CEO’s Unscripted
Podcast Description
Real Talk. Real Growth. Real Results in the Mid-Market
Jane Gentry consulted in enterprise for 20 years. And, after being a CEO in a mid-sized company, she realized why they say it is loneliest at the top. Mid-market CEOs learn their craft through trial and error or by reaching outside their organization for help.
She launched CEOs Unscripted as a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs for mid-market CEOs. Our purpose is to provide insight into the unscripted, unfiltered journeys of CEOs and Founders as they talk about their wins, losses, lessons and playbooks for growing and scaling their organizations. There is no better forum than learning from your peers.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes relevant to mid-market leadership, including crisis management, company culture, and vulnerability in leadership. Specific episodes delve into topics such as resilience during financial turmoil, disciplined execution in scaling businesses, and the importance of asking for help. Notable examples include episodes like From Crisis to Comeback, which highlights leadership lessons from the fast-food industry.
Real Talk. Real Growth. Real Results in the Mid-Market
Jane Gentry consulted in enterprise for 20 years. And, after being a CEO in a mid-sized company, she realized why they say it is loneliest at the top. Mid-market CEOs learn their craft through trial and error or by reaching outside their organization for help.
She launched CEOs Unscripted as a bi-weekly podcast by mid-market CEOs for mid-market CEOs. Our purpose is to provide insight into the unscripted, unfiltered journeys of CEOs and Founders as they talk about their wins, losses, lessons and playbooks for growing and scaling their organizations. There is no better forum than learning from your peers.
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Mike Plaia, CEO of PharmaPoint, for an unscripted masterclass on building culture, embracing servant leadership, and staying bold in the face of adversity.
(05:34) The GE program that fast-tracked Mike’s business instincts
(07:25) Why Mike tells young professionals to start with structured training
(10:26) “Don’t be Snapple”—and why
(12:31) A powerful philosophy on servant leadership—and what it really means to serve your team.
(15:51) Defining a vision and adapting it as your business grows
(18:46). The role adversity plays in building company culture
(21:01) Jane discusses hiring “climbers” and the Adversity Quotient by Paul Stoltz
(24:45) Creating a culture where bold ideas—and mistakes—are welcome
(30:35) Why companies can’t “camp” and what CEOs miss when they don’t learn from others
(35:07) Redefining hustle—why family-first doesn’t mean less ambition
(37:09) The importance of having a truth-teller by your side.
(39:19) The four-part execution framework (K-O-D-A) Mike used to embed accountability into his culture.
(41:33) Operationalizing ideas; defining the ambiguous to create behavior change
(44:31) Why shared purpose is at the heart of high-performing teams
(51:57) Why humility, mentorship, and vulnerability are essential for growth—especially for CEOs.
From personal growth to organizational execution, this conversation goes deep on what it really takes to lead a purpose-driven business in a fast-changing world.
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