

Vendor price increases of 10 to 30 percent have added urgency to executive decision-making. Yet many CEOs are discovering that reactionary pivots often create more damage than the original cost increase.
Srodoski is one of three solopreneurs who spoke with Business Insider about how they’re using AI to streamline mundane decision-making — like writing initial drafts, formatting emails, or editing social media posts. The time and mental energy saved allows them to focus on the most critical decisions for their businesses and their clients, they say.
When money starts coming in, instead of fixing the foundation, they start stacking things on top of it. New services. New tools. New hires. Half of it was duct-taped together. Everything feels busy, so it must be working, right?
Today we’d like to introduce you to Pete Srodoski. Hi Pete, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Building a high-performing team starts with leadership, not HR. Executive coach and bestselling author Pete Srodoski explains why clarity, authentic communication, and hiring for core values matter more than resumes or salaries.
During the peak of the pandemic, as the CEO of a national company, I often felt like I was on a never-ending roller coaster—without the fun part. The world was spinning with changes, and I started feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.
A practical conversation on what actually makes teams work, covering leadership clarity, accountability, and how to create consistent performance without burning people out.
I make it a point to call out the good out loud and in public — especially when it comes from someone who thinks differently or works behind the scenes. Too many leaders only recognize the loudest voices or the people whose style matches their own.
“One of the biggest risks I see right now—both from my time as a CEO and in my coaching work—is misalignment at the leadership level. When founders or senior teams aren’t crystal clear on vision, priorities, or roles, that confusion ripples through the company.”
When I started coaching, I thought if I just brought the right strategies, tools, and energy, I could fix any business. I’d stay up late thinking through their problems, reworking their org charts, writing emails they should’ve sent themselves.
As a CEO, particularly in the dynamic field of digital marketing, I consider setbacks not as failures but rather as valuable learning opportunities. A key lesson I’ve learned over the years is the significance of reiteration.
A personal profile on Pete’s journey as an owner, coach, and mentor, sharing how his real world experience shaped his leadership philosophy and the way he helps business owners build stronger teams.
I like to start preparing budgets in October. It’s a team effort with the leadership crew–especially sales and marketing, who dig into sales projections based on actual data (you know, the stuff we can realistically count on, like deals that are set to close each month).
Pete is not only a seasoned CEO, COO, and small business coach, but also a devoted husband, father of five, and a mentor. With his debut book, Pete combines his vast experience in entrepreneurship and small business with his passion for empathetic leadership and organizational development.
Pete explains his journey from retail management to small business and lessons learned about compassionate leadership. He shares how transparency, humility and empathy create engaged teams, even remotely.
Interested in having Pete on your podcast, publication, or show?
Pete is available for select interviews and features focused on leadership, execution, and building resilient teams.
Contact: media@rollwithpunch.com
