Podcast
The 3Peak Master Leadership Experience
Hosted by 3Peak Coaching & Solutions · EN
The 3Peak Master Leadership Experience is where CEOs come to learn how to scale their business.
The 3Peak Master Leadership Experience is the culmination of decades of experience working with individuals, teams and organizations. Topics range from neuroscience and physiology to meditation and psychology to business and entrepreneurship.
Produced by 3Peak Group LLC, this podcast explores a holistic approach to scaling your business, without losing human connection.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
E37 Hiring Deal Breakers (ft. Shruti Chaudhary of Avomind)
Dec 1200:26:37Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes In the final installment of their four-part mini-series, 3Peak Group’s Managing Director, Mino Vlachos, and Avomind’s recruiting leader, Shruti Chaudhary, dive into the messy, overlooked, and often uncomfortable side of hiring senior leaders. From unspoken biases to emotional derailers, they reveal the red flags that companies and candidates rarely talk about—but that shape the success or failure of every executive hire. Drawing on Mino’s background in executive assessment and Shruti’s global recruiting experience, this episode offers a practical, unfiltered look at what truly breaks a hiring process—and how to prevent it. If you’re a CEO, founder, recruiter, or candidate looking to understand how high-stakes hiring really works, this conversation is packed with insight you won’t hear anywhere else. Episode Highlights • The biggest mistakes companies make when hiring senior leaders– Hiring under pressure from investors or timelines– Over-prioritizing hard skills over cultural or values alignment– Vague definitions of “culture” that invite bias and mis-hire risk • What great candidates always do (and poor candidates never do)– Prepare deeply: researching the company beyond its website– Show self-awareness, humility, and ownership of past mistakes– Avoid bad-mouthing previous employers or colleagues– Ask meaningful questions to signal curiosity and alignment • Clear deal breakers recruiters notice immediately– No questions during the interview– Over-focus on compensation or logistics– Arrogance masked as confidence– Disrespect toward interviewers or team members • The hidden drivers of leadership failure: emotional regulation & stress behavior– Why a calm “weekend personality” isn’t enough to predict leadership effectiveness– How stress can transform even high-performers into risky hires– Why “I don’t have emotions” is a major red flag– The critical distinction between everyday stress and crisis-induced derailers • How to evaluate stress responses in interviews– Questions that reveal self-awareness and emotional resources– Identifying leaders who lack intentional stress-management practices– Recognizing chronic stress behaviors, even without a triggering event • Biases that distort hiring decisions—often without anyone noticing– Affinity and similarity bias: hiring people who feel “just like us”– Network-based shortcuts that clone the founder’s background– Pedigree bias toward elite institutions or brands– Recency bias that overweights a candidate’s last role– Gendered language and screening processes that filter out talent unintentionally • Practical strategies to reduce bias and elevate hiring quality– Blind résumé reviews (removing names, schools, demographic indicators)– Structured interviews and well-defined criteria– Reviewing conversion rates between hiring stages to spot hidden bias leaks– Creating job descriptions that use neutral, inclusive language • Final takeaways from Mino & Shruti– Screen for emotional regulation as a core leadership competency– Structure your hiring process to limit bias at every stage– Prioritize clarity, intentionality, and alignment over speed
Transcribe →E36 What To Look For In Hiring (ft. Shruti Chaudhary of Avomind)
Dec 900:28:54Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes In this candid mini-series, 3Peak Group’s Managing Director, Mino Vlachos, and Avomind’s recruiting leader, Shruti Chaudhary, pull back the curtain on how companies really find, evaluate, and hire senior leaders. From the first screening call to high-stakes executive assessments, Mino and Shruti reveal what matters most when identifying senior talent —a nd what reliably derails even the most impressive candidates. With perspectives from both the consulting and recruiting sides, this conversation is packed with practical insight for CEOs, founders, and growth-stage companies who can’t afford a mis-hire. If you’ve ever wondered what recruiters pay attention to, what executive assessments actually measure, or why “gut feel” still plays a role, this episode will give you a grounded, inside look. Episode Highlights • What great interviewers really look for– Micro-behaviors that signal humility, emotional maturity, and self-awareness– How