The road to the middle market CEO corner office is paved with mile markers that guide in surprising, unpredictable, and some might even say “mysterious” ways! But how do you get such a widely coveted position? This is the question often heard during decades of ROI’s executive search interviews, conducted with top-level executives. ROI’s Into the Corner Office podcast is a new inspiration and answer platform which premieres visionary tales of adventure with great endings and highlights, from powerhouse CEOs driving the formidable success of the U.S. economy’s middle market sector. The CEOs behind this impressive growth reveal insights which equipped them to lead their organizations. Showcasing dynamic leadership stories, Into the Corner Office dives into the heart of what informed and formed these CEOs. Guests share their backgrounds, talk about their early years, and explore what shaped them before they were known for their successes in growing, developing, and leading extraordinary mi...
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June 16, 2026Episode 39536 min
Nick Turner, CEO, Dreamdata
Nick Turner is the CEO of Dreamdata. Nick is a seasoned B2B software leader with nearly two decades of experience building and scaling go-to-market teams, helping companies grow from early traction to tens of millions in revenue.
Before stepping into the CEO role, Nick served as Chief Revenue Officer at Dreamdata, where he played a key role in shaping the company’s growth strategy and expanding its presence in the U.S. market. He later transitioned into the CEO seat, leading the company through a pivotal phase of scale and transformation.
Under his leadership, Dreamdata recently raised a $55 million Series B round led by PeakSpan Capital—fueling its mission to become the go-to platform for B2B marketers to connect data, attribution, and revenue in the AI era.
In this episode, we’ll explore what it takes to step into the CEO role, how to lead through rapid growth and funding milestones, and Nick’s perspective on building modern go-to-market teams in an increasingly data-driven world.
June 2, 2026Episode 39441 min
Randy Lyman, CEO & Author, The Third Element
Randy Lyman is a physicist, entrepreneur, and expert in emotional intelligence and service-based leadership. He built the American Dream from humble beginnings, eventually founding multiple 8-figure businesses, including an Inc. 500 company. He discovered that lasting success requires embracing the emotional aspect of being human. Randy’s entrepreneurial journey spans four decades, earning multiple patents and growing his businesses 30x after integrating spiritual principles. He now shares these principles through his book, The Third Element, which offers useful tools and techniques for emotional healing and personal growth.
The pivotal moment for Randy came after achieving material success but realizing he was not able to enjoy that success due to being disconnected from his own emotions. This led him to focus on emotional awareness, which changed his approach to leadership and spurred business growth far beyond where planning and hard work alone could have taken him. For Randy, the keys to high performance are authenticity, personal connection, and leading from a combination of strength & vulnerability. The Third Element (#1 New Release in Personal Growth) reveals how unhealed emotional patterns shape our reality and how we can transform them to achieve abundance.
Today, Randy shares his principles to help individuals and organizations achieve clarity, connection, and authentic transformation by harnessing emotional intelligence and turning inner healing into outward success. Beyond his professional life, Randy is a craftsman who builds custom motorcycle engines and restores classic cars. His mission is to inspire others to heal, lead, and unlock their full potential by embracing "The Third Element" and their emotional truth.
Website: https://randylyman.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamrandylyman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamrandylyman1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrandylyman/
May 19, 2026Episode 39340 min
Jason Perez, Co-Founder & CEO, Yardz
Jason Perez is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of YARDZ. As CEO, Perez manages the overall strategic direction of the company as it expands in scope and size. Before establishing YARDZ, Perez founded the Veritas Group, a consulting and management firm that had great success in the mission critical world. Before that, he was the Manager of Southeast Region Construction for Syska Hennessy Group. He also serves on the boards of organizations and is an Ambassador for the Marine Raider Foundation.
May 5, 2026Episode 39241 min
Paul Idziak, Private Equity Investment Advisor, FM Group, LLC
A transformation and growth leader at heart, Paul Idziak is a CEO who thrives in complexity and turns bold vision into disciplined execution and scalable results. Like a catalyst for momentum, he does not just grow businesses; he engineers ecosystems where people, process, and performance move in sync. He leads from the front, combining grit with clarity to transform underperforming operations into high-impact, multi-location enterprises.
What he brings to the table is a rare blend of private equity acumen, operational rigor, and commercial instinct. He builds strong leadership teams, installs KPI-driven cultures, and creates structures that scale with precision. From due diligence to exit readiness, he aligns strategy with execution, driving profitability, expanding markets, and reducing risk. He operates with urgency, accountability, and a relentless focus on value creation.
