Igniting the CEO Within

Author: Mark McFatridge

Welcome to "Igniting the CEO Within," your go-to podcast for inspiring and insightful conversations with today's business leaders. Hosted by connector and leader Mark McFatridge, this podcast is an extension of the Quade community, bringing together visionary CEOs and business owners from the Quade network and beyond to share their stories, insights, challenges, and triumphs in leadership. We'll dive into impactful discussions about fostering professional and personal growth, the power of diversity, the benefits of a strong CEO peer group, and actionable advice to enhance your leadership.
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Language: en

Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Management

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Failing Forward: Turning Setbacks into Growth with Andrew Hedegard
Thursday, 28 August, 2025

In this episode, Mark sits down with Andrew Hedegard, Managing Director and Great Lakes Region Head for BMO Commercial Banking, to explore his 20+ year career journey from personal banker to leading teams across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Andrew shares how his early days at Bank One and Chase gave him energy from working with small businesses, and how curiosity fueled his evolution into commercial banking leadership. He reflects on the mentors, allies, and advocates who shaped his path, the lessons of stepping into leadership despite hesitation, and the importance of accessibility and trust when leading teams across multiple states. The conversation also dives into Andrew's philosophy of "failing forward," his approach to work-life integration while raising a large family, and his belief that purpose-driven leadership can thrive even in industries often seen as transactional. Additional Resources: Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Learn more about Quade Take the CEO Mindset Assessment Key Takeaways: A career built on curiosity and client impact, starting with small businesses and scaling to middle market leadership. Mentors, allies, and advocates play distinct but essential roles in professional growth. Trust and accessibility are cornerstones of managing teams across states. "Fail forward": mistakes are opportunities to learn and build resilience. Work-life integration requires intentional partnership and boundaries. Purpose-driven leadership can transform perceptions of industries like banking.