Michael Poisel left a successful venture capital career in the United States to become Executive Director of the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre. His mission is transforming Australia's economy through innovation and company creation.

After launching 285 companies at the University of Pennsylvania, Michael brought his venture studio model to Melbourne. He helps researchers commercialize their work without becoming entrepreneurs themselves. The approach builds companies for them, finds the management teams, and handles the complex business infrastructure that turns research into viable commercial enterprises.

Michael shares hard truths about global entrepreneurship—countries where business failure can land you in jail, disappearing R&D budgets at major corporations, and why universities must step into the innovation gap. He explains why 40% of Australian companies have fewer than 10 employees, how he's already started his first Melbourne company with 15 more in the pipeline, and why Australia actually has more accessible capital than the United States.

For mid-market CEOs facing growth challenges, Michael offers battle-tested wisdom on staying innovative, maintaining urgency, and remembering that if you see a problem, 12 people in China probably do too.

About Deborah's guest, Michael Poisel

Michael has spent almost 20 years becoming an expert in spinning out companies from universities. Currently, he's the Executive Director of the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre, leading efforts to scale its operations into an enterprise that meets the needs of everyone in the university ecosystem (students, staff, researchers, and alumni). Previously, Michael built entrepreneurial programs at the University of Pennsylvania for over 16 years and was responsible for creating Penn’s internal venture studio, PCI Ventures, which includes UPstart, UPadvisors, and Venture WarmUP. As part of these programs, he participated in the founding of over 280 companies that have raised over $950 million in funding.

Prior to Penn, Michael made investments in enterprise software and business services for NewSpring Capital, Apax Partners, and GE Capital, spanning more than ten years in private equity. He began his career in manufacturing operations at General Electric/Lockheed Martin and contributed to the successful completion of several commercial and government satellite programs.

Michael graduated with honors in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, holds an M.S. in Systems Engineering from The Moore School of Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania, and has an M.B.A. in finance and entrepreneurial management from The Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

About The Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre

The Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre is situated at the University of Melbourne, the number one ranked university in Australia. Right in the middle of the city of Melbourne, the Centre bridges the critical gap between world-class research and global impact for societal benefit.

The Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre cultivates a vibrant entrepreneurial culture by turning ideas and technologies into companies and providing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.

Its collaborative programs connect entrepreneurs with leading industry experts, researchers, investors, and mentors to accelerate venture creation and impact. From ideas to global expansion, the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre helps innovators bring transformative ideas to life.

When surgeons stop your heart during surgery, who keeps you alive? That's where Chet Czaplicka comes in.

This Detroit native went from ICU nurse to building the world's largest perfusion company—but not the way you'd think. After seeing post-op cardiac patients in the ICU, Chet asked one simple question: "What exactly do you guys do?" That curiosity launched a 42-year career.

Perfusionists are the people who become your heart and lungs during surgery. They manage the machines that keep your blood flowing and oxygenated while surgeons work on your stopped heart. During COVID, when patients' lungs failed by the thousands, Chet's teams provided extracorporeal life support at levels he'd never seen in four decades.

Here's what sets Chet apart: He's turned down multiple private equity offers that would've made him wealthy beyond measure. Why? "I wasn't put on this earth to buy a yacht. My purpose is way different than that."

Instead, he measures success in reduced kidney injuries, lower stroke rates, and better patient outcomes. He's poured tens of millions back into advancing the technology because, as he puts it, "When I walk out of that operating room, I want to know I delivered the best possible care to that patient."

From a partnership offer in Fort Wayne he turned down (too small-town for a Detroit guy in his 20s) to building operations across the globe, Chet's story shows what happens when purpose drives profit, not the other way around.

Chet's Bio:

Chet Czaplicka is the Founder and CEO of Comprehensive Care Services, a perfusion led company providing perfusion, autotransfusion and related allied health services to hospitals across the United States and internationally. He founded CCS in 2002, building it from a handful of hospital accounts into the largest perfusion provider in the world and now a global perfusion leader. As a practicing perfusionist and registered nurse, Chet keeps CCS focused on patient care, clinical excellence, data-driven decision making and strong hospital partnerships. He continues to lead the organization through growth, innovation and an evolving healthcare landscape.

Chet on LinkedIn.

What if the very challenges dividing our society could become the force that brings us together? In a thought-provoking episode of Success Beneath the Surface, Brett Howroyd, President of ActOne Group, shares a counterintuitive perspective on how economic pressures are creating unexpected unity across generations in the workplace.

