Ready Set Exec: The Podcast

Most people think webinars are boring. Ryan Ross thinks they're the most underrated growth engine in business, and he's got Mark Cuban and the founder of Netflix on his webinar roster to prove it. As Head of Marketing at BrokersBlock and author of Benefits with Friends, Ryan has spent over a decade helping professionals in highly regulated industries build authority, trust, and a real pipeline from content that most people ignore.In this episode, we break down how to turn one webinar into 30 pieces of content, why CE-approved events triple your registrations, how to get celebrity guests to say yes, why you should stop calling yourself an influencer, and how the Dream 100 framework could change the way you think about your entire market.About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, boasting an average time-to-hire of 39 days and a 100% placement success rate.Chapters:0:00 Intro: Who is Ryan Ross?1:42 Webinars as a growth engine: The Tree of Life framework6:21 The celebrity guest framework: how Ryan got Mark Cuban8:51 CE-approved webinars: why they triple your registrations13:43 Post-webinar nurture: turning attendees into pipeline18:00 Best practices: length, polling, Zoom settings, and landing pages31:38 Focus, delegation, and saying no as a founder38:33 The Dream 100: why niching down beats going broad44:06 Why known brands win in a down market44:54 Benefits with Friends: writing a business novel to learn an industry50:32 How Ryan used AI to write the book (and where it helped most)Connect with Ready Set Exec:John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/Patrick Shea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExecListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6clqPWbF2yFRlsFUOXY0CO?si=UuOAbZeiQMKpgSjV5Od5_gListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ready-set-exec-the-podcast/id1837951413Connect with Ryan Ross:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanrossnow/

In this episode of Ready Set Exec, host John Pezoulas sits down with 6x sales leader and 4x founder Scott Leese to break down the exact operational frameworks required to scale a startup's Go-to-Market strategy from $0 to $25M ARR. Discover why traditional cold outbound is failing, how current AI SDRs are actively destroying buyer trust, and the urgent need to adopt a Go-to-Network sales motion. For founders scaling their startups and sales professionals navigating the B2B Purge, this revenue operations masterclass is mandatory listening.Key Takeaways:The exact operational frameworks to scale from $0 to $25M ARR.Why traditional cold outbound and current AI SDRs are failing to convert.The urgent necessity of adopting a Go-to-Network sales motion.Why doing unscalable human things is the ultimate competitive advantage.The Enterprise Hire Fallacy: why high-pedigree big tech executives often fail at early-stage startups.About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, with an average 39-day time-to-hire and a 100% placement success rate.Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Scott Leese and Global B2B Sales Scaling 00:07:33 - Omnichannel Strategy: Surviving the LinkedIn Algorithm Collapse 00:14:42 - Advice for New SDRs: Mastering the Basics in a Chaotic Market 00:16:34 - Why Cold Calling is Dying and the Pivot to a Go-to-Network Strategy 00:20:50 - The Paradox of Automation: Why You Must Do Unscalable Human Things 00:24:22 - The Uncanny Valley: Why AI SDRs Are Currently Failing to Convert 00:27:13 - The Most Common Go-to-Market Dysfunctions in Early-Stage Startups 00:38:15 - The Fundamental Pipeline Math Every Startup Must Know to Survive 00:40:57 - The Enterprise Hire Fallacy: Why Big Tech Executives Fail at Startups 00:44:05 - The Hunter vs. Farmer DNA in Sales Execution 00:44:56 - The Psychology of Self-Awareness in Career TrajectoriesConnect with Ready Set Exec:John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/Patrick Shea LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExecListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6clqPWbF2yFRlsFUOXY0CO?si=UuOAbZeiQMKpgSjV5Od5_gListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ready-set-exec-the-podcast/id1837951413Connect with Scott Leese:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottleese/

