Pennsylvania, US, 5th November 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, In the high-stakes world of tech leadership, the traditional markers of success revenue, market share, product launches, and investor confidence often dominate the conversation. But after thirty years in the trenches as a six-time CEO, two-time COO, and now as a coach at CEO Coaching International, I’ve come to believe that none of these achievements mean much without one critical ingredient: emotional intelligence.

I’ve spent my career founding companies, leading turnarounds, executing successful exits, and transforming legacy businesses into modern SaaS powerhouses. At Sopheon, for example, we transitioned from a consulting-heavy model to a cloud-native SaaS platform, a shift that demanded technical precision and deep emotional leadership. Change is uncomfortable. People fear uncertainty more than they fear failure. What gets a company through that kind of transformation isn’t just strategy, it’s trust, empathy, and the ability to connect with people where they are.

This is the real differentiator between good CEOs and great ones.

The Myth of the All-Knowing CEO

There’s a romanticized idea that a great CEO is a lone visionary who knows all the answers and commands the room. But the CEOs I’ve seen thrive, especially in today’s climate, are not the loudest or most forceful personalities. They are the ones who listen.

When I coach leaders, I tell them: Your job isn’t to have all the answers; it’s to create the conditions for the right answers to emerge. That shift in mindset requires emotional intelligence to read the room, to detect fear before it becomes resistance, to inspire confidence without ego.

This doesn’t mean CEOs should abandon strategy or financial discipline. It means they need to anchor both in self-awareness and empathy. You can’t lead transformation if you don’t understand the people you’re asking to change.

Lessons from the Frontlines of Innovation

Throughout my career from my early startups to public company boardrooms, I’ve seen how emotional intelligence drives innovation. It’s not just a soft skill; it’s a growth multiplier.

When I helped guide Sopheon through its transformation to a SaaS model, we weren’t just changing a product, we were changing a culture. I had to help teams let go of the old ways of working, reimagine their purpose, and trust a new process. The emotional toll was real. But so was the reward: a thriving business that successfully exited to a private equity firm.

Similarly, in founding and funding 14 startups, I’ve learned that emotional intelligence isn’t optional in entrepreneurship, it’s survival. Startups live on uncertainty. The ability to stay grounded, to maintain morale, and to lead with transparency during volatility is what separates those who scale from those who stall.

I’ve raised over $73 million in venture capital and been through 17 mergers and acquisitions. In every deal, negotiation, and hard pivot, human connection was the difference-maker. The spreadsheet never closes the deal. The story does.

Emotional Intelligence Is Measurable and Coachable

At CEO Coaching International, we work with hundreds of CEOs around the world, helping them scale faster and lead better. What I’ve seen time and again is that the best leaders aren’t necessarily the most experienced but they’re the most self-aware.

They know their triggers. They understand how their moods affect their teams. They balance ambition with humility.

And here’s the good news: emotional intelligence can be developed. I’ve seen leaders who started out purely metrics-driven learn to lead with empathy and their performance skyrocketed. Employee retention improved. Innovation increased. Customers noticed.

In fact, a McKinsey study found that organizations with emotionally intelligent leadership are 20% more likely to outperform their peers. But beyond the statistics, there’s a deeper truth: when people feel seen, they give more of themselves. And that’s the foundation of sustainable growth.

The Shift in Leadership Culture

We’re entering a new era of leadership. The old model of command and control is dying. The new model of connect and inspire is thriving.

This shift is especially pronounced among the next generation of leaders. I teach at the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business and founded Carnegie Mellon University’s Master’s in Product Management: the first program of its kind globally. What I see in young leaders is both exciting and challenging: they demand meaning, transparency, and humanity in their work. They won’t follow leaders who lead from fear. They’ll follow those who lead from authenticity.

To me, that’s not just a generational preference, it’s a competitive advantage. Companies that cultivate emotionally intelligent leadership are more adaptable, more resilient, and more attractive to top talent.

The Human Side of Growth

Let’s be honest: leadership is lonely. The higher you climb, the fewer people you can confide in. I’ve been there: staring at the numbers late at night, questioning decisions, feeling the weight of payroll and investor expectations.

