Overview: Welcome to the Ready Set Exec Leadership Podcast where executive search meets real leadership stories. Ready Set Exec explores how today’s top executives think, lead, hire, and scale through real conversations with accomplished leaders across sales, marketing, HR, operations, finance, technology, and digital transformation. Each episode features candid discussions with executives, founders, and industry experts who share practical insights on leadership, organizational growth, executive hiring, innovation, and navigating today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. From scaling companies and driving transformation to advancing executive careers and building high-performing teams, Ready Set Exec delivers real-world strategies, lessons learned, and forward-thinking perspectives for leaders shaping the future of business. What to Expect Each Episode: Conversations with Executives: Hear candid stories from accomplished leaders across Ready Set Exec’s network as they share lessons learned, pivotal career moves, and their outlook on the future of leadership. Industry Insights: Explore the trends shaping leadership in the fields Ready Set Exec knows best, how Sales leaders drive growth, how Marketing executives build brand momentum, how HR shapes culture, and how Operations keeps organizations moving. Talent Strategy Deep Dives: John reveals what he's learned about hiring executives who don’t just fit the role but elevate the business, by using a relationship-driven approach. Actionable Takeaways: Whether you’re a CEO, HR leader, or an executive shaping your next move, you’ll walk away with practical insights on attracting, retaining, and thriving as top talent. Connect with Ready Set Exec: John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ Patrick Shea LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExec Are you a C-level Exec and want to be a guest on the podcast ? email sales@readysetexec.com Check out our firm at Readysetexec.com or call us at 737-249-9572
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Episode #48
How COVID Changed Organizational Culture and HR's Response | Ready Set Exec Leadership Podcast
Sep 25, 202656 minS1
In this insightful interview, Dr. Lauran Starr discusses the strategic role of HR, the impact of COVID on organizational culture, and the importance of long-term planning, diversity, and AI integration in the workplace. The perception of HR as a cost center has hampered its ability to influence key business decisions. Traditionally, HR has been relegated to compliance and administrative tasks, but this mindset is outdated. Dr. Lauran Starr emphasizes that HR professionals must advocate for their strategic importance by demonstrating how HR can lead to tangible business results. HR has a unique opportunity to step up, especially in the post-COVID landscape where organizations are re-evaluating their workforce strategies. Leaders must understand that effective HR practices can enhance productivity, reduce turnover, and ultimately increase profitability. HR should not just report to the C-suite; it should be an integral part of the leadership team. Dr. Starr points out that HR must partner with the CEO, COO, and CFO to drive business strategies that include people initiatives. This partnership is essential for fostering a healthy organizational culture that attracts and retains talent. Chapters 00:00 The Role of HR in Business Strategy 03:12 COVID-19: A Missed Opportunity for HR 05:58 Transforming HR from Cost Center to Strategic Partner 09:05 Measuring HR's Impact on Business Outcomes 11:46 Long-Term Planning vs. Short-Term Results 14:47 Navigating the DEI Landscape 17:54 The Future of Inclusion in the Workplace 30:25 Navigating Organizational Dynamics and Diversity 34:53 The Impact of Polarization on Workplace Culture 39:12 AI's Role in Human Resources and Workforce Management 46:05 Reskilling and Upskilling in the Age of AI 51:46 The Importance of Culture in Employee Retention Connect with Ready Set Exec: John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ Patrick Shea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExec Visit our podcast page: https://readysetexec.com/the-rse-podcast/ Connect with Dr Lauran Starr Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauranstar/
How to Survive the AI Marketing Revolution | Melih Oztalay | Ready Set Exec Leadership Podcast
Sep 18, 202647 minS1
Here's an exercise Melih Oztalay wants every business owner to do right now. Go to ChatGPT. Ask it to list the top 10 companies it would recommend in your industry. Your company will not be on that list. Then ask it why. It will give you a to-do list. That to-do list is your entire GEO strategy for 2026. Melih has been in marketing since 1987, from the first IBM PCs to the internet, from SEO to AI bots, and his agency has survived every disruption by following one simple principle: the concepts don't change, the tools do. In this episode, he shares his Four A's of Change framework, explains why Google Ads and PPC are now "traditional marketing," and offers three immediately actionable tactics any business can start this week to cut through the noise in the AI era. About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, boasting an average time-to-hire of 39 days and a 100% placement success rate. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro: Melih Oztalay 1:49 - Humans haven't changed. The tools have. 5:14 - The Four A's of Change framework 15:00 - The Porsche dealership story 16:30 - Predictive vs. reactive: the 2026 marketing shift 17:00 - SEO → AEO → GEO explained 23:06 - Google Ads is now "traditional marketing." 24:25 - Why cold email is dead — and what replaces it 30:42 - Actionable tip #1: Press release marketing 33:30 - Actionable tip #2: ChatGPT JSON/schema for GEO 39:05 - Actionable tip #3: Ask GPT why you're not on the list 40:48 - The marketing skill every new hire needs in 2026 44:05 - How to build a team that learns itself Connect with Ready Set Exec: John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ Patrick Shea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExec Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6clqPWbF2yFRlsFUOXY0CO?si=UuOAbZeiQMKpgSjV5Od5_g Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ready-set-exec-the-podcast/id1837951413 Connect with Melih Oztalay: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melihoztalay/
Alan Lazaros - Why Treating Your Team Like "Family" is a Terrible Idea | Ready Set Exec Leadership Podcast
Sep 11, 202657 minS1
