Episode 640

full
Published on:

25th Jun 2025

Becoming the Celebrity CEO With Ramon Ray

How do you grow your business and your reputation without faking it?

In this episode, Bill sits down with Ramon Ray, entrepreneur, speaker, and author, to explore how authentic visibility fuels business growth. From meeting the President to selling three companies and pivoting during a pandemic, Ramon shares real stories about showing up, adding value, and becoming your own best brand asset. Whether you're building your first business or reinventing your voice, Ramon offers a masterclass in connection, resilience, and personal branding that actually works.

Ramon Ray is a five-time entrepreneur, best-selling author, and global keynote speaker known for his infectious energy and deeply human approach to business. He’s the founder of ZoneofGenius.com and has interviewed everyone from President Obama to the founders of major brands. Ramon’s mission? To help entrepreneurs build not just successful businesses, but joyful lives.

Topics explored in this episode:

(08:10) Meeting the President

  • Meeting the President wasn’t a fluke, it was the result of years of showing up and serving with integrity.
  • Visibility follows value. Recognition happens when you're focused on impact, not status.

(18:00) Lessons from Selling Three Companies

  • An exit doesn’t have to be massive to be meaningful. Even modest acquisitions can be life-changing if they align with your goals.
  • Reinvention is part of the entrepreneurial cycle. Each sale opened new creative and professional doors.


(29:45) The Power of Personal Brand

  • How do you become a ‘celebrity’ CEO? Ramon shares his take on visibility, trust, and being the brand without being fake. 
  • Brand is resilience. Ramon’s reputation and authenticity made it easier to pivot to new avenues because people already trusted him.

(39:10) Nobody Wants Boring

  • It’s okay to tweak your content depending on your audience. The key is to stay engaging.
  • Show up where you’re wanted. Look for strategic opportunities that align with your voice and values.


(45:40) Best Way to Build Your Unique Voice

  • Use social media as a low-stakes way to develop and express your personal brand.
  • Don’t hide behind the company logo, add to it with your personality.

Thanks to Ramon Ray for being on the show!

Connect with Ramon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonraysmallbiz/

Learn more about his work: ZoneofGenius.com

Get his book: The Celebrity CEO: How Entrepreneurs Can Thrive by Building a Community and a Strong Personal Brand - https://a.co/d/aeJ0eQm


Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth.

 

Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop 


Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGall

Bill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach 


Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. 



Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.


Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJ


Subscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00u


Bill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billgall/ 


Bill on Twitter/X: https://x.com/billgall 

All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher

About the Podcast

Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher
Do you dream of an easier way to scale and grow your business? Do you wish you didn’t have to work so hard and put in as many hours? Do you find growth too slow, or hard to sustain?

This podcast—Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher—can help you achieve and maintain the growth you want.

A message from your host: “I’ve been in your shoes as a founder, CEO, and executive leader. I’ve coached and trained many leaders just like you over more than 15 years to grow their businesses successfully and profitably. But more than that, I’ve helped give them their time and sanity back. My core strength is making the growth process easier, faster, and way more fun.”

A dynamic thought leader, Bill talks with fascinating and brilliant guests each week, including visionary CEOs, trailblazing entrepreneurs, best-selling authors, renowned business strategists, and more.

Broadly, each episode focuses on one of the four major decision areas every entrepreneur and company must get right: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash. More specifically, the show explores topics such as:

* Business Growth & Scaling.
* Customer Experience & Marketing.
* Innovation & Differentiation.
* Leadership Development.
* Delegation & Accountability.
* Vision & Strategy.
* Team Dynamics.
* Hiring & Talent Management.
* Company Culture.
* Employee Engagement.
* Crisis Management.
* Effective Communication.
* Influence & Persuasion.
* Business Strategies.

Running a business is ultimately about freedom. Subscribe to this podcast to learn how leaders like you can get your organizations moving in sync, create something significant, and still enjoy the ride. Subscribe if you want to elevate your business to unprecedented heights by tuning in to a masterclass in business excellence.

For information on Bill Gallagher’s coaching and training programs, and Scaling Up Workshops, visit www.ScalingCoach.com

About your host

Profile picture for William Gallagher

William Gallagher