What pulled me through wasn’t bravado; it was balance. Learning when to push and when to pause. When to fight for the vision and when to listen to dissent. Emotional intelligence gave me that balance and it gives CEOs today the same.

At its core, business is about human relationships. You can automate processes, but not trust. You can buy attention, but not loyalty. You can scale operations, but not authenticity.

As leaders, we have to remember: growth without humanity isn’t sustainable. Profit without purpose doesn’t last.

Coaching CEOs to Lead with Heart and Precision

In my coaching work today, I help CEOs master this duality to be both visionary and grounded, strategic and empathetic. I draw on decades of operational experience from launching 100+ products to managing multimillion-dollar exits but I always come back to the same question: How are you showing up as a human being?

That’s where transformation starts.

Because when CEOs lead with heart, it cascades. It shows up in how teams communicate, how customers are treated, how innovation happens. It builds cultures that last, where performance and purpose aren’t at odds but intertwined.

Final Thoughts: Redefining Strength

We often mistake emotional intelligence for weakness. It’s not. It’s courage in its purest form.

It takes courage to admit you don’t have all the answers.
It takes courage to be transparent when things go wrong.
It takes courage to listen when your instinct is to defend.

But that’s the kind of courage that builds enduring companies and enduring leaders.

After thirty years of leading, founding, acquiring, and teaching, I can say with certainty: the CEOs who win aren’t just the smartest in the room. They’re the most human.

And that’s a lesson worth repeating in boardrooms, classrooms, and everywhere leadership is redefined.

About Greg Coticchia

Greg Coticchia is a Partner and Coach at CEO Coaching International, a six-time CEO, two-time COO, award-winning entrepreneur, and educator. He has raised over $73 million in venture capital, participated in 17 M&As, launched more than 100 products, and led companies to successful exits. He is also the founding executive director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Master’s in Product Management program.

For more information, visit : https://ceocoachinginternational.com/ and https://gregcoticchiainsights.com/

Guangzhou, China, 5th November 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, IPcook announces the launch of its advanced residential proxy services, designed to tackle the key challenges of the global ad verification industry and ensure transparent, fraud-free digital advertising.

IPcook is a professional proxy service provider focusing exclusively on high-quality IP proxies. The company helps marketing agencies, cybersecurity teams, e-commerce platforms, and data intelligence providers verify ads, protect brands, and monitor SEO activities with accuracy and security. Through its large-scale IP network, IPcook offers secure residential proxies that mirror authentic local environments to help conduct reliable ad verification and data collection across multiple regions.

The ad verification industry faces persistent challenges, such as ad fraud, inaccurate geolocation targeting, and brand safety risks. Fraudulent actors often manipulate ad impressions or clicks using bots or hidden placements, leading to wasted budgets and distorted analytics. Verifying region-specific campaigns, including Google ad verification, is also complicated by IP-based restrictions and unreliable proxy networks.

To address these issues, IPcook introduces its robust proxies for ad verification built on real residential IPs. These proxies for ad monitoring simulate genuine user traffic, allowing advertisers and agencies to view ads exactly as local users do. With IPcook’s secure and scalable infrastructure, clients can detect fraudulent activity, validate ad placements, and ensure their campaigns appear correctly in every target region while maintaining full anonymity and compliance.

IPcook provides elite anonymity through its residential proxy network. All IPs are authentic and never generated from datacenters, VPS environments, or artificial sources. Each address originates from real residential users or ISP networks, ensuring full credibility and non-detection. This genuine residential foundation allows users to remain completely anonymous when performing ad verification, keeping every testing session secure and private.

Beyond anonymity, IPcook also offers extensive global coverage. With a network of over 55 million residential IPs spanning more than 185 regions worldwide, IPcook enables precise city-level targeting for ad verification. This broad reach allows advertisers to verify how ads appear in specific cities or markets, identify regional discrepancies, and ensure accuracy across different audience segments.

IPcook supports dynamic IP rotation with full control over selecting proxy locations by country or city. This flexibility prevents repeated use of the same IP during multiple verification sessions, minimizing the risk of blocking or detection. It also ensures stable, uninterrupted access for proxies for ad verification, making it ideal for continuous ad validation and long-term brand safety operations.