I treated my team like family. That is a terrible idea. Despite what every leadership book tells you, that is the worst advice ever. Goals first. Team second. Alan Lazaros said that in the first 10 seconds of this conversation. He meant every word of it. Alan is the CEO and co-host of Next Level University, a daily self-improvement podcast with 2,271+ episodes, a 20-person remote team, and coaching clients he's worked with for up to seven years. He came from a tough childhood, no father, went broke starting his business, and built it back on one foundation: old-school fundamentals that most people are too entitled, too distracted, or too afraid to follow. In this episode, he talks about community building, remote leadership, personal branding, and why in a world full of AI bots and fake Instagram jets, the only thing that actually compounds is authenticity. About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, boasting an average time-to-hire of 39 days and a 100% placement success rate. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: Alan Lazaros & Next Level University 2:35 - Why human connection beats AI as a competitive advantage 3:59 - The AI bot DM story 8:00 - Origin story: no father, going broke, building NLU 13:00 - The 3 buckets: unfulfilled success, broken passion, or both 24:00 - Goals first, team second and why "family" destroys performance 29:12 - Remote leadership: the 4-part framework 36:32 - Metrics, dashboards & the peak performance system 46:32 - Why every business leader needs a personal brand now 51:00 - Real world first, social world second 53:07 - The fake jet industry & why old-school fundamentals still win Connect with Ready Set Exec: John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ Patrick Shea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExec Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6clqPWbF2yFRlsFUOXY0CO?si=UuOAbZeiQMKpgSjV5Od5_g Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ready-set-exec-the-podcast/id1837951413 Connect with Alan Lazaros: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky | Ready Set Exec Leadership Podcast
Sep 4, 202656 minS1
The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, behavioral scientist, CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts, and author of eight books including The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work, joins John Pezoulas to unpack why AI rollouts fail even when the technology itself is easy to use. The conversation focuses on the human side of adoption, from fear and identity threat to shame and leadership modeling, plus how those same dynamics shape remote work, bias reduction, and the skills workers will need in the 2030s. Connect with Ready Set Exec: John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ Patrick Shea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExec Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6clqPWbF2yFRlsFUOXY0CO?si=UuOAbZeiQMKpgSjV5Od5_g Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ready-set-exec-the-podcast/id1837951413 Connect with Dr Gleb Tsipursky https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gleb-tsipursky/ Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Gleb Tsipursky and the psychology of AI adoption 01:18 - The biggest mistake leaders make when rolling out AI 03:17 - The three emotional blockers behind AI resistance 04:17 - Fear, anxiety, and the AI alarmist mindset 05:10 - Identity threat and the pragmatic resistor profile 06:08 - Shame, social stigma, and shadow AI usage 08:33 - Why AI projects fail to produce ROI despite individual productivity gains 10:40 - How to spot resistance, malicious compliance, and bad AI outputs 12:10 - Building trust with job protection and growth messaging 15:31 - Start by automating the tasks people hate most 17:51 - Using “squeaky wheel” automation to win adoption 22:24 - Leadership modeling and why executives must use AI visibly 24:17 - Setting a baseline with training and shared usage norms 25:15 - Building asynchronous channels to share AI wins 27:56 - How AI can help reduce bias in evaluation and promotion 31:52 - Red teaming hiring and workforce data with AI 33:44 - Why AI certifications may give way to portfolio-based proof 34:39 - The future skill set: creating and managing AI agents 39:34 - Why AI adoption pushes companies toward more remote work 44:06 - Control-heavy management styles versus AI-enabled productivity 46:25 - How leaders can prepare their culture for the next wave of AI 49:30 - Which industries and roles will be disrupted first 51:53 - How workers can stay competitive by learning AI effectively 53:17 - Why regulated and blue-collar roles may stay safer longer #futureofwork #aiadoption #ai #aiatwork #fearofunknown
Build your Executive Presence with Don Weber | Ready Set Exec Leadership Podcast
Aug 28, 202654 minS1
Bill Gates wasn't naturally charismatic. He was dry, not very funny, and didn't come across well on camera. So he hired a comedian not for a week, but regularly, over a long period of time, to teach him how to be more personable and likable. Don Weber knows this because he knows the person who worked with Gates directly. And it's the clearest example he has of something he's believed for decades: executive presence is not a gift. It's a skill. Don is an executive corporate trainer, communication expert, and leadership consultant who has spent decades working with Fortune 500 executives, high-level public officials, and elite teams across continents, starting from being a shy introvert himself. In this episode, he breaks down the psychology of authenticity, the real science of masking and stress, what emotional regulation actually looks like under boardroom pressure, and how Leaders can communicate with genuine presence even when they're feeling anything but present. About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, boasting an average time-to-hire of 39 days and a 100% placement success rate. Chapters: 00:36 Intro: Who is Don Weber? 06:38 Making Everyone Feel Their Contribution Matters 15:18 Return to Office vs. Employer's Market Realities 19:30 Physical Executive Presence: Posture, Pace, Pause, and Purpose 34:39 The Masking Problem: The Gap Between Real and Projected Self 42:06 Emotional Regulation: The Leadership Skill Nobody Trains For 45:30 Fight-or-Flight: How Adrenaline Reduces Intelligence by 30% 49:35 How to Disarm a Boardroom Challenge 51:04 The Repeat-Back Technique to Buy Thinking Time Connect with Ready Set Exec: John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ Patrick Shea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExec Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6clqPWbF2yFRlsFUOXY0CO?si=UuOAbZeiQMKpgSjV5Od5_g Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ready-set-exec-the-podcast/id1837951413 Connect with Don Weber : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-weber/
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