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From the Corner Office, a weekly podcast hosted by Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon, offers insights from regional leaders from Tampa Bay to Naples. Top executives, entrepreneurs and decision-makers share their leadership approaches, helping listeners be better at business. Discover strategies, lessons learned and tips for avoiding pitfalls.

Latest Episode

Darla has more than 20 years of experience in everything from corporate sales and operations to leadership development. She currently runs Darla Bonk Consulting, and, with her husband, Architectural Metal …  More →

Past Episodes

November 27, 2025
Big swings and leading with a big heart with the Baltimore Orioles’ Jennifer Grondahl

Jennifer Grondahl has been with the  Baltimore Orioles since 2018, splitting her time between Maryland and the team’s spring training home in Sarasota.  Prior to the Orioles, she was president …

November 20, 2025
Starting companies from scratch the right way with Andrew Wright

Andrew Wright is the founder of three companies: Franklin Street, a full-service commercial real estate firm with more than $7 billion in transaction volume over 20 years; private equity firm …

November 13, 2025
Tim Cartwright's must-do's (and don'ts) when seeking capital for your startup

Tim is a go-to thought leader in investing in startups, entrepreneurship and related topics in both Southwest Florida and the entire Sunshine State. In addition to being a partner at …

November 6, 2025
Cooking up pasta and big business deals with Andy Cagnetta

Global business brokerage Transworld Business Advisors is based in South Florida, with a heavy presence on the west coast of the state. Andy Cagnetta, after owning and running a pasta …

October 30, 2025
Getting to yes utilizing patience and purpose with real estate executive John Burpee

John Burpee has been in the Florida commercial real estate market for more than 30 years. He consults with national investment firms, financial institutions and private investors, and has brokered …

October 23, 2025
How Erin McLeod leads with humility, humor and a huge heart

Erin McLeod has worked in public relations, communications, consulting, health care, hospitality and the club industry. She’s been with the Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota since 2004; she has been …

October 16, 2025
Grit, goals and good valuations with Benchmark International's Dara Shareef

Dara Shareef is the managing partner of Benchmark International, where he oversees the transaction team in the firm’s U.S. headquarters in Tampa. Benchmark recently made a big splash in the …

October 9, 2025
Hope is not a strategy but good planning is with Sophia Shaw

Sophia Shaw has had many interesting roles, from leading the Chicago Botanical Garden, to being an Adjunct Professor at the Kellogg School of Management. After all that, her work is …

October 2, 2025
Hitting a home run in nonprofit leadership with Doug Staley

Doug is the executive director of the Child Protection Center of Sarasota, a nonprofit dedicated to prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse. Doug has been with the organization for …

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 »

Team

Host

Mark Gordon

Mark Gordon is the managing editor of the Business Observer. Mark has been a business journalist and editor for more than 20 years, and one of his passions is writing about leadership. That led to Mark to start writing a leadership column in 2021 in the Business Observer, called Leadership Matters. It also led to the creation of the From the Corner Office podcast in June 2023.

Producer

Read Corley

Read attended elementary, middle and high school in Manatee County. After graduating from Florida State University and navigating the pandemic, Read joined up with his father to create the podcast I 501(c) You - The Podcast for Nonprofit Board Members. As the podcast has grown, Read has created a path producing podcasts for others, including the Business Observer.

Where to Listen

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