“Authentic user data is the foundation of effective ad verification. By utilizing IPs from real residential networks, our service helps companies bypass common detection methods. This allows them to see their digital advertisements exactly as their target audience would, ensuring genuine insights into geo-targeting and viewability,” commented Raymond, CTO at IPcook.

About IPcook

IPcook (https://www.ipcook.com/) specializes in providing premium dynamic residential IP proxies designed for seamless browsing, secure data scraping, and unrestricted access to geo-restricted content. Its real residential IP network ensures high anonymity, reliability, and fast speeds—perfect for ad verification, market research, SEO monitoring, and e-commerce automation.

Santa Clara, CA, 5th November 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, In today’s hyperconnected world, every brand has a voice. But for Faranak Firozan, a leading marketing strategist based in Santa Clara, California, a voice alone is no longer enough. “A brand can speak loudly,” she says, “but if it has nothing meaningful to say, consumers will tune out.” What companies need now, she argues, is not just a brand voice but a brand conscience.

Firozan, who has spent over a decade shaping the marketing narratives of tech giants, consumer brands, and wellness startups, believes the era of performative branding is over. “Consumers have evolved,” she explains. “They’re not impressed by clever slogans or sleek visuals alone. They’re looking for alignment between what a company says and what it actually does.”

As a marketing leader known for combining creativity with strategy, Firozan has built a reputation for helping brands translate values into action. Her career has spanned multiple industries and continents, yet one principle has remained constant: the belief that authenticity, empathy, and accountability must sit at the heart of any brand that seeks to endure.

The Shift from Voice to Conscience

Traditionally, marketing has been about differentiation and finding a distinct voice that separates one brand from another. But according to Firozan, differentiation is no longer enough. In an age defined by social consciousness, environmental urgency, and digital transparency, consumers are not just listening to what brands say; they are watching what they do.

“A brand voice tells you how a company speaks,” she notes. “A brand conscience tells you why it exists.”

Firozan points to recent years as a turning point in corporate culture, where authenticity and responsibility have become non-negotiable. Consumers expect companies to engage meaningfully with the world around them, addressing issues like sustainability, diversity, and social justice not as marketing trends, but as moral imperatives. “People want to know that the brands they support are doing good beyond profit,” she says. “They want purpose, not posturing.”

Building Trust Through Accountability

For Firozan, a brand conscience begins with one simple but challenging question: what do we stand for? Answering it requires introspection, consistency, and a willingness to make hard choices. “Too many organizations treat social impact like a campaign,” she explains. “It can’t be a campaign. It has to be a culture.”

She argues that companies with strong brand consciences are not only more resilient but also more trusted. “Trust is the currency of modern business,” she says. “And trust is earned when brands make decisions that reflect their stated values—even when it costs them something.”

Examples abound of companies that have faced backlash for failing to live up to their messaging, from greenwashing to empty diversity statements. “The public can tell when something is authentic or not,” Firozan emphasizes. “Transparency is no longer optional. Brands that thrive in the next decade will be those that consistently prove they mean what they say.”

The Psychology Behind Purpose

Faranak Firozan’s dual background in psychology and marketing gives her a unique lens on consumer behavior. With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University, she approaches brand strategy as both an art and a science.

Her research-driven approach explores how purpose-driven brands create emotional bonds with consumers that outlast transactional relationships. “Humans are wired for meaning,” she explains. “When people feel emotionally connected to a brand’s mission, loyalty follows naturally. They become advocates, not just customers.”

She believes this psychological dimension is what distinguishes the strongest brands from the rest. “It’s not about chasing every social trend,” she adds. “It’s about understanding your identity and being intentional about how that identity serves others.”

The New Metrics of Success

As the definition of brand success evolves, Firozan challenges companies to rethink how they measure their impact. “Traditional metrics—clicks, conversions, impressions—are still important, but they don’t tell the whole story,” she says. “You also have to measure trust, advocacy, and long-term alignment between your values and your audience’s expectations.”

