Brave, Bold, Brilliant Podcast: Jim Martin on Leading Companies Out of Crisis

In his latest podcast appearance on Brave, Bold, Brilliant, ACM founder, Jim Martin, breaks down what it really takes to lead companies out of crisis and why preserving jobs is as important as fixing balance sheets.

From restructuring over $1.4 billion in debt to restoring a billion in value, Jim shares candid lessons from the frontlines: navigating post-9/11 aviation collapse, scaling distressed fast-food franchises in Eastern Europe, and calling out the hard truths behind second-generation leadership failures.

Key insights include:

• How to assess if a business is worth saving—and act fast if it’s not
• The real impact of AI and tech disruption on the lower middle market
• What “burn the boats” leadership looks like in practice
• Why job preservation is the ultimate ROI

“You don’t just save a company. You protect families. That’s the multiplier that matters.” —Jim Martin

Listen in for a clear-eyed take on what bold, accountable leadership looks like when everything’s on the line.

🎧 Check out the episode