Hosted by a 3x PE-backed CEO & Investor (Corey Ferengul) and a serial exited tech founder (Mike Shannon), Momentum Mode delivers behind-the-scenes insights from a range CEOs, founders, and award-winning creators into their practical tactics on leadership and business growth. We open the curtain on real-world strategies, high-stakes decisions, and the challenges faced by founders, executives, operators, and investors at every stage.
That’s why we’re here.
Hosted by Corey Ferengul, a seasoned CEO & investor, and Mike Shannon, a recently exited startup founder, Momentum Mode unpacks the real-world challenges of leadership, growth, and execution at every stage of business.
In 15-20 minute episodes, we break down the high-stakes moments that define careers and companies—helping you find, accelerate, and sustain momentum in whatever role you play.
No fluff. No corporate jargon. Just raw, real lessons from those who’ve been in the trenches.
44. Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon on Raising Less, Moving Faster, and Building in the AI Era
In this episode of Momentum Mode, Corey Ferengul sits down with co-host Mike Shannon to go deep on what it really looks like to be a second-time founder in the AI era, from how you think about strategy differently, to how you protect your time, build your team, and find customers in a market where the core models keep changing the rules.
They cover:
Why the best founders discover their business instead of forcing it into the world
The design partner model and why Mike wouldn't start a company any other way now
Why product market fit is no longer a stable destination, and what to do about it
The real reason is to raise as little money as possible, as late as possible
How fractional talent has changed early-stage team building (and where it still doesn't work)
The six-eight-week cycle framework Mike uses to protect his time and stay focused
Why the technical moat is dead, and what actually defends a business long term
How one great referral from a credible client beats ten thousand cold emails
If you're a founder, operator, or investor trying to understand what building looks like in this moment, this one is worth your time.
29 Apr 2026
43. Mike Shannon & Corey Ferengul on AI Psychosis & Why CEOs Are Getting Ahead of the Technology
In this episode, Mike Shannon and Corey Ferengul go one-on-one to unpack a provocative article claiming your CEO is suffering from AI psychosis and whether the diagnosis holds up against what they're actually seeing in the market.
They cover:
Why major layoffs at Meta, Oracle, and Square may have less to do with AI and more to do with overhiring
The "management by magazine" problem and why it's more dangerous than ever in the AI era
Which processes are the glass balls you absolutely cannot afford to break with premature AI deployment
Why AI adoption has to be bottom-up and what happens when CEOs try to force it top down
The sycophancy problem: why AI affirms you 49% more than a human would, and what that means for decision-making
Token costs: how some companies are spending more on AI than they saved by cutting headcount
Why token usage is a vanity metric and what actually matters when measuring AI ROI
Where the agent orchestration problem is already breaking down inside real companies
No predictions that will age badly. Just two operators who work in AI every day, telling you what they're actually seeing.
21 Apr 2026
42. Alex Kelleher, Founder & CEO of Quantum Rise, on Why AI Is a Growth Strategy
Most executives are asking the wrong question about AI. It's not "how do I cut headcount?" It's "how do I grow without adding it proportionally?" Alex Kelleher, Founder & CEO of Quantum Rise, has spent his career answering exactly that.
In this episode of Momentum Mode, Corey Ferengul and Mike Shannon sit down with Alex, a multi-time founder, former CMO of Deloitte Digital, and now CEO of a 110-person AI transformation firm, to unpack what it actually looks like to deploy AI inside mid-market companies at scale.
They cover:
Why "management by magazine" is the most dangerous AI strategy in the boardroom right now
The real reason companies aren't further along on AI (hint: it's not the technology)
Why Quantum Rise prices on outcomes, not hours, and why that's a fundamental shift for the services industry
The difference between AI training and AI change management, and why it matters
How to spot fake AI expertise on a resume and what real credentials actually look like
Where the Sequoia "services is the new software" thesis holds up, and where it gets complicated
Why Alex believes AI will create more jobs than it destroys
Whether you're a founder, operator, or executive trying to figure out your AI strategy, this one cuts through the noise.
Who has been a guest on Opening The C-Suite
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Tim Huelskamp
Karl Hughes
Eric Mills
Amanda Lannert
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
32
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Opening The C-Suite
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Opening The C-Suite?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
