The Journey To CEO Success

Patrick Thean
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The Journey To CEO Success

Join us bi-weekly for exclusive guest appearances from mid-market CEOs, where they share valuable insights, real-life experiences, and the challenges they've overcome! I am on a mission to help CEOs and company leaders succeed in achieving their dreams. The journey to success is often a messy, unpredictable, and rewarding ride, full of twists, setbacks, and breakthroughs that shape who we become. This podcast shares interesting and unique paths that CEOs are taking. Their journeys are encouraging, with practical lessons for a successful and joyful life.

  1. 5D AGO

    EPISODE #15: From Fear to Fierce - Unlocking Leadership Through Vulnerability With Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare

    True leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about having the courage to face your fears. Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare, shares how embracing vulnerability became the key to building a confident, empowered team. On this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean and Melissa Saunders sit down with Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare, to explore the power of vulnerability in leadership. Pedro opens up about the fears he had to overcome on his path to becoming a stronger, more intentional leader and how that transformation sparked a culture of trust, empowerment, and purpose across his organization. If you're a leader striving to grow through challenge and lead with authenticity, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

    33 min

  2. APR 29

    EPISODE #14: Flexible Leadership - Leading with Confidence in a Complex World with Kevin Eikenberry, Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group

    What if your greatest leadership strength isn’t control, but flexibility? In this episode, leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry shares how adaptable leaders drive growth, clarity, and long-term success in an ever-changing world. They explore how rigid leadership styles can limit growth, the importance of adapting to context, and how to balance outcomes with relationships. Kevin also reveals how small “speed bumps” in your routine can lead to greater clarity, joy, and long-term success. From growing up on a Michigan farm to helping global leaders rethink how they lead, Kevin’s journey is packed with insight, humor, and practical takeaways. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or just stepping into leadership, this episode is your reminder: flexibility isn’t weakness—it’s a strength.

    31 min

  3. APR 28

    EPISODE #13: Curiosity And Leveling Up In Leadership With Guest, Paul Pirkle, President & COO, Midwest Groundcovers

    Can writing a bold letter land you your dream role or change the entire course of your career? In this episode, Paul Pirkle, President & COO of Midwest Ground Covers, shares how confidence, mentorship, and marathon-worthy endurance shaped his rise to leadership. What do baseball slumps, million-dollar mistakes, and marathon miles have to do with becoming a successful President & COO? Quite a bit, according to Paul Pirkle. In this candid conversation with host Patrick Thean and co-host Melissa Saunders, Paul shares his winding journey through multiple industries, the inflection points that defined his leadership path, and how building bridges not just businesses, has become his personal mission. From learning to trust his gut to running companies and literal races, this episode is full of lessons on resilience, intentionality, and leadership that last.

    34 min

  4. APR 25

    EPISODE #12: "Jump Onboard This Moving Bus" with Guest Speaker, Mimi Crawford, Executive Chairman of Crayex Corporation

    What does it take to grow a $100M business without losing your purpose or yourself? In this powerful episode, former CEO and current Executive Director Mimi Crawford of Crayex Corporation shares how she scaled her family company with trust, curiosity, and a people-first mindset. With over three decades of leadership experience, Mimi shares the story of transforming her family business from $28M to $100M in revenue — all while staying grounded in purpose, culture, and people. She opens up about lessons from her father, the power of curiosity in leadership, and how trust, collaboration, and vulnerability helped her lead through change. Mimi also shares candid insights on self-care, coaching, and what it truly takes to build a business — and a life — that lasts. This episode is packed with wisdom for leaders navigating growth, legacy, and the pursuit of a joyful journey.

    35 min

  5. APR 18

    EPISODE#11: Built to Last: 30 Years of Partnership, Purpose, and Career Transformation with Stuart Bentley, Co-Founder of triOS College

    What happens when you pair entrepreneurial grit with a relentless focus on people and purpose? Stuart Bentley, co-founder of triOS College, shares how a 30+ year business partnership transformed the lives of thousands through career-focused education and bold leadership. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick and Melissa sit down with Stuart Bentley, Co-Founder of triOS College and one of Canada's leaders in adult career education. Stuart shares his remarkable journey from paperboy to CEO, the secrets behind maintaining a successful business partnership for over three decades, and the power of aligning education with job outcomes. You'll hear lessons on mentorship, scaling with purpose, adapting through disruption, and why trust, not just vision, is the foundation of long-term success. Tune in for practical wisdom and a refreshing dose of humility from a leader who’s still building, still learning, and still making an impact.

    34 min

  6. APR 12

    EPISODE #10: What Alice In Wonderland Can Teach A CEO With Dave Cook, CEO of InsiteOne

    What do Alice in Wonderland and digital medical imaging have in common? Join us as Dave Cook, CEO of InsiteOne, shares his remarkable journey—from selling one of the world’s largest SaaS imaging companies to reclaiming its leadership and reigniting its culture. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Melissa and Patrick sit down with Dave Cook, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and the current CEO of InsiteOne, which manages over 40 billion digital medical images. Dave opens up about what he learned navigating commodity markets, how he built (and rebuilt) his company, and why knowing where you're headed—Cheshire Cat-style is the secret to a joyful and successful CEO journey. Packed with lessons on resilience, ownership, and building lasting company culture, this is one episode every entrepreneur should hear.

    32 min

  7. APR 4

    EPISODE #9: Grit, Growth And Generational Leadership with Tanya DiSalvo, CEO of Criterion Tool

    What do no-failure industries, third-generation leadership, and bold decision-making have in common? Today’s guest, Tanya DiSalvo, lives at the intersection of all three. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, hosts Melissa Saunders and Patrick Thean sit down with Tanya DiSalvo—CEO of Criterion Tool, a precision machine shop serving mission-critical industries like aerospace, medical devices, and weapons systems. From her unexpected path back to the family business to taking over from her father and navigating tough leadership lessons, Tanya brings candor, wit, and wisdom to the table. You’ll hear: How she “mailed her dad her resume” to get hired What it’s like working for (and eventually buying out) a parent Why “no decision” is often the worst decision How she’s building a joyful workplace where fun is a core value Packed with real-life insights from a woman leading in a male-dominated industry, this episode is a masterclass in grit, growth, and generational leadership done right.

    32 min

  8. MAR 28

    EPISODE #8: Why Most Companies Miss The Mark on Core Customers

    Trying to sell to “mid-market tech companies” or “CFOs”? That’s not a core customer, it’s a segment. In this episode, Patrick breaks down how identifying the real person behind the purchase decision is the turning point from struggling to scaling. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success, Patrick Thean shares the critical lesson he learned the hard way: real growth starts when you deeply understand your core customer, not just their company size or title, but their mindset, pain points, and goals. From early failures knocking on doors to building a company that ranked #151 on the Inc. 500 list, Patrick unpacks how defining your core customer with clarity transforms product, service, and scale. If you’ve been selling to “segments,” this episode is your wake-up call.

    30 min
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About

Join us bi-weekly for exclusive guest appearances from mid-market CEOs, where they share valuable insights, real-life experiences, and the challenges they've overcome! I am on a mission to help CEOs and company leaders succeed in achieving their dreams. The journey to success is often a messy, unpredictable, and rewarding ride, full of twists, setbacks, and breakthroughs that shape who we become. This podcast shares interesting and unique paths that CEOs are taking. Their journeys are encouraging, with practical lessons for a successful and joyful life.

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