Commentary

In this episode, Deborah shares her anticipation for the upcoming Chief Outsiders National Conference, where she will be recapping the event and conducting insightful interviews. Reflecting on the growth and success of Chief Outsiders over the years, Deborah emphasizes the importance of vision casting and fostering a culture of collaboration. As we look forward to the conference highlights, Deborah encourages listeners to revisit Art Saxby's full episode for valuable insights on strategic growth. Stay tuned for exciting recaps and interviews from the conference on "Success Beneath the Surface"!
EP25: Scaling Your Business - Curiosity and Leadership

We return to our conversation with Nancie McDonnell Ruder, CEO and founder of Noetic Consulting, to highlight her uplifting perspective on bringing passion and purpose to her work. As Nancie shares, she derives “peace of mind” and “happiness” from leading a company focused on “dynamic positivity” in supporting clients. She explains how Noetic aims to provide both conceptual guidance and practical implementation to drive real change, fueling her motivation.
Nancie’s outlook exemplifies the kind of meaningful impact we seek to create through our conversations - where leaders can connect and learn from each other's experiences in growing thriving, values-driven organizations. Her words are an inspiration for staying centered on what drives us individually while creating value for others.
Listen to her full episode here.
Noetic Consultants is a women-owned marketing and leadership consultancy strengthening brands and the people who build them. Noetic’s work is a unique combination of market research, brand strategy, training, and coaching. Noetic educates, equips, and empowers organizations from within, leading to accelerated growth and organizational transformation. Learn more at NoeticConsultants.com
Links from this episode:
https://noeticconsultants.com/
Nancie's book, "How Senior Marketers Scale Heights"

In this Success Beneath the Surface commentary episode, host Deborah Fell reflects back on her conversation with Brad Waid, a Futurist and AI expert also known as "The Curious Pragmatist." Brad embraces new technologies quickly due to his innate curiosity. He then brings these learnings into his work - originally as a teacher engaging students, and now as a global speaker informing audiences of AI's potential benefits as well as areas needing thoughtful consideration. Deborah and Brad highlight his ability to balance optimism about progress with pragmatism about potential pitfalls. His diverse use cases and emphasis on improved lives and humanity exhibit this dual perspective.
To learn more about Brad's views on augmenting our world through technology, be sure to check out the full interview.
The full episode is here:
EP41: Augmented Worlds Beckon the Curious Pragmatist
Links from today's episode:
Brad Waid on LinkedIn
Website
Chief Outsiders

There are patterns we see for successful CEOs. The underlying factor for true success, meaning that the company grows, people want to work there and want to give it their all seems to be grounded in gratitude. Deborah is focusing on four successful CEOs in this episode with highlights of the gratitude that was loud and clear in their full episodes. Today she is highlighting Tien Wong, Lena Petrova, Amy Bielski, and Charles Dobens. We hope you enjoy this short commentary, "Gratitude Sets the Tone for Success."
Here are the links to the full episodes with each of these guests:
TIEN WONG EP38: Organic Relationship Building Over Forced Initiatives
LENA PETROVA EP36: AI Ignites a Creative Content Renaissance
AMY BIELSKI EP32 Keep People at the Center and Your Company Will Grow
CHARLES DOBENS EP28: LEGACIES CREATED - Multi-family Triumphs and Reimagining Hotels
 

Last week on Success Beneath the Surface, host Deborah Fell spoke with Tien Wong about the power of connections. Wong started ConnectPreneur over a decade ago to facilitate more regular forums for investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals in the DC/Mid-Atlantic area to connect and collaborate. A key insight Wong shared is that an engaged, diverse network structured for open interaction has emergent value - it can catalyze growth beyond what any individual could design. ConnectPreneur has enabled over 500 companies to receive funding through its community. As Wong emphasized, leveraging networks is not about personal gain, but enabling collective growth. Thriving innovation ecosystems arise from diverse people coming together, not closed circles.
Links from this episode:
Full episode
CONNECTPreneur
Tien Wong on LinkedIn
Deborah Fell on LinkedIn
Chief Outsiders

In this week's episode, we explore an insightful conversation about partnerships and adapting business models during economic uncertainty. Host Deborah Fell reflects on key takeaways from her discussion with Keith Scandone, founder of O3, regarding the power of collaborative partnerships. Scandone shares how his company has pivoted to offer smaller, "wedge" offerings that provide value to clients with tighter budgets. He emphasizes being creative, thoughtful and embracing new ways of doing business during turbulent markets. Tune in to glean wisdom on building meaningful partnerships and pragmatic approaches to navigating challenges. This commentary provides practical perspective for leaders seeking to strengthen relationships and position their organizations for growth.
You can listen to the full episode here.
Keith Scandone: O3 Co-FounderAs  O3’s Co-Founder, Keith focuses on the consultancy’s strategic goals and leading the company's venture initiatives. After 18 years as O3’s acting CEO, Keith’s current role enables him to focus on new growth areas and opportunities for the brand to expand its footprint and position in the market. Whether organic growth through O3’s service offerings, or inorganic growth through partnerships and investments, Keith is always looking at strategic ways to continue to differentiate the company. 
Keith thrives on bringing people together and leveraging other’s connections and strengths to help each other, the industry and the community move forward. From spearheading the Forge Conference, Innovation Day, and the 1682 Conference to co-founding the Philadelphia chapter of the Awesome Foundation and Pay It Phorward, these are just some ways in which Keith likes to combine his network with his passion for innovation. His commitment to consistently craft and curate the O3 culture has led the consultancy to be recognized as one of Entrepreneur’s “Top Company Cultures” and “Best Entrepreneurial Companies."
Keith has also sat on several boards and continues to mentor several companies, most notably through the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies Mentor Connect program. Living in Philadelphia and D.C. has given him a unique network and perspective to grow the O3 brand.

Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Amy Bielski, CEO of Ripple Effect, a company that collaborates across the healthcare, nonprofit, and private sectors. We dug into the keys behind Ripple Effect's success, with Bielski highlighting how collaboration is baked into their culture. From incentivizing cross-team support to ensuring every policy explains its value, Bielski stresses why meaningful collaboration requires more than just encouragement. It must permeate operations. She notes that silos emerge naturally as companies grow, so sustaining openness demands intentional, threaded efforts. Tune into this focus, and then listen to our full conversation to hear more of Bielski's insights on fostering engaged, unified work. 
Listen to the full interview here.
 
About Amy Bielski
Amy Bielski, President and CEO of Ripple Effect, has over 25 years of professional experience managing complex federal projects involving business strategy, technology, graphic design, communications, and health policy. She founded Ripple Effect in 2003 after seeing so many firms prioritize the technical side of business over culture. She believes that in a successful business, every element matters, not just the bottom line. Founding Ripple Effect allowed her to create an environment reflecting those values, and she has invested in a flexible, supportive environment for Ripple employees and a commitment to making clients successful regardless of the challenges. Amy has many interests, including weightlifting and martial arts, where she has earned her 3rd-degree black belt in Budo Taijutsu.
 
About Ripple Effect:
Ripple Effect is an award-winning, woman-owned consulting company that works with federal, private, and nonprofit clients to support policies and programs that shape our nation. From healthcare implementation to scientific research, the ever-growing customer base includes the National Institute of Health, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Department of Defense's, Navy Air Force, and Army branches. With a focus on operational excellence, Ripple Effect has gained national recognition, including four consecutive years on the Inc 5,000 list and a 2022 Moxie award for boldness in business. With over 200 researchers, scientists, policy, data analysts, and strategic communicators, Ripple Effect accomplishes its mission of working smarter and performing better by always adapting, learning, and finding efficient ways to meet the changing needs of its clients. Work smarter, perform better, and learn more at rippleeffect.com

If you joined us for our recent episode, you witnessed a powerful conversation between Deborah Fell, and Dan Lackner, a fractional Chief Sales Officer for Chief Outsiders. Today, we'll be diving deeper into that conversation. From understanding people's profound impacts on our lives and careers to the difference between mere activity and genuine, transformative impact, Dan and Deborah touched on subjects that resonate with many of us. Listen to this commentary as Deborah breaks down the key takeaways as she highlights Dan's fresh perspective on how intentional actions lead to significant results. 
Full episode:
EP30: Leadership Alchemy - From Data to Door-less Offices
About Dan Lackner:
Dan is a senior sales leader with extensive experience in analytic software applications, CRM, SaaS solutions, and designing and implementing high velocity, predictable, recurring revenue models. He works closely with early to mid-stage technology companies to build a tight interlock with marketing and eliminate friction in the demand funnel. With a track record of success in sales, marketing, product management, engineering, and customer success, Dan drives revenue growth by designing and implementing sales processes, compensation plans, account strategy, training, and demand funnel management.
Links from this episode:
Dan Lackner on LinkedIn
Deborah Fell on LinkedIn
Chief Outsiders

Joy is a powerful driver in overcoming challenges in business, as explored in our latest commentary episode. Deborah delved into this theme with the dynamic Charles Dobbins, founder of Multifamily Investing Academy. Charles recounted his journey from the insurance sector to fulfilling his dream of owning apartments, highlighting the roles of passion, persistence, and the courage to pivot. His story is a testament to the power of joy, creativity, and commitment in building a successful business. Join them for this commentary, "Joy as a Catalyst in Business Success."
For more of Charles' inspiring insights, check out the full episode and stay tuned for our upcoming conversation with Dan Lachner, a chief sales officer resource!
Links from this episode:
Full episode with Charles Dobens
Multifamily Investing Academy
MultifamilyOS on YouTube
About Charles Dobens
Deborah Fell on LinkedIn
Chief Outsiders

In this podcast, Deborah does a round-up of perspectives on the crucial topic of culture, incorporating relevant highlights from prior podcasts of four CEOs:  
Art Saxby, CEO and Founder of Chief Outsiders notes that the biggest lessons have been the importance and power of culture - the culture that draws the greatest leaders and contributors to work for the company and magnetizes like-minded clients to it because they hold the same values.(Full episode is here: EP25: Scaling Your Business - Curiosity and Leadership)
Chris Yeung, CTO and co-founder of Vimbly Group says “Some of the greatest accomplishments in humanity have been through partnership and cooperation” - and he values this type of culture so strongly, that he & his partner made the decision to shut down a company they had acquired when they found it a toxic culture. He merely called it a “hard lesson.” (Full episode is here: EP7: CTO Masterclass: How to Build a High-Performing Tech Team)
Xena Ugrinsky, CTO and Founding Partner at Pilot Wave Holdings Management, brings in the cultural impact on the speed and effectiveness of AI and digital transformation where sometimes we have to break the old cultural norms so that it’s okay to experiment, fail and leverage what you’ve learned. 
(Full episode is here: EP19: Building a Future-Ready Business - Tech, Culture, and Strategy)
Herby Duverné, CEO of Windwalker Group is creating A culture where people are working hard, yet having a good time - they are passionate about performing because they believe what the company is doing and what the company is is special.  
(Full episode is here: EP13: Building a Business on Solutions Rather Than Problems)
 
Links from this episode:
Herby Duverné on LinkedInWindwalker
Xena Ugrinsky on LinkedInXena Ugrinsky on TwitterPilotwave Holdings
Chris Yeung on LinkedInVimbly Group
Art Saxby on LinkedInChief Outsiders