Shows / CEOs and ABCs
CEOs and ABCs
CEOs & ABCs is the podcast for high performers who lead at work and show up at home. Hosted by Kevin Rice, this show features candid conversations with executives, founders, and rising leaders about how they’ve advanced their careers while staying present for the moments that matter most... raising kids, building strong partnerships, and prioritizing their health. Each episode dives into executive career advice, leadership development, work-life balance, and the realities of parenting while…
Episodes
CEOs and ABCsThe Person Running AI at E.L.F. Beauty Has a Non-Negotiable For Her Team and Her Daughter: Never Outsource Your Thinking
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin and Jen sit down with Ekta Chopra, Chief Technology and AI Officer at e.l.f. Beauty, to explore what it takes to lead a…
CEOs and ABCsClaude Silver (VaynerX, Organic, Publicis) The World's First Chief Heart Officer wants to throw away the term 'work-life balance' #054
Claude Silver has a job title that stops people mid-sentence: Chief Heart Officer. But at VaynerX, the independently owned agency built by Gary Vaynerchuk…
CEOs and ABCsStacey Pool (Ziggi's Coffee, Vail Resorts, Noodles & Company) won't apologize for her ambition, but she won't sugar coat what it cost her either #053
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Stacey Pool, Chief Growth Officer at Ziggi's Coffee and former Chief Marketing Officer at Noodles &…
CEOs and ABCsExecutive Perspectives On Letting Go of Perfect #052
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin pulls together seven conversations with executives who learned what it costs to expect perfection from yourself at work…
CEOs and ABCsAmber Wendover (Ex-Microsoft & Amazon Leader) A Conversation on: The Line Between Ambition and Self-Sacrifice
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Amber Wendover, Founder & President of Thinking People, to explore why capable, high-performing people…
CEOs and ABCsKipp Bodnar (CMO Hubspot) A Conversation on: How to Leverage Your Time More Effectively at Work and at Home #050
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Kipp Bodnar, Chief Marketing Officer at HubSpot, to explore what ambition actually costs and what it takes…
CEOs and ABCsThe Playbook On Career and Family: Six CEOs Independently Reached the Same Verdict #049
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin pulls together six conversations he's had with CEOs and CMOs over the past year to answer one question almost none of…
CEOs and ABCsBarbara Perry & Harry Hutson (Co-Authors of Hope at Work) Hope as a Strategy for Results in Work and Life #048
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Barbara Perry and Harry Hutson, co-authors of Hope at Work, to explore why hope isn't a soft, passive…
CEOs and ABCsAdam Vasallo (HSN & Big Brothers Big Sisters America) A Conversation on: The Power of Mentorship and Human Connection for Success #047
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Adam Vasallo, chief marketing officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, to explore what actually…
CEOs and ABCsDouglas Zarkin (Take 5 Oil Change, Pearle Vision, Avon & Victoria's Secret) Notebook Not Playbook: What Brand Love Teaches You About Leadership and Fatherhood #046
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Doug Zarkin, former CMO of Pearle Vision and Take Five Oil Change, to explore what happens when you stop…
CEOs and ABCsJennie Magiera (Google, US Department of Education & Chicago Public Schools) A Conversation on: Balancing IVF in the Workplace and Transforming Education with AI #045
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Jennie Magiera, Global Head of Education and Impact at Google, to explore the six years she spent trying…
CEOs and ABCsCameron Herold (1-800-Got-Junk? & COO Alliance) Mastering Work-Life Balance, Healing from Extreme Burnout & The Bucket List Mindset #044
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Cameron Herold, the COO who helped scale 1-800-GOT-JUNK from $2 million to $106 million, to explore what…
CEOs and ABCsJeanniey Walden (Liftoff Enterprises, Rakuten, Rite Aid) The Sole Breadwinner Who Quit Her Job on a Gut Feeling and Why the AIR Method Works at Home Too #043
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Jeanniey Walden, CEO of Liftoff Enterprises, bestselling author of The Trust Threshold, and TV host…