Over the years, Paul has scaled businesses from the ground up, launching new divisions, expanding across the U.S., Canada, and international markets, and building distributed workforces of 300+ technicians. He has driven 35% revenue CAGR and 110% EBITDA growth, transforming operational performance and positioning companies for successful exits. He has secured tier-1 OEM partnerships, negotiated MSAs, and led high-value projects exceeding $20M while building diversified, resilient customer portfolios. From sourcing more than 100 acquisition targets and supporting approximately $3B in transaction value to executing value creation plans targeting 4X returns, his experience spans the full investment lifecycle. He has improved margins, reduced the cost of poor quality, implemented Lean 6S practices, and built safety cultures, achieving 0 recordables, consistently delivering measurable, repeatable results. His previous experience across Johnson Controls, Siemens, and AWC has further sharpened his leadership approach, strengthening his ability to scale operations, build high-performing teams, and drive consistent enterprise-level impact.
What matters most to Paul is building businesses that endure and teams that win long after the strategy is set. He measures success not just by growth, but by the legacy of performance, discipline, and leadership he leaves behind.
April 21, 2026Episode 39139 min
Laura Manion, President & CEO, The Chester County Chamber of Business
Laura Manion is the President & CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, the region's premier business advocacy organization representing a diverse membership of 600 businesses — from small enterprises to multinational corporations — across 155 zip codes in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
As the voice of the business community, Laura advocates for pro-business policies at the local, state, and federal levels through a range of initiatives including hosting elected officials, convening roundtable policy discussions with community partners, and authoring sign-on letters and letters of support for members seeking government funding. She drives strategic efforts focused on economic growth, workforce development, and public policy engagement, while leading the Chamber's work to attract and retain member businesses through value-driven engagement and impactful networking opportunities.
Laura oversees the Chamber's $800,000+ budget, revenue streams, and day-to-day operations with a focus on long-term sustainability and organizational excellence. Under her leadership, the Chamber produces 50+ annual events spanning high-profile convenings, leadership programs, and economic initiatives that support business leaders and advance workforce development. Her impact is reflected in the numbers: from 2022 to 2023, event attendance grew 105% and new membership increased 106% — momentum that carried into 2024 with 150 new members welcomed to the organization.
Manion most recently served as a Manager for the Great Lakes Regional Office for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she cultivated legislative, political, media, and grassroots resources throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to further the chamber’s public policy goals.
She also helped lead the chamber’s efforts to strengthen its relationships with members of Congress through member businesses, associations, and local and state chambers of commerce across the region. Her policy portfolio at the U.S. Chamber focused on small business, workforce, and education.
Prior to joining the U.S. Chamber, Manion was the Assistant Director of Government Affairs and Community Relations at Villanova University. She handled all local matters pertaining to the university, working closely with county and township officials and business associations and chambers, as well as the university’s neighbors.
Manion hopes that she can take experience from the different roles in her career to strengthen her connections within the community and further the mission of the chamber.
“The pandemic showed the vital role that chambers of commerce play in their community,” she said. “We are a resource, rich with information and connections to benefit our member businesses. I look forward to working with the chamber’s board, volunteers, staff, and members to continue to grow and expand the organization. As a lifelong Chester County resident, it’s humbling and exciting to be tapped for this position.”
Manion graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 2013 with a degree in Government and holds an MPA from West Chester University.
In 2018, City & State PA presented her with its Above and Beyond Award, which recognizes 25 exceptional women from Pennsylvania for their accomplishments across various sectors, including politics, healthcare, education, and nonprofits.
April 7, 2026Episode 39043 min
Gene Millman, Business Thought Leader & Visionary CEO
Gene Millman is a dynamic and forward-thinking business leader with a track record of driving innovation, breaking the status quo, and fostering high-performance cultures. With extensive experience in executive leadership, Gene is known for his ability to transform organizations, align teams around a winning mindset, and create strategies that propel businesses toward sustainable growth.
As a C-suite executive, Gene has successfully led companies through complex industry shifts, leveraging his deep expertise in real estate, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. His passion for empowering teams, challenging conventional thinking, and embracing change has made him a respected voice in business thought leadership.
Gene thrives in environments that demand bold vision and decisive action. His leadership philosophy centers on building organizations that not only adapt to change but actively shape the future. He is driven by the belief that success comes from a combination of strategic foresight, relentless execution, and a culture that embraces innovation.
March 24, 2026Episode 38946 min
Stacey Tank, CEO, Bespoke Beauty Brands
Stacey Tank is a 20+ year Fortune 500 veteran and currently Chief Executive Officer for Bespoke Beauty Brands (BBB), owner of high-growth cosmetics brands Jason Wu Beauty and KimChiChic Beauty, which can be found in places like Target, CVS, Walmart, JCPenney, Amazon, the TikTok Shop and beyond. BBB was founded in 2019 by serial entrepreneur Toni Ko who sold her first cosmetics company, NYX, to L’Oreal.
Prior to BBB, Tank was based in Amsterdam in the role of Chief Transformation Officer for HEINEKEN (AMS: HEIA) with €29 billion in annual revenues and over 100,000 employees. As a direct report to the CEO and member of the executive committee, Tank co-created and later shepherded the company's growth strategy, "EverGreen," to ensure the organization adapted amidst a rapidly changing environment including a focus on top quartile growth and multi-billion euro cost out. In addition, Tank was responsible for the company's sustainability strategy, Brew a Better World 2030, including the design of its net zero carbon ambition.
