In this week's transformative leadership episode, Deborah Fell sits down with Brian "Lex" Luther, whose distinguished naval career equipped him with the unique perspective that revolutionized Navy Mutual. "The principles that guide a naval officer—discipline, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to mission- translate remarkably well to corporate leadership," shares Luther. "At Navy Mutual, we didn't [...]

What if data wasn’t just something you measured, but a powerful spark for your most creative marketing ideas? In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with Boobesh Ramadurai to explore how artificial intelligence is changing the game for marketers—especially when it comes to blending data, creativity, and speed. With over two decades of experience working with [...]

If you’ve edited podcasts featuring multilingual speakers, you've likely noticed a pattern: longer pauses, more "ums," and thoughtful silences — especially from Hindi native speakers when they are interviewed in English. We have brilliant guests that are impressive, not just because of their knowledge on a subject, but because I understand they are managing 2-5 [...]

When J. Nicole Martin Lawton suddenly became CEO of Phoenix Language Services in May 2020, it was under extraordinary circumstances. Not only was the world grappling with a global pandemic, but she had just returned from maternity leave with her second child when her father, company founder Bill Martin, passed away. In that moment, Nicole [...]

Deborah Fell connects with Ryan Frederick of Transform Labs about strategic technology implementation. Ryan positions his firm as independent advisors rather than product reps, ensuring "our advice to clients is in the best interest of the client." Ryan captures the uncertainty many CEOs face with a compelling metaphor: "It's almost like being on a foggy [...]

On Success Beneath the Surface, this is a curated collection of the most impactful conversations from the first quarter of 2025. This playlist features transformative discussions with leaders who have mastered the art of building thriving organizations through unconventional wisdom and authentic leadership. Join host, Deborah Fell, as she explores the hidden dynamics of successful [...]

Success Beneath the Surface is celebrating 100 episodes. Our top downloaded episodes include Lessons from Navy Seal Kyle Buckett, number 57, who challenges the notion of leadership from the top, and gives life-saving reasons to build leadership capability at all levels, or at least business-saving reasons. James Hyman's episode number 64 gave fodder for a [...]

This commentary on Success Beneath the Surface features Carl Satterwhite, President and Owner of RCF Group. This segment focuses on the evolving workplace landscape. Carl shares his unique observations on post-pandemic challenges, multigenerational workforces, and the often-overlooked phenomenon of "culture creep." His remarkable business philosophy—Making Others Realize Extra (MORE)—has powered RCF Group's expansion to 50 [...]

Deborah welcomes Carl Satterwhite, President and Owner of RCF Group, a unique commercial furniture, architectural interiors, and facility services company operating in all 50 states and over 20 countries. Carl shares his remarkable journey from managing "all the other stuff" at Procter & Gamble to building a continuously evolving business by listening deeply to client [...]