candidates reveal red flags without realizing it– Why senior leaders must be able to clearly articulate what they want • The importance of real dialogue in interviews– Why candidates who ask no questions are a major warning sign– How thoughtful questions demonstrate alignment, curiosity, and commitment– Stories of surprising deal-breakers (including the candidate who walked away over a company car) • Culture fit, values alignment, and why they matter more than resumes– What recruiters can (and can’t) evaluate– How misalignment shows up early—and why ignoring it is costly • Executive assessment demystified– How Mino conducts 3–4 hour deep-dive interviews to understand leadership patterns– Why triangulating data—story, testing, references—is essential for predicting behavior– The power of high-quality reference checks (and why ghosting is a giant red flag) • Cognitive ability, simulations, and the science of prediction– What the research actually says about intelligence and leadership– Why resource-allocation simulations are emerging as top predictors of executive success– How overly high intelligence can hurt leadership efficacy if not paired with communication skills • Best practices for evaluating senior talent– The non-negotiable importance of a clear job description and defined criteria– How to watch your own evaluative bias as an interviewer– Why the future of leadership hiring will increasingly rely on assessing systemic thinking
Transcribe →E35 Roles Make Or Break Hiring (ft. Shruti Chaudhary of Avomind)
Dec 500:20:23Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes In this episode of our four-part mini series on hiring the right senior leaders, Mino Vlachos, Managing Director and Co-Founder of The 3Peak Group, reconnects with Shruti Chaudhary, a global recruitment leader at Avomind, to explore one of the most underrated drivers of hiring success: role clarity. From the inside of mid-sized organizations and the outside view of global executive recruiting, Mino and Shruti unpack why unclear roles create chaos, why “unicorn hires” almost always backfire, and how expectations shape the entire hiring pipeline—from candidate experience to long-term retention. Through vivid analogies (including a memorable one about children’s football games), they discuss how organizations drift into heroics, overcompensation, and system breakdown—and what CEOs can do to build roles that are functional, sustainable, and scalable. If you’ve ever tried to fill a role that secretly contains 16 jobs, struggled to align internal stakeholders, or wondered why a Chief of Staff role keeps becoming a black hole for responsibilities, this episode offers both clarity and practical guidance. Podcast Highlights 🔍 Why Role Clarity Is a Growth Imperative Clear expectations dramatically improve hiring speed, reduce candidate drop-off, and support healthy onboarding. When expectations are vague, misaligned, or contradictory, organizations see stalled searches, unhappy candidates, brand damage, and fast turnover. 🎯 “Are you hiring a role—or backfilling a hero?” Mino breaks down how organizations slide into systemic compensation: one person covering five roles, teams bending reality, and companies masking structural gaps. If you’re backfilling a hero, you’re not hiring a role—you’re recreating dysfunction. ⚽ The Football Analogy CEOs Remember Startups and even corporates often operate like children chasing a soccer ball—everyone runs toward whatever problem appeared last. Mature systems look more like professional teams: defined positions, maintained structure, and coordinated performance. 🦄 The Rise of the “Unicorn Role” Shruti names the top two unicorn roles she sees globally: Chief of Staff (the ultimate catch-all) Operations leaders (every company defines the job differently) These roles often hide organizational chaos, unclear KPIs, and missing org design. 📉 When Internal Chaos Leaks Into the Hiring Process AI-generated job descriptions remove nuance—real clarity comes only from real human thinking. Misalignment between founders, chiefs of staff, and department leads shows up immediately in recruiting conversations. If internal communication is messy, the hiring pipeline will be too. 🧭 Practical Guidance for Leaders Founders and CEOs: Spend time understanding the actual role before delegating the JD to HR or AI. Think like a system architect, not a firefighter. Hiring Managers & Recruiters: Ask unapologetically direct questions. Get crystal clear about KPIs, stakeholders, and what the role must look like in 6–12 months. Internal Talent Teams: When leaders won’t align, facilitate the conversation—don’t skip it. Lack of alignment guarantees downstream problems. 💡 Two Pieces of Parting Advice Shruti: Act as if you were hiring for this role. What would you need to know? Ask every question. Mino: Before hiring, understand the role functionally, relationally, and operationally. Improvisation doesn’t scale.
