Episodios

  • Leadership Through Adversity: How Early Life Challenges Shape Authentic Leaders

    Leadership Through Adversity: How Early Life Challenges Shape Authentic Leaders
    Apr 13 2026
    This episode features Dr. Ajay Nair, President of Arcadia University; Jennifer Schaefer, President and CEO of JS Benefits Group; Bill Gullan, President of Finch Brands; and Cathy Young, President of Moore College of Art and Design, as they share the formative experiences that shaped their leadership styles. Dr. Nair reflects on growing up in West Philadelphia, overcoming early family loss, and leading with authenticity while building strong relationships with students and staff. Jennifer discusses how her childhood experiences, including family challenges and competitive sports, fueled her drive for financial independence and commitment to helping employers support their people. Bill shares how growing up as an only child and developing a passion for sports and politics influenced his adaptability and people-focused leadership in brand consulting. Cathy recounts navigating frequent family transitions and school changes after losing her parents, experiences that strengthened her resilience and ability to connect with diverse communities. Together, these leaders demonstrate how adversity, resilience, and personal authenticity play a critical role in building trust, relationships, and long-term organizational success.
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    44 m
  • From Family Legacies to Global Innovation: CEOs Share the Pivots That Shaped Their Leadership

    From Family Legacies to Global Innovation: CEOs Share the Pivots That Shaped Their Leadership
    Apr 5 2026
    Bill Stockwell of Stockwell Elastomerics shares how stepping into leadership of his family’s business at age 25 led to transforming the company into an employee-owned organization and shaped his disciplined leadership style. Geoffrey Mesko, Pennsylvania Market Leader at Armanino, reflects on growing up in a family business in Scranton and how those early experiences influence his client relationships and approach to work-life integration. David Bernstein, Founder of RLS Associates, discusses his early entrepreneurial instincts, the formative experiences that fueled his passion for mergers and acquisitions, and how he guides clients through the emotional process of selling their businesses. Suchit Bachalli, CEO of Unilog Corporation, recounts his journey from India to the United States and how his vision and collaboration with his father helped build a technology company serving wholesale distributors nationwide. Together, these leaders reveal how childhood influences, pivotal life moments, and family legacies play critical roles in shaping leadership philosophies. The conversation highlights how resilience, curiosity, and strategic thinking enable executives to lead organizations through growth, transition, and innovation.
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    45 m
  • From Construction Crews to Robotics Innovation: Business Leaders Share the Childhood Experiences That Shaped Their Leadership

    From Construction Crews to Robotics Innovation: Business Leaders Share the Childhood Experiences That Shaped Their Leadership
    Mar 29 2026
    On this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, business leaders shared how their early life experiences shaped their leadership journeys. Joel Frank, Managing Partner at Lamb McErlane Law Firm, reflected on working on paving and concrete crews as a child and how those experiences influenced his approach to civil litigation and leadership. Matthew McMaster, President of Bennington Pool Services, discussed launching his company at age 23 and making a bold strategic pivot that transformed the business into a multi-state commercial pool management company. Samuel Reeves, Founder and CEO of FORT Robotics, shared how early entrepreneurial ventures and global experiences in robotics safety inspired him to build technology with meaningful global impact. Mike Linacre of Maximus Partners, a CFO advisory firm, explained how growing up as the youngest of five siblings and developing leadership skills through sports prepared him to help mid-market companies scale through strong financial infrastructure. Together, these leaders demonstrated how formative childhood experiences continue to influence resilience, decision-making, and leadership success.
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    45 m
  • How Childhood Experiences Shape the Leadership of Today’s Executives

    How Childhood Experiences Shape the Leadership of Today’s Executives
    Mar 15 2026
    On this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, leaders share how early life experiences shaped their leadership journeys. Angela Rubino-Hines, President of Bovio Rubino Service, discusses growing up in a family business and how those experiences influenced her leadership style. Mathieu Shapiro, Managing Partner of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP, reflects on how his early interest in theater informs his work as a litigator and leader. Lee Calfo, CEO of Alden Investment Group, shares how being raised by his grandparents shaped his sense of responsibility and leadership. David Regn, CEO of Stream Companies, talks about how navigating family challenges and athletics helped build resilience that carries into his professional life. Together, they discuss how personal experiences influence leadership and business success.
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    45 m
  • Leadership Roots: How Early Influences Shape Today’s CEOs