In this episode of Ready Set Exec: Host John Pezoulas sits down with Fractional CHRO Lauren Lefkowitz to tackle the realities of systemic corporate burnout. Drawing from two decades of 100-hour workweeks, Lauren reveals how to build unbreakable boundaries, navigate toxic HR politics, and solve the compliance blind spots that destroy small businesses. If you're a founder scaling up or an executive desperate to escape the grind, this HR masterclass is for you.Key Takeaways:Surviving burnout and escaping the "fine is a trap" mentality.The critical HR and compliance blind spots that destroy scaling businesses.Building unbreakable boundaries to protect your time and energy.Applying Agile and Six Sigma methodologies to modernize HR workflows.About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, with an average 39-day time-to-hire and a 100% placement success rate.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction to Lauren Lefkowitz and Fractional HR Leadership 00:02:15 - The 100-Hour Workweek: Surviving Corporate Burnout 00:05:40 - Why "Fine is a Trap" for High-Achieving Executives 00:10:22 - The Small Business Compliance Chasm: What You Don't Know 00:19:30 - How to Implement Boundary Setting to Prevent Executive Burnout 00:24:15 - The True Cost of a Toxic Candidate and Employee Experience 00:29:05 - The Rise of the Fractional CHRO in Modern Business 00:34:20 - Navigating Toxic HR Politics and the SHRM vs HRCI Controversy 00:40:10 - Applying Agile and Six Sigma Methodologies to HR Workflows 00:51:15 - Final Thoughts: Breaking the Work, Sleep, Repeat CycleConnect with Ready Set Exec:John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/Patrick Shea LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadySetExecListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6clqPWbF2yFRlsFUOXY0CO?si=UuOAbZeiQMKpgSjV5Od5_gListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ready-set-exec-the-podcast/id1837951413Connect with Lauren Lefkowitz:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenlefkowitz/

In this episode of Ready Set Exec: Host John Pezoulas sits down with seasoned Fractional COO and business advisor Mark Coscarello to break down the exact frameworks required to turn operational chaos into scalable success. Drawing from deep expertise in M&A integrations and global talent acquisition, Mark exposes the broken reality of the executive labor market, the hidden cybersecurity dangers of "Shadow AI," and how to lead remote teams without micromanaging. For founders scaling their startups and executives navigating complex corporate transitions, this masterclass in operations and human capital is mandatory listening.Key Takeaways:The broken executive labor market: why job searches now take 6 to 12 months and the 7-round interview trap.How to effectively lead remote teams using KPI dashboards instead of micromanagement.The hidden cybersecurity dangers of Shadow AI and employees accidentally leaking corporate data.Avoiding shiny object syndrome and auditing your tech stack for massive cost savings.The change management psychology required to successfully integrate cultures during M&A.About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, with an average 39-day time-to-hire and a 100% placement success rate.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Mark Coscarello: Fractional COO and Business Advisor 01:18 - The Executive Labor Market: Why Job Searches Now Take 6 to 12 Months 05:25 - The CEO Trust Deficit: Why Founders Struggle to Delegate Authority 07:03 - The Remote Work Paradox: Why 70% of the Workforce is Disenfranchised 09:59 - How to Manage Remote Teams with KPI Dashboards 11:40 - The $8 Million Savings: Auditing and Consolidating Your HR Tech Stack 15:41 - Overcoming AI Overload and Shiny Object Analysis Paralysis 23:34 - Shadow AI: How Employees Are Accidentally Leaking Corporate Data 25:57 - The Rise of Ransomware and Why Mid-Market Companies Need a Fractional CISO 31:10 - M&A Change Management: Lessons from a $750M Corporate Acquisition 41:25 - Stop Measuring Time-to-Hire: Why Time-to-Performance is the Ultimate ROIConnect with Ready Set Exec:John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/Patrick Shea LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/Connect with Mark Coscarello:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcoscarello/