CEOs and ABCsLinda Bethea (PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, Danone) The Leadership Style Used to Build High Performing Teams, Work-Life Integration & Starting a Business with your Daughter #042
In this episode, Linda Bethea shares her journey of balancing a successful executive career with motherhood, emphasizing the importance of authenticity…
CEOs and ABCsIsabelle Brenton (IPG Media Brands, Meta & Razorfish) A Conversation on: How to Navigate Professional Growth While Embracing Personal Identity and Resilience #041
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Isabelle Brenton, former Chief Communications Officer at IPG Mediabrands and recipient of the 2026 Working…
CEOs and ABCsAnthony Valletta (Bartaco, Birdcall, Del Frisco's) The Cost of Travelling 240 Nights a Year and What It Cost Him to Come Back Home #040
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Anthony Valletta, CEO of BarTaco, to explore what two decades in hospitality taught him about making…
CEOs and ABCsDesiree Motamedi (Meta, Shopify, Google & Salesforce) How to Implement AI into your Business and Home Life & How to Create AI Safety for your Children at Home #039
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Desiree Motamedi, Chief Marketing Officer of Salesforce's NextGen platform, to explore what happens when…
CEOs and ABCsJennifer Kattula (Microsoft, Meta, & America Express) A Conversation on: Spearheading AI at Work and at Home, Bringing Workplace Systems into the Home & Creating an Intentional Life #038
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Jennifer Kattula, Global CMO of Microsoft Advertising, to explore what happens when a systems thinker…
CEOs and ABCsBecca Chambers (LinkedIn Top Voice & Scale Venture Partners), A Conversation on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Creating Safe Team Environments & Supporting Children's Unique Values #037
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Becca Chambers, Chief Marketing Officer of Scale Venture Partners and one of LinkedIn's most followed…
CEOs and ABCsShachar Orren (Co-Founder EX.CO & Playbuzz) The Personal and Professional Sacrifices of Building a Start-Up & Choosing To Delay Family #036
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Shachar Orren, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of EX.CO, to explore what it really costs to build…
CEOs and ABCsMatt Eisenacher (First Watch, The Piada Group, Abbott Nutrition): Modelling Priorities for Your Team, Embracing Adversity & Individualized Leadership and Parenting #035
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Matt Eisenacher, Chief Brand Officer at First Watch, to explore what it actually takes to become a leader…
CEOs and ABCsEliot Hamlisch (Amtrak, AMC Theatres & Wyndham Hotels) How To Be Promoted Every Two Years, The Cost of Comfort Zones & Staying Connected with Family During Travel Seasons #034
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Eliot Hamlisch, Chief Commercial Officer at Amtrak, to explore what it really means to lead with humanity…
CEOs and ABCsRachel Wallis Andreasson (PepsiCo. & Wallis Companies) A Conversation on: Generational Business, A New Age of Leadership & The Sixth Level #033
What if the future of leadership isn’t about control, authority, or climbing higher… but about creating environments where people genuinely feel seen, trusted…
CEOs and ABCsCamille Hymes (Smoothie King, Starbucks, Jack In The Box, ExxonMobile) The Power of a Career Pause, How to be a Better Leader & Creating Presence at Home #032
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Camille Hymes, former Chief Operating Officer of Smoothie King and former executive leader at Starbucks…
CEOs and ABCsKaren Robinovitz (SlooMoo Institute, & Digital Brand Architects) Overcoming grief, loss and disappear and creating businesses built for joy #031
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Karen Robinovitz, co-founder of Sloomoo Institute, to explore a journey that moves from pioneering the…
CEOs and ABCsJoe Cannon (Sports Studio & Hyperice) Navigating Tough Job Markets, High Intensity Travel & Fatherhood. #030
What does it really look like to build a career from nothing, and what happens when you finally get there? In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Joe Cannon, SVP at…
CEOs and ABCsCharisse Hughes (Estee Lauder, Pandora, Kellogg, Kellanova) A Conversation on: Alignment in the Workplace, The Relationship Between CMO & CFO & Choosing Presence #029
