Why Smart CEOs Put Humans First and AI Second, with Dave Behar

Send us Fan Mail Everyone is talking about AI. But what does a CEO who has built, exited and defended brands actually do with it? In this episode of the Unstoppable Success Podcast, I sit down with Dave Behar, founder of ION, the network of champions, and a self-described Chief Executive Athlete. Dave was part of the early days of Hotmail, built brand programs for the Pac-10, and now leads a platform of more than 25,000 hyperlocal channels across sports, health, music and kids. If you lead a company, this conversation is a practical look at leadership, growth and scale. Dave explains why EVERYTHING STARTS WITH THE BRAND, why a written playbook lets a team scale from local to national to global, and why he protects his intellectual property while staying flexible enough to pivot, like a good athlete. We also get honest about AI and business. Dave’s position: AI belongs in the toolbox as a supplement, not out front, and the smartest way to scale is still with good human ingenuity. We also dig into how to measure and monitor success, why small wins matter, how to stand out in a noisy market by staying authentic, and how to build your winning squad, including fractional relationships when a full-time bench is not in the budget. In this episode you will learn: • Why a strong brand and a documented playbook make growth repeatable • How to decide where AI belongs in your business and where it does not • Why metrics and micro-wins matter, and why you should define success your own way • How to protect what you have built while staying open to feedback and pivots • How to assemble the right team around you, even on a tight budget • What determination really means for a leader with an exit strategy GUEST BIO Dave Behar is the founder of ION, the network of champions, with more than 25,000 hyperlocal channels across sports, health, music and kids. He was part of the early days of Hotmail, built brand programs for the Pac-10, and has co-authored leadership books. He describes himself as a Chief Executive Athlete and is the subject of an upcoming series, Dave and Goliath. LINKS Dave Behar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davebehar Dave Behar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave.behar ION: ions.com Connect with Jaclyn Strominger Book a complimentary strategy session with Jaclyn: https://scheduler.zoom.us/jaclyn-strominger/book-a-connection Join the newsletter:  https://go.jaclynstrominger.com/newsletter Free 7-Day Relationship Capital Challenge: https://go.jaclynstrominger.com/7-day Support the show Support the Show - subscriber and get a Unstoppable Success Badge@ If you are ready to become unstoppable and create real momentum, here is your next step: Book a private strategy call: Let’s map your next level of growth Book a Strategy Call Join the Unstoppable Success Community: Surround yourself with high-performing leaders and real conversations Skool Community: Unstoppable Success  Get the Book: Charting True North Stay connected and visible: Unstoppable Success Podcast Connect with Jaclyn on LinkedIn Become a Sponsor. Learn more!  Email: [email protected]