Tank formerly led the multi-billion dollar Home Depot Installation Services and Home Depot Measurement Services businesses for The Home Depot (NYSE: HD), the world’s largest home improvement retailer with $132 billion in sales and 500,000 employees. During her tenure, Tank led the exit of four unprofitable lines of business and returned the remaining businesses to double-digit growth while strengthening the organization’s culture, talent bench and innovation pipeline.
Dedicated to the intersection of business and positive impact on society, Tank has repeatedly authored large-scale movements across enterprises like General Electric, HEINEKEN and The Home Depot including launching a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar commitment to veteran housing and a $50 million shop class program that is infusing 20,000 skilled tradespeople into the US economy.
Before joining The Home Depot, Tank was a Senior Vice President for HEINEKEN USA @StaceyTank Stacey.M.Tank@gmail.com (AMS: HEIA), the leading importer of upscale beers in the US. Tank reported to thenCEO Dolf van den Brink and as part of the company’s management team, navigated a difficult and successful turnaround period.
Previously, from 2002 to 2011, Tank worked at General Electric (NYSE: GE), where she held a variety of global finance, audit, communications and marketing roles across GE Healthcare, NBC Universal, GE Capital, GE Energy, GE Aviation and GE Corporate (including GE’s Communications Leadership Development Program and Corporate Audit Staff) in countries including Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the UK, France, Canada and the US.
Tank is the founder of Our Happy Place (OurHappy.org), a 501(c)3 non-profit serving children, educators and families navigating childhood mental wellness. She also sits on the board, audit and compliance committees for Blackstone-owned Interior Logic Group, the leading US installer of interior finishes for new home construction.
Tank previously sat on the boards of the Heineken Africa Foundation, American Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, Woodruff Arts Center (nominating and governance chair), Serenbe Playhouse, Ad Council, Home Depot Foundation (former president), Homer Fund, Bright Pink (executive board), Academy for Systems Change (finance committee), Arthur W. Page Society (digital committee), Westchester Business Council, Beer Institute, Institute for Public Relations and Subrosa (sold in late 2017). She is the former vice chairwoman of the National Association of Beverage Importers and the former chairwoman of the Heineken Good Government Fund.
Tank is a 2020 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (YGL), a 2019 Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a 2014 Academy for Systems Change Fellow.
She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School and Whitman School of Management where she was recognized as a University Scholar, the university’s highest academic honor. Tank has been married for nearly 20 years and has three sons, two human and one canine.
March 10, 2026Episode 38847 min
Jeff Taylor, General Manger, Crafts Technology
Jeff Taylor is the general manager and past president of Crafts Technology, part of the Precision Solutions Group of Viperion Materials and Technology. Crafts specializes in converting powdered-metallurgy products into finished, high-precision, high-performance engineering tooling and wear solutions. Jeff's 40-year professional career includes working in a variety of roles, including as a toolmaker and then a manufacturing manager at New England Carbide, and in sales leadership roles at AW Chesterton.
Jeff's tenure as CEO at Crafts Technology includes forming an ESOP to purchase crafts from private ownership. Jeff's education includes an A.S. in manufacturing engineering technology and a Bachelor of Manufacturing Management from the University of Minnesota. He's now working on his master's degree.
Jeff is the father of two wonderful daughters, both of whom are now attending college. His hobbies include traveling, skiing, rollerblading, mountain biking, running, and he's a PADI-certified rescue diver.
February 24, 2026Episode 38751 min
Emeric Ernoult, CEO, Agorapulse
Emeric is the co-founder and CEO of Agorapulse, a leading social media management platform he grew to $20 million in revenue without external funding. Under his leadership, Agorapulse has distinguished itself in the competitive landscape by ranking #1 across top software review sites like G2, GetApp, Capterra, Appvizer (France), and OMR (Germany). Emeric’s strategic vision and commitment to innovation have set industry benchmarks, including the first-ever social media inbox in 2014 and pioneering ROI tracking and analytics features for social media—patented innovations that help marketers prove the value of their investments.
February 10, 2026Episode 38637 min
Cory Sherman, Founder, Safety Systems Management
Cory Sherman, Founder of Safety Systems Management (SSM), is a pioneering entrepreneur and safety management professional based in Newnan, Georgia.
Cory has over 13 years in the construction and safety management industry. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Science in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management from Eastern Kentucky University. Additionally, Cory is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) as well as a Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
Cory established Safety Systems Management in 2016 while working full-time for top General Contactors. Despite humble beginnings of working on prototypes out of his garage, Cory's relentless commitment to innovation saw him develop and patent the Mobile Communications Tower, showcasing his ingenuity and dedication to construction safety technology.
Transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship in 2023, Cory has steered SSM to become a leading provider of safety solutions. With unwavering dedication to excellence, Safety Systems Management has a reputation for delivering comprehensive safety services, safeguarding lives, and driving organizational success.
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