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 12: How Ego, Crisis & Coaching Rebuilt Matt Dion's Leadership
In this episode of Escape the CEO Doom Loop, hosts Glen Dall and John Ninkovich sit down with former tech CEO turned coach Matt Dion.
Matt shares his unfiltered story of success, burnout, and reinvention through the 2008 financial crisis. He explains how ego and overwork trapped him in a cycle of stress — and how mentorship, structure, and self-awareness helped him escape it.
Whether you’re a founder, CEO, or executive looking to lead without losing yourself, this conversation offers real-world wisdom on building teams, embracing conflict, and leading with purpose.
Watch now to learn how clarity and courage create freedom.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Show Opening
02:17 – Meet Matt Dion: From Tech Startups to CEO
05:10 – The First Rise and Fall
07:11 – Ego and the 2008 Crash
09:50 – Burnout & Hitting Bottom
11:00 – Discovering Coaching and Frameworks
16:47 – Lessons from The Motive
19:02 – Building A-Player Teams
25:18 – From Ego to Purpose
27:19 – Conflict as Data
39:33 – Freedom Through Courage
40:22 – Closing Thoughts & Takeaways
