring. He also discusses the shift from hands-on operator to delegating founder, why AI should connect silos instead of automating each one separately, and the advice that still shapes how he leads. Takeaways: Learn the system you want to disrupt thoroughly before you try to fix it.Hire for alignment with your vision, and be comfortable not being the smartest person in the room.Give leaders the context and the why behind decisions, because without clarity there is no accountability.Expect behavior change to be harder than technology adoption, and let a live demo prove what is possible.Enter through a trusted existing channel to cut customer acquisition costs while you build toward the end state.Use AI to connect your silos rather than automating each one on its own.Do not confuse motion with progress, and listen to your employees and customers so you know when to pivot. Quote of the Show: "What could be right today could be wrong tomorrow, and the only way to find that out is hear your customers, hear your employees. The way you treat your employees is the way you treat your customers, so if you're not willing to take feedback from your employees, you're not taking feedback from your customers." - Floris ChaumatLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florischaumat/ Website: https://tradora.ai/  Ways to Tune In: Substack: https://shiftandthrive.substack.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q  This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency. Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

    Transforming the Automotive Industry From the Inside - Floris Chaumat - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 118

  3. Oct 7

    Lead Your Industry With Data and Emerging Tech - Don Berchoff - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 117

    What does it take to keep leading when the technology, the market, and your own role keep changing? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with Don Berchoff, Founder and CEO of TruWeather Solutions, a pioneer in hyperlocal weather intelligence for drones and air taxis. Don spent 24 years in the US Air Force and led science and technology initiatives at the National Weather Service before building his own company. He explains why he would rather lead technology adoption than have it done to him, how he hires for aptitude over resume, and why trusted data matters more than shiny AI. He also shares how he built a go-to-market case around a 4-to-1 return on investment for a product many buyers see as a nice-to-have. Takeaways: Lead technology adoption rather than absorb it, so you shape the change instead of reacting to it.Hire for aptitude, passion, and the ability to learn over a perfect resume, then train people into the role.Lead each person differently by learning their strengths, risk tolerance, and interests.Check where data came from, how uncertain it is, and whether it has been altered before you build a plan on it.Tie your offer to a measurable return, such as a 4-to-1 ROI, so buyers see it as essential.Use AI to turn your expertise into executable content faster, and always review the output yourself.Keep going when you disrupt the status quo, as long as your conviction is backed by data.Quote of the Show: "If you want to be an entrepreneur, you better make sure that you're comfortable with not having all the answers. And there's gonna be times when it's gonna get really challenging, and you're gonna have to phone a friend." - Don BerchoffLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donberchoff/ Website: https://truweathersolutions.com/ Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.  Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

    Lead Your Industry With Data and Emerging Tech - Don Berchoff - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 117

  4. Sep 30

    How to Build & Rebuild Employee Trust During Transformation - Bree Katulak - Shift & Thrive - # 116

    What does it take to rebuild trust in an organization where most employees are disengaged? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with Bree Katulak, President and CFO of RenoSys and host of the Unstoppable You podcast, about leading transformation in manufacturing and industrial businesses. A CPA by training, Bree shares how quarterly town halls, fireside chats, and a constant presence on the plant floor lifted employee engagement by 800 basis points and cut turnover from 65% to 15% at Polygon. She also covers reorganizing engineering into sales after pressure-testing the plan with her YPO forum, leading with curiosity instead of alarm when KPIs dip, walking away from unprofitable customers, and setting priorities across people, go-to-market strategy, and technology in her current role. Takeaways: Earn employee trust by staying visible and following up on every open question within a set timeframe. When someone pushes back on change, take it offline and ask what is driving it before deciding if they are a fit. Test major org changes with a peer group of CEOs and ask them to challenge every angle before you announce. When a KPI dips, ask questions from curiosity before stepping in, because early intervention can create stress across your team. Tie incentive plans to the metrics that drive valuation so employees share in the results they help create. Define which customers are not a fit, since every yes uses capacity you need for better ones.Decide which strategic priorities you are pausing and make that list visible so your team stays focused on what matters now. Quote of the Show:  “I may have good ideas, but working together as a group can make them way better, and it'll help get the buy-in, and we'll actually move faster.” - Bree Katulak Links: Bree’s Podcast: https://www.breekatulak.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bree-katulak-cpa-96b27122/ Website: https://renosys.com/  Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q  This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.  Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

    How to Build & Rebuild Employee Trust During Transformation - Bree Katulak - Shift & Thrive - # 116

  5. Sep 23

    Building a Culture of Trust in Sales & Business Transformation - George Sens - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 115

    What does it really take to turn a struggling sales organization into a growth engine, and can slowing down actually be the fastest path to results? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with George Sens, President and CEO of Lurex Bio, about the current reality framework he used to transform go-to-market motions across multiple companies. George shares how shifting sales teams from pitching products to uncovering problems drove significant revenue growth, why he leads on three core principles of transparency, mutual accountability and mutual trust, and how a career setback taught him to ask blunt questions before joining a new organization. Takeaways: Slow down before you act. Observing current reality first builds the insight real transformation requires.Deepen discovery before pitching. Shallow discovery sells products, deep discovery sells outcomes.Treat transparency as a habit, not a crisis tool. Share financial context consistently, not just when news is bad.Lead people, manage processes. Tailor leadership to the individual while keeping processes standardized.Extend accountability to every function equally. Sales, product and legal all deserve the same standard.Ask blunt questions before entering a new partnership or role. Address red flags early rather than hoping they resolve.Fail fast when a role or partnership isn't working. Waiting only widens the gap you'll eventually have to close. Quote of the Show: "For me, it really is transparency, mutual accountability, and mutual trust as a leadership style. Once people start to realize that you're gonna adhere to those things, what happens? You create a dynamic work environment where people wanna participate." - George Sens Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgesens/ Website: https://lurexbio.com/  Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q  This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.  Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

