The role of a CEO has never been more complex—or more critical—than it is today. In an era defined by rapid digital transformation, changing business models, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), modern CEOs aren’t just strategic leaders. They’re navigators of ambiguity, culture shapers, and relationship architects.
“What today’s CEOs Really Do—And What That Means for Business Leaders in the Age of AI?”
The short answer? A whole lot more than people think.
In a recent episode of the Business Isn’t Hard podcast hosted by Oliver Howard, Steadynamic’s CEO and co-founder Brandon Wilson pulled back the curtain on that very question. The episode, titled “What Does a CEO Actually Do?”, aired on April 15, 2025, and offered a candid look into Brandon’s journey, lessons learned, and what it takes to lead a tech-driven company in a rapidly evolving landscape.
From Telecom to Tech: A Front-Row Seat to Transformation
Before launching Steadynamic, Brandon spent over two decades helping scale a telecom company from four employees to 1,600 worldwide. That kind of growth doesn’t happen without learning a few things—like how to spot opportunities, navigate chaos, and build systems that last.
But it was the shift toward software and automation that pulled him into his next chapter.
Whether you’re in smart manufacturing, real estate, or healthcare, you’ve likely felt it: the old ways of doing things just don’t scale like they used to. Brandon saw that early and knew it was time to do something about it.
A Fresh Take on Leadership: Human First, Tech-Fueled
Running a business in 2025 means you’re wearing a lot of hats. For Brandon, that means not just driving growth, but helping clients reimagine how they work—from the ground up.
Here’s what that looks like:
In education? Helping schools digitize processes and personalize learning with AI.
In fitness? Automating member engagement and data insights for better retention.
In real estate? Streamlining lead management and client workflows.
In pharma or healthcare? Safeguarding compliance while unlocking real-time data access.
In fintech or telecom? Building scalable systems that reduce manual error and improve CX.
In manufacturing and robotics? Embedding intelligence in operations to boost productivity.
Sound complex? It is. But here’s the thing: the best solutions aren’t just technical—they’re personal.
The Power of Balance: Co-Founders and Complementary Skills
One key to Steadynamic’s success? The right team.
Brandon talks a lot about balance—between optimism and pragmatism, tech and business, speed and strategy. His co-founders bring different strengths to the table, and that mix makes decision-making smarter and solutions more well-rounded.
It’s a good reminder for leaders everywhere: you don’t need to know everything, but you do need people who fill in your gaps.
What Real Innovation Looks Like (Hint: It’s Not Always New)
Here’s one of the most important takeaways from the conversation:
“You don’t always need a brand-new idea. Sometimes the real innovation is solving an old problem in a better way—with better tools.”
That hits home for a lot of industries. For example:
Hospitals don’t need more data—they need better ways to use it.
Real estate agents don’t need more apps—they need apps that actually talk to each other.
Educators don’t need more platforms—they need ones that fit how they really teach.
In other words, innovation doesn’t mean disruption for the sake of it. It means clarity, fit, and better outcomes.
Why Preparedness—and Empathy—Matter More Than Ever
As a CEO, Brandon’s biggest pet peeve is simple: showing up unprepared.
Whether it’s a client call or internal strategy session, you’ve got to do the work. That includes understanding the business, the people, and the real-world impact of your solutions.
Because at the end of the day, technology is a people business.
Whether you’re guiding patients through digital healthcare, helping families find homes, or building next-gen robots, your tech is only as strong as your empathy and intent.
Final Thought: Don’t Just Lead—Be Curious
One of Brandon’s favorite leadership tips? Stay curious.
Ask questions. Dig deeper. Whether you’re talking to a CFO in fintech or a PE teacher trying to boost student engagement, curiosity opens doors, uncovers needs, and builds trust.
The best part? You don’t have to know everything—you just need to be willing to learn.
Ready to Rethink How You Work?
At Steadynamic, we build tech that fits you—not the other way around. From AI-powered workflows to custom software and automation, we help businesses in education, health, finance, telecom, and more do what they do best—just smarter.
👉 Curious what we could build together? Let’s talk.
