CEOs and ABCs cover art

CEOs and ABCs

CEOs and ABCs

By: Kevin Rice
Listen for free

About this listen

CEOs & ABCs is the podcast for high performers who lead at work and show up at home. Hosted by Kevin Rice, this show features candid conversations with executives, founders, and rising leaders about how they’ve advanced their careers while staying present for the moments that matter most... raising kids, building strong partnerships, and prioritizing their health. Each episode dives into executive career advice, leadership development, work-life balance, and the realities of parenting while managing demanding professional lives. Whether you’re navigating promotions, team growth, toddler tantrums, or time management, you’ll find insights and inspiration to lead with intention - both at work and at home. ️ New episodes weekly Topics: Career growth, executive mindset, parenting, burnout prevention, productivity, and more ‍‍‍ For working parents, driven professionals, and leaders building meaningful lives Subscribe now and join the journey from "boardrooms to bedtime stories."© 2025 Career Success Economics Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Melissa Grady Dias (Cadillac, MetLife, Motorola) Navigating Motherhood, Prioritizing Self-Care and Building Life's Mosaic #009
    Sep 17 2025
    In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Melissa Grady-Diaz, former CMO of Cadillac, to explore the complex intersection of motherhood, career ambition, and personal growth. Melissa opens up about the challenges of maternity leave and the emotional transition of returning to a high-powered role while raising her first child. She shares why bedtime became a sacred ritual, how she learned to set boundaries to protect family time, and why self-care is a non-negotiable for sustainable leadership. Together, Kevin and Melissa unpack the lessons of parenthood, from navigating exhaustion to redefining purpose, and reflect on how personal experiences shape leadership at the highest levels. Melissa also reveals how she thinks about career progression, exercise as a form of self-care, and her belief that life is a mosaic—where professional milestones and family moments come together to create meaning. Whether you’re a working parent balancing career and home, or a leader seeking to align ambition with presence, Melissa’s story offers candid insights and practical wisdom for every stage of life. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why returning to work after maternity leave is a deeply emotional journey • The importance of protecting family time—especially bedtime rituals • How motherhood can transform leadership style and priorities • Why self-care is essential for balance and resilience • The value of setting personal and professional boundaries • How flexibility and adaptability drive both parenting and leadership • Why reflection on past experiences creates growth and clarity • How finding purpose in work leads to fulfillment beyond achievement • Why life is best seen as a mosaic of personal and professional experiences Top Takeaways: • Parenthood reshapes leadership in powerful ways • Bedtime routines and rituals are worth protecting at all costs • Boundaries are the key to sustaining balance • Self-care fuels both parenting and career success • Reflection and adaptability lead to lasting personal growth • Purpose, not just progress, creates fulfillment in career and family About Melissa Grady-Diaz: Melissa Grady-Diaz is the former Chief Marketing Officer of Cadillac, where she led brand transformation at one of America’s most iconic companies. A seasoned marketing executive, she has been recognized for her leadership, creativity, and ability to drive results in high-pressure environments. Beyond her career, Melissa is a proud mother whose experiences of parenthood have shaped her perspective on leadership, presence, and purpose in life. Chapters
    • (00:00:00) - Introduction
    • (00:07:39) - Balancing A C-Suite Role and First-Time Parenthood
    • (00:09:31) - The Importance of Presence and Quality Time
    • (00:14:21) - Adjusting Back Into Work Post Maternity Leave
    • (00:15:54) - Holding Personal Boundaries and Self Care
    • (00:20:24) - Transformational Leadership
    • (00:24:35) - Growing in Your Career and Staying Present for Family
    • (00:28:15) - The Importance of Exercise in Self Care
    • (00:33:53) - Defining Moments: Before and After in Life
    • (00:36:48) - Building Your Life: The Power of Choice
    • (00:42:09) - The Mosaic of Life: Integrating Personal and Professional
    • (00:44:59) - Finding Purpose in Your Career
    • (00:51:38) - Creating a Lasting Legacy
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • Kyle Lacy (Lessonly, Seismic, Docebo) Sobriety, Fatherhood, Burnout and the Power of Owning a Revenue Number in Marketing #008
    Sep 8 2025

    In this insightful and deeply personal conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Kyle Lacey, CMO of Docebo, to explore the realities of leading in high-growth marketing while navigating the demands of fatherhood and family life.

    Kyle opens up about the early lessons that shaped his career in B2B marketing, including why “presence, not balance” has become his guiding principle. He reflects on the concept of “head trash”, the inner dialogue that often holds leaders back, and how sobriety, exercise, and intentional choices helped him reshape both his personal and professional life.

    Together, Kevin and Kyle unpack the challenges of building a thriving career while showing up fully at home. Kyle shares how becoming a father transformed his perspective on leadership, the importance of open communication with family, and the courage it takes to step back when life demands it. He also reveals what it really means to own a revenue number as a marketer, and how he hopes to pass on lessons of hard work, passion, and resilience to his children.