As the leader of a 65-year family-run staffing organization, Brett has a unique vantage point on workforce dynamics. His observation? When different generations face common struggles with affordability - not for luxuries, but for basic necessities like housing and education - traditional divides begin to dissolve.

"A common enemy unites you," Brett explains. "In this case, the enemy is not a person. It's the economic situation people find themselves in." This shared challenge, he argues, is fostering collaboration and understanding that transcend typical generational differences in technology, communication styles, or work preferences.

About Brett Howroyd:

Brett Howroyd is President of the ActOne Group. As a leader of a multi-billion-dollar (USA$), award-winning international workforce management and technology enterprise, Brett serves as a solutions strategist and technology innovator for the organization. His international business knowledge, understanding of global markets, experience in diverse communities, and capacity to solve complex workforce challenges have added a dynamic perspective to the ActOne Group’s mission.

Brett joined the ActOne Group in 2007 and worked in both Los Angeles and Canada, learning the business from the inside out. Later, by working closely with global leaders, he gained a unique perspective on how the industry is evolving. This wide range of experience has shaped Brett’s mission for the company that balances the future’s needs with the core values that define its history.

What happens when personal tragedy becomes professional purpose? In this powerful episode, Christine Verini, CEO of CancerCare, shares her extraordinary 30-year journey from mixing chemotherapy as a pharmacist to leading one of the nation's most impactful cancer support organizations. Sparked by her sister's inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis at 28, Christine has dedicated her entire career to helping cancer patients and their families navigate one of life's most challenging experiences.

From launching life-saving drugs in 40 countries to developing innovative meal delivery programs, Christine's path wasn't linear—but it was always purposeful. Now as CEO, she's tackling healthcare's "red tape crisis" while building compassionate, people-first leadership that transforms both organizations and lives. Her insights on leading through uncertainty, making tough decisions with empathy, and staying true to your mission will resonate with any leader facing today's complex challenges.

Key Points in this episode:

Purpose Drives Success Living your passion and purpose creates unexpected opportunities and sustained career satisfaction.

People Make Organizations Compassionate leadership that prioritizes people first leads to stronger, more resilient teams.

Infrastructure Enables Impact Investing in foundational systems and capabilities is essential for organizational effectiveness and growth.

Decisive Yet Inclusive Great leaders make tough decisions while finding meaningful ways to include their teams in the process.

Growth Happens Outside The biggest breakthroughs come from embracing uncertainty and stepping outside your comfort zone.

Healthcare Needs Reform The "red tape crisis" in healthcare is costing organizations productivity while adding stress to already vulnerable patients.

Christine Verini brings over 25 years of oncology experience to her role as Chief Executive Officer at CancerCare, a national nonprofit providing support services to cancer patients and families. Her career spans progressive leadership roles from medical science liaison to executive positions in global marketing and corporate communications. Notable achievements include developing the Magnolia Meals at Home program for cancer patients, launching metastatic breast cancer treatments in nearly 40 countries, and receiving national recognition through the Eisai Human Healthcare Award (2012) and PharmaVOICE 100 Most Inspiring Award (2019). At CancerCare since 2015, she leads the organization's strategic vision and daily operations across key departments including social services, finance, and communications. She also serves as Chair of HealthyWomen and previously served on the Board of Directors of CancerCare New Jersey. Her advocacy work is driven by personal experience with cancer's impact on families.

This conversation will challenge everything you think you know about leadership identity. Deborah Fell sits down with powerhouse CEO Ticki Favaroth, a faith-driven leader who has mastered the art of showing up authentically while building multiple successful enterprises.

Ticki doesn't mince words: "People don't get to choose my life" - and in this raw, transformative conversation, she explains exactly what that means for leaders who want to build a lasting legacy rather than just temporary success.

From her journey through 20 years in corporate America to founding HR&Co and leading The BOW Enterprises, Ticki shares the hard-won wisdom about identity, boundaries, and the courage to let things burn when they're meant to transform.

This isn't your typical business strategy episode - it's a masterclass in becoming the leader you're meant to be, complete with practical frameworks for navigating change, building authentic relationships, and focusing on what you can actually control.

Perfect for CEOs, founders, and leaders ready to move from pleasing everyone to leading with purpose.

