In a world where business is in constant motion, Founder's Mentality: The CEO Sessions set out to answer a timeless question: how do we lead in an era of turbulence?
The podcast was conceived as a bold new platform to capture the human side of leadership at scale. Building on Jimmy Allen’s Founder’s Mentality philosophy, which identifies how great organizations sustain growth through an insurgent mission, owner’s mindset, and frontline obsession, the series explores the personal and professional lessons of those leading through complexity.
Hosted by James (“Jimmy”) Allen, Advisory Partner at Bain & Company and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Forum, the show features intimate, in-depth conversations with world-class leaders such as Don Katz (Founder, Audible), Christina Zhu (CEO, Walmart China), Aaron Powell (CEO, Pizza Hut), Nirav Tolia (Co-Founder & CEO, Nextdoor), and Sunny Verghese (Co-Founder & CEO, Olam), alongside surprising voices from the worlds of art, music, and comedy.
The objective was twofold: first, to offer a rare window into how today’s CEOs balance scale with soul, revealing how purpose, curiosity, and humility drive enduring performance; and second, to position Bain as a trusted editorial voice in modern leadership, capable of translating insight into inspiration.
By combining rigorous business thinking with deeply human storytelling, the show aims to redefine what leadership content can be: intelligent, authentic, and alive.
From conception to launch, Founder's Mentality: The CEO Sessions was a deeply ambitious undertaking - a global editorial project designed to explore the humanity behind leadership at scale. The goal was to marry Bain’s strategic insight with the craft of world-class storytelling, producing a series that would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the most respected business podcasts in the world.
Each episode was conceived as an immersive, long-form conversation and a masterclass in leadership and resilience. Guided by host James (“Jimmy”) Allen, Advisory Partner at Bain & Company, the series draws out lessons of scale, simplicity, and soul from extraordinary leaders such as Don Katz (Founder, Audible), Christina Zhu (CEO, Walmart China), Aaron Powell (CEO, Pizza Hut), Nirav Tolia (Co-Founder & CEO, Nextdoor), and Sunny Verghese (Co-Founder & CEO, Olam).
Delivering this calibre of content required meticulous orchestration. Isobel Pollard (Producer & Project Manager, Lower Street) was instrumental in managing every aspect of production and coordination, bridging Bain’s internal teams, content direction, and the production and delivery workflow. Working closely with Jimmy Allen, she oversaw the full editorial process, from research and script development through to narrative structure and delivery. Together, they shaped each episode to reflect Bain’s Founder’s Mentality principles while uncovering the personal truths behind executive decision-making.
Behind the microphone, the process was intricate and high-stakes. Securing global C-suite guests demanded diplomatic scheduling and long-term relationship management, led by Kiltie Colavita and Harriet Mitchell, Bain & Company. Recording sessions were deep and iterative, often refined through multiple cuts to achieve clarity, emotional balance, and brand resonance. Editorial and production teams collaborated across time zones, with Executive Producer Erin MacIndoe, Audio Editor Ben Crannell, and Video Editor Jeremiah Flores ensuring broadcast-level quality throughout.
Equally critical was the alignment between Bain’s Brand and Marketing teams, led by Kiltie Colavita and Jess Park, and Lower Street’s Audience Development unit. Together they built a complete content ecosystem: Bain-hosted landing pages, video shorts, newsletters, and social media campaigns, supported by carefully targeted earned and paid media placements. Every asset was created to extend the value of the show, translating the insight and authenticity of each episode into meaningful engagement across Bain’s global channels.
In its ambition, precision, and depth, The CEO Sessions represents the best of collaborative storytelling: the intellectual authority of Bain joined with the creative and operational excellence of Lower Street, united in the pursuit of one timeless question: what does it really take to lead, and to keep growing, when the world refuses to sit still?
Although only halfway through its inaugural season, Founder's Mentality: The CEO Sessions has already demonstrated significant global traction and impact - with performance metrics and audience engagement climbing week by week. Early results point to a series that is not only resonating but accelerating.
Episodes featuring leaders such as Don Katz (Founder, Audible), Christina Zhu (CEO, Walmart China), Nirav Tolia (Co-Founder & CEO, Nextdoor), Sunny Verghese (Co-Founder & CEO, Olam), and Aaron Powell (CEO, Pizza Hut) have attracted an executive audience spanning over 90 countries, led by the United States (35%), United Kingdom (7.6%), and India (5.2%).
Across platforms, the series has achieved 850K+ YouTube views, high engagement and completion rates (averaging 80%), and measurable spikes in downloads tied directly to targeted marketing activations. Each new release continues to outperform the last, with our distribution strategy still unfolding across Spotify, Acast, and Bain’s global marketing ecosystem.
Internally, the show has become a cultural asset: Bain partners are integrating episodes into CEO forums and client discussions, and global leadership teams are referencing insights in strategic sessions. Externally, it has positioned Bain as a thought leader not just in business growth, but in the emotional intelligence and adaptability that define enduring leadership.
With momentum building and the second half of the season still to come, The CEO Sessions has already established itself as a standout platform for modern leadership storytelling, bridging intellect, empathy, and influence in every conversation.
