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CEOs and ABCs

CEOs and ABCs

By: Kevin Rice
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 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
  • Nick Tran (TikTok, Hulu, Samsung, Diageo x Main Street Advisors) Raising Children in an Rapidly Changing World and the Power of Teamwork in the Boardroom

    Nick Tran (TikTok, Hulu, Samsung, Diageo x Main Street Advisors) Raising Children in an Rapidly Changing World and the Power of Teamwork in the Boardroom
    Nov 1 2025
    In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Nick Tran, President and CMO of the joint venture between Diageo and Main Street Advisors, to talk about what it means to design a life, not just a career. Nick shares how taking a mid-career sabbatical and moving his young family to London became one of the most rewarding chapters of his life. Over three years and 23 countries, he learned that kids are far more adaptable than we give them credit for and that presence, not perfection, is what they remember most. Together, Kevin and Nick explore how to balance ambition with intention, the importance of setting boundaries in high-pressure roles, and the mindset shifts that come from slowing down. Nick also opens up about his parenting approach from limiting social media and encouraging curiosity to teaching kindness, generosity, and resilience as the skills that will matter most in the future. Finally, Nick reflects on his career path from leading global marketing at TikTok, Taco Bell, and Samsung, to helping others find their voice as leaders. He shares why he measures success by the number of people from his teams who have gone on to become CMOs, and why he believes personal branding is essential for every modern professional. In This Episode You'll Learn: • Why designing a life matters more than chasing titles • How living abroad can reshape family connection and perspective • The power of intentional parenting and setting family milestones • Why screen time and social media guardrails are essential for kids • How to teach generosity, kindness, and resilience through action • Why curiosity and learning how to learn matter more than hard skills • How to build authentic relationships that elevate your career • Why personal branding is a critical leadership skill Top Takeaways: • Presence and boundaries create balance in demanding careers • Travel teaches adaptability, empathy, and global perspective • The best lessons for kids come from lived experience, not lectures • Generosity and curiosity are the foundation of lifelong leadership • Building others up is the true measure of success About Nick Tran: Nick Tran is the President and CMO of the joint venture between Diageo and Main Street Advisors, overseeing brands like Lobos 1707 and Ciroc Vodka. Previously, he led global marketing at TikTok, Samsung, Taco Bell, and Hulu, where his work helped define cultural relevance for modern brands. Nick is also a devoted father who believes leadership starts at home, through presence, purpose, and the courage to design life intentionally. Chapters
    • (00:00:00) - Introduction
    • (00:02:39) - Life Lessons From Moving Oversees
    • (00:09:14) - Career Lessons From The Mid-Career Sabbatical
    • (00:12:21) - Setting Family Milestones
    • (00:20:19) - What I Would Have Changed If I Did It Again
    • (00:24:47) - Children & Social Media
    • (00:30:00) - The Most Important Values and Skills To Teach Your Children
    • (00:34:44) - Preparing Children for the Future Work Place
    • (00:44:46) - Passing Career Experience to Your Team at Work
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    49 mins
  • Jessi Walter Brelsford (Taste Buds Kitchen): A Conversation On Grit, Connection and the Power of Rituals & Intention #015

