Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts)

Real CEOs. Real Stories. Hosted by Ben Fanning—2025 Gold Stevie Award winner for Best Business Podcast and ranked in the Top 2% globally—Lead the Team draws on over 600 CEO interviews to take you inside the minds of leaders from brands like Honeywell, HP, IBM, Dunkin’, and L’Oréal. In each episode, you’ll hear raw, unfiltered stories of leading through rapid growth, high-stakes decisions, and make-or-break moments—plus the CEO-tested tools and strategies they use to build high-performing teams. From turning around billion-dollar brands to sparking innovation at scale, these leaders share lessons you can put into action right now to lead your own team better. Subscribe now. ------------- https://www.benfanning.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/

Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts) is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts), a business show with 0 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #462

  The Customer Conversation That Changed a Company | CEO Motus, Phong Nguyen

  Aug 18, 202629 min

  When Phong Nguyen stepped into the CEO role at Modus—a technology platform processing over $2 Billion annually in driver reimbursements—he skipped the victory lap and did something his team was terrified to arrange: he got on a call with one of their biggest, angriest ex-customers. The client "ripped them a new one," exposing a hard reality: Modus had lost its innovation edge and treated them transactionally. But instead of getting defensive, Fong took a walk to cool down, gathered his leadership team, and used that uncomfortable call to recalibrate the company’s "true north". Within 12 months, they won that customer back. In this episode of Lead The Team , host Ben Fanning sits down with Phong Nguyen to discuss: The Ex-Customer Playbook: Why calling lost accounts yields the rawest, most valuable strategic data. Customer Centricity vs. Customer Success: Why true customer focus is a business strategy, not a metrics-driven department. Leading Through Perspective: How growing up as a Vietnamese refugee shaped his long-term view on work ethic, discipline, and opportunity. "Liked vs. Respected": The screaming match early in his career that forced him to develop his own philosophy on modern management. Uncovering Hidden Signals: Moving past surface-level KPIs to align with actual customer business outcomes. Resources & Links Get Weekly Insights: Receive vital takeaways from every episode directly to your inbox at benfanning.com/insight . Rate & Review: Enjoying the show? Take 10 seconds to rate, follow, and drop a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help more leaders discover the show. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

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  Episode #461

  The Quarter From Hell That Created a $500M AI Company | Gong's Amit Bendov

  Aug 15, 202637 min

  Every leader eventually faces a moment when the numbers stop making sense. For Amit Bendov , Co-Founder and CEO of Gong, that moment came during what he calls "the quarter from hell." Sales were collapsing, investors were asking tough questions, and every report looked normal. The CRM had data—but none of the answers. That painful experience sparked an idea that would become Gong , one of the world's leading AI-powered revenue platforms, now generating more than $500 million in annual recurring revenue . In this episode of Lead the Team , Amit shares the leadership lessons behind that defining moment and explains how AI is changing the way leaders understand customers, coach teams, and make better decisions. In this episode: Why "the quarter from hell" became the origin story of Gong The leadership blind spot that almost every executive faces Why traditional CRM systems fail when leaders need answers most How AI helps leaders spot problems before it's too late The operating rhythm used by elite sales organizations The hiring traits Amit looks for in future leaders Why ownership and curiosity separate great leaders from everyone else Whether you're a CEO, founder, executive, sales leader, or entrepreneur, this conversation offers practical lessons on leading through uncertainty, building better teams, and using AI to create a lasting competitive advantage. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

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  Episode #460

  The AI Security Threat Leaders Aren't Ready For | Dennis Kozak, CEO of Ivanti

  Aug 11, 202640 min

  AI isn't just transforming business—it's transforming cyberattacks. In this episode of Lead the Team , Ben Fanning sits down with Dennis Kozak, CEO of Ivanti , to discuss why artificial intelligence is changing cybersecurity faster than most organizations can adapt. After leading companies through cloud computing, mobile, remote work, cybersecurity, and now AI, Dennis explains the leadership principles that remain constant even as technology rapidly evolves. He shares the story of a company that unknowingly allowed attackers to remain inside its systems for more than a year—even though the security patch already existed. The lesson isn't just about technology. It's about leadership, prioritization, and preparing organizations for a future where AI accelerates both innovation and risk. You'll also learn: • Why AI is changing cybersecurity forever • How executives should think about AI adoption and risk • The leadership mistake that leaves organizations vulnerable • Why companies fail to deploy critical security patches • How to balance long-term strategy with constant operational fires • What separates future executives from everyone else • Why curiosity and adaptability matter more than expertise in the AI era If you're a CEO, executive, technology leader, or anyone responsible for navigating AI transformation, this conversation offers practical leadership lessons for one of the fastest-changing business environments in history. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

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  Episode #459

  One Cell Tower Survived | Chris Hillabrant, CEO of Crown Castle

  Aug 9, 202630 min

  Chris Hillabrant was only days into a new role in New York when the September 11 attacks changed everything. As communications infrastructure across Manhattan began to fail, his team discovered they had one cell site still standing. What happened over the next 72 hours became one of the defining leadership moments of his career. Technicians drove into the city, manually hauled thousand-pound equipment dozens of stories to triple the site's capacity, opened the network to competitors, redirected hundreds of surrounding antennas toward Manhattan, and helped provide 10,000 cell phones to first responders coordinating rescue efforts. Now the President and CEO of Crown Castle, Chris shares the leadership lessons that crisis forged—and how they continue to shape the way he builds teams today. In this episode, Chris discusses: What leading through the chaos of 9/11 taught him about communication and trust Why preparation is only the starting point—and adaptability wins in a crisis The leadership decision to help competitors when lives were on the line How to develop leaders who are ready before the crisis arrives Why the best career opportunities are often the hardest assignments The importance of succession planning and building a deep leadership bench The surprising childhood failure that taught him to obsess over customers Why raising your hand for difficult challenges has shaped every stage of his career Whether you're leading a global organization or a small team, this conversation is a masterclass in leading with clarity, courage, and purpose when the stakes couldn't be higher. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

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  Episode #457

  The Impossible Decision That Shaped This CEO | Doug Braun

  Aug 4, 202633 min

  What does it take to make the kind of decision that changes how you lead forever? In this episode of Lead The Team , Ben Fanning sits down with Doug Braun , CEO of eProductivity Software (EPS), to discuss the leadership experiences that shaped his philosophy long before he became CEO. Doug shares the unforgettable story of a company making the difficult decision to walk away from a customer representing nearly half of its revenue, and how witnessing that moment taught him one of the most important lessons of his career: great leaders choose long-term success over short-term comfort. The conversation also explores leading through acquisitions, building trust across organizations, embracing AI, and why Doug believes every leader should spend more time listening than talking. Whether you're a CEO, executive, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, you'll walk away with practical insights on courageous decision-making, leadership under pressure, organizational transformation, and building cultures where people can thrive. In this episode: The leadership decision that shaped Doug's career Why great leaders choose "fast pain" over "slow pain" Building trust during mergers and acquisitions Leading people through uncertainty and change How AI is transforming leadership and manufacturing Practical leadership lessons every executive can apply If you enjoy conversations about leadership, business, AI, and executive performance, be sure to follow Lead The Team for new episodes featuring world-class leaders and actionable insights. ----- Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben Fanning Speaking and Training inquires Subscribe to my Youtube channel LinkedIn Instagram Twitter

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