In this commentary, Deborah Fell examines the psychology of entrepreneurship, drawing from her conversation with Net at Work Co-Founder and Co-CEO Eddie Solomon. Through stories of infrastructure pioneers, transformational leaders, and second-generation successors, she reveals how true entrepreneurs share an unshakeable mindset – they may pivot, but failure is never an option. Mod Op’s AI [...]
In this episode of Success Beneath the Surface, Deborah Fell sits down with Eddie Solomon, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Net at Work, a technology services company he started with his brother, Alexm in 1996. From their humble beginnings as Russian-Ukrainian immigrants in Brooklyn to building a thriving enterprise serving over 5,000 businesses, Eddie shares insights [...]
A lot of CEOs talk about humility, but it's rare to meet one who truly embodies it. Last week, Deborah Fell - host of Success Beneath the Surface - spoke with Ray Hatch, CEO of Quest Resources Holding Corporation, and what struck her most wasn't his impressive track record but his genuine humility in action. [...]
This playlist includes topics of responsible use policies regarding AI, faith vs. consensus in leadership, and these facts: only 0.01% of recorded sales conversations are ever reviewed, and 83% of sales managers have never received formal training. There are also tips for your domain management and a conversation about making childcare more affordable. Trust versus [...]
I was inspired by a recent episode of Leader Generation from Mod Op, in which Tessa Berg welcomed Patty Parobek to discuss Mod Ops' new AI Playground and the process they use to test out generative AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, and over 400 others so far. Their AI Council thoroughly goes through the [...]
In healthcare, some of the most impactful organizations work quietly behind the scenes, touching countless lives without widespread recognition. MTF Biologics, led by CEO Joe Yaccarino, is one such organization. Their work in tissue donation and medical biologics represents a profound cycle of hope - where end-of-life decisions become new beginnings for others. As someone [...]
In healthcare innovation, success isn't just about breakthrough technology or market leadership - sometimes, it requires heroes at every level. Today's conversation with Joe Yaccarino, CEO of MTF Biologics, reveals how one of the world's largest tissue banks has built an organization where heroic acts happen daily - from donor families making selfless decisions in [...]
Deborah Fell reflects on her powerful conversation with Jeff Ostenso, CEO of Ironmark, and her chance encounter with another second-generation CEO during an extended train delay. These interactions highlight a crucial reality: family-owned businesses form the backbone of the American economy, representing 87% of U.S. businesses and employing 60% of American workers. From Jeff's transparent [...]
From delivery truck driver at 18 to CEO of an $80M company - Jeff Ostenso shares how he transformed his father's printing business into a modern marketing powerhouse. After 38 years and 16 acquisitions, he reveals the unconventional leadership approach that helped him retain employees and acquire company owners. Learn how sharing P&Ls with every [...]
Last week marked the conclusion of our three-part series featuring Clay Spitz, recently retired Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at Chief Outsiders. Over my nine years with the firm, I've had the privilege of watching Clay in action – he's always been a class act, the kind of leader who earns trust naturally. Clay's [...]