CEO Podcast | The leaders shaping our world

Only 27% of Americans trust businesses to use AI responsibly. Congress polls at 16 percent. The public is running out of people to believe.Go here to find links to all of the sources cited in the video: www.ceo.com/the-ai-crisis-is-a-leadership-crisis/

H.J. Chammas, Founder & CEO of Authority Publishing, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on personal branding, entrepreneurship, publishing, AI, and how leaders can turn their expertise into authority.After leaving the corporate world at Nestlé, building financial independence through real estate, and experiencing the failure of his own first book, H.J. discovered an important lesson: publishing a book isn't really about selling books. For entrepreneurs, executives, coaches, and consultants, a book can become the foundation for credibility, speaking opportunities, partnerships, clients, and an entire personal brand. Today, Authority Publishing helps experts transform their knowledge and experience into intellectual property designed to make an impact and grow their businesses. H.J. breaks down his Publish, Promote, Monetize framework and explains why simply putting a book on Amazon is nowhere near enough. Timestamps:00:00:05 - Introduction and Guest Background00:00:21 - What is Authority Publishing?00:01:17 - Importance of Authority in Business00:02:19 - Writing a Book to Gain Authority00:03:07 - H.J.'s Story of Failure and Learning00:04:52 - Transition from Food Science to Publishing00:06:00 - Real Estate Ventures and Lessons Learned00:08:39 - Finding True Purpose in Authority Publishing00:09:47 - Living Between Dubai and Lebanon00:10:16 - Current Situation in Lebanon00:11:20 - Entrepreneurship in Lebanon vs. Dubai00:12:15 - Initial Steps for Aspiring Authors00:14:04 - The Publish, Promote, Monetize Framework00:16:09 - Ghostwriting Process and AI's Role00:19:41 - Marketing a Book to Bestseller Status00:24:42 - Monetizing Beyond Book Sales00:27:03 - Cost of Services at Authority Publishing00:31:38 - H.J.'s Daily Routine and Work-Life Balance00:33:41 - Impact of AI on Book Writing and Editing00:35:26 - Reflecting on Who Gave H.J. a Chance00:38:41 - Closing Remarks and Final ThoughtsIf you're interested in entrepreneurship, personal branding, publishing, AI, thought leadership, or turning your expertise into a business, this conversation offers a practical look at how a book can become much more than something people read.For your free copy of Chammas’ book “Publish. Promote. Monetize” visit: https://authority-publishing.com/blogSubscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.

Megan Duong, Co-Founder & CEO of Plot, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on AI, social video, entrepreneurship, consumer intelligence, and how brands can understand what people are actually saying about them online.Megan began her career in social media and brand marketing, including time at Apple, before launching her own agency in 2020. As TikTok and short-form video exploded, she saw a major problem: brands could track captions, hashtags, and tags, but much of the most valuable consumer conversation was happening inside the videos themselves. That insight became Plot. Today, Plot uses multimodal AI to analyze millions of social videos, identifying products, conversations, behaviors, trends, and untagged brand mentions that traditional social listening tools can miss. Megan explains how that intelligence can help companies discover organic superfans, measure influencer campaigns, identify emerging trends, conduct consumer research, and even detect AI-generated misinformation. Timestamps:00:00:05 - Introduction and Welcome00:00:25 - What is Plot?00:01:50 - Megan's Background and Career Path00:03:25 - Starting a Social Media Agency00:04:42 - Fundraising Journey00:07:51 - Working with Alexis Ohanian00:10:08 - Technology Behind Plot00:13:17 - How Brands Use Plot's Data00:17:03 - AI and the Future of Video00:21:42 - Cost Management and AI Models00:23:26 - AI-Generated Video Content00:29:38 - The Importance of Authenticity in Video00:32:39 - Leadership and CEO Role00:36:59 - A Typical Day for Megan00:38:14 - The Importance of Giving and Receiving Chances00:38:58 - Closing Remarks and Where to Find PlotIf you're interested in AI, social media, marketing, consumer intelligence, entrepreneurship, creator marketing, or the future of video, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how AI is transforming the way brands understand what consumers are saying and doing online.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.

Geoff Woods, Founder of AI Leadership and bestselling author of The AI-Driven Leader, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on AI, leadership, strategy, and how executives can use artificial intelligence to think better—not just work faster.After helping grow a public company from a $750 million market cap to $12 billion, Geoff became convinced that AI's greatest value isn't writing emails or summarizing meetings. Instead, it's helping leaders solve better problems, make better decisions, and think at a much higher level.In this episode, Geoff explains why leaders should stop treating AI like a productivity tool and start using it as a strategic thought partner.If you're interested in AI, leadership, strategy, entrepreneurship, executive development, or the future of work, this conversation is packed with practical frameworks you can apply immediately.00:00:22 - Jeff's Background and Career Achievements00:01:04 - Key Drivers of Company Growth00:01:35 - Discovering ChatGPT and AI00:02:06 - Using AI as a Thought Partner00:02:27 - Live Use Case with AI for Strategy00:03:09 - Writing the AI-Driven Leader Book00:03:21 - Resonance and Market Research00:04:30 - Changes Since First Publication00:05:11 - Self-Leadership and AI00:05:44 - AI as a Thought Partner Example00:07:09 - CRIT Framework for AI Prompts00:09:59 - Elevating Strategic Thinking with AI00:10:11 - Defining Leadership in the AI Age00:12:02 - AI as a Liberation Tool00:12:54 - Misconceptions About AI00:14:02 - Human-Led Decisions in the AI Era00:15:04 - AI's Unpopularity and Public Perception00:16:49 - Effective Messaging About AI00:18:09 - Role of Government and Leadership in AI00:20:13 - Identity and Job Attachment00:21:42 - Personal Journey and Identity Crisis00:24:03 - Double-Edged Sword of Success00:25:07 - Leadership and Human Value in AI00:26:15 - Valuable Skills in the AI Age00:26:58 - Example of Empowering Employees with AI00:30:49 - Overview of Jeff's Company, AI Leadership00:31:44 - Transforming Companies with AI00:35:23 - Final Question: Who Gave You a Chance?00:37:17 - Conclusion and Book PromotionSubscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.

David Meltzer, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute, joins Clint Betts for a powerful conversation on success, faith, AI, leadership, purpose, and the pursuit of true wealth.From becoming a millionaire just months after graduating law school to losing more than $100 million—and rebuilding his life around service and purpose—David shares the defining moments that completely transformed how he views success.Known as the inspiration behind Jerry Maguire through his time leading Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, David explains why money isn't the destination, why AI is making wisdom more valuable than ever, and how anyone can build a life centered on gratitude, accountability, and fulfillment.00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome00:00:10 - David's Early Life and Aspirations00:00:35 - Growing Up in a World of Not Enough00:00:56 - Pursuing Wealth and Career Choices00:01:16 - Shift from Athlete to Lawyer00:01:37 - Early Career Success and Internet Ventures00:02:10 - Becoming a Millionaire and Career Growth00:02:44 - CEO of Samsung's Phone Division and Lee Steinberg Sports00:03:04 - Losing Values and Financial Collapse00:03:25 - Losing Everything and Telling His Mom00:04:19 - Paradigm Shift and Return to Faith00:05:01 - Aligning Life with Divine Direction00:05:37 - Host's Reflection on Money and Happiness00:06:20 - Realizing Life's Purpose00:06:46 - Shifting Perspective from "I'll Be Happy When" to "For the Sake of What"00:07:08 - Aligning Behaviors with Goals00:08:01 - Self-Leadership and Faith00:08:32 - Leading Back to Faith00:08:43 - Embracing Uncertainty and Using Gratitude00:09:26 - Communicating with God and Living by Values00:10:11 - AI's Impact on Humanity and Leadership00:11:06 - Leadership and AI00:11:50 - Accelerated Time and Decision-Making00:13:39 - Challenges of Leadership in the Age of AI00:16:17 - David's Daily Routine and Non-Negotiable Behaviors00:19:40 - Book Discussion: "Don't Do Business with Dicks"00:21:07 - Reflecting on Who Gave David a Chance00:21:49 - Closing Remarks and Future CollaborationIf you're interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, personal growth, AI, faith, business, or living a more meaningful life, this conversation is filled with timeless wisdom and practical lessons.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.