In this episode of Ready Set Exec: Host John Pezoulas sits down with seasoned Director of Revenue Operations Rachel Minshall Horne. With an extensive career spanning corporate real estate and innovative tech platforms, Rachel breaks down the exact frameworks required to align your organization behind a scalable go-to-market strategy. Discover the mathematical flaws of modern capacity planning, why the "divide by 10" methodology is destroying startup cultures, and the critical predictive metrics you are likely ignoring. For executives scaling SaaS platforms or aiming to hire elite talent, this RevOps masterclass is mandatory listening.Key Takeaways:The mathematical flaws of capacity planning and why 80% of sales reps miss their quotas.The dangerous "divide by 10" methodology and how it destroys startup cultures.Critical metrics you are ignoring, including advanced customer health scoring and churn prediction.How the integration of AI is eradicating administrative friction to build the ultimate revenue engine.Why unconventional backgrounds (like bartenders) often produce the best sales professionals.About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, with an average 39-day time-to-hire and a 100% placement success rate.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction to Rachel Horne and Revenue Operations 00:01:23 - The Dangerous Misalignment Between BizOps and RevOps 00:03:00 - Why Top-Line Revenue is a Vanity Metric 00:03:54 - How to Build a Predictive Customer Health Score 00:05:39 - Why 80% of Sales Reps Miss Their Quotas 00:07:29 - The "Divide by 10" Fallacy in Capacity Planning 00:08:41 - How Sales Volume Destroys Customer Service 00:10:53 - The Necessity of Weekly Executive Meetings 00:16:11 - Consolidating Your Tech Stack (Salesforce, Gong) 00:18:49 - The "RevOps Call" vs. The "Sales Commit" 00:23:12 - The Role of AI in Revenue Operations 00:27:22 - The Secret to Building an Elite Ops Team 00:29:33 - Why Bartenders Make the Best Sales Reps 00:32:16 - How to Ascend to the C-Suite in Operations 00:40:05 - The Most Important Soft Skill in BusinessConnect with Ready Set Exec:John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/Patrick Shea LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/Connect with Rachel Horne:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelminshallhorne/

In this episode of Ready Set Exec, Host John Pezoulas sits down with seasoned HR executive Nadine Shehaiber (Chief People Officer, BLG Capital Advisors). Drawing from 20+ years of experience spanning mega-corporations like Deloitte to highly agile family offices, Nadine breaks down the exact frameworks required to build high-performing teams. Discover the stark reality of the 2026 employee engagement crisis, the toxic consequences of poorly managed layoffs, and why ROI-driven HR leaders are outperforming legacy administrative roles. For leaders looking to cure organizational burnout and scale a resilient culture, this human capital masterclass is mandatory listening.Key Takeaways:The 2026 employee engagement crisis and the disconnect caused by rigid Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates.Why traditional quarterly engagement surveys are actively destroying institutional trust.The toxic consequences of poorly managed corporate layoffs and going dark.How to corporatize a family office without killing its core culture.Why changing entrenched corporate behavior takes a minimum of three to five years.About Ready Set Exec: Founded by Managing Partners Patrick Shea and John Pezoulas, Ready Set Exec is a premier North American executive leadership recruitment firm specializing in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Operations. We replace hiring chaos with a repeatable process, with an average 39-day time-to-hire and a 100% placement success rate.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Nadine Shehaiber and Global HR Leadership 00:49 - Transitioning from Mega-Corporations to Family Office Ecosystems 01:44 - Eliminating Bureaucracy: Why Small Teams Execute Faster 05:09 - The Danger of "Familial" Hiring and Loss of Diversity of Thought 06:50 - How to "Corporatize" a Family Office Without Killing the Culture 08:27 - Why HR Must Connect Everything to Financial ROI 09:49 - The First 3 Things an HR Leader Must Do in a Small Business 12:28 - Building Scalable Performance Management Systems 14:04 - Transitioning from Punitive Management to Continuous Coaching 15:36 - The Reality of Cultural Transformation: Why it Takes 3 to 5 Years 17:36 - The 2026 Crisis of Employee Engagement & The RTO Disconnect 20:45 - The Mid-Management Quality Gap and Broken Feedback Loops 24:23 - Why Quarterly Engagement Surveys Are Actively Destroying Trust 28:19 - The Psychological Trauma of Corporate Layoffs and Going Dark. 31:35 - Public Share Price vs. Long-Term Business Health 33:40 - The Non-Traditional Path to CHRO: From IT Business Analysis to HR 38:18 - Why CEOs Complain That HR Doesn't Understand the BusinessConnect with Ready Set Exec:John Pezoulas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/Patrick Shea LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-jm-shea/Connect with Nadine Shehaiber:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadineshehaiber/