Under The Surface Podcast

Under the Surface is a podcast for CEOs, CFOs, and leaders in community-driven financial institutions and growth-oriented businesses who want honest conversations about leadership, risk, independence, and the decisions that never make it into the boardroom.

This show goes beyond surface-level strategy. Each episode explores the real tradeoffs leaders face, the pressure behind major decisions, and the unseen work required to build resilient, independent organizations in an increasingly complex market. These are the conversations leaders don’t always say out loud — but think about every day.

Hosted by Paul Zyla, Under the Surface is a guided conversation series with business owners, fractional leaders, and operators who are navigating growth, security, sustainability, and long-term readiness. If you lead an organization where clarity matters, risk is real, and decisions carry weight, this podcast is for you.

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Episodes

5 hours ago

AI, Risk, and Readiness (AUDIO)

5 hours ago

In this episode of Under the Surface, I sit down with Chris Cathers — founder of Grit Meets Growth — to talk about what leaders are really facing as AI moves from curiosity to operational reality.
We dig into how organizations are approaching AI adoption, the difference between public and private models, and why data governance, guardrails, and leadership discipline matter more than ever. Chris brings a grounded perspective shaped by his background in cybersecurity and his work with executive teams who want to move fast without creating unnecessary risk.
We also explore organizational change, employee adoption, and why AI should be used to make people better — not replace them.
If you’re a CEO, founder, or executive leader trying to balance innovation, security, and long-term readiness, this episode is for you.

Guest Introduction:
Chris Cathers is a founder, executive coach, and community builder who works with successful leaders who know there’s more possible than their current results. With a background in cybersecurity and risk management, and as the force behind Grit Meets Growth, Chris helps organizations navigate change, build resilient leadership, and adopt new technologies with clarity and discipline.

Key Takeaways:
AI should make your people better — not replace them.
Leaders need guardrails, governance, and clear use cases before scaling AI.
Data is the real risk, and data strategy must come before deployment.
Public AI and private AI are very different — and leaders need to understand both.
Organizational change management is critical for successful AI adoption.

Chapter Markers:
0:00 Intro – Welcome to Under the Surface
1:00 Guest Introduction – Meet Chris Cathers
2:10 Why AI Is the Conversation Leaders Can’t Ignore
5:30 Enterprise vs Mid-Market AI Adoption
8:00 Public AI vs Private AI
11:30 Solving the Right Problems with AI
15:00 Organizational Change and Employee Adoption
18:30 Using AI to Make People Better
22:00 AI as a General-Purpose Business Tool
25:30 Infrastructure, Power, and the Future of AI
28:00 Data, Security, and Governance
31:30 Closing Thoughts

Keywords:
Paul Zyla, Chris Cathers, Under the Surface Podcast, AI leadership, artificial intelligence business, cybersecurity leadership, executive decision making, business risk management, data governance, AI adoption, private AI, public AI, leadership podcast, technology strategy

6 hours ago

The Real Work of Staying Independent (AUDIO)

6 hours ago

Welcome to the very first episode of Under the Surface. In this conversation, I sit down with Renee Cormier to talk about the real work behind building a sustainable, independent business in a market that’s changing fast.
We go beyond surface-level strategy and dig into what leaders are actually wrestling with — the tradeoffs, the pressure, the infrastructure decisions, and the discipline it takes to build something that lasts. We talk about what it really means to “get good, then get big,” why readiness isn’t just about growth plans, and how leaders need to think differently about risk, security, and long-term stability.
If you’re a CEO, founder, or executive leader navigating growth, independence, and real-world decision-making, this episode is for you.

Guest Introduction:
Renee Cormier is a marketing strategist, business consultant, and the founder of the Fractional Referral Network, a community of independent leaders focused on building long-term, sustainable practices. She works across marketing strategy, business consulting, and organizational design, giving her a front-row seat to what leaders are actually wrestling with in today’s market.

Key Takeaways:
Building an independent business requires discipline, clarity, and long-term thinking — not just growth plans.
The real work happens behind the scenes: infrastructure, boundaries, and decision-making under pressure.
Sustainable growth starts with getting good before getting big.
Fractional leadership is about ownership, accountability, and embedded impact — not surface-level consulting.
Readiness is about choosing the right work for the long term.

Chapter Markers:
0:00 Intro – Welcome to Under the Surface
1:00 Guest Introduction – Meet Renee Cormier
2:00 The Real Work of Staying Independent
7:30 Navigating Growth, Risk, and Uncertainty
15:00 Fractional Leadership vs Traditional Consulting
23:00 Building Infrastructure That Scales
31:00 Getting Good Before Getting Big
36:30 Long-Term Readiness and Leadership Discipline
38:20 Closing Thoughts

Keywords:
Paul Zyla, Renee Cormier, Under the Surface Podcast, leadership podcast, business leadership, fractional leadership, independent business, executive decision making, business growth strategy, organizational readiness, risk management, sustainable business, CEO podcast, CFO podcast, leadership conversations

Meet The Host

Paul Zyla is a fractional technology and cybersecurity leader who works with CEOs, CFOs, and executive teams inside community-driven financial institutions and growth-oriented organizations. He partners directly with business leaders to move technology and security from the back office into the front office — where it belongs.

With a career rooted in enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and executive leadership, Paul brings a business-first perspective to risk, infrastructure, and long-term organizational readiness. His work focuses on helping leadership teams make better decisions, close strategic gaps, and build resilient organizations in an increasingly complex digital world.

As host of Under the Surface, Paul leads conversations with business owners, fractional leaders, and operators who are shaping the future of leadership, independence, and sustainable growth.