She has seen firsthand how this values-first mindset can yield powerful results. At one wellness brand she advised, an internal culture shift toward environmental responsibility led to both higher employee engagement and stronger customer retention. “When your internal team believes in your mission,” she explains, “that energy becomes contagious. It shows up in every interaction.”

The Role of Inclusion in Brand Conscience

Firozan’s work on authentic inclusion continues to influence her perspective on what it means to have a brand conscience. “Inclusion can’t just be a statement on a website,” she says. “It must be built into the DNA of a company from hiring practices to product design to community engagement.”

Born in Tehran and raised in the Bay Area, Firozan understands firsthand the power of cultural diversity in shaping more thoughtful, innovative organizations. “Diversity expands a brand’s empathy,” she says. “When you bring in different voices, you don’t just avoid tone-deaf mistakes but you tell richer, more human stories.”

Her advocacy for inclusion extends beyond her corporate work. As a volunteer with local nonprofits supporting immigrant entrepreneurs and women in technology, she has seen how access to opportunity transforms both individuals and communities. “A company’s conscience isn’t only about what it sells,” she reflects. “It’s about what it stands for in the broader human story.”

Art, Empathy, and Authenticity

Outside of her professional life, Firozan is also a painter, a creative outlet that deepens her appreciation for storytelling and emotional nuance. She often draws parallels between art and marketing, describing both as acts of empathy. “Art teaches you to see the world through another’s eyes,” she says. “The same is true for great marketing. You can’t connect with an audience you don’t understand.”

This emphasis on empathy shapes every aspect of her work. Whether guiding a rebrand or launching a product, she encourages her teams to ask, “How will this make people feel?” rather than just “How will this make people buy?”

The Future of Conscious Branding

Looking ahead, Firozan predicts that the companies defining the next era of business will be those that integrate conscience into every layer of their operations. “A true brand conscience touches everything, how you source materials, how you treat employees, how you respond to global challenges,” she explains. “It’s not an add-on. It’s your foundation.”

She believes this shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity for modern marketers. “We are entering a time where integrity is the most valuable form of innovation,” she says. “Consumers are rewarding brands that don’t just promise change but prove it.”

As technology continues to accelerate the pace of communication, Firozan argues that conscience will be the anchor that keeps brands grounded. “Algorithms can optimize reach, but they can’t replace responsibility,” she concludes. “The future of marketing belongs to those who combine data with decency, creativity with conscience, and profit with purpose.”

Faranak Firozan’s vision for the next generation of branding is clear: beyond the noise of marketing lies a moral imperative. A brand voice can get you noticed. A brand conscience will make you remembered.

Media Contact:
Faranak Firozan

Firozan & Co.

Website: https://faranakfirozan.com/

Florida, US, 5th November 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, For Brent Byng, leadership has never been about authority or rank. It has always been about service. After more than 27 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he led teams in some of the most demanding environments in the world, Byng continues to champion a philosophy that places people first and success second. His belief in servant leadership—anchored in accountability, empathy, and purpose—has become the cornerstone of how he develops others and drives organizational transformation.

A Legacy Built on Service

Brent Byng’s leadership journey began in the military, where he learned that service and humility often define success more than power or position. Throughout his career, he held numerous leadership roles, including Commander of the 19th Special Operations Squadron and Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. In these positions, Byng led large, diverse teams through complex missions that demanded precision and trust. “The essence of leadership is not commanding from above but standing beside your people,” he often says. “True leaders measure success not by their own achievements but by the growth and strength of their teams.”

During his tenure as Commander, Byng managed over 300 personnel and directed the training and graduation of more than 2,700 operators each year. His focus was not only on operational excellence but also on developing leaders who understood the importance of accountability, collaboration, and compassion. He integrated advanced technologies like simulation and virtual reality training platforms, which enhanced learning outcomes and reduced instructor workload. Yet, even as he embraced modernization, he never lost sight of
the human element. “Technology helps us achieve efficiency,” he explains, “but leadership is still about people.”

