"Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room; it’s about being the most effective."
Mark Moses, founder and CEO of CEO Coaching International, carries a deep-rooted underdog mentality that has been a constant driving force throughout his life. Despite his extraordinary success—including becoming a U.S. Open Squash champion, a seasoned marathon runner, and a best-selling author—Mark continues to feel like he’s competing against the odds.
This feeling, perhaps shaped by his small-town upbringing or not being the tallest person in the room, has fueled his unwavering drive to surpass expectations. His experiences serve as a powerful example for anyone who has felt underestimated, showing how perseverance and a strong mindset can transform limitations into achievements.
Through his books, Make BIG Happen and Making BIG Happen, he distills his approach to tackling ambitious goals and highlights the pivotal role of coaching in business success. Mark’s work with CEO Coaching International has helped entrepreneurs and CEOs around the world push their boundaries and reach new heights—offering invaluable insights that will inspire you to rethink your own journey.
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Table of Contents
It’s great to have you with us today! To begin, can you walk us through some of the experiences that have played a major role in shaping your journey into entrepreneurship and personal development?
Mark Moses: One of the most impactful milestones in my life was my father’s bankruptcy during my senior year of high school. This event was a defining moment for me, as I had initially aimed to become an accountant. However, the financial strain pushed me to start my own business during college, leading me down the path of entrepreneurship.
Another significant milestone was making the bold decision to leave the small town I grew up in and drive 2,500 miles across the country to kick-start my professional journey in a completely new environment. Finally, choosing the right life partner has had a profound impact on my life. My wife, Ivette, has been an extraordinary source of support, and I’ve found that when your marriage is thriving, life in general tends to follow that positive path.
What initially inspired you to start coaching?
Mark Moses: My journey into coaching began at 24 when I experienced significant personal growth through the coaching I received in business. I also had outstanding coaches in sports who challenged me to excel. This path took a turn after I delivered a speech, during which someone approached me and asked if I would coach them. At that time, I had just sold my business and was enjoying life, especially during the unfolding 2008 financial crisis. That first client unexpectedly set me on a remarkable trajectory, leading us to coach 1,200 of the top high-growth entrepreneurs and CEOs in over 75 countries.
In what ways does CEO Coaching International distinguish itself from other coaching organizations?
Mark Moses: What sets CEO Coaching International apart is our commitment to delivering tangible results in revenue and profit. While many coaching organizations emphasize behavioral coaching, we focus on helping clients significantly enhance their financial performance. Our clients achieve revenue growth that is 2.5 times higher than the national average in the U.S., with profits increasing by 5.9 times that average. This results-driven approach is the cornerstone of our work, ensuring every strategy we implement advances their businesses.
You’ve spent over 30 years helping CEOs and top executives unlock their leadership potential. What motivated you to focus on this area?
Mark Moses: My motivation stems from a strong belief that leadership is an innate quality that exists within everyone, not just a select few. I’ve been fortunate to work with top executives globally, assisting them in clarifying their vision and creating actionable strategies to realize their most ambitious goals. At the core of my work is coaching, which is about more than just improving performance; it’s about sparking valuable and lasting change in how leaders approach their responsibilities and influence their teams.
"As a speaker who has addressed global leaders at major conferences, my message to today’s executives is clear: leadership is evolving, and those who do not embrace change risk falling behind."
Having collaborated with some of the largest companies globally, what approach do you take to assist CEOs in navigating competitive and fast-paced markets?
Mark Moses: Many CEOs find themselves unprepared and caught off guard by the rapid changes in technology. To address this, I assist them in creating a clear AI vision and a strategic roadmap for integration into their operations. By providing tools for strategic thinking, we focus on the most impactful actions that will keep them ahead of the curve. We also engage expert speakers to share insights on emerging trends in technology and leadership, ensuring our clients are well-informed. Using divergent and convergent thinking techniques, we explore all possibilities to help CEOs prioritize AI initiatives, instigating impactful transformations within their organizations and reinforcing the urgency of acting now to avoid falling behind.
In your view, who should seek out a coach?
