Escape the CEO Doom Loop
Escape the CEO Doom Loop is built for CEOs and leadership teams ready to grow. Each episode delivers practical insights, real-world stories, and tools you can use today to lead with clarity and scale with confidence. We spotlight what’s working—and what’s not—for leaders navigating growth, building culture, and driving accountability.
It’s more than a podcast—it’s a gateway to The CEO Playbook and the next step in becoming the leader your business needs next.
Escape the CEO Doom Loop
Episode 4: From the Floor to the Front Office: Lauren Carson on Leading with Vision
In this episode, Glen and John sit down with Lauren Carson, President of ARC Abrasives, to unpack her raw and insightful leadership journey. From inheriting operations without a playbook to becoming the type of leader who attracts top talent and drives bottom-line results—Lauren shares what it really takes to lead a legacy manufacturing company into the future.
This conversation is packed with real-world lessons, laughter, and leadership truths.
In this episode, Lauren shares:
How she unexpectedly became president of a 60-year-old manufacturing company
What it feels like to fall into the CEO Doom Loop—and how coaching helps her climb out
The hardest people decisions she’s had to make—and why her team trusts her more because of them
Her strategies for empowering managers, tracking performance, and growing profitability
Why “every day is the Super Bowl” when you’re building a culture that wins
How boundaries, gym routines, and family time keep her grounded and energized
What legacy means to her—and why ARC’s name should stand for something more than sandpaper
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome + Lauren’s intro
03:45 – From sales exec to president
08:55 – A bold vision for manufacturing
12:20 – Recognizing the CEO Doom Loop
15:45 – Coaching and holding up the mirror
18:15 – Building a culture that attracts A-players
23:05 – Making the hard people decisions
28:30 – Metrics, profit, and empowering the floor
33:00 – Shifting from in the business to on the business
38:45 – Leadership team evolution
44:00 – Boundaries, routines, and energy
48:30 – The legacy Lauren wants to leave
53:10 – Executive hires and team performance
Watch or listen to the full episode here:
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About the Show:
Escape the CEO Doom Loop is for CEOs and leadership teams ready to grow—with clarity, momentum, and purpose. Co-hosted by Glen Dall and John Ninkovich, each episode delivers real-world stories and practical tools to help you lead better and scale smarter.
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