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Unmasked: The CEO Files

Leanne Bucaro, Alan McLaren

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.

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24 episodes
Avg 43 min
English

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#85
October 7 · 35 min
Make Investors Compete For The Deal With Guest Roy Moëd
What does it really take to raise capital, build a resilient business, and make investors compete for the deal? In this episode of UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files, Alan sits down with entrepreneur, CEO and LifeBook Memoirs co-founder Roy Moëd to explore decades of entrepreneurial experience, fundraising lessons, business reinvention, and the importance of finding investors who believe in both the opportunity and the mission. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ How to create competition among inv
#84
October 7 · 41 min
Capital With Conviction: Why Investor Alignment Matters With Guest Wayne Hennessy-Barret
What does it really take to build a mission-driven business, raise capital, and stay true to your values when the pressure is on? In this episode of UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files, Alan sits down with Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, Founder and Executive Chairman of 4G Capital, a fintech company helping small businesses across Africa access the working capital they need to grow. Wayne shares his journey from 17 years in the British Army to building a business focused on democratizing wealth creation
#83
October 6 · 39 min
Look Again: Changing the Way We See the World with Guest Muraly Srinarayanathas
What happens when your identity, culture, and experiences across borders become a business advantage? In this episode of UNMASKED: The CEO Files, Alan McLaren is joined by global strategist, entrepreneur, and third culture leader Muraly Srinarayanathas to explore cultural intelligence, global expansion, entrepreneurship, and the ideas behind 3 magazine. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ How becoming a third culture entrepreneur shaped Muraly’s leadership ➡️ Why values matter when making difficult
#82
October 6 · 29 min
Raising Capital Is A Truth Serum: What The Room Reveals About The Leader With Guest David Lovejoy
What happens when raising capital becomes a truth serum for your business? In this episode of Unmasked: The Capital Raise Files, Alan McLaren sits down with David Lovejoy, Founder & CEO of CoachFinder.ai, to talk about the realities of fundraising, the investor questions that exposed blind spots, and how those conversations helped reshape his business. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Why founders should start raising capital earlier than they think ➡️ What difficult investor questions can rev
#81
September 25 · 31 min
When Raising Capital Becomes a Test of the Entrepreneur with Guest Peter Cimoroni
What does it really take to raise capital, build investor trust, and scale a CPG brand? In this episode of UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Peter Cimoroni, CEO and Founder of AVOGO Foods, to talk about the realities of raising money and building a consumer brand in today’s market. With more than 40 years of professional experience, Peter brings a unique perspective on entrepreneurship, customer marketing, financial analysis, and food innovation. At AVOGO Foods, he
#80
September 22 · 37 min
The Operator’s Reality of Raising Capital with Guest Eric Vest
What does it really take to raise capital when you’re not coming from the traditional finance world? In this episode of UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Eric Vest, Founder & CEO of Yellowwood and Founder & Managing Partner of Y Capital, to unpack what more than 30 years of building, growing and selling technology companies has taught him about people, technology and capital. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Building credibility when entering the capital markets as
#79
September 10 · 37 min
What You Learn After Thousands of Investor Rooms With Brandon Davis, Trek One Capital.
What does it really take to raise capital and grow a business? In this episode of UNMASKED: The Capital Raise Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Brandon Davis, Founder of Trek One Capital, to discuss the realities of raising capital, scaling businesses and learning from years of experience in investor rooms and M&A. Brandon shares candid insights from more than two decades of building, funding and operating businesses across energy, industrial services, consumer products and specialty manufact
#78
August 7 · 58 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, ev
#76
July 16 · 43 min
Creating Impact with AI Innovation with Guest Sid Srivastava
What happens when a global business leader combines cutting-edge AI with a purpose to make a lasting impact on people, industry, and the world? In this episode of UNMASKED: The CEO Files, Leanne Bucaro sits down with Sid Srivastava, Co-CEO of Process Technology, to explore how leadership, innovation, and purpose come together to transform a 50-year-old family business into a global force. From developing AI-powered technologies that improve manufacturing safety to creating solutions that save
#75
July 9 · 1 hr 6 min
Smoke’s Leadership Signal with Guest Smoke Wallin, Host of the Hot Podcast “The Smoke Trail”
What happens when a successful CEO realizes the greatest leadership transformation begins within? In this episode of UNMASKED: The CEO Files, Leanne Bucaro sits down with Smoke Wallin, CEO, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, Managing Director and Partner at STS Capital Partners, a long serving leader in YPO, host of The Smoke Trail podcast, and author of the upcoming book 'A Smoke Trail to the Fire Within.' Smoke shares his journey from leading billions in transactions across more than 50 deals to di
#74
June 25 · 47 min
Drew Allen & Factory of the Future: How AI, Automation & Advanced Manufacturing Are Changing Work