    Whether you’re managing burnout, climbing the next rung in your career, or striving to be more intentional with your family, Kyle’s story is full of honesty, reflection, and practical wisdom you can apply today.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    • Why presence matters more than balance in work and life
    • How “head trash” affects leaders and how to move past it
    • The role sobriety and exercise can play in sustaining personal growth
    • Why taking time off can make you a stronger parent and leader
    • The value of owning a revenue number in marketing
    • How open communication at home strengthens leadership at work
    • Why it’s okay to love what you do, even when it’s hard
    • What lessons Kyle hopes his children carry into adulthood

    Top Takeaways:

    • Leadership starts with presence and self-awareness
    • Burnout can be a turning point for growth if managed with intention
    • Family time becomes meaningful when it’s protected and planned
    • Sobriety and healthy habits are game changers for resilience
    • Teaching children the value of hard work and passion is part of legacy

    About Kyle Lacey:

    Kyle Lacey is the Chief Marketing Officer at Docebo, a leading learning platform redefining enterprise education. With a career spanning high-growth SaaS and B2B marketing, Kyle is passionate about building brands, owning revenue, and developing high-performing teams. Beyond the office, he’s a dedicated husband and father who believes leadership isn’t just about business, it’s about showing up with presence, honesty, and intention in every aspect of life.

    Chapters
    • (00:00:00) - Introduction
    • (00:02:17) - Navigating Career and Fatherhood
    • (00:07:06) - Understanding Head Trash and Emotional Intelligence
    • (00:12:17) - Managing Burnout and Post Burnout Recovery
    • (00:14:39) - Navigating Life Changes and Giving Up Alcohol
    • (00:17:57) - Coping Mechanisms and Personal Development
    • (00:21:20) - Maintaining Boundaries At Work and Whilst Travelling
    • (00:26:08) - Balancing Career and Home Life
    • (00:30:23) - Career Progression and Executive Insights
    • (00:35:51) - Creating Intentional Family Time
    • (00:37:56) - Lessons for Your Children and Future Generations
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • Lydia Smith (Victoria's Secret, Kohl's) Transformational Leadership in Marketing and Creating Legacy through Authenticity and Open Conversations #007
    Sep 1 2025

    In this inspiring and heartfelt conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Lydia Smith, a transformational leader in inclusive marketing, to explore what it means to lead with authenticity while balancing family, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.

    Lydia opens up about her transition from Chief Diversity Officer at Victoria’s Secret to building a business alongside her daughter, a venture rooted in both legacy and love. She shares the lessons she’s learned about the loneliness of leadership, the importance of community support, and how journaling became a powerful tool for clarity and self-discovery.

    Together, Kevin and Lydia discuss the role of rest, reflection, and self-care in navigating career transitions, why listening to diverse consumer voices is essential in marketing, and how parenting has shaped Lydia’s leadership style. She also highlights the importance of creating safe spaces for children to communicate openly, and the legacy of passion and authenticity she hopes to leave for her daughters.

    Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a parent striving to balance career and family, or a leader seeking to create more inclusive spaces, this episode offers wisdom on resilience, leadership, and the power of building with intention.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • Why rest and reflection are essential in career transitions
    • How journaling supports clarity, self-awareness, and growth
    • The challenges and joys of building a business with family
    • Why community support matters in leadership
    • How listening to diverse perspectives strengthens marketing
    • The parallels between parenting and leadership
    • The importance of creating safe spaces for open communication
    • Why supporting your leaders helps teams thrive
    • The legacy of authenticity Lydia hopes to leave for her daughters


    Top Takeaways:
    • Leadership requires both strength and vulnerability
    • Self-care is not indulgence, it’s strategy for sustainable success
    • Inclusive marketing starts with truly listening
    • Parenting teaches the same lessons that make great leaders
    • Legacy is built on authenticity, not accolades

    About Lydia Smith:
    Lydia Smith is a transformational leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for inclusive marketing. Formerly the Chief Diversity Officer at Victoria’s Secret, she now channels her passion into building her own business with her daughter, merging family and professional purpose. With a deep commitment to authenticity, equity, and creating safe spaces for dialogue, Lydia continues to inspire leaders and parents alike to balance ambition with heart.

    Chapters
    • (00:00:00) - Balancing Career and Family Life
    • (00:00:59) - Transitioning from Corporate to Consulting
    • (00:08:02) - Self-Care and Personal Growth
    • (00:15:49) - Leadership Lessons from Personal Experiences
    • (00:19:11) - Influencing Change in Corporate Environments
    • (00:19:25) - Influencing Without Authority
    • (00:21:32) - Evolving Parenting Roles
    • (00:26:20) - The Power of Consumer Voices
    • (00:30:09) - Reflections on Parenting and Personal Growth
    • (00:36:50) - Balancing Career and Family Life
    • (00:40:48) - Supporting Leadership and Team Dynamics
    • (00:43:12) - Legacy and Authentic Leadership
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.