Transcribe →E34 Knowing When To Hire (ft. Shruti Chaudhary of Avomind)
Dec 300:21:03Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes In this episode, hosts Mino Vlachos, Managing Director and Co-Founder of The 3Peak Group, and Shruti Chaudhary, leader at global recruitment firm Avomind, dive into one of the most pivotal questions for growing companies: How do you know when it’s time to hire a senior leader? Drawing on their distinct vantage points—organizational consulting and global executive recruitment—Mino and Shruti explore why companies hire too late, hire too fast, or hire for the wrong reasons. They break down how hiring dynamics shift across startups, mid-sized companies, and large corporates, and they share practical strategies to avoid common pitfalls like crisis-driven hiring, role overload, and internal dysfunction. Whether you're navigating exponential startup growth, building scalable structure in a mid-sized company, or steering a mature corporate through transformation, this episode helps you understand the signals, risks, and organizational truths that determine when senior leadership is truly needed. This is Part 1 of a four-episode series on finding and hiring senior leaders in high-growth environments. Podcast Highlights Startup vs. Corporate Hiring Realities: Why large organizations hire for transformation or succession—while startups hire when growth outpaces capacity. The Hidden Cost of Waiting Too Long: How burnout, chaos, and internal conflicts emerge when leaders delay critical hires. The Danger of Over-Hiring: Why hiring too fast, especially in startups, leads to unrealistic promises, misalignment, and expensive layoffs. Role Overload & Organizational Dysfunction: The surprising ways having one person fill five roles quietly destabilizes the entire system. Critical Roles & Succession Thinking: How to identify which roles create outsized organizational risk if left unfilled or dependent on one person. Culture and Complexity: Why senior hiring in corporates takes longer—and why integration challenges can derail even strong talent. The Two Must-Ask Questions Before Every Senior Hire: Why are we hiring this leader? What future outcome are we trying to enable by bringing them in? Truth as a Leadership Tool: How facing organizational reality—stress, capacity issues, burnout, relational complexity—is the only way to make timely hiring decisions. “Don’t wait for the airplanes to arrive.” A vivid reminder that crisis-driven hiring is always too late.
Transcribe →E33 When The Money Doesn't Come Through
Oct 2400:20:35Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes In this episode of the 3Peak Master Leadership Experience, Mino Vlachos and Dr. Mazen Harb explore how leaders handle loss, rejection, and setbacks in the workplace. They discuss how expectations, overconfidence, and underconfidence can distort reality, and how emotional reactions often reflect past experiences more than the present. The conversation highlights practical strategies for staying grounded, managing emotions, and turning setbacks into growth opportunities. Leaders learn how to build confidence through presence and disciplined action while extracting lessons from every challenge. Key Takeaways: Loss and rejection trigger deep emotional responses shaped by past experiences. Managing expectations prevents overconfidence, underconfidence, and distorted thinking. Confidence comes from disciplined action, presence, and emotional regulation. Setbacks are learning opportunities that strengthen leaders over time. 0:00 - 0:59 Introduction 0:59 - 1:54 Navigating Loss In The Workplace 1:54 - 5:49 Dealing With Disappointment 5:49 - 7:44 The Role of Expectations 7:44 - 13:34 Confidence vs. Overconfidence 13:34 - 20:36 Grounded Confidence In Action 3Peak Coaching & Solutions is a leadership consultancy dedicated to Elevating Executive Mastery. We specialize in transforming businesses through leadership and team development during transitions and times of crisis. We focus on the 3 critical areas where chaos and conflict are most likely to appear: Board, CEO, and C-Suite Misalignment Transitions into Executive Leadership Conflict Between Functional Departments By addressing these flashpoints, we assist you in navigating change to build unity, create certainty, and establish clear direction. https://3peakcoaching.com/
Transcribe →E32 The Shadow Side Of Empathy