Jerald David, CEO of Lynq, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on blockchain, tokenization, stablecoins, financial infrastructure, and the future of global markets.Lynq is building a real-time settlement network that allows trusted counterparties to move capital instantly using blockchain technology. While much of the public conversation has shifted from crypto to AI, Jerald believes the biggest blockchain revolution is happening quietly behind the scenes as financial institutions modernize the infrastructure that powers global markets.In this episode, Jerald explains why blockchain is becoming the backbone of modern finance, how tokenization works, and why 24/7 settlement could fundamentally change the way money moves around the world.00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome00:00:09 - Overview of Link00:01:34 - State of Blockchain and Digital Assets00:03:57 - Market Structure and Regulation00:05:07 - Gerald's Background and Career Path00:06:09 - A Day in the Life of a CEO00:07:33 - Quantum Computing and Blockchain00:08:41 - Market Inefficiencies and Link's Solutions00:13:17 - Blockchain 101 and Tokenization Explained00:18:06 - Stable Tokens and Their Use Cases00:22:46 - Macro-Economic Perspective00:24:00 - The Importance of Stable Tokens for the US Dollar00:24:16 - The Importance of Giving Chances00:25:08 - Closing Remarks and GratitudeIf you're interested in blockchain, fintech, cryptocurrency, AI, financial markets, entrepreneurship, or the future of global finance, this conversation offers a clear look at where the industry is heading next.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.

Eric Girouard, Founder & CEO of BRUNT Workwear, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on entrepreneurship, branding, AI, e-commerce, and building one of America's fastest-growing workwear companies.Founded in 2020, BRUNT Workwear has become one of the most recognizable brands serving skilled tradespeople by doing something few companies have done well—building a brand that genuinely represents the people who keep America running. Eric shares how conversations with lifelong friends in the trades inspired a company that's redefining workwear through authenticity, community, and customer obsession.The conversation explores brand building, AI, product development, leadership, e-commerce, and why listening to customers is the ultimate competitive advantage.00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Eric and Brunt Workwear00:00:41 - Eric's Blue-Collar Roots and Early Entrepreneurial Ventures00:02:14 - Learning from Serial Entrepreneur Ben Fishman00:03:41 - The Genesis of Brunt Workwear00:05:06 - Building a Brand for Tradespeople00:06:08 - The Role of AI in Brunt Workwear00:10:03 - The Importance of Building a Brand00:14:28 - Community Building and Brand Building00:16:46 - The Process of Bringing a Product to Market00:21:36 - The State of E-commerce and Brunt's Success00:25:07 - A Day in the Life of Eric00:29:07 - Principles of Leadership00:33:57 - Trends in the Trade Industry and Macro Economy00:37:10 - The Importance of Giving and Taking Chances00:38:55 - Conclusion and Final ThoughtsIf you're interested in entrepreneurship, branding, e-commerce, AI, consumer products, leadership, or building an enduring business, this conversation is packed with practical insights from one of today's most successful brand builders.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.

 Sheldon Lewis, Managing Partner at Blueprint Equity, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on venture capital, growth equity, AI, SaaS, startup investing, and the future of software businesses.Blueprint Equity manages more than $600 million and specializes in helping bootstrapped and lightly funded vertical SaaS companies scale from early traction to sustainable growth. In this episode, Sheldon shares why he believes we're living through both the most exciting and most uncertain period in software investing history.The conversation dives into AI's impact on startups, whether the so-called "SaaSpocalypse" is real, the future of venture capital, and what investors are looking for in founders today.00:00:00 - Introduction to Blueprint Equity00:00:50 - Blueprint Equity's Investment Focus00:01:56 - The State of SaaS and SaaSpocalypse00:03:41 - Public Market SaaS Companies00:05:05 - Efficiency and AI in Series A Funding00:08:09 - The Future of Venture Capital00:12:22 - The Potential of Software and AI00:14:08 - Exciting Investment Verticals00:17:10 - What Blueprint Equity Looks for in Founders00:20:29 - Effective Board Meetings and Communication00:23:25 - Public Sentiment on AI00:26:29 - A Day in the Life of Sheldon00:29:00 - The Importance of Giving and Receiving ChancesIf you're interested in venture capital, startups, SaaS, AI, entrepreneurship, investing, or the future of software businesses, this conversation is packed with valuable insights from one of the industry's leading growth investors.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.