What happens when a high-achieving career is working on paper, but no longer feels aligned in real life? In this episode of CEOs and ABCs, Kevin sits down with…
CEOs and ABCsTariq Hassan (McDonald's, PetCo, Bank of America) The Power of Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace and at Home #028
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Tariq Hassan, former Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s, to unpack a belief that shaped his entire…
CEOs and ABCsTracy Ryan (CannaKids & NKORE Biotheraputics) Turning Pain Into Purpose: How Her Daughters Cancer Diagnosis Turned In To Two Life Saving Businesses #027
In this powerful and deeply emotional conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Tracy Ryan, co-founder and Chief Communications Officer of nkore Biotherapeutics…
CEOs and ABCsSeth Goldman (Just Ice Tea, Honest Tea, Beyond Meat) A Conversation on Building Purpose Led, Mission Driven Businesses #026
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin Rice sits down with Seth Goldman, the founder of Honest Tea, which he built from a home kitchen concept into a…
CEOs and ABCsBarry Westrum (Dairy Queen, KFC, Del Taco, Taco John's) Building Culturally Relevant, Emotionally Connected Brands & The Power of Boundaries at Creating Work-Life Balance #025
In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin Rice sits down with Barry Westrum, a veteran restaurant marketer and former CMO who has helped shape some of the most…
CEOs and ABCsMichael Chachula (Propelled Brands, Fat Brands, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf) The Power of Resilience, Hard Work and Education in Corporate America #024
In this deeply personal and powerful conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Michael Chachula, CTO of Propelled Brands and longtime technology and…
CEOs and ABCsAnncy Rowe (Rodan +Fields, L'Oreal, Avon, Strivectin) From L’Oréal to C-Suite: The Confidence Pattern That Changed Everything #023
Anncy Rowe has spent decades building iconic beauty brands, but this conversation goes far beyond titles and milestones. In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin…
CEOs and ABCsRob LoCascio (LivePerson, KID Company, UareAI): He Built A $6bn Business and Left To Start Over... Here's Why! #022
Robert LoCascio went public at 33, helped invent web chat, and spent nearly three decades building LivePerson into a $6 billion company. What followed was not…
CEOs and ABCsJessica Serrano (Burger King, Taco Bell, Dig Inn, Bagel Brands) The Power of Motherhood, Confidence and Multi-Generational Family Living #021
Jessica Serrano has spent nearly two decades shaping some of the world’s most loved food brands, but what makes her story hit is the way she’s built a life…
CEOs and ABCsRishad Tobaccowala (Pulicis Group & The Rethinking Work Platform) A Conversation on The Future of The Working World, Routine and Communication #020
Rishad Tobaccowala believes work is changing more between 2020 and 2029 than it did in the previous fifty years. In this conversation, he joins Kevin Rice to…
CEOs and ABCsDeborah Palmer Keiser (Pair of Thieves, Boardriders, Yeezy, Timbuk2) Navigating Career and Parenting: From Provider to Present: A COO’s Wake-Up Call at Home #019
In this raw, honest, and deeply reflective conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Deborah Palmer Keiser, global operator, supply-chain builder, fear-tamer…
CEOs and ABCsAmanda Slavin (The Future Frequency & The Seventh Level Book) Understanding The 7 Levels of Engagement: What Most Leaders & Parents Get Wrong #018
In this thought-provoking and deeply human conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Amanda Slavin, educator, author, consultant, and creator of the Seven Levels…
CEOs and ABCsAdam Brotman (Starbucks, J.Crew, Forum 3) Balancing Digital Innovation at Starbucks and Family Life #017
In this revealing and deeply personal conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Adam Brotman, renowned digital innovator, CEO of Forum3, and former Chief Digital…
CEOs and ABCsNick Tran (TikTok, Hulu, Samsung, Diageo x Main Street Advisors) Raising Children in an Rapidly Changing World and the Power of Teamwork in the Boardroom #016
In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Nick Tran, President and CMO of the joint venture between Diageo and Main Street…
CEOs and ABCsJessi Walter Brelsford (Taste Buds Kitchen): A Conversation On Grit, Connection and the Power of Rituals & Intention #015