What does the future of manufacturing look like, and what can business leaders learn from the companies shaping it? In this episode of UNMASKED: the CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Drew Allen, CEO of Grace Technologies, investor, and manufacturing leader, to explore why advanced manufacturing is becoming one of the most important drivers of innovation, economic growth, and leadership in North America. From AI-powered factories and workforce transformation to vertical integration and vi
#73
June 11 · 40 min
Ashutosh Garg Host of the World’s Largest Podcast on the Power of Saying No
What happens when the interviewer becomes the interviewee? In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and thought leader Ashutosh Garg, founder of The Brand Called You. With more than 3,600 podcast interviews, 10 published books, and decades of leadership experience, Ash shares the lessons he's learned from building businesses, studying human behaviour, and having conversations with some of the world's most accomplished leaders. Th
#72
June 4 · 46 min
The Through Line Between Marketing, Leadership and Investing With Guest: Dave Sutton
What happens when an engineer becomes one of the world’s leading transformational marketers and investors? In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with transformational marketer, investor, author, and board-level advisor Dave Sutton for an unfiltered conversation on the future of marketing, AI, investing, leadership, and the growing trust gap in business. From why marketing should be treated like a measurable business investment to how AI is collapsing the divide bet
#71
May 21 · 1 hr 3 min
What Now? How to Ask For (and Receive) What You Need with Guest Dr. Ken Druck
In this powerful and deeply human conversation on Unmasked: The CEO Files, Leanne Bucaro sits down with renowned psychologist and author Dr. Ken Druck to explore what it really means to lead, live, and heal through life’s most defining moments. From grief and loss to leadership under pressure, this episode opens up an honest dialogue about emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and the inner work required to show up fully in both life and business. Dr. Ken Druck shares raw and insightful refle
#70
May 14 · 55 min
The Leadership Feedback That Changed Everything With Guest Kerry Siggins
What does it really take to lead under pressure while building trust at scale? In this episode of The Unmasked CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Kerry Siggins, Executive Chair of StoneAge Inc. for a powerful conversation on leadership, vulnerability, culture, and the realities CEOs navigate behind closed doors. From scaling an employee-owned company across more than 50 countries to leading through complexity, pressure, and rapid growth, Kerry shares the realities most leaders rarely say ou
#69
April 9 · 40 min
Stop Competing. Define the Category. With Guest Kevin Maney, Author, Journalist, Consultant
In this episode of Unmasked the CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Kevin Maney (journalist, author, and advisor) to unpack the art of category creation for CEOs. Kevin shares insights from his latest book, The Category Creation Formula, and explains how leaders can escape comparison, help markets see problems in new ways, and create lasting impact. Fun fact: Two years ago, one Maney hit the podcast… now the other brother is stepping in. World, are you ready for this? Whether you’re a CEO
#68
January 15 · 42 min
From Fear to Flight: Overcoming Deep Seeded Fears to Achieve Amazing Success with Patrick Sweeney
What if the fear holding you back was actually the fuel for your biggest breakthroughs? In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, Alan McLaren sits down with Patrick Sweeney - Wall Street Journal bestselling author, investor, entrepreneur, world-record athlete and globally recognized fear expert known as “The Fear Guru”. Patrick shares his incredible journey from battling rare leukemia and crippling fear, to building and exiting multiple companies, investing in dozens more and helping hundr
#67
January 8 · 50 min
From Success to Significance with Pioneer Jeff Cullen | Unmasked: The CEO Files
In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, host Alan McLaren sits down with entrepreneur and YPO leader Jeff Cullen for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, neurodiversity, trust and building a values-based business that lasts. Jeff shares his journey from founding a Canadian logistics company at 27 to scaling it into a multinational organization across 17 countries and navigating both a painful fire-sale exit and a later, highly successful acquisition. Along the way, he opens up ab
#66
Dec 18, 2025 · 38 min
Meet Captain Compliance: The Risk That Quietly Costs CEOs Millions with Guest Richart Ruddie
In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, host Alan McLaren chats with Richart Ruddie, Founder of Captain Compliance, to unpack the real journey behind building exiting and scaling businesses in fast-changing digital environments. From starting his career during the financial crisis to becoming an entrepreneur by accident, Richart shares how relentless learning shaped his leadership journey while discussing the emotional reality of exits, the pressure founders face to move fast without perfec
#65
Nov 13, 2025 · 47 min
From Chaos to Clarity - Leadership Unfiltered with YPO Guest Dusty Holcomb
In this episode of Unmasked: The CEO Files, host Alan McLaren sits down with Dusty Holcomb, a leadership advisor and YPO member for a deeply personal and insightful conversation on what it really takes to lead. From growing up homeschooled to building a 30-year career in leadership and corporate growth, Dusty shares the experiences that shaped his mindset and the lessons he learned from a retired colonel who became his greatest mentor. Together, Alan and Dusty unpack the difference between le

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