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The Modern CEO

The Modern CEO

By: Joe Leech
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About this listen

 This isn’t about best practice. It’s about being the best leader you can be.

Just straight talk on power, leadership, and making the hard calls at the top. Power. Pressure. Presence. Strategy that cuts through. Hosted by Mr Joe Leech — coach to the boldest CEOs in tech and beyond — this podcast helps you reinvent what it means to lead in the 2020s.Copyright Joe Leech Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The CEO's Guide to Chief of Staff

    The CEO's Guide to Chief of Staff
    Dec 11 2025
    The Modern CEO's Guide to the Chief of Staff Role

    In this episode of The Modern CEO, we covered the rising significance of the Chief of Staff role, joined by experienced Chief of Staff Catherine Shepherd and Nick from the Chief of Staff Association.

    Catherine provides an insightful look into her day-to-day responsibilities, the importance of building trust and authority, and how she amplifies the effectiveness of a Principal or CEO.

    Nick offers a broader perspective on the evolving nature of the role globally and identifies key indicators for organizations to know when they're ready to hire a Chief of Staff.

    Tune in to understand the vital role a Chief of Staff plays in enhancing leadership and operational efficiency.

    00:00 Introduction to the Chief of Staff Role
    00:17 Meet the Guests: Catherine and Nick
    01:21 A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
    03:11 Stakeholder Engagement and Project Management
    05:25 The Fixer Role and Ad Hoc Responsibilities
    08:50 Different Models of Chief of Staff
    11:36 Delivering Value to the CEO
    16:13 Building Trust and Authority
    17:56 When to Hire a Chief of Staff
    24:11 Pathways to Becoming a Chief of Staff
    30:08 Finding the Right Chief of Staff
    33:22 Authority and Decision-Making
    37:21 Conclusion and Contact Information
    #TheModernCEO #MrJoeLeech #ceocoach

    Thanks for watching! If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/joeleech, or via email at: joe@mrjoe.uk Subscribe to the YT channel at @mrjoe-coach ​
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    39 mins
  • The CEO’s Guide to Success (Execution-First Leadership)

    The CEO’s Guide to Success (Execution-First Leadership)
    Sep 15 2025
    The Modern CEO Podcast, Episode 3: The CEO’s Guide to Success (Execution-First Leadership)


    What separates good CEOs from great ones? In this episode of The Modern CEO, Joe is joined by Professor Steven Kaplan of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, one of the world’s leading voices on CEO performance, hiring, and boards.

    About the guest:
    • Steve Kaplan is a top private equity scholar and Chicago Booth professor.
    • Co-created the Kaplan-Schoar PME and co-founded Booth’s New Venture Challenge.
    • His students launched companies like GrubHub, Venmo, and Simple Mills.
    • Named one of the top 12 business school teachers in the U.S.
    • Serves on Morningstar’s board and has taught at Booth since 1988.
    Together they covered:
    👉 Why execution (not likability) is the top trait of high-performing CEOs
    👉 How to avoid “analysis paralysis” at the top
    👉 What boards often get wrong when choosing a CEO
    👉 Practical advice for founders preparing to hand over the reins
    👉 The biggest blind spots leaders face in times of uncertainty

    Whether you're a CEO, board member, or aspiring leader.. this episode will challenge how you think about leadership and decision-making.

    👉 Full episode available now.

    Subscribe for more conversations on modern leadership. ‪@mrjoe-coach‬

    🔗 Learn more about Professor Steven Kaplan: Chicago Booth Faculty Profile
    🔗 Learn more about The Modern CEO Podcast: mrjoe.uk

    Thanks for listening! If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/joeleech, or via email at: joe@mrjoe.uk
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    33 mins
  • The CEOs Guide to Being Punched in the Face

    The CEOs Guide to Being Punched in the Face
    Sep 10 2025
    Episode 2 — The CEO’s Guide to Being Punched in the Face (Metaphorically, Mostly)

    What does it really feel like to lead when the stakes are high, the spotlight’s on you, and everything’s breaking at once?

    In this episode of The Modern CEO, Joe sits down with Roan Lavery, CEO and co-founder of FreeAgent — a UK-based accounting software platform for small businesses.

    They talk about the real punches leaders take: the transition from co-founder to CEO, the weight of responsibility, and the difference between having opinions and actually leading the change.

    From building FreeAgent over 18 years to managing through chaos and calm, Roan shares raw, behind-the-scenes lessons every leader needs to hear..

    Listen now and hit subscribe for unfiltered conversations on power, pressure, and presence of the Modern CEO.
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    33 mins
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