About Ticki Favaroth

Ticki Favaroth is a faith-driven CEO, founder, and strategic advisor known for empowering leaders and building legacy-focused ecosystems. As Senior Partner & Managing Director at HR&Co., she delivers people-first solutions that drive sustainable growth. She also serves as President of The BOW Enterprises, Vice President & COO of The BOW Collective, and founder of The ADISA Institute. With an MBA from Texas Woman’s University and a BBA from Texas Tech, Ticki’s impact spans Fortune 500s, government, and nonprofits. Rooted in faith and authenticity, she equips others to confront hard truths, redefine success, and lead with purpose

Ticki's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ticki/

What if I told you the most successful CEOs I've interviewed this quarter share one counterintuitive trait? They don't try to be the smartest person in the room. From architecture to military leadership to digital transformation, the pattern is unmistakable.

Looking back at this quarter's most listened-to episodes—featuring Jonathan Moody (Moody Nolan), Rear Admiral Brian Luther (Navy Mutual), Ryan Frederick (Transform Labs), Harold Green (Global Emissionary), Eddie Solomon (Net at Work), Joe Yaccarino (MTF Biologics), Jeff Ostenso (Ironmark), and James Hyman (serial turnaround CEO)—I discovered something remarkable.

The golden thread connecting every transformative leader: They refuse to be the smartest person in the room.

From Jonathan's "create more footprints, not bigger shoes" philosophy to Brian's "reflected light leadership," from Ryan's embrace of "continuous not knowing" to Eddie's insight that "entrepreneurship belongs in psychology," these leaders share seven powerful traits:

→ Anti-ego leadership - Building teams instead of thrones → Vulnerability as strength - Admitting what they don't know → Empowerment over control - Creating conditions for others to succeed → Psychological wisdom - Understanding leadership is about mindset → Radical transparency - Building trust through openness → Purpose-driven growth - Companies that matter, not just profit → The learning advantage - Staying curious regardless of expertise

Whether it's Harold at 69 still having daily learning conversations, Joe asking "is that even legal?" and building from curiosity, Jeff realizing his company "feeds 500 people," or James discovering that Hollywood leadership doesn't work—the pattern is clear.

The most successful leaders amplify their impact by avoiding being the bottleneck.

Join me as we unpack the strategies that turn good companies into thriving communities where everyone succeeds together.

Some of the episodes in this list:

EP105: Reflected Light: Leading Through Your People

EP103: The Power of Humble Listening in Leadership

EP96: Making Carbon Reduction Measurable and Meaningful

EP87: Why This Successful Family Business Said No to Nepotism

EP83: Heroes at Every Level of Healthcare Innovation

EP81: How Teaching the Game of Business Built an Empire

EP63: A CEO’s Competitve Edge - Mastering the Art of Corporate Turnarounds

In this powerful commentary episode, Deborah Fell reflects on her recent conversation with Jeff Grass and the stark reality facing mid-market businesses today. Drawing from hundreds of CEO conversations, she reveals why some companies thrive during crisis while others struggle for years—or don't survive at all.

The Three Types of Companies in Crisis:

• Those that thrive (like Jeff's Hungry Marketplace)
• Those still struggling five years later
• Those that didn't make it

Deborah unpacks the counterintuitive truth that the key to rapid growth is subtraction—eliminating the activities that cloud real results. When every department shows green but business growth shows red, it's time to focus on what truly matters: your customers' biggest pain points.

What separates thriving CEOs from the rest?

• They clarify direction and required outcomes
• They make 2-3 big strategic decisions per year
• They lead with inspiration, not just management
• They ensure every team member understands their role in the bigger picture

This episode includes powerful excerpts from Jeff Grass's interview, highlighting how culture built in good times becomes your lifeline during the storm. As Deborah puts it: "Where the eyes are focused, the mind and body go. Get your team looking up and to the right."

This episode is perfect for CEOs facing current market headwinds, leaders struggling with focus amid distractions, and executives who want to understand why some businesses defy market trends while others wait it out.

Listen to Jeff's full episode here - #110.

About HUNGRY Marketplace

HUNGRY’s mission is to deliver happiness & wellbeing to the workplace by providing amazing food and food experiences. HUNGRY has a comprehensive platform for office catering, group order, special events, pantry, markets & snacks which enables complete customization to client need. HUNGRY now operates in 19 major cities across North America. and is rapidly disrupting the $60 billion office food industry. Learn about HUNGRY at www.TryHungry.com