Mark Moses: While our primary focus is on coaching CEOs and leadership teams, I truly believe that anyone with a desire to improve can benefit from having a coach. This could range from a high school student aspiring to achieve their goals to a budding entrepreneur in need of direction. Coaching can offer immense value across the board. Everyone makes mistakes, but having a coach or mentor who has navigated similar challenges can help you sidestep many common pitfalls. Whether you’re an athlete or a high-powered executive, coaching can provide essential insights, highlight blind spots, and help you formulate a clear path toward achieving your ambitions.
Your book Make BIG Happen introduces the concept of The Make BIG Happen Questions™. What prompted you to develop this framework?
Mark Moses: The motivation behind this framework comes from my extensive exposure to exceptional coaches in both business and sports. Over time, I started to notice patterns in what it takes to succeed, and I distilled those patterns into four key questions that guide everything I do in coaching. These questions—What do you want? What do you have to do? What could get in the way? How do you hold yourself accountable?—are designed to help leaders focus on the essentials of achieving extraordinary results. The idea is that by asking better questions, we can get better answers, and ultimately drive more success.
With over 1 million copies sold and translations in more than 20 languages, what is the core message conveyed in Make BIG Happen and Making BIG Happen?
Mark Moses: These books convey a clear and impactful message: achieving bold and transformative goals in both personal and professional spheres is within reach. While many business books tend to focus on specific functional areas—like people, finance, operations, and marketing—they often miss a critical overarching methodology that integrates all elements of building and growing a successful business.
In Make BIG Happen, I introduced four key questions that serve as the foundation for CEO Coaching International, which has empowered numerous organizations to achieve remarkable revenue and EBITDA growth. The follow-up book, Making BIG Happen, takes this further by distilling our proven best practices into an accessible three-step process, complemented by over 30 practical tools. This structure is designed to help leaders think bigger and take decisive actions that lead to extraordinary growth. I share my personal experiences and strategies that have helped me and others achieve success, no matter how impossible the goal may seem.
For those looking to elevate their leadership, what advice would you give?
Mark Moses: Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room; it’s about being the most effective. My advice is to prioritize self-awareness, adaptability, and empathy. Understand your strengths and weaknesses, embrace change, and always put the needs of your team first. Great leaders build strong relationships and make decisions grounded in both logic and empathy. It’s essential to strike the right balance between achieving business goals and nurturing the individuals who help you reach them.
As a speaker who has addressed global leaders at major conferences, my message to today’s executives is clear: leadership is evolving, and those who do not embrace change risk falling behind. We live in a time when technology, particularly AI, is reshaping industries. Therefore, it is crucial for leaders to stay ahead of these trends by continually learning and adapting. I encourage executives to think beyond traditional boundaries and embrace innovative strategies that foster sustained growth. Leadership isn’t static; it’s a constant journey of learning and adapting.
As we wrap up, let’s keep it light: what daily habit do you find most instrumental in fueling your success?
Mark Moses: Waking up at 5 AM and exercising every day has been a game-changer for me. It sets a positive tone for the day and provides the mental clarity I need to tackle the challenges of running a business. Regular exercise keeps me focused and disciplined, and it’s a habit I always encourage the leaders I work with to incorporate into their daily routines. Additionally, I read almost every day, primarily listening to books and podcasts on Audible at about 1.5x speed. I usually finish a book every week or two, often while running. When something sparks an idea, I pause to take notes, which I later use to create content—like blog posts and podcasts—to help CEOs and entrepreneurs apply these concepts in their businesses. It’s amazing how such simple practices can have such a profound impact on both productivity and well-being!
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Mark Moses for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Mark Moses or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
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Rockstar Profile
Mark Moses: A Life of Purpose, Leadership, and Unstoppable Growth
Mark Moses’ life is a blend of high-stakes business success and personal triumphs that inspire at every turn. His accolades, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and the Blue Chip Enterprise award, only scratch the surface of his extraordinary journey. From leading the fastest-growing company in Los Angeles to earning a coveted spot on the Inc. 500 list, Mark has proven himself as a force in the business world. However, it’s his resilience in overcoming challenges that truly distinguishes him, driving him to achieve even greater heights and inspiring others to follow suit.
