Break Free™

David Mansilla

Feeling stuck in your career, business, or entrepreneurial journey? You’re not alone—and more importantly, you don’t have to stay there. If you’re ready to move beyond the frustration of spinning your wheels and start gaining real clarity in your professional path, this podcast is for you. Each episode features powerful business stories, expert insights, and transformational lessons from successful entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and mission-driven professionals. You’ll discover strategies to break through limitations, identify new opportunities, and confidently step into the business and life you were designed to lead. Your breakthrough in business starts now. Hit play—and start building with purpose, direction, and lasting impact.

  1. JAN 30

    Turning Your Darkest Valleys into Victories

    "What is this challenge preparing me for?" In this focused "Golden Nuggets" highlight, we dive into the most powerful moments from our conversation with David Cooks, CEO of David Cooks Enterprises. David has spent over 40 years in a wheelchair, but his greatest test came this past year: a broken femur, a battle with E. coli, and a life-saving surgery performed by—miraculously—a former student. We’ve stripped away the fluff to bring you the core framework David used to transition from paralysis to purpose. If you are an entrepreneur in the "Trough of Sorrow" or someone facing a personal health crisis, these insights are your blueprint for resilience. The Nuggets You’ll Uncover: (1) Refinement vs. Limitation: Why David views his wheelchair not as a cage, but as a fire that refines the soul like gold. (2) The Law of the Harvest: A stunning real-life example of how a seed of kindness planted decades ago returned as a life-saving blessing. (1) Gratitude as Multiplication: The counter-intuitive secret to shifting from scarcity to sufficiency in business. (3) Faith as a Foundation: Why "internal resolve" must always be greater than "market volatility." (4) Finding Your "Why": How to maintain your mission when your "How" (your strategy or physical ability) gets stripped away. Featured in this Episode: David Cooks: Author of Getting Undressed and resilience expert. David Mansilla: Host and advocate for faith-based leadership. Full Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MPhj5kAKZs #BusinessInsights #GoldenNuggets #Resilience #DavidCooks #Entrepreneurship #FaithAndWork #OvercomingObstacles #Shorts https://www.davidmansilla.com/ https://www.breakfreepodcast.co/

    8 min
  2. 12/01/2025

    How to Use Your Biggest Losses for Guaranteed Future Success

    Join host David Mansilla and Freestar CEO Kurt Donnell for an unscripted, powerful conversation about the true cost of success and the non-linear path to the top. Kurt Donnell breaks down the complex world of digital ad monetization, revealing how his company runs over a billion ad auctions daily—operating like a high-frequency trading firm in the ad space. What You Will Learn:The Ad Tech Black Box: How ad space is sold in real-time auctions within milliseconds, and the wild flow of platforms involved.The Career Lattice: Why ditching the traditional "career ladder" for a "career lattice" is essential for lifelong growth, including sideways and even downward moves.The A+ Strategy: Kurt's counter-intuitive advice: Stop focusing on improving your weaknesses (B to C) and dedicate your energy only to the things that take you from an A to an A+.The CEO's Real Job: Why the majority of a CEO's time is spent on the "3D puzzle of people" (HR) and finance.The Emotional Cost of Success: Donnell opens up about his high-powered law career, the resulting unhappiness that led him to therapy, and the painful lessons learned from watching his kids grow up "horizontal". This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur or leader seeking honest wisdom on strategy, people management, and balancing ambition with personal well-being. #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #CareerAdvice #CEO #AdTech #WorkLifeBalance https://www.davidmansilla.com/ https://www.breakfreepodcast.co/