The Philosophy of Servant Leadership

Brent Byng defines servant leadership as leading with purpose and humility. For him, leadership means using one’s position to empower others rather than to gain personal recognition. “The best leaders don’t create followers,” he says. “They create more leaders.” This philosophy was evident in every stage of his career. Whether managing flight operations or advising senior defense officials in Washington, he focused on building relationships rooted in respect and trust. He often credits his success to listening first and leading second. “You can’t understand what people need if you’re only focused on your own perspective,” he explains. “Listening is the most underrated skill in leadership.”

His approach to leadership has influenced not only the people he worked with but also the organizations he led. Byng believes that servant leadership fosters stronger teams, better performance, and long-term sustainability. When leaders prioritize service over self-interest, they build cultures of trust that can withstand any challenge.

From Military Precision to Organizational Growth

After nearly three decades in uniform, Byng’s transition into enterprise leadership was seamless because the principles he practiced in the military applied equally in business. Today, he continues to guide organizations through growth, transformation, and strategic realignment. His leadership model aligns people, processes, and technology to achieve measurable outcomes while maintaining a focus on integrity and accountability. “Organizations succeed when they balance efficiency with empathy,” he says. “Servant leadership creates that balance. It ensures that people feel valued while still delivering results.” His leadership philosophy has gained attention among both corporate and nonprofit sectors seeking sustainable ways to build engagement and performance. Byng’s ability to connect operational strategy with human understanding has made him a respected voice in conversations about the future of leadership.

Mentorship and the Next Generation

One of the most defining aspects of Brent Byng’s career is his commitment to mentorship. He believes leadership is a responsibility that extends beyond one’s position or tenure. “Leaders have a duty to develop others,” he explains. “If you’re not creating pathways for the next generation, you’re failing the mission.” Throughout his career, Byng has mentored hundreds of professionals, from young officers to senior executives. He encourages his mentees to focus on self-awareness, discipline, and continuous learning. “Leadership is not static,” he says. “You have to evolve, and you do that by listening, reading, and seeking feedback.”

Byng himself is a lifelong learner. He holds advanced degrees in operations management and military arts and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Strategic Leadership at Liberty University. His academic pursuits reinforce his belief that knowledge deepens leadership
capacity. “Education sharpens perspective,” he notes. “It challenges assumptions and refines how you serve others.”

Leading Through Integrity and Accountability

Integrity remains at the center of Brent Byng’s approach. He believes that trust is the foundation upon which all successful teams are built. “If people don’t trust you, they won’t follow you,” he says. “Integrity isn’t optional—it’s essential.” He practices accountability by setting clear expectations and holding himself to the same standards as those he leads. This consistency builds credibility and inspires others to do the same. In both military and corporate environments, he has demonstrated that transparency and accountability drive long-term success more effectively than authority alone. His approach resonates strongly with the next generation of leaders, many of whom seek authenticity over hierarchy. “People today want to work for leaders who care about their well- being and growth,” Byng says. “Servant leadership gives them that sense of purpose and connection.”

The Future of Leadership

Brent Byng believes the future of leadership lies in balancing compassion with discipline. As industries grow more complex and global, leaders must combine emotional intelligence with strategic thinking. “Technology can’t replace empathy,” he emphasizes. “As automation increases, human leadership becomes even more important.” He also believes that the next generation of leaders must embrace adaptability while staying rooted in timeless values. “Situations change, but principles don’t,” he says. “Integrity, service, and accountability will always define real leadership.” Looking ahead, Byng hopes to continue sharing his experiences to help shape future leaders across sectors. Through writing, speaking, and mentorship, he aims to advance servant leadership as not just a philosophy but a practical model for organizational and societal success.

A Lasting Impact

Over nearly three decades, Brent Byng has led teams through missions that required precision, courage, and compassion. He has advised senior leaders, modernized complex systems, and mentored countless individuals who now carry forward his lessons. Yet, when
asked about his legacy, he points back to the core of his belief: service before self. “The measure of a leader isn’t in their accomplishments,” he reflects. “It’s in the people they helped succeed. If I’ve done that, then I’ve done my job.” In an era when leadership is often defined by ambition and speed, Brent Byng stands as a reminder that the most powerful form of leadership begins with humility. Through his example, he continues to inspire a new generation of leaders who believe that serving others is not a weakness, but the highest form of strength.

For more information, please feel free to visit https://brent-byng.com/