👤 Hosted by Charles Simonetti (   / charlessimonetti   ),Advisor to CEOs & Executive Teams and Founder of ”On a Quest.” ( https://www.onaquest.eu/ ),”Everyone is a Leader.” is a leadership podcast for Executives, Investors & Business Leaders.In this episode of Everyone is a Leader, host Charles Simonetti sits down with Carlos Puigjaner, former CEO and co-owner of Verbio, to unpack the complex human dynamics behind scaling and exiting a tech company. Carlos shares firsthand insights from his 16-year journey leading Verbio from an early-stage voice AI pioneer to its major acquisition by a US company in 2025.They dive deep into the ”human factor” as a genuine business risk, exploring why high-stakes M&A deals often stall due to unspoken emotional barriers, how to navigate the inevitable power imbalances in co-CEO structures, and the profound identity shock founders experience after selling their life's work.Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• The Evolving Leader: Why growing a company requires a leader to shift from always leading at the front to step-back roles that empower teams.
• The Elephant in the Room during M&A: Why discussing ownership percentages and leadership structure from day one is far more critical than getting swept up in a future vision.
• The Reality of Co-CEOs: Why equal power in a co-CEO structure rarely exists, and how establishing single ownership over specific business domains preserves accountability.
• The Existential Aftermath of an Exit: A vulnerable look into the loss of purpose and identity adjustments that occur immediately after achieving a dream corporate exit.

Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction to Carlos Puigjaner and Verbio01:15 – Carlos’s Transition from Engineer to Tech Entrepreneur02:35 – Scaling Verbio: Pioneering Corporate Voice AI Since 201004:42 – Moving From the Front: How Leadership Roles Must Evolve06:05 – The Funding Trap: Navigating Investor Opinions & Hidden Tensions07:22 – M&A Strategy: Why You Must Talk About Ownership First09:35 – The Truth About Co-CEO Power Dynamics & Role Separation11:55 – Human Risk in Deals: Uncovering Past Fears and Ego14:30 – Wartime vs. Peacetime CEOs: Managing Crises and Talent Alignment17:08 – The Identity Crisis: Mourning Your Role After a Major Corporate Exit19:50 – What Leadership Truly Means: Empowering Others to Shine25:30 – The Investor Trap: Managing Shareholder Opinions & Missed Business Plans31:15 – The #1 Rule in M&A: Discuss Ownership & Control Before Vision36:40 – The Reality of Co-CEOs: Power Imbalances & Domain Single Ownership42:15 – Human Risk in Deals: Uncovering Past Trauma, Ego & Hidden Barriers47:30 – Navigating Crisis: The ”Wartime vs. Peacetime CEO” Mindset53:10 – The Loyalty Trap: Replacing Key Talent as the Business Scales58:20 – Post-Exit Reality: The Existential Shock & Loss of Identity01:03:40 – Slowing Down: Finding New Purpose After the Sale01:07:00 – Final Takeaway: Leadership is Empowering Others to Give Their Best