    Leadership Roots: How Early Influences Shape Today’s CEOs
    Mar 9 2026
    On this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, Herb Cohen sits down with four dynamic executives to explore how childhood experiences and early influences shaped their leadership styles. Ben Connors, CEO of General Building Contractors Association, shares how his upbringing in Philadelphia and New Jersey, combined with early exposure to trade associations and politics, prepared him to steward a 135-year-old member organization. Dave DelBaccaro, CEO and President of Music Choice, reflects on his engineering background, competitive household, and how adaptability has fueled the company’s evolution amid changing music consumption trends. Cesidio Colasante, owner of Soccer Shots of Southeastern Pennsylvania, discusses her journey from professional soccer to leading a mobile youth program serving multiple counties, grounded in the values instilled by her Italian immigrant parents. Todd Sager, CEO of AWE Tuning, explains how his passion for cars, engineering, and artistry influences his approach to building enthusiast-driven performance products. Together, these leaders reveal how work ethic, family dynamics, and early passions continue to drive their impact on employees, members, and communities.
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    45 m
  • From Childhood Lessons to C-Suite Leadership: The Personal Stories Behind Executive Success

    From Childhood Lessons to C-Suite Leadership: The Personal Stories Behind Executive Success
    Mar 2 2026
    On this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, Herb Cohen and the team sit down with Antonio Crespo, Chief Information Security Officer at Arkema; Bob Scavilla, CEO of FourFront; Brian Fritz, Founder/Managing Partner of Fritz & Bianculli; and Cassandra Bailey, CEO and Founder of Slice Communications. Each leader shares how formative childhood experiences shaped their professional paths and leadership philosophies. Antonio reflects on growing up in Brazil and how constant transitions prepared him to lead global cybersecurity teams. Bob discusses his early inventive mindset and how risk-taking and resilience influence his company culture. Brian connects his family’s immigration story and Northeast Philadelphia roots to his advocacy-driven legal practice. Cassandra shares how sports, faith, and entrepreneurial grit led her to build, sell, and ultimately reclaim her communications firm. Together, their stories reveal how personal history fuels purpose-driven leadership across industries.
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    45 m
  • Stories That Shape Success

    Stories That Shape Success
    Feb 23 2026
    In this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, Herb Cohen and his co-hosts interview four dynamic executives about the experiences that shaped their leadership. Tim Laffey, Philadelphia Office Leader at Mercer, shares how early lessons in hard work and teamwork influence his leadership style. Benita Cooper, Owner and Principal Architect of Benita Cooper Design, reflects on how her international upbringing shaped her approach to design and client relationships. Brandon Rost, CEO of Be Marketing, and Leza Raffel, President and Founder of Communication Solutions Group, discuss entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategic communications in today’s evolving marketplace.
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    45 m
  • From Childhood Kitchens to Corner Offices: Leaders on Life, Legacy, and Growth

    From Childhood Kitchens to Corner Offices: Leaders on Life, Legacy, and Growth
    Feb 16 2026
    In this episode of Executive Leaders Radio, host Herb Cohen brings together a series of deeply personal conversations with four accomplished executives about how their life stories shaped their leadership. James Spinelli, CEO of Great Valley Advisor Group, reflects on his early love of technology, lessons learned in his grandmother’s kitchen, and how community and family influenced the rapid growth of his firm from two to more than 200 advisors. Terry Clark, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth, and Family Services, shares how growing up in a multicultural household and the guidance of a pivotal mentor molded his collaborative leadership style and commitment to children and families. Steve Lang, President and CEO of Mon Cheri Bridals, recounts his journey from humble beginnings to building a thriving business while honoring his parents’ legacy through his company and family. Leo Addimando, Managing Partner of Alterra Property Group, describes how moving through ten schools—including time in Greece—shaped his relationship-driven approach to business, problem-solving, and loyalty. Together, the conversations reveal how formative experiences, resilience, and relationships continue to drive purpose, culture, and success in their organizations today.
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    45 m