Oct 1000:17:40Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes In this episode of the 3Peak Master Leadership Experience, Mino Vlachos and Dr. Mazen Harb discuss the challenges faced by empathetic, service-oriented leaders. These leaders often give endlessly to others but neglect their own needs, which can lead to burnout, hidden resentment, and organizational strain. The conversation explores how to balance giving with self-care while leading effectively. Highly empathetic leaders must prioritize their own physical, emotional, and spiritual energy before helping others. Unspoken expectations and imbalance in give-and-take create frustration, resentment, and organizational bottlenecks. Effective leadership requires flexibility: balance empathy with directness and adapt to the needs of each situation. Taking personal responsibility for your well-being is essential to sustain yourself and lead others successfully. 0:00 - 0:59 Introduction 0:59 - 12:21 The Balance of Empathy and Self-Care 12:21 - 14:12 The Selfish Nature Of Giving 14:12 - 15:48 Understanding Leadership Dynamics 15:48 - 17:41 Taking Personal Responsibility 3Peak Coaching & Solutions is a leadership consultancy dedicated to Elevating Executive Mastery. We specialize in transforming businesses through leadership and team development during transitions and times of crisis. We focus on the 3 critical areas where chaos and conflict are most likely to appear: Board, CEO, and C-Suite Misalignment Transitions into Executive Leadership Conflict Between Functional Departments By addressing these flashpoints, we assist you in navigating change to build unity, create certainty, and establish clear direction. https://3peakcoaching.com/
Transcribe →E31 Get Through The Unknown Without Burnout
Sep 2600:18:39Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes In this episode of the 3Peak Master Leadership Experience, Mino Vlachos and co-founder Dr. Mazen Harb explore how CEOs and leaders can navigate chronic uncertainty without succumbing to burnout or anxiety. They discuss why uncertainty can trigger worry, negative thought loops, and stress, and how leaders can stay resilient while guiding their organizations through unpredictable times. Key insights for managing uncertainty: Uncertainty is inevitable; resilience is the ability to sit with it without being overwhelmed. Anxiety arises when leaders try to control the uncontrollable—learning to let go is crucial. Break long-term uncertainty into manageable chunks: day, week, month, or quarter. Focus on what is predictable and within your control, then adapt to changing conditions. Leverage teams and co-founders to share responsibility and reduce the isolation of leadership. Maintain emotional regulation to make clear decisions and model stability for your organization. 0:00 - 0:59 Introduction 0:59 - 6:15 Managing Uncertainty and Anxiety 6:15 - 13:06 Navigating Chronic Uncertainty 13:06 - 18:40 Practical Strategies For Leaders 3Peak Coaching & Solutions is a leadership consultancy dedicated to Elevating Executive Mastery. We specialize in transforming businesses through leadership and team development during transitions and times of crisis. We focus on the 3 critical areas where chaos and conflict are most likely to appear: Board, CEO, and C-Suite Misalignment Transitions into Executive Leadership Conflict Between Functional Departments By addressing these flashpoints, we assist you in navigating change to build unity, create certainty, and establish clear direction. https://3peakcoaching.com/
Transcribe →E30 When External Conditions Rapidly Deteriorate
Sep 1200:21:12Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes Chaos is inevitable — shifting markets, tariffs, technological disruptions, or geopolitical events can all throw organizations off balance. In this episode of the 3Peak Master Leadership Experience, Mino Vlachos and co-founder Dr. Mazen Harb explore how CEOs can navigate external chaos with clarity, resilience, and purpose. They discuss why leaders get stuck—either clinging to outdated ways of working or becoming addicted to chronic uncertainty— and how to turn disruption into opportunity. Key takeaways for leading through uncertainty include: Pausing and regulating emotional responses to maintain clarity. Recognizing cycles of change and knowing when to stop, realign, and move forward. Embracing discomfort and the unknown as essential to growth. Modeling calm, intentional leadership that cascades through your organization. 0:00 - 0:59 Introduction 0:59 - 5:00 Navigating External Chaos 5:00 - 7:55 The Role of Chaos in Order 7:55 - 15:20 Understanding Resistance to Change 15:20 - 21:13 Leadership In Times of Crisis 3Peak Coaching & Solutions is a leadership consultancy dedicated to Elevating Executive Mastery. We specialize in transforming businesses through leadership and team development during transitions and times of crisis. We focus on the 3 critical areas where chaos and conflict are most likely to appear: Board, CEO, and C-Suite Misalignment Transitions into Executive Leadership Conflict Between Functional Departments By addressing these flashpoints, we assist you in navigating change to build unity, create certainty, and establish clear direction. https://3peakcoaching.com/
