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Turning servant leadership and bold culture into business momentum.
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Mike Plaia, CEO of PharmaPoint, for an unscripted masterclass on building culture, embracing servant leadership, and staying bold in the face of adversity.
Mike’s journey from West Point to GE to scaling multiple healthcare businesses is packed with insight—on developing talent, setting vision, and building trust through action. He shares the leadership playbook that shaped him and how he operationalizes values like humility, perseverance, and family-first priorities into his growing company.
Episode Highlights
- (05:34) The GE program that fast-tracked Mike’s business instincts
- (07:25) Why Mike tells young professionals to start with structured training
- (10:26) “Don’t be Snapple”—and why
- (12:31) A powerful philosophy on servant leadership—and what it really means to serve your team.
- (15:51) Defining a vision and adapting it as your business grows
(18:46). The role adversity plays in building company culture
- (21:01) Jane discusses hiring “climbers” and the Adversity Quotient by Paul Stoltz
- (24:45) Creating a culture where bold ideas—and mistakes—are welcome
- (30:35) Why companies can’t “camp” and what CEOs miss when they don’t learn from others
- (35:07) Redefining hustle—why family-first doesn’t mean less ambition
- (37:09) The importance of having a truth-teller by your side.
- (39:19) The four-part execution framework (K-O-D-A) Mike used to embed accountability into his culture.
- (41:33) Operationalizing ideas; defining the ambiguous to create behavior change
- (44:31) Why shared purpose is at the heart of high-performing teams
- (51:57) Why humility, mentorship, and vulnerability are essential for growth—especially for CEOs.
From personal growth to organizational execution, this conversation goes deep on what it really takes to lead a purpose-driven business in a fast-changing world.
Episode Guest
About Mike Plaia, Chairman & CEO at PharmaPoint
Mike Plaia is a seasoned executive and West Point graduate with over 30 years of leadership experience across startups, mid-market, and Fortune 500 companies. As CEO of PharmaPoint, a technology-enabled pharmacy management company, Mike has led the organization to national recognition, earning multiple awards from Inc. Magazine, RxInsider, and the Birmingham Business Journal. He previously helped launch and scale Source Medical and Industriaplex, both of which achieved rapid growth and industry acclaim. His career began at GE, where he served on the corporate audit staff, overseeing acquisition integrations and Six Sigma initiatives.
A U.S. Army veteran and former Field Artillery Officer, Mike brings a values-driven leadership style shaped by his military service and deep community roots. He is an active mentor, coach, and nonprofit board leader, committed to developing future leaders both in business and in youth sports.