Building, Scaling, and Selling Businesses
Mark has built and sold two successful businesses, each reflecting his unique approach to leadership and scaling companies. His first venture, Student Painters, began after he gained valuable experience as a franchise owner. Over the course of four years, he expanded the company from nothing to 250 branches, employing more than 3,000 students. This success laid the foundation for his next major venture.
In 1993, Mark co-founded Platinum Capital Group, a mortgage banking company. Despite facing numerous challenges along the way, he grew the company over 13 years, ultimately selling it with $1.6 billion in sales. Reflecting on his experience, Mark emphasizes the power of having a clear vision:
“Knowing where you’re headed increases the chances of reaching your destination. Even during the toughest moments at Platinum Capital, I kept my focus on where I wanted to go and kept communicating that vision to my team.”
For him, it was about ensuring that everyone in the company understood the long-term goals and their individual role in achieving them.
Mark also believes that setting specific, actionable goals is critical for growth. “You can’t just say you want to scale the company; you need to know exactly what you want to achieve and have a plan in place to get there,” he notes. This clarity allowed him to focus on the key activities that drove his companies forward.
Finally, Mark highlights the importance of having the right team in place. He explains that the team that helped a company reach a certain point may not be the same team needed to reach the next level. Recognizing when it’s time to bring in new leadership is crucial for driving the company to new heights.
Mark’s current focus is on CEO Coaching International, where he’s empowering CEOs to drive substantial business growth and elevate their leadership effectiveness.
CEO Coaching International: Empowering CEOs to Achieve Big Results
Mark’s current focus is on CEO Coaching International, where he’s empowering CEOs to drive substantial business growth and elevate their leadership effectiveness. At the heart of CEO Coaching International’s approach is the Make BIG Happen System, a comprehensive 3-part framework that helps CEOs refine their vision, implement effective strategies, and build a culture of accountability. This system is designed to unlock extraordinary growth by aligning leadership with actionable goals for sustained success.
Additionally, CEO Coaching International offers an Unrivaled Coach Experience. Their coaches have led double-digit sales and profit growth in companies ranging from startups to $10 billion enterprises. Many of these coaches are founders who have successfully led their companies through significant exits, making their expertise invaluable for CEOs looking to elevate their success.
The company also provides Select Strategic Partnerships, giving clients access to world-class resources, including recruiting, marketing, and wealth management. These curated partnerships ensure that CEOs have the tools and support they need to succeed in every facet of their business.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to scale your own company, explore the services offered by CEO Coaching International at ceocoachinginternational.com.
Business Success and Athletic Feats
Mark’s remarkable journey isn’t confined to the corporate world. He’s also an accomplished athlete, having completed 12 Ironman triathlons, five of them at the Hawaii Ironman World Championship, and earned a spot in the Boston Marathon after finishing the London Marathon in 2019. These athletic achievements reflect the same mental fortitude and commitment that fuel his business success. Whether it’s in the boardroom or the race course, Mark has proven time and again that pushing the limits is key to unlocking personal and professional growth. His expertise in entrepreneurship was further recognized when he shared the stage with President George W. Bush at the CEO Coaching International Summit, where they engaged in a meaningful conversation about leadership and business.
Giving Back and Inspiring Future Leaders
While Mark’s career and athletic pursuits have set a high standard, his commitment to making a difference is what truly sets him apart. Beyond his business success, Mark dedicates much of his time to giving back. He has served on the Board of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and is deeply involved in organizations like the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). For him, leadership goes beyond personal accolades; it’s about lifting others and creating opportunities for growth and development. Mark’s journey reminds us that success isn’t just about reaching the top—it’s about the impact we make along the way. His story shows that with the right mindset, perseverance, and a commitment to helping others, anyone can create a life of purpose and achieve extraordinary things in every area of life.
For exclusive insights and ongoing updates, connect with Mark Moses across his social media platforms:
- Website: https://ceocoachinginternational.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmoses/
- X: https://x.com/ceocoachmark
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmoses_gobig/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.moses.77