In this inspiring and heartwarming conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Jessi Walter Brelsford, founder and CEO of Taste Buds Kitchen, to explore how…
CEOs and ABCsChris Andrews (European Wax Centre, Unleashed Brands, Smoothie King) on Health and Exercise as the Fundamentals to Great Executive Leadership #014
In this honest and energizing conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Chris Andrews, Chief Information and Digital Officer at European Wax Center, to explore…
CEOs and ABCsDeena DePhilips (Red Robin) Motherhood as the Launch Pad for Success #013
In this candid and energizing conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Deena DePhilips, CIO of Red Robin, to explore how becoming a mother transformed her…
CEOs and ABCsThomas Odermatt (Roli Roti and Butcher's Bone Broth) on Family Rituals, Servant Leadership and Creating a Family within your Team #012
In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Thomas Odermatt, founder and CEO of Roli Roti Gourmet Rotisserie, to explore how…
CEOs and ABCsBrent Cooke (Driven Brands, MVMT, Kradle, PetSmart) A Conversation on Co-Parenting, Re-Writing Parenting Patterns and the Power of Authenticity #011
In this open and heartfelt conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Brent Cooke to explore the realities of balancing parenthood, career ambitions, and family…
CEOs and ABCsArne Arens (Nike, The North Face, Boardriders) on Resilience in the Face of Adversity, the Power of Presence and Empowering Your Team. #010
In this candid and thought-provoking conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Arne Arens, global executive and former CEO of The North Face, to explore the…
CEOs and ABCsMelissa Grady Dias (Cadillac, MetLife, Motorola) Navigating Motherhood, Prioritizing Self-Care and Building Life's Mosaic #009
In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Melissa Grady-Diaz, former CMO of Cadillac, to explore the complex intersection of…
CEOs and ABCsKyle Lacy (Lessonly, Seismic, Docebo) Sobriety, Fatherhood, Burnout and the Power of Owning a Revenue Number in Marketing #008
In this insightful and deeply personal conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Kyle Lacey, CMO of Docebo, to explore the realities of leading in high-growth…
CEOs and ABCsLydia Smith (Victoria's Secret, Kohl's) Transformational Leadership in Marketing and Creating Legacy through Authenticity and Open Conversations #007
In this inspiring and heartfelt conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Lydia Smith, a transformational leader in inclusive marketing, to explore what it means…
CEOs and ABCsBrandon Coleman III (Cotton Patch Cafe, TGI Fridays, Dave & Buster's), A Conversation in Leading Turnarounds, Culture and the Importance of Presence in Parenting #006
In this thoughtful and grounded conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Brandon Coleman, a leader in the hospitality industry, to talk about navigating…
CEOs and ABCsJenna Bromberg (Pizza Hut, Carter's and Papa Johns) on Momentum, Motherhood and Creating Legacy Campaigns #005
In this open and empowering conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Jenna Bromberg, Chief Marketing Officer at Papa John’s, to talk about building a career you…
CEOs and ABCsJen Prince (LA Rams, Google, Twitter) on Leading with Heart and Inspiring Others #004
In this motivating and energizing conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Jennifer (Jen) Prince, Chief Commercial Officer of the Los Angeles Rams and former…
CEOs and ABCsNavigating Career Transitions, Balancing Family Life and the Importance of Faith with Wade Allen (Costa Vida, Chili's) #003
In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Wade Allen, President of Costa Vida and former Chief Digital Officer at Brinker…
CEOs and ABCsAuthenticity, Legacy & Leadership: A Conversation with Derek Gaskins (BP, ampm, Yesway, ) #002
In this powerful and heart-centered conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Derek Gaskins, Head of Guest Experience at BP and former CMO of Yesway, to explore…
CEOs and ABCsFrom the C-Suite to Coaching Little League. Leading with Heart in the Office, Home and on the Field w/ Jeff Jenkins (Carter's, Whole Foods, Taco Bell) #001
In this conversation, Jeff Jenkins shares his journey through career and parenting, discussing the challenges of balancing a high-performance career with…