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Unmasked: The CEO Files

Unmasked: The CEO Files

Hosted by Leanne Bucaro, Alan McLaren

Episodes

61

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN

About the show

The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
September 10, 202637 min

What You Learn After Thousands of Investor Rooms With Brandon Davis, Trek One Capital.

UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files: Real stories from CEOs who have raised capital, so other leaders can move through the process with more clarity, confidence and fewer wasted rooms. In this special series of Unmasked: The CEO Files, we sit down with CEOs and founders who have actually lived through a capital raise to uncover what happened behind the deck, the numbers and the polished story. Why was the money needed? How did they approach the market? How many investor rooms did it take? What questions created pressure? Where did trust form, and where did resistance show up? Most importantly, what would they do differently if they had to raise again? Because raising capital is never just about the business opportunity, the financial model or the pitch deck. Investors are evaluating the leader in the room, too. How clearly can a CEO communicate under pressure? Can they build trust? Can they respond when challenged? And how does the way they show up influence the outcome? The Capital Raise Files goes beyond fundraising advice to explore the lived experience of raising capital, giving CEOs and founders practical insight they can take into their own investor rooms. If you’re preparing to raise capital, considering M&A or moving toward an IPO, these are the real stories worth hearing. We’re researching why some capital raises move quickly in fewer investor meetings while others drag through extra meetings and follow-up. If you’ve raised capital, we’d value your input. It takes under a minute and all responses are aggregated and never attributed. Click here: https://tally.so/r/68yyZB If you are interested in the findings let us know at alan@strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80453987

August 7, 202658 min

The Leadership Signal Experience with Co-CEOs Leanne Bucaro and Alan McLaren

What if the biggest factor influencing your leadership isn't what you say, but how people experience you under pressure? In this episode of UNMASKED: The CEO Files Podcast, Alan McLaren and Leanne Bucaro explore the concept of Leadership Signal and why even the most experienced CEOs can unintentionally create friction in high-stakes conversations. Whether you're leading an executive team, presenting to a board, raising capital, speaking with investors, or navigating difficult conversations, every room has consequences. The way you show up under pressure shapes trust, alignment, and ultimately business outcomes. Alan and Leanne explain why leadership isn't just about communication skills or strategy. It's about understanding how your nervous system responds when your identity, credibility, or authority feels threatened, and how those automatic reactions influence every room you enter. Drawing on real CEO experiences, practical leadership examples, and the science behind pressure and human behaviour, this conversation challenges leaders to look beyond intention and understand the impact they create! In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Why your leadership signal matters more than your intentions in high-pressure situations. ➡️ How autopilot responses and nervous system reactions create hidden friction in leadership. ➡️ The difference between what leaders believe they're communicating and what others actually experience. ➡️ The hidden business costs of distorted leadership signals, including decision drag, lost trust, and slower execution. ➡️ How greater awareness helps leaders build trust, create alignment, and lead with greater clarity under pressure. If you've ever walked out of a meeting believing it went well, only to discover decisions stalled, trust eroded, or momentum disappeared, this episode will change how you think about leadership forever. ______________ UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. If investor trust isn’t building fast enough, your raise may require more conversations than it should. Try the Capital Room Scan: https://stratacapitalroomscan.s.gy/or... 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/strataoriginals?originalSubdomain=ca

July 16, 202643 min

Creating Impact with AI Innovation with Guest Sid Srivastava

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stra...

July 9, 20261 hr 6 min

Smoke’s Leadership Signal with Guest Smoke Wallin, Host of the Hot Podcast “The Smoke Trail”

We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with STRATA Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strataoriginals/posts/?feedView=all

June 25, 202647 min

Drew Allen & Factory of the Future: How AI, Automation & Advanced Manufacturing Are Changing Work

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with Strata Originals Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: Strata Originals

June 11, 202640 min

Ashutosh Garg Host of the World’s Largest Podcast on the Power of Saying No

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with Strata Originals Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: Strata Originals

June 4, 202646 min

The Through Line Between Marketing, Leadership and Investing With Guest: Dave Sutton

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with Strata Originals Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: Strata Originals Instagram: @strataoriginals

May 21, 20261 hr 3 min

What Now? How to Ask For (and Receive) What You Need with Guest Dr. Ken Druck

UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com

May 14, 202655 min

The Leadership Feedback That Changed Everything With Guest Kerry Siggins

If you’re a CEO, founder, executive, or investor navigating growth and high-stakes decisions, this episode offers powerful insight into the invisible variables shaping leadership outcomes! 🔗 Connect with Kerry Siggins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/ Check out Kerry's books by visiting these two Amazon links: 📚Talk with Trust: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GX7N175H 📚Ownership Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/Ownership-Mindset-Handbook-Transforming-Leadership/dp/1637554346/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1K46E50JIF2BT&keywords=9781637554340&qid=1686927353&sprefix=9781637554340%2Caps%2C59&sr=8-1 ____ UNMASKED: The CEO Files. The mic is on. The masks are off. UNMASKED: The CEO Files explores the leadership journeys you don’t see on LinkedIn. The turning points, the real pivots, the moments that shaped who these leaders became beneath the title. We sit with executives as they talk candidly about building trust at scale, shaping culture, and staying visible without selling out who they are. Why it matters: In a world of curated content and algorithm-chasing brands, UNMASKED offers something rare: a human signal that resonates. These are the stories behind the success. The decisions made in uncertainty. The moments that rewired how a leader shows up. Check out The Room Scan, it's a 5-minute read of the moment autopilot took over for CEOs and Founders who want to understand how visible and trusted their leadership signal really is: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com 🔗 Connect with Strata Originals Website: www.strataoriginals.com LinkedIn: Strata Originals Instagram: @strataoriginals

April 9, 202640 min

Stop Competing. Define the Category. With Guest Kevin Maney, Author, Journalist, Consultant

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