Tatyana Zlotsky, CEO of A Place for Mom, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on caregiving, aging, leadership, AI, healthcare, and one of the biggest demographic challenges facing America.As the first wave of baby boomers turns 80, millions of families are being thrust into caregiving roles with little preparation, enormous financial burdens, and difficult decisions about senior care. A Place for Mom helps families navigate those challenges by connecting them with trusted advisors and care solutions tailored to their unique situations.In this episode, Tatyana shares why caregiving is becoming one of the defining issues of our time, how AI can support both families and businesses, and what leaders must do to navigate uncertainty and change.The conversation also explores immigration, resilience, company culture, healthcare innovation, and the future of senior living.00:00:00 - Introduction and Career Journey00:01:11 - Mission of A Place for Mom00:02:44 - Caregiving Crisis and Statistics00:03:55 - A Day in the Life of a CEO00:05:06 - Optimism and AI00:07:04 - Leadership and Decision Making00:09:05 - Company Values00:10:18 - Balancing Efficiency and Compassion00:13:02 - Inspirational Leaders00:14:42 - Managing Company Culture00:17:04 - Future of Senior Living Industry00:19:05 - Influence of Immigrant Experience00:20:38 - Acknowledging Mentors and Supporters00:22:07 - Conclusion and GratitudeIf you're interested in leadership, healthcare, AI, aging, caregiving, entrepreneurship, or building mission-driven organizations, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of society’s most important challenges.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.

Toni De La Fuente, Founder & CEO of Prowler, joins Clint Betts for a conversation on cloud security, AI, open source software, cybersecurity, and building one of the world's fastest-growing security communities.What started as a personal project to secure cloud environments has evolved into Prowler, an open-source security platform approaching 50 million downloads and helping organizations secure AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Microsoft 365, GitHub, Cloudflare, and more.In this episode, Toni explains why AI security and cloud security are rapidly converging, how open-source communities are shaping the future of cybersecurity, and why organizations must rethink security as AI-generated software becomes commonplace.The conversation also explores startup building, venture capital, remote work, leadership, cloud infrastructure, and what it takes to transform an open-source project into a venture-backed company.00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Toni00:00:20 - Founding of Prowler00:01:25 - Transition from Open Source Project to Company00:02:52 - Importance of Security in the Age of AI00:05:21 - Opportunities in Cloud Security00:07:24 - Concerns about Security Vulnerabilities in Old Code00:10:01 - Growth and Adoption of Prowler00:12:02 - A Day in the Life of a CEO00:13:41 - Decision to Go Fully Remote00:15:02 - Moving to San Francisco00:16:41 - Reading Recommendations for CEOs00:19:44 - Leadership Lessons and Challenges00:21:07 - Macroeconomic Environment and Planning00:23:52 - Funding and Venture Capital00:26:10 - Balancing Community and Company Needs00:28:33 - Community Reaction to Paid Features00:30:03 - Future Growth Potential of Prowler00:31:28 - Competitors in the Cloud Security Space00:34:39 - Thoughts on Quantum Computing00:35:31 - Reflecting on Opportunities and Support00:37:12 - Closing Remarks and GratitudeIf you're interested in AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, open source software, startups, or the future of technology infrastructure, this conversation is packed with insights from one of the industry's leading builders.Subscribe for more conversations with founders, CEOs, and leaders shaping the future of business and technology.