    37 min
  3. 10/30/2025

    20 Years to CEO — Matt Clark on Scaling, Culture, and B2B Fintech Success

    In this episode of the Break Free Podcast, David Mansilla interviews Matt Clark, President and CEO of Core Centric, a global leader in Procurement, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable solutions. Matt shares his incredible 20+ year journey rising from an early role to the top leadership position at the financial technology company. Key Takeaways You'll Learn: (1) Removing Friction in B2B: How Core Centric's founding mission was to streamline and digitize processes in the B2B space, starting with the truck transportation sector. (2) The Path to CEO: The single, high-stakes project that served as the catalyst for Matt's promotion by demonstrating his ability to "execute at a high level". (3) Fighting Bureaucracy: Why Matt's first goal as CEO was to balance Core Centric's organizational structure by pulling back from a "bureaucratic culture" to maintain agility. (4) Crisis is Opportunity: How the company used macro cycles—like the 2008 recession and COVID-19—to focus on self-improvement, positioning them to "thrive, not just survive," as the market recovered. (5) The Guiding Principle: Matt's ultimate core value: why simply "doing the right thing" is often the hardest, but most crucial, business and personal decision. Subscribe to the Break Free Podcast for more interviews with business leaders! #LeadershipLessons #CEOInterview #FintechLeader #B2B #CoreCentric #Entrepreneurship #BusinessCulture #DigitalTransformation #CrisisManagement #DoTheRightThing https://www.davidmansilla.com/ https://www.breakfreepodcast.co/

    33 min
  4. 10/30/2025

    Lessons from the Sky: Ron Felix on Aerospace, High-Stakes Leadership, and Moral Fortitude

    Join David Mansilla as he interviews Ron Felix, the CEO and President of Moeller Aerospace, a company that manufactures high-precision components for gas turbine engines in commercial, military, and space applications. Ron shares his incredible 40-year journey in aerospace and the unique challenges of leading a company built on 100% reliability. Discover the leadership mindset required to thrive in an industry where products last decades and the focus is on execution over rapid growth. In this episode, you will learn: The Industry’s Longevity: Why an average engine serial number flies for 25 to 40 years.Limits of Innovation: Ron's take on why commercial jet engine technology is reaching its physics limits, pushing the focus to alternate fuels and military hypersonics.The Toughest Problem: Why the biggest business problems are "usually human generated," often resulting from selfish economics and a fear of confronting the truth.Courageous Leadership: How Ron approaches challenges by eliminating politics and "betting that I could do this" at the risk of personal loss.The Billboard Message: Ron's single, most critical piece of advice for success in any field: "Believe in yourself". Subscribe to the Break Free Podcast for more wisdom from leaders who are making a difference!  https://www.davidmansilla.com/ https://www.breakfreepodcast.co/ #Aerospace #CEOWisdom #LeadershipDevelopment #FinTech #MoellerAerospace #AviationSafety #MoralFortitude #ExecutiveCoach #EntrepreneurialMindset #BelieveInYourself

    48 min
  5. 08/26/2025

    The Future of Podcasting & Digital Innovation with Paul Colligan

    Are you ready to take your podcasting game to the next level? 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Paul Colligan—a true pioneer in the podcasting space, author, and entrepreneur—who has been shaping the industry since 2004. Paul shares powerful lessons on how to thrive in today’s fast-changing digital world: ✅ Lesson #1: The Right Kind of Pressure Will Move You into Action Discover how setting attainable goals and creating positive pressure can keep you accountable and invested in your journey. ✅ Lesson #2: The Internet Will Always Kill the Middleman Learn why businesses that fail to adapt to new technology risk becoming obsolete, and how you can harness innovation to stay ahead. ✅ Lesson #3: How to Cut Through the Noise With so many podcasts out there, Paul reveals the four critical questions you must answer to make your show stand out with purpose and clarity. Whether you’re a business leader, content creator, or aspiring podcaster, this episode is packed with insights to help you take action, adapt, and succeed. 👉 Don’t just start a podcast—start one with impact. ✨ If you enjoy this conversation, make sure to subscribe for more interviews with top entrepreneurs and leaders. 👍 Like, share, and drop a comment with your biggest takeaway! #Podcasting #Entrepreneurship #DigitalInnovation #PaulColligan #Leadership https://www.davidmansilla.com/ https://www.breakfreepodcast.co/

    46 min
5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Feeling stuck in your career, business, or entrepreneurial journey? You’re not alone—and more importantly, you don’t have to stay there. If you’re ready to move beyond the frustration of spinning your wheels and start gaining real clarity in your professional path, this podcast is for you. Each episode features powerful business stories, expert insights, and transformational lessons from successful entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and mission-driven professionals. You’ll discover strategies to break through limitations, identify new opportunities, and confidently step into the business and life you were designed to lead. Your breakthrough in business starts now. Hit play—and start building with purpose, direction, and lasting impact.