About Confessions of a CEO
About Tom Gegax
Print Bio: Tom Gegax is chairman of The Gramercy Fund, a venture capital fund for socially responsible investing, and co-writer, director, and subject of the new documentary “Confessions of a CEO: My Life in an Out-of-Balance World.” The film is a crackling critique of corporate America told through the true story of a toxic CEO transformed from a profits-over-people, philandering executive to an unorthodox leader, populist messenger, and mentor to American influencers. Featuring notable figures like Deepak Chopra, the controversial Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner, it’s a story of growth, redemption, and the impact of self-awareness on leadership and life. The film includes Tom mentoring former Vice President Al Gore on his decision whether or not to seek a rematch with George W. Bush, and Deepak Chopra on how to stabilize and expand his fledgling organization. As a bestselling author of books including "The Big Book of Small Business," he is committed to inspiring positive change in corporate America. Learn more at confessionsofaceomovie.com.
Broadcast Bio: Our guest today is Tom Gegax, chairman of The Gramercy Fund, a socially responsible venture capital fund investing in over 100 companies that are doing good things in the world. Tom is co-writer, director, and subject of the new documentary “Confessions of a CEO: My Life in an Out-of-Balance World.” The film is a crackling critique of corporate America told through the true story of Tom, a once toxic CEO who transformed from a profits-over-people, philandering executive to an unorthodox leader, populist messenger, and mentor to American influencers. Featuring notable figures like Deepak Chopra, the controversial Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner, it’s a story of growth, redemption, and the impact of self-awareness on leadership and life.
Tom mentored former Vice President Al Gore on his decision whether or not to seek a rematch with George W. Bush, and Deepak Chopra on how to stabilize and expand his fledgling organization. A bestselling author of books including "The Big Book of Small Business," he is committed to inspiring positive change in corporate America. Learn more at confessionsofaceomovie.com. Welcome, Tom. What motivated you to make this documentary?
In-Depth Bio: Tom Gegax’s journey is one of remarkable transformation. From co-founding Tires Plus, which grew from three gas stations to 150 tire stores and 2,000 employees, to becoming a leading advocate for conscious leadership and ethical business practices, his story is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of purpose.
Early on, Gegax’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to build Tires Plus into one of the largest independent tire retailers in the U.S. His innovative approach to customer service, operational efficiency, and corporate culture not only drove substantial revenue growth but also established Tires Plus as a trusted brand, even outside the automotive service industry. However, his professional success came at a personal cost — marred by affairs, a troubled marriage, health issues, and near bankruptcy. These crises prompted a deep re-evaluation of his life and values.
Embracing conscious leadership, Gegax shifted his focus to balancing profit with purpose and fostering a supportive, ethical corporate culture. He had a company Wellness Coach, yoga classes, and massages for his employees (teammates) as they dropped traditional management titles for Coaches. Today he serves as chairman of The Gramercy Fund, a socially responsible venture capital fund that has invested in over 100 companies using many of Tom’s principles and doing good things in the world.
Gegax’s business philosophy — what he calls "coaching" management — emphasized balance, combining operational excellence with a deep commitment to the well-being of employees. His approach to leadership garnered national recognition, including features in major media outlets like The New York Times and Fast Company, as well as on ABC, FOX, and CNN. Under his guidance, Tires Plus was named a leader in corporate culture, earning accolades such as the Midwest Entrepreneur of the Year from Inc. and Ernst & Young.
As a bestselling author and speaker, Gegax has shared his experiences in books including “The Big Book of Small Business” and “By the Seat of Your Pants.” His keynote addresses inspire business leaders to prioritize integrity and personal growth alongside financial success.
Gegax’s mentoring has influenced a new generation of leaders, helping them embrace responsibility and ethical practices. His new documentary, “Confessions of a CEO: My Life in an Out-of-Balance World,” explores his transformation and the broader issue of corporate greed, including the skyrocketing disparity in CEO pay with their average worker. Featuring Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Deepak Chopra, the movie aims to challenge corporate leaders and inspire change toward healthier, more balanced businesses. Learn more at confessionsofaceomovie.com.
About Eric Gardner
Byline Bio: Eric Gardner is co-writer, producer, director, and editor of the feature documentary “Confessions of a CEO: My Life in an Out-of-Balance World.” “Confessions of a CEO: My Life in an Out-of-Balance World.” The film is a crackling critique of corporate America told through the true story of a Tom, a once toxic CEO who transformed from a profits-over-people, philandering executive to an unorthodox leader, populist messenger, and mentor to American influencers. Featuring notable figures like Deepak Chopra, the controversial Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner, it’s a story of growth, redemption, and the impact of self-awareness on leadership and life. A partner at Neighborhood Pictures, Gardner is an award-winning producer, director, editor, DP, and writer who has worked in non-fiction television and independent feature films for over 20 years. Learn more at confessionsofaceomovie.com.
Broadcast Bio: Our guest today is Eric Gardner, co-writer, producer, director, and editor of the new documentary “Confessions of a CEO: My Life in an Out-of-Balance World.” The film is a crackling critique of corporate America told through the true story of a Tom Gegax, a once toxic CEO who transformed from a profits-over-people, philandering executive to an unorthodox leader, populist messenger, and mentor to American influencers. Featuring notable figures like Deepak Chopra, the controversial Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner, it’s a story of growth, redemption, and the impact of self-awareness on leadership and life. Learn more at confessionsofaceomovie.com. Eric is an award-winning producer, director, editor, DP, writer, and partner at Neighborhood Pictures. Welcome, Eric. How did you meet Tom Gegax and come to co-write “Confessions of a CEO” with him?
In-Depth Bio: Eric Gardner is a partner at Neighborhood Pictures. Eric grew up in Oregon City, Oregon and attended college at Columbia University in New York City and the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles. He has worked in non-fiction television and independent feature films for over 20 years as a producer, director, editor, DP, and writer.
Gardner spent 10 years as a showrunner and fixer for NBC/Universal, including serving as Executive Producer of “Below Deck” Season 2 and directing the pilot for “The Family Stallone” reality series. He joined “Shahs of Sunset” in its first season, and for eight seasons (as executive producer) he helped make it one of the most popular series on Bravo. He also baked a deeper cultural message into the series as reported by The Daily Beast: “They row, gaslight, and misbehave like any stars of a Bravo reality show. But from food to kinship, language to nostalgia, the cultural pulse of ‘Shahs of Sunset’ is meaningful."Gardner received six Emmy nominations for his work as an editor on “Survivor.” As a director, he has won several awards, including best feature film at the Big Bear Lake Film Festival for “Under The Influence,” starring Peter Greene.
He was senior editor of “Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction,” one of Fox's highest-rated specials, and received world-wide attention when he co-wrote, produced, and edited the feature film “Breakaway,” an action/comedy feature film starring the infamous Tonya Harding.
Gardner's diverse credits include editing MTV’s “The Real World Los Angeles”; producer/DP of “Queenas,” a feature-length documentary about Latino drag queens in Los Angeles financed by Canal+ and The Danish Film Board; co-producer and editor of “Great Streets: Champs Élysées,” starring Halle Berry for PBS; and co-writer, producer, director and editor of the feature documentary, “Confessions of a CEO: My Life in an Out-of-Balance World.” The film is a crackling critique of corporate America told through the true story of a Tom Gegax, a once toxic CEO who transformed from a profits-over-people, philandering executive to an unorthodox leader, populist messenger, and mentor to American influencers. Featuring notable figures like Deepak Chopra, the controversial Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner, it’s a story of growth, redemption, and the impact of self-awareness on leadership and life.
Gardner is a long-time literacy advocate who sits on the board of The Hubbell Difference foundation, and he co-wrote and produced feature documentaries “Dislecksia: The Movie,” featuring Billy Bob Thornton, and “Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars.”
Gardner is a member of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and The Directors Guild of America. Learn more at confessionsofaceomovie.com.
About The Gramercy Fund
The Gramercy Fund is an early-stage venture capital partnership founded in 2006 by Tom Gegax and his son T. Trent Gegax. The fund focuses on investing in innovative startups led by socially responsible and driven entrepreneurs "obsessed with surfing really big waves.” Tom offers founders of Gramercy’s portfolio companies his decades of experience in retailing techniques and ethical leadership, and Trent offers founders operational expertise gained from roles within Gramercy portfolio companies and background as a Newsweek correspondent.
Since its inception, The Gramercy Fund has built a portfolio of over 100 companies, emphasizing early-stage investments in sectors such as web services and technology. Many of these companies adopt the leadership philosophy pioneered by Tom, which prioritizes ethical governance, employee well-being, and societal impact alongside financial success. With Trent’s hands-on involvement and due-diligence skills — sharpened through high-profile reporting assignments like George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign and the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq — the fund has earned a reputation as a supportive and conscientious investor. Headquartered in a family-office-style structure, The Gramercy Fund continues to back entrepreneurs aiming to disrupt industries while adhering to values of responsibility and positive change, as reflected in its motto of "changing the world and having fun."