    Jessi Walter Brelsford (Taste Buds Kitchen): A Conversation On Grit, Connection and the Power of Rituals & Intention #015
    Oct 27 2025
    In this inspiring and heartwarming conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Jessi Walter Brelsford, founder and CEO of Taste Buds Kitchen, to explore how creativity, family, and grit shaped her path from Wall Street to building a beloved national culinary entertainment brand. What began as a small weekend hobby class in New York City has grown into more than 40 franchise locations across the country, each one designed to bring people together through the joy of cooking. Jessi shares how her upbringing in a large, entrepreneurial family shaped her values, why she believes the kitchen is one of life’s greatest classrooms, and how she balances leading a fast-growing company with being a present mom of three. Jessi also opens up about navigating COVID with newborn twins, building a culture rooted in joy and resilience, and the rituals that keep her grounded, like Survivor Night popcorn evenings and no-phone family time. Her story is a masterclass in leading with heart, grit, and intentionality at work and at home. In this episode, you’ll learn • How Jessi scaled Taste Buds Kitchen from a side project to 40+ locations • Practical ways to set boundaries and be fully present at home • Why cooking together fosters creativity, confidence, and connection • How rituals like Survivor Night create family belonging and joy • The leadership tools Jessi uses to empower her team and franchisees • How to pivot under pressure and find opportunity in hard seasons Top takeaways • Joy is a strategy that makes people light up • Presence beats perfection and makes small moments meaningful • Grit wins by teaching kids and teams to keep going when it is hard • Rituals build culture at home and in the workplace • The kitchen is a classroom for empathy, creativity, and connection About Jessi Walter Brelsford: Jessi Walter Brelsford is the founder and CEO of Taste Buds Kitchen, a national culinary entertainment franchise offering cooking classes, camps, parties, and team-building events for all ages. A former Wall Street VP and Harvard graduate, Jessi built her business on the belief that food brings people together. She is a wife, mom of three, and passionate advocate for creating joy and connection, one meal, one memory, and one kitchen at a time. Chapters
    • (00:00:00) - Introduction and Context Setting
    • (00:09:20) - From Wall Street to Culinary Entrepreneurship
    • (00:17:31) - Evolving as a Leader
    • (00:21:45) - Balancing Work and Family Life
    • (00:24:00) - Embracing Family Time Over Technology
    • (00:27:00) - Cooking as a Family Bonding Experience
    • (00:32:58) - Intentionality in Family Rituals
    • (00:37:48) - Leadership Lessons from Parenthood
    • (00:41:53) - Navigating Challenges and Change
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Chris Andrews (European Wax Centre, Unleashed Brands, Smoothie King) on Health and Exercise as the Fundamentals to Great Executive Leadership #014

    Chris Andrews (European Wax Centre, Unleashed Brands, Smoothie King) on Health and Exercise as the Fundamentals to Great Executive Leadership #014
    Oct 21 2025

    In this honest and energizing conversation, Kevin Rice sits down with Chris Andrews, Chief Information and Digital Officer at European Wax Center, to explore how leadership at work intersects with leadership at home.

    Chris reflects on the milestone of dropping his twins at college and feeling joy instead of tears, the daily discipline that kept him present for family while leading large transformations, and how returning to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helped him rebuild health, clarity, and calm under pressure.

    Together, Kevin and Chris unpack seasons of stress, the signals that work is intruding on family life, and why authentic leadership and supportive cultures matter more than ever. Chris shares the lessons he wants his kids to carry forward: kindness, resilience, and the courage to keep showing up even when it is hard.

    In this episode, you will learn:

    • Why physical health is a leadership advantage
    • How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu builds calm, confidence, and composure
    • Practical ways to protect special family moments on a tight schedule
    • How to notice when career pressure is crowding out presence at home
    • Why authentic leadership deepens trust and connection with teams
    • How to create a supportive work culture that lifts people up
    • What career setbacks can teach you about grit and growth
    • How to model kindness and resilience for your kids

    Top Takeaways:

    • Presence is built through discipline and protected rituals
    • Health fuels better decisions and steadier leadership
    • Authentic leadership starts at home and shows up at work
    • Supportive cultures are created by consistent daily choices
    • The legacy that matters most is who your kids become

    About Chris Andrews: Chris Andrews is the Chief Information and Digital Officer at European Wax Center. He has led complex digital transformations at well-known multi-unit brands and is passionate about building healthy teams, supportive cultures, and a life where career and family strengthen each other. Outside the office, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu keeps him grounded, focused, and calm under pressure.

    Chapters
    • (00:00:00) - Introduction
    • (00:02:13) - Dropping the Children Off At College
    • (00:05:14) - Balancing Work and Family Life
    • (00:09:57) - The Transformative Power of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
    • (00:11:59) - The Evolution of Becoming a Better Leader
    • (00:17:05) - The Power of Coaching Youth Sports
    • (00:19:57) - Creating Safe Environments At Work
    • (00:22:52) - Teaching Children to Honor Commitments
    • (00:24:49) - Instilling Strong Values at Home
    • (00:26:58) - Rituals in the Work Place and at Home
    • (00:28:36) - Leaving the Stress and Pressure of Work at the Door
    • (00:33:00) - Leadership Lessons from Parenting
    • (00:37:02) - Advice for Aspiring Leaders
    • (00:39:40) - Final Thoughts on Leadership and Family
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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