Transcribe →E29 How New CEOs Build Confidence
Aug 2900:16:04Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes In this episode of the 3Peak Master Leadership Experience, co-founders Mino Vlachos and Dr. Mazen Harb dive into one of the most critical challenges for new CEOs: building confidence in the face of uncertainty. Drawing from years of experience coaching executive leaders, they explore why even talented leaders can second-guess themselves, struggle with imposter syndrome, or feel unprepared for the demands of the role. Mino and Mazen break down practical strategies for cultivating confidence, including: Understanding your strengths—and acknowledging your blind spots Learning essential CEO skills while embracing the uncertainty of the role Managing mind chatter, fear, and self-doubt to stay grounded and focused Creating clarity around key responsibilities and expectations Whether you’re a new CEO, an aspiring executive, or a leader navigating high-stakes challenges, this conversation offers insights on how to grow confidence through self-awareness, deliberate practice, and consistent action. 0:00 - 0:29 Introduction 0:29 - 5:29 Building Confidence As A CEO 5:29 - 10:13 The Important of Self-Awareness 10:13 - 15:10 Mindset and Confidence 15:10 - 16:05 Managing Uncertainty and Anxiety 3Peak Coaching & Solutions is a leadership consultancy dedicated to Elevating Executive Mastery. We specialize in transforming businesses through leadership and team development during transitions and times of crisis. We focus on the 3 critical areas where chaos and conflict are most likely to appear: Board, CEO, and C-Suite Misalignment Transitions into Executive Leadership Conflict Between Functional Departments By addressing these flashpoints, we assist you in navigating change to build unity, create certainty, and establish clear direction. https://3peakcoaching.com/
Transcribe →E28 Neurodivergence & Gender-Expansiveness In The Workplace ft. Chris D. Hooten
Jan 3, 202501:15:22Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes Each human being is unique. That uniqueness adds to our collective strength. When we celebrate and include everyone's differences, we all benefit. Unfortunately, many of our social and societal systems have been built to exclude and minimize the many of our populace. Particularly in the work place, acts ranging from microaggressions to overt aggression create a distinct feeling of "other-ness". Research has shown time and time again, that these in-group / out-group dynamics hurt productivity, morale and financial performance. And of course, they take a significant toll on the health, agency and well-being of the excluded person. In this episode, we feature Chris D. Hooten, where we explore neurodivergence and gender-expansiveness. These two identities are often misunderstood and can bear the brunt of in-group / out-group discrimination. Chris D. Hooten, M.A. (they/them) is an award-winning facilitator, speaker, writer, and accessibility coach helping workplaces elevate experiences for Neurodivergent and Gender-expansive leaders. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Facilitation Voice and Neuro-Mindfulness coach, Chris is a trusted advisor to government agencies, universities, non-profits, and businesses committed to meeting the needs of diverse stakeholders. To learn more about their work, visit https://chrishootenconsulting.com 0:00-1:13 Introduction to Chris D. Hooten 1:13-8:24 Understanding Neurodivergence & Gender Expansiveness 8:24-17:18 Societal Stigmas & Personal Experiences 17:18-21:13 Challenges Faced By Neurodivergent Individuals In The Workplace 21:13-35:57 Barriers For Gender Expansive Individuals In Organizations 35:57-46:45 The Necessity of Inclusion and Accessibility 46:45-57:12 Bringing Intention To Interventions 57:12-1:03:30 Mindfulness & Meditation For Inclusive Leadership 1:03:30-1:15:23 Finding Joy Amongst Challenges 3Peak Coaching & Solutions is a leadership consultancy dedicated to Elevating Executive Mastery. We specialize in transforming businesses through leadership and team development during transitions and times of crisis. We focus on the 3 critical areas where chaos and conflict are most likely to appear: Board, CEO, and C-Suite Misalignment Transitions into Executive Leadership Conflict Between Functional Departments By addressing these flashpoints, we assist you in navigating change to build unity, create certainty, and establish clear direction. Our approach empowers leaders to master complex challenges and transform their companies to thrive now and in the future. https://3peakcoaching.com/
Transcribe →