From The Top with Chad Hesters is the podcast for mid-cap, family-owned, privately held, and larger organizations facing big decisions about leadership, succession, and hiring the right people.
I’m Chad Hesters, executive search partner, leadership advisor, and former U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer. Each month, I sit down with CEOs, founders, board members, and leadership experts to discuss the real challenges of finding and hiring the leaders who can move a business forward and the ever-changing landscape that is the world.
You won’t hear corporate jargon or fluffy theories here. Just honest stories, lessons learned, and practical advice you can use. If you’re a decision-maker who wants to avoid expensive hiring mistakes, make smarter leadership decisions and have a better understanding of the world, this show’s for you.
Subscribe now to From The Top with Chad Hesters, and let’s get to work. https://www.boyden.com/
Inside the Rise of a $60B Space Force Organization with Alan Brechbill
What if the most advanced technology in the world still runs on relationships? In this episode of From the Top with Chad Hesters, host Chad Hesters sits down with Captain Alan Brechbill, a 28-year Navy intelligence veteran who helped architect the U.S. Space Force from a blank sheet of paper, to explore how you build consequential organizations in high-stakes environments, why influence matters more than authority when leading across organizational boundaries, and the critical role face-to-face relationships play in driving complex initiatives forward. Whether you're standing up a new division, navigating matrix leadership, or scaling operations in emerging markets, this conversation reveals the unglamorous truth behind building billion-dollar enterprises and why your next critical win might depend on a cup of coffee, not a process. Tune in to discover how servant leadership and strategic relationship-building can transform how you lead in an increasingly complex world.
25 Aug 2026
Why AI Metrics Are Misleading Leaders Every Day with Elaine Barsoom
What if the strategy that looks perfect on paper actually fails in execution? In this episode, Chad Hesters sits down with Elaine Barsoom, Founder of waveco.ia and an architect of organizational transformation who's guided teams from American Express to Nike through digital disruption and AI adoption, to explore why execution is the real differentiator, how to build repeatable frameworks without stifling agility, and the critical leadership decisions that determine success or failure when implementing emerging technology. Whether you're navigating digital transformation, scaling AI initiatives, or bridging the gap between vision and results, this conversation reveals the people, processes, and culture shifts required to actually move the needle and the costly mistakes that happen when leaders skip the hard work of organizational change.
23 Jun 2026
Why Grit Is Killing Your High Performers And What Elite Teams Do Instead | Dr. Amy Athey
What if the difference between burnout and sustained high performance came down to four fundamental skills? In this episode, Chad Hesters sits down with Dr. Amy Athey, a performance psychologist who's spent 25+ years helping everyone from Navy SEALs to Fortune 500 executives show up at their best, to explore why most leaders miss the holistic approach to performance, how the "four C's" composed, clarity, connect, and courageous action apply to your executive role, and the critical distinction between grit and what Dr. Athey calls "psychotic grit." Whether you're navigating high-stakes boardroom decisions or leading through uncertainty, this conversation reveals why wellness and performance psychology aren't luxuries, they're competitive advantages that extend careers, prevent burnout, and unlock sustainable excellence.
13 Apr 2026
Startup to Stewardship: How a family business was Built to Matter with Josephine Sukkar
What if the secret to scaling a billion-dollar business came down to one principle: never let your people feel the fear you felt on day one? In this episode of From the Top with Chad Hesters, host Chad Hesters sits down with Josephine Sukkar AM, co-founder of construction powerhouse Buildcorp, to explore how intentional, controlled growth builds lasting culture, why family business partnerships require evolving together, and how boards can balance governance with entrepreneurial courage. Whether you're navigating geographic expansion, building risk frameworks around big ideas, or scaling a family-owned enterprise, Josephine's 35-year journey reveals the strategies that transform startups into industry leaders—and why your market value is the sum of your experiences, not your title.
19 Feb 2026
The ROI of Psychological Safety in Business with Donald Thompson
From starting as "employee number seven" at a startup to becoming a multi-exit entrepreneur and award-winning CEO, Donald Thompson shares his blueprint for elite leadership. In this conversation with Chad Hesters, discover how "hustling with humility," fostering psychological safety, and leading with empathy drive organizational success. Learn valuable lessons on making tough decisions, navigating the age of AI, and building resilient teams that communicate effectively regardless of rank.
15 Jan 2026
Navigating the Complex World of Global Sports with Jonny Gray
What makes a leader truly effective in high-stakes, complex environments? In this episode, Chad Hesters sits down with Jonny Gray, a global sports executive and former military commander, to explore how to lead through uncertainty, manage competing stakeholder interests, and build resilient teams when the stakes—and emotions—run exceptionally high. Whether you're navigating regulatory challenges, managing personalities larger than life, or steering organizational change, this conversation reveals the timeless leadership principles that work across sectors and the critical lessons learned from commanding in the field to the boardroom.
6 Nov 2025
Curiosity vs Expertise Why Leaders Are Generalists with Xenia Wickett Founder of Wickett Advisory
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, successful leadership requires a combination of curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to balance specialist expertise with generalist perspectives. In this episode of From the Top, host Chad Hesters speaks with Xenia Wickett, founder of Wickett Advisory and former leader at prestigious institutions including Chatham House and the US National Security Council. They explore the evolving demands on modern leaders and how to develop the essential skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex global environment.
7 Oct 2025
Why Planning Your Career Can Hold You Back with Laurent Therivel, Former CEO of UScellular
From navigating military leadership to steering a $3B telecom enterprise, Laurent Therivel shares candid insights on authentic leadership, strategic career progression, and maintaining work-life balance in today's complex business environment. In this engaging conversation with Chad Hesters, discover how playing to your strengths while acknowledging weaknesses, building genuine consensus, and mastering stakeholder communication can drive organizational success. Whether you're a seasoned executive or aspiring leader, learn valuable lessons about making tough decisions, managing through transitions, and balancing professional ambitions with personal priorities.
4 Sept 2025
Leading Through Complexity: Why Our Old Playbooks are Failing and What Leaders Must Do Next with Dee Smith CEO of Strategic Insight Group
Global complexity and rapid change are fundamentally reshaping how leaders must think, operate, and make decisions in an increasingly unpredictable world. In this inaugural episode of From the Top with Chad Hesters engages with Gordon Dee Smith, CEO of Strategic Insight Group (SIG) and expert in intelligence and global change analysis, to explore how leaders can navigate today's volatile business landscape and understand the deeper patterns driving global uncertainty.
3 Sept 2025
From The Top with Chad Hesters Trailer
Welcome to From the Top, the podcast for CEOs, founders, and decision makers looking for a straightforward perspective on issues facing global leaders. No fluff, no jargon, just real conversations with people who've made tough calls, sometimes got it wrong, but figured it out and are here to share what they learned. If you're ready to make better leadership decisions and avoid the costly ones.
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