    Building a Culture of Trust in Sales & Business Transformation - George Sens - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 115

  6. Sep 16

    Why You Shouldn't Sell Fear - Yossi Appleboum - Shift & Thrive - Episode #114

    What does it actually take to change how an entire market understands a problem it doesn't yet know it has? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with Yossi Appleboum, co-founder and CEO of Sepio, about building a cybersecurity company around a category that barely existed when he started it. Yossi shares why he refuses to sell fear, how he can tell when a prospect's thinking has actually shifted, what it costs in time and money to educate a market from the ground up, and how the investor conversation changes entirely once a company moves from early traction into scale. He also opens up about leadership lessons from three decades of company-building, giving his co-founders and team room to grow, and how his family history shapes the way he thinks about bringing value to the world. Takeaways: Educate before you pitch. In less mature markets, walk buyers through the risk itself rather than assuming they already see the problem.Skip the fear-based pitch. Build trust through dialogue and honest questions instead of worst-case scenarios and pressure.Watch for buyers echoing your language back to you. It's an early signal the idea has landed, well before any deal closes.Match your investor search to your sales cycle. Companies selling to large enterprises need investors willing to accept a longer path to revenue.Give co-founders and senior hires room to lead. Avoid showing up as a unified front to every meeting so others can grow into the space.Simplify your message as you move down-market. What works with sophisticated early buyers won't land with less experienced ones.Keep helping the next generation of founders. Small, consistent mentorship compounds across an industry over time. Quote of the Show: "You don't sell fear, and you should not sell fear, because then you're losing credibility." Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yossi-appleboum-2019/ Website: https://sepiocyber.com  Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q  This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency. Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

    Why You Shouldn't Sell Fear - Yossi Appleboum - Shift & Thrive - Episode #114

  7. Sep 14

    Why Alignment Beats Strategy When Growth Stalls - Mark Schwartz - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 113

    What does it take to reignite growth once it starts to flatten, and why do so many leaders assume their team already understands the plan? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson talks with Mark Schwartz, who co-founded and helped scale Fabrinet to over a billion dollars in revenue before taking on the CEO role at STAT. Mark walks through the wake-up call that came when an outside consultant revealed his leadership team had never clearly communicated the company's mission, and how fixing that alignment gap helped growth reemerge within three quarters. The conversation moves into leading through mergers and acquisitions, the role of humility when integrating an acquired team, and how Mark uncovered and corrected misaligned sales incentives at STAT. He also reflects on stepping into go-to-market leadership without a traditional sales background and why CEO visibility in sales meetings matters more than most leaders realize. Takeaways: Repeat your mission and strategic priorities constantly. What is clear in your head is not automatically clear to your team.Vary how you deliver key messages. People absorb information differently, so one format will never reach everyone.Give your extended leadership team visibility into senior decisions. It builds the confidence they need to cascade messages down.Lead M&A integration with humility. Ask what the acquired team does better before asking them to adopt your way.Bring acquired leaders into your executive team early. It reduces uncertainty and helps stabilize their people.Audit incentive plans regularly. A plan built for one behavior can quietly reward another.Stay visible in sales meetings even without a sales background. Your presence signals what matters to the whole team. Quote of the Show: "If the CEO doesn't know the strategic priorities, there's no possible way everybody else in the company understands them." Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjosephschwartz/ Website: https://www.statrecovery.com/ Email: mark@statrecovery.com  Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q  This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.  Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

    Why Alignment Beats Strategy When Growth Stalls - Mark Schwartz - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 113

  8. Sep 2

    Thought Leadership 2.0: Why Authenticity Wins in B2B - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 112

    What does it actually take to build trust when AI has made it easier than ever to produce mediocre content? In this special compilation episode of Shift & Thrive, host Natalie Nathanson pulls together candid insights from a range of go-to-market leaders and CEOs on what is really driving attention and credibility in B2B today. The conversation moves through personal branding, employee advocacy, the brand versus demand debate, and the growing premium on authenticity as AI content floods every channel. Together, these voices make the case that the future of go-to-market is not less human, it is more human, powered by technology but proven by real people. Takeaways: Put your executive team's real voices forward, not just brand messaging. Personal branding across leadership builds trust faster than a single company voice.Revisit old-school tactics like handwritten notes and one-to-one outreach. They stand out precisely because everyone else has gone digital and generic.Train every employee, not just sales, to pitch your product with confidence. Their authentic voice on social media is free, credible publicity.Invest in brand even when ROI is not immediate. It quietly shortens the uphill climb your sales team faces on every first call.Commit to founder-led content for at least a year before judging results. Consistency beats chasing a single viral moment.Watch for AI-generated "slop." Audiences are increasingly rewarding authenticity over polish.Bring your whole team to customer-facing events, not just sales. Understanding the buyer firsthand changes how everyone builds and sells. Quote of the Show: "There's never been more noise in all of our ears or all of our screens. And so authenticity has become a real currency." — David Axler Guest Links: Kristina’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinamcmillan/ Stephen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-ochs-mba-1681ba19/ David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidaxler/Yossi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yossicarmon/ Michele’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelejohnstonlash/ Christian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianhyatt/ Sneer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sneer-rozenfeld-aa993a77/ Natalie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienathanson/  Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q  This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.  Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com

    Thought Leadership 2.0: Why Authenticity Wins in B2B - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 112
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In today’s business world change is the only constant, and mastering transformation is the ultimate key to success. Welcome to Shift & Thrive! Each week, Host Natalie Nathanson will bring you conversations with CEOs, who delve into how they successfully drove critical change in their organization. This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.

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