A candid conversation about leadership, letting go, and the messy middle of building a people-first company.
What happens when a bartender-turned-restaurant-owner discovers a passion for experiential marketing and becomes the CEO of one of the top exhibit houses in the country? You get Michael McMahon.
In this episode, Michael opens up to host, Jane Gentry, about his winding path to leadership, how he cultivated his leadership voice over decades, and what it really means to “get out of the way” as a CEO. Jane and Michael go deep on practical tools for empowering executive teams, navigating change, and leading with intentionality and authenticity.
Episode Highlights
-
- (04:15) Michael’s unusual career start—from engineering dropout to restaurant manager
- (06:51) Why Michael loved bartending more than management—and how it led to opening his first business
- (09:26) Discovering a new passion in the trade show world—and why it clicked
- (11:22) Meeting his future business partner in an unlikely moment
- (13:35) Launching Hill & Partners and discovering his natural leadership pull
- (16:20) Why he offered to buy out his partner—and how it changed the business
- (22:56) “You gotta do the time”—on leading with consistency and human focus
- (29:42) How to avoid being the decision bottleneck as CEO
- (32:05) The danger of CEO grenade-launching—and how Michael avoids it
- (41:54) The benefit of leading from the bleachers
- (48:17) Why young leaders must collide with others to grow
- (49:08) What he wishes he had 20 years ago—a mentor, a rabbi, a coach
- (54:25) The idea of an AI colleague—and how it could change business building forever
If you’ve ever felt like the bottleneck in your business, this candid, reflective conversation will challenge and inspire you to lead differently.
Episode Guest
About Michael McMahon, President & CEO at Hill & Partners
Michael McMahon is the President and CEO of Hill & Partners, an award-winning experiential design firm with 30 years of success in the B2B tradeshow and event industry. With teams in Boston, Las Vegas, and Orlando—and a strong network of legacy partners—Hill & Partners delivers immersive brand experiences across the U.S. and internationally. The firm was founded in 1995 with a people-first philosophy, evolving beyond transactional production to become a collaborative, end-to-end engagement partner for both emerging and established brands.
Michael’s passion for face-to-face engagement began in the restaurant industry and evolved through hands-on experience in architectural model building and tradeshow management. That early exposure sparked a decades-long career in experiential marketing, where he continues to be energized by the work and the people it connects. He is also an active member of the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), having served on both its board and executive committee.
About Jane Gentry
Jane Gentry has had a successful 30-year career as a CEO, Business Consultant, Executive Coach, and Keynoter. Jane formed her practice in 1999 and since then has partnered with her clients to improve growth, profitability, client retention, employee retention, leadership capabilities and business value.
Jane leverages strategies including the proprietary Value Blueprint to enable business owners and leaders to successfully create healthy organizations, plan for succession or sell their businesses for the highest possible market value. Jane is considered one of the top voices in leadership and sales.
Rate, Review & Follow
Enjoying CEOs Unscripted? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leaving a quick rating and review not only supports the show but also helps other leaders discover conversations that can elevate their business journey.
Don’t forget to follow the podcast, too! With more insightful episodes and unfiltered conversations on the way, you won’t want to miss what’s next.
CEOs Unscripted
Where Real Talk Drives Real Growth And Delivers Real Results For Mid-market Leaders.
Welcome to CEOs Unscripted, the podcast where real talk drives real growth and delivers real results for mid-market leaders. Each episode offers an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at the wins, the losses, and the playbooks shared by CEOs, founders, and executives. Grab a seat and join us for unscripted, honest conversations about what it takes to lead, grow, and scale in today’s business landscape.
