Success Leaves Clues with Robin Bailey and Al McDonald · 2026-01-08 · 39 min
In this episode of Success Leaves Clues , hosts Robin Bailey and Al McDonald are joined by Mark MacLeod , founder of Limitless CEO and longtime advisor to high-growth founders, for an expansive and deeply honest conversation about leadership, burnout, energy, and what it truly takes to scale sustainably. Mark shares his journey from serving as CFO to iconic Canadian tech companies like Shopify and FreshBooks, to venture capital, investment banking, and ultimately coaching CEOs through the most demanding chapters of their leadership lives. He explains why most startups fail not because of strategy or talent, but because founders run out of energy, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Together, they explore why hustle culture quietly drives burnout, how founders normalize chronic stress, and why putting the CEO first is not selfish, but essential. Mark introduces his two core pillars of leadership, personal energy optimization and revenue growth, and explains how physical health, mental clarity, and even spiritual practices directly influence business outcomes.
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