CASE STUDIES

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey opens up in a rare solo conversation about the habits and reflections that have had the most profound impact on his life and leadership. Inspired by a powerful question posed at Harvard Business School; “Are you happy?” He unpacks what happiness really means and how it can be intentionally designed through daily discipline. Drawing from Hal Elrod’s Miracle Morning framework, Casey shares the specific morning ritual that anchors his days and builds emotional strength: silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading, and journaling. These practices, he explains, are more than productivity hacks, they’re tools for building clarity, identity, and momentum. With relatable stories and practical insights, Casey challenges listeners to reflect on what makes them happy, what excites them, and how to build a life that reflects those truths. This episode is a timely reset for anyone looking to take more ownership over their energy, mindset, and outcomes in 2026.00:00 | Why This Solo Episode Matters00:26 | Harvard Experience: The Happiness Question02:12 | What Actually Makes You Happy?03:28 | Designing More Joy Into Daily Life03:49 | The Power of Morning Rituals04:15 | SAVERS: The 6-Part Miracle Morning04:32 | Silence: Finding Clarity at 5AM05:15 | Affirmations: Rewiring Identity Daily05:57 | Visualization: Win the Day Before It Starts06:37 | Story: Helping My Daughter Through Visualization07:25 | Exercise: The 100 Burpee Challenge08:49 | Reading & Personal Growth on the Go09:02 | Scribing: The 3 Journaling Prompts That Guide Me10:24 | Happiness vs. Excitement: Know Both10:40 | Emotional Strength Through Daily Discipline11:19 | A Challenge for 2026

In this special release from The Harvard Collection x Case Studies, we are joined by Adel Sajan, the visionary Group Managing Director of Danube Group, a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate based in Dubai. Adel shares his family’s incredible journey of resilience and innovation, from navigating adversity to building an empire spanning retail, real estate, and hospitality.Starting his journey in the family business at the age of 13, Adel’s leadership has been instrumental in expanding Danube Home across the GCC and beyond. He reveals insights into overcoming challenges, redefining industries, and sustaining family values while driving global success. From wartime Kuwait to leading luxury development in Dubai, Adel’s story is a masterclass in determination, innovation, and legacy building.This episode also offers a glimpse into Adel’s personal life, including his lavish wedding aboard a cruise ship and his commitment to balancing family, faith, and business excellence. Packed with inspiring lessons, this conversation is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders alike.

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey Baugh sits down with Kent Alder, former CEO of TTM Technologies, to unpack how a quiet leader from Cache Valley helped build a $7 billion public company. From humble beginnings to orchestrating bold acquisitions and navigating industry chaos, Kent’s story is one of resilience, discipline, and vision.Kent reveals the behind-the-scenes playbook that led TTM from a tiny PCB manufacturer to an industry giant. He shares how aligning incentives, focusing on execution over hype, and making countercyclical moves during downturns drove long-term success. You’ll hear lessons on navigating private equity partnerships, building strong cultures, and evolving as a leader across decades. This episode is a masterclass in how to lead through market chaos, think long-term, and win as a team.00:00 | Introduction to Kent Alder01:29 | Building TTM: From Roll-Up to $7B Public Company03:19 | Competing in a Tough, Low-Margin Industry04:18 | Early Career: From Finance to Circuit Boards07:26 | Lessons from Early Mentors and Risk-Taking08:26 | Turning Around a Tiny Manufacturer10:29 | Becoming CEO and Strategic Expansion13:46 | Partnering with Private Equity15:04 | Going Public and the Dot-Com Era22:21 | Navigating the Dot-Com Crash26:14 | Acquiring Honeywell Assets in a Crisis29:29 | Acquisitions That Worked: Culture & Fit30:09 | Buying Back Tyco: Integration and Vision32:14 | Incentive Structures and Company Culture34:48 | Strategic Discipline in a Commoditized Market36:18 | Customer Relationships as True Partnerships39:18 | Leadership Through Crisis & Market Cycles43:20 | Personal Growth as a CEO45:56 | Lifelong Learning & Team Development49:39 | Delegation and Building Teams at Scale53:31 | Working the Night Shift: Leading by Example55:52 | Legacy, Succession, and Long-Term Culture59:42 | Sacrifices, Travel, and Company Dedication01:03:19 | Legacy: Impact Over Titles01:06:04 | Marriage, Support Systems & Family Balance01:09:14 | Faith, Values, and Navigating Trade-offs01:12:26 | Advice for Young Entrepreneurs01:13:58 | The Misunderstood Journey of Success

In this inspiring episode of Case Studies, Juliana Del Aguila takes us on a deeply personal and powerful journey through her life as a leader, a woman in a male-dominated industry, and a member of a family with an iconic legacy. Juliana shares the extraordinary story of her family, from escaping the Armenian genocide to building transformative businesses in Argentina and Armenia, including their groundbreaking ventures in textiles, wine, and airport development.Juliana opens up about her unique position as the only female leader in her family’s businesses, the challenges she has faced, and the lessons she has learned about resilience, vulnerability, and embracing authenticity. She reflects on balancing personal ambitions with family commitments, coping with loss, and preparing for future roles as a mother and mentor.Through her story, Juliana explores profound themes such as the importance of faith, the role of community impact in business, and the journey to discovering and owning her true self. Whether you’re drawn to stories of entrepreneurship, family legacy, or personal growth, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration to live with purpose, make meaningful contributions, and leave a lasting legacy.

