IGNITING THE CEO WITHIN
The Igniting the CEO Within podcast, hosted by Quade Founder, Mark McFatridge, explores key insights and pivotal experiences of business leaders. In each episode, Mark leads guests in inspiring conversations, aiming to inspire and empower listeners on their journey of accelerated whole-person growth.

Welcome to “Igniting the CEO Within,” your go-to podcast for inspiring and insightful conversations with today’s business leaders. Hosted by connector and leader Mark McFatridge, this podcast is an extension of the Quade community, bringing together visionary CEOs and business owners from the Quade network and beyond to share their stories, insights, challenges, and triumphs in leadership. We’ll dive into impactful discussions about fostering professional and personal growth, the power of diversity, the benefits of a strong CEO peer group, and actionable advice to enhance your leadership.
In this episode, Mark sits down with Andrew Hedegard, Managing Director and Great Lakes Region Head for BMO Commercial Banking, to explore his 20+ year career journey from personal banker to leading teams across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.
Andrew shares how his early days at Bank One and Chase gave him energy from working with small businesses, and how curiosity fueled his evolution into commercial banking leadership. He reflects on the mentors, allies, and advocates who shaped his path, the lessons of stepping into leadership despite hesitation, and the importance of accessibility and trust when leading teams across multiple states.
The conversation also dives into Andrew’s philosophy of “failing forward,” his approach to work-life integration while raising a large family, and his belief that purpose-driven leadership can thrive even in industries often seen as transactional.
Additional Resources:
Key Takeaways:
A career built on curiosity and client impact, starting with small businesses and scaling to middle market leadership.
Mentors, allies, and advocates play distinct but essential roles in professional growth.
Trust and accessibility are cornerstones of managing teams across states.
“Fail forward”: mistakes are opportunities to learn and build resilience.
Work-life integration requires intentional partnership and boundaries.
Purpose-driven leadership can transform perceptions of industries like banking.

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Igniting the CEO Within boasts a robust listener base, composed of CEOs, entrepreneurs, community leaders, movers and shakers from across the region and country. Partner with Quade to give your brand the boost it needs with validated professionals and industry-leading content.







