In this episode, Deb Coviello sits down with Hall of Fame speaker, award-winning author, and business strategist Meridith Elliot Powell to explore one of the biggest challenges facing C-Suite leaders today: uncertainty. Meridith shares her research-backed, three-step formula for surviving disruption and leveraging it as a competitive advantage. From adapting your perspective to listening deeply to your customers and committing to process, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies for any leader navigating a turbulent marketplace.

Episode Highlights:

• 2:44 — Meridith shares her origin story and why she became obsessed with uncertainty: how 2016 sparked her research into companies that thrived through the Great Depression, World Wars, and other disruptions — and the three-step formula she developed from that work.
• 9:03 — The three-step formula revealed: (1) Adapt your perspective so uncertainty leads to opportunity, (2) Focus on people by mastering the skill of listening to your team, customers, and network, and (3) Commit to process by leading your team for tomorrow, not just today.
• 20:02 — Meridith's powerful "seeds, weeds, and needs" quarterly review tool: a simple three-question exercise to help leaders identify what's working, what's wasting time, and what's missing — so they can focus energy on what truly moves the needle.

Meridith Elliot Powell is a Hall of Fame and million-dollar speaker, award-winning author, and former C-Suite executive with more than 25 years of business leadership experience across manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and travel and tourism. After studying organizations that grew through history's greatest economic disruptions — from the Great Depression to the 2008 financial crisis — she developed a proven formula to help leaders and organizations turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Connect with Meridith:

https://www.facebook.com/MeridithElliotPowell/
https://www.youtube.com/user/meridithepowell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meridithelliottpowell
https://www.instagram.com/powellmeridithelliott/
https://x.com/meridithpowell

For more information about my services or if you just want to connect and have a chat, reach out at: https://dropinceo.com/contact/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Drop in CEO podcast, host Deb Coviello welcomes Joe Bockerstette, Managing Partner at Business Enterprise Mapping. Joe shares his journey from engineering to consulting, angel investing, and leading transformative workflow improvements for organizations. Together, they discuss the realities of process management, the challenges of change leadership, and practical advice for business leaders seeking sustainable growth and peace of mind.

Episode Highlights:

• [1:00] Joe Barker’s career journey: from engineering to consulting and angel investing
• [9:00] The realities and risks of angel investing for entrepreneurs and investors
• [17:00] Mapping business processes: identifying “red clouds” and driving organizational change
• [24:30] Real-world example: Transforming a marketing firm’s operations and achieving peace of mind

Joe Bockerstette is the Managing Partner of Business Enterprise Mapping in Phoenix AZ., a professional services firm delivering transformative workflow improvement. He has more than 30 years’ experience as a CEO, business consultant, and private equity/angel investor. Joe was previously a Consulting Partner with PwC, co-founded a private equity firm, Equity Management Group and was the first Managing Partner of the Main Street Venture Fund, an angel pledge fund in Indiana. Joe holds a BS degree in Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and an MBA from Xavier University. He has served as a director on a variety of public, private, and non-profit boards and has co-authored three books, Attracting an Angel, How to Get Money from Business Angels and Why Most Entrepreneurs Don't, Time Based Manufacturing and Red Cloud Road, How Strategic Process Management Drives Competitive Advantage.

Company Website: www.businessmapping.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-bockerstette-86875a17

For more information about my services or if you just want to connect and have a chat, reach out at: https://dropinceo.com/contact/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Drop in CEO podcast, host Deb Coviello welcomes Terry Blachek, an accomplished entrepreneur and franchise leader with over 35 years of experience in the health, fitness, and consumer lifestyle sectors. Terry shares his journey from humble beginnings to scaling major fitness brands like Orange Theory Fitness, discusses the importance of clarity, business models, and mindset, and offers actionable advice for leaders looking to grow and sustain their businesses.

Episode Highlights:

• 2:22 — Terry’s entrepreneurial roots and early career in fitness and business
• 6:18 — The founding and explosive growth of Orange Theory Fitness
• 10:25 — The power of clarity, communication, and solving the right problem in business
• 19:36 — Mindset, overcoming adversity, and building a personal advisory board

Terry Blachek is an accomplished entrepreneur, speaker, and franchise leader with over 35 years in health, fitness, and lifestyle industries. As Managing Director at Franvest Capital Partners, he scales high-growth brands, including The Dog Stop. A founding partner of Orangetheory Fitness, he built Austin Fitness Group into 130+ studios and earned induction into the Orangetheory Hall of Fame. A recognized industry voice, he’s spoken at IHRSA, Disney Institute, and hosts the Tuesday with Terry podcast. Formerly an executive at Crunch, Lifestyle Family Fitness, and The Fitness Company, Terry continues to inspire leaders with his proven expertise in growth, culture, and performance.

Company Website: https://franvest.ca/our-team/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terry_blachek/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-blachek-78431a174/

For more information about my services or if you just want to connect and have a chat, reach out at: https://dropinceo.com/contact/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.