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey Baugh sits down with Dave Checketts, the youngest president in NBA history and former CEO of Madison Square Garden. From saving bankrupt franchises to leading iconic sports organizations, Dave shares the defining moments that shaped his career and his character.This conversation goes far beyond headlines and trophies. Dave opens up about faith, injustice, loss, and the unseen preparation behind opportunity. He reflects on how early rejection fueled resilience, how mentorship changed the trajectory of his life, and why building “championship culture” matters more than talent or capital alone.Now operating in private equity after decades in the global sports spotlight, Dave explains why influence without attention has become more fulfilling than power with a platform. This is a rare masterclass on leadership, readiness, and building a life of meaning long after the applause fades.⏱️ Episode Chapters00:00 | Admiration, Sports, and a Life in Leadership03:35 | Growing Up in Bountiful & Learning to Hustle Early08:34 | Rejection, Injustice, and Missing High School Basketball12:20 | Turning Setbacks into Fuel for Growth15:25 | Making the BYU Basketball Team Against the Odds20:14 | Faith, Obedience, and a Defining Spiritual Promise24:19 | Why That One Year of College Basketball Mattered28:19 | Ambition at 70 and Never Being Finished30:48 | Business School, Bain, and Early Career Acceleration35:27 | Clayton Christensen, Mentorship, and Consulting41:31 | Helping Danny Ainge and Entering Pro Sports47:26 | Walking into the NBA Office Unannounced52:58 | Sparring with David Stern—and Earning His Trust57:09 | Why the Celtics Deal Fell Apart59:17 | Being Chosen to Save the Utah Jazz at 2701:02:42 | Championship Culture vs. Winning Culture01:09:14 | Painful Partnerships and Hard Lessons01:16:21 | Tragedy, Loss, and Perspective01:20:04 | Faith, Gratitude, and the Experiences You Wouldn’t Choose01:22:14 | Raising Capital to Save the Jazz01:27:00 | Legacy Beyond Sports and the Spotlight

On this week’s episode, Casey sits down Chad Willardson - Chad shares his inspiring journey of building a successful wealth management business from the ground up, emphasizing the importance of adding value, maintaining integrity, and fostering positive relationships.Chad reveals his unique approach to helping others overcome their fears, illustrated by a moving story of encouraging a stranger to take a leap of faith. We delve into the critical distinctions between building and preserving wealth, the significance of focusing on what you do best, and the power of giving while living. Chad also discusses the role of faith, family, and personal growth in achieving a fulfilling and successful life.Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or someone looking to better manage your finances, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and profound insights. Tune in to discover how to harness your fears, invest with confidence, and build a legacy of wealth and purpose.

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with David Bearss – a trailblazing scientist, cancer researcher, and biotech founder, for a compelling conversation about faith, innovation, and the extraordinary journey from a biology lab to life saving breakthroughs. David shares how an early gene discovery altered the course of his life, launching him from a white coat in academia to the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship. With humility and clarity, he reveals what it’s like to develop treatments that not only extend lives but have saved the lives of people he loves. They explore how Halia, his latest venture, is revolutionizing Alzheimer’s research by studying those genetically at risk who never get the disease, and how AI is accelerating discoveries that once took decades. David also opens up about the mentors who believed in him, the moral weight of investor trust, and why scarcity breeds the best innovation. This conversation is an inspiring masterclass in conviction, purpose, and the science of resilience; for anyone committed to solving hard problems and building something that truly matters.

As we step into a new year, we’re taking a moment to pause and reflect on one of the most meaningful questions asked in every episode of Case Studies:“Talk to me about faith.”This episode is Part One of our 2025 faith reflections, featuring half of this year’s guests sharing how faith shapes their leadership, decisions, relationships, and sense of purpose. The answers are thoughtful, honest, and deeply personal, offering a powerful look at how faith is showing up in real life and real business.As we move into the year ahead, these conversations create space to reflect on our own journeys and consider how faith is impacting each of us right now.Part Two drops next week, where we’ll share the remaining guests’ responses and continue the conversation.Whether faith is central to your life or something you’re still exploring, this episode is an invitation to reflect, reset, and step into the new year with intention.

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Andrew Smith, serial entrepreneur, multi-exit founder, and co-founder of Savory Fund, for an unforgettable deep dive into resilience, reinvention, and the sacred power of food.Andrew opens up about building three successful tech companies before the age of 33, selling to Fortune 100s, and navigating the dot-com bust and 2008 financial crisis. But it was a surprising pivot—supporting his wife Shauna’s dream to open a Kneaders Bakery; that shifted his trajectory and ultimately led to launching a wildly successful F&B Investment firm.From selling streaming tech in the ’90s to washing dishes in a café post-exit, Andrew shares raw lessons on humility, grit, and what it means to start over. They explore how family, faith, and a relentless drive to solve real problems shaped his entrepreneurial DNA, and why he believes restaurants are uniquely positioned to thrive, even in chaos.This conversation is a masterclass for founders on navigating ego, building